Vicki’s
Comments
(group member since Jul 17, 2015)
Vicki’s
comments
from the A Song of Ice and Fire - A Chapter a day group.
Showing 241-260 of 310
Yes, I agree, I think it's unfair of others to hate Sansa -- because you have to remember she is only 11 years old at this point and she has been bred to be the good, pretty, submissive lady that most men want their women to be. And she does it well. She is also not as fast, intellectually, as other girls like Arya, but that is not an important criteria men look for in a lady wife. I just don't think it's fair to judge her on this. Her hatred for Lady's death is somewhat in the right place, she blames it on Cersei and she wants to in her heart blame Joff, but she still has to grow up and stop fighting with her sister. I wonder if Ned ever gave Sansa the same talk as he did with Arya, about the lone wolf. I like Renly and find Sandor interesting too, but probably not as much as other people. I honestly forgot a lot about Renly, and I had let the show's depiction of him taint my opinion of him, so right now I'm treating him in the book as though I've never heard of him before.
Thank you! It wasn't all that exciting, lol, but I am glad to be another year older all the same. All of last year I was dreading turning 30 but now that it passed I'm actually happy about it. A chance to start over, I feel, to make the next decade of my life better than the last. :) I don't quite understand why people hate Catelyn either. I'm a huge Jon Snow fan, but I don't hate Cat for hating him. I understand her feelings on the matter. He never did anything to personally upset her, so it's not really about him; it's about Ned, and his unwillingness to talk about it. He is a reminder of that, that is all. And she could have been a real monster to him, like call the guards or smack him around, but she doesn't. And if people hate Cat because she kidnaps Tyrion then that is silly since she is only going off of what knowledge she has been given, which is coming from Littlefinger, which she should take with a grain of salt. She is a human being who makes mistakes sometimes, but her heart is in the right place, I feel. *SPECULATION ON JON SNOW'S PARENTAGE* (view spoiler)
You know, I think you're right about your note on Sandor Clegane, about how it can't be his first time getting so drunk that he would spill his darkest secrets...he had to have been drunk before and NEVER told anyone else that, or else everyone would know -- you know how fast rumors spread in King's Landing. So why would he tell Sansa? To scare her? To pity him? To make her see reality of things? I'm thinking former at this point. Good point! 1. All of the kingsguard wore white only, but Ser Jaime also wore gold under his cloak, and had a lion's helm and a golden sword... The Lannisters are proud. He will not give up his heritage just because he's in the kingsguard. Arrogant.
2. Lord Yohn Royce had apparently guested at Winterfell two years ago...Curious for a House of the Vale to go out of his way to do so...He wears an ancient bronze armor with runes to protect him from harm. His heir is Ser Andar Royce, and Robar is his younger brother. Sounds like a big family. Too significant to be "throw-away" characters, if you ask me.
3. Apparently Lord Jason Mallister had cut three of Rhaegar's bannermen on the Trident. Wow... Freakin' impressive!
4. Sometimes I wonder if Septa Mordane is reliving her youth by being with Sansa and Jeyne, since she herself cannot ever marry or have babies. She just insulted Jory! :O
5. It's messed up that Gregor Clegane killed a knight at a jousting. It was no accident. Forgot the boy died not more than ten feet away from Sansa, too. Sansa had never seen a man die before, and has a strange fascination with it, unlike Jeyne who's freaking out at death like a good lady probably ought to. She thinks it's sad this boy will never have songs sung for him now...because that's all that matters to her at this point. Sansa has a lot of room to grow up.
6. Renly is very popular. Everyone cheers for him, glad he survives that hard blow.
7. This is getting quite tedious...hearing all these knights...but I suppose to Sansa this is life. Forgot Ser Loras is only 16 years old at this time.
8. I sure hope Ser Robar Royce is okay! He had to be carted off on a litter by Loras, dazed and unmoving.
9. And Loras gives her the red rose. She is in love. I'm sure Loras knows about Sansa's aunt and Rhaegar. That is old news to everyone in the realm.
10. Littlefinger is described as having grey-green eyes that "did not smile when his mouth did." That's perceptive of Sansa! Jon could see this too in Theon, *SPOILER FOR CLASH OF KINGS* (view spoiler) And Sansa is "ill at ease" when she communicates with him. Yeah, Littlefinger is very creepy here...lol.
11. It's interesting how Sansa at first wanted to hate Joffrey for what happened to Lady, but she convinces herself it wasn't his doing, but the queen's and Arya. Surprised Sansa hates the queen so early in this book. I thought that was later.
12. Moon Boy, the king's jester, would say jokes with deft cruelty about people that Sansa wondered if he was simple after all... hmm... Curious.
13. Here Joffrey is back to being the perfect prince for Sansa. Ugh. True sociopaths know how to look normal, know how to hide it, their cruelty. Just saying.
14. The Lannisters look scorned from the way the king is acting, very drunk and violent, an utter idiot. How embarrassing. Love how Lord Renly so cheerfully and tactfully changes the topic, making it not so awkward. You can tell he is used to this rodeo.
15. And there goes Joff's chivalrous nature. Makes me wonder what he thinks of his father's antics when he gets like this. I think he doesn't want to be alone with her, at this point. He's only nice to her for show, that's all.
16. "A true lady would not notice his face," Sansa is not he perfect lady after all. :) I love how brutally honest Sandor is to Sansa; he sees through her courtesies. He brutally tries to get her to see reason; that Gregor is an ass, and knights aren't all they're cracked up to be, and she should speak truthfully because otherwise she sounds like a stupid little talking parrot. Sandor is hideous, and it frightens Sansa.
17. The Hound's story is so sad...boys like Gregor have no soul...to burn his little brother like that. Definitely not what a Stark would do.
18. I like this saying from Sandor, "Only a man who's been burned knows what hell is truly like." Sounds like he would not get along with the Targaryens...or followers of the Red God, lol. Didn't realize Rhaegar Targaryen himself had knighted Ser Gregor...odd he wouldn't see what he's knighting.
19. It's sweet that Sansa winds up feeling sad for him. "Somehow, the fear had gone away." Why would she be afraid for him, though?
20. Finally she tells him a truth: "He was no true knight."
21. And just as I begin to think they made a breakthrough in friendship, Sandor threatens her with her life if she ever tells anyone his true story. Because it'll make him look weak, pathetic, pitiful. The Hound doesn't want to be pitied. At first I wonder why he even tells her this besides the fact that he's drunk, but then I realize he must feel so lonely. And maybe he's afraid his brother will kill him tomorrow at the tourney...I don't know. But we see a side to Sandor Clegane we've never seen before.
I'm sorry about not posting over the weekend.. Friday was my 30th birthday, so I was pretty busy... :) 1. Sounds like Cat used to like running out in the rain, enjoying nature, as a kid. :) A positive light on her there. Had a good childhood. The rain in the North, even in the summer, sounded dreary and dangerous.
2. Catelyn hadn't gone through the Riverlands on their way to King's Landing, so she's only now enjoying the nostalgia.
3. Wonder what souleaf is... sounds like chewing tobacco. Apparently it makes your mouth look all bloody. Nasty!
4. I'd forgotten all about the Mallisters. They rule Seagard, northern end of the Riverlands, and have an indigo banner with a silver eagle for a sigil. They would recognize Catelyn if they saw her clearly, except... he doesn't recognize her; it's been so long since Lord Jason Mallister had seen her, not since her wedding, and she is probably all muddy and looks like a commoner at first glance.
5. Cat is smart; they would never suspect Lady Stark to be in teh mud, tired, on the Kingsroad looking for an inn with only one guard to protect her. And she's right, Masha Heddle didn't recognize her; treated her like any peasant. Love this: "There were no smiles and no mention of sweet cakes." :)
6. The glass was milky and full of bubbles... eww. Definitely screams medieval times!
7. The crossroads inn is where the Riverroad meets the Kingsroad; a busy inn, then. The eastern road takes you up to the Bloody Gate in the Vale, where her sister is. She is conflicted -- at a real crossroads, for her!
8. I want to know more about the Blackwoods and Brackens, ever enemies! *SPOILER FOR DANCE WITH DRAGONS* (view spoiler)
9. Lord Frey is like the Lannisters in that he waited till after the war to come to the aid, questioningly on whose side he really was on... the winning side, of course! That does not show valor.
10. The Brackens have a red stallion sigil.
11. "Singers loved nothing half so well as the sound of their own voices." Ha! What about Rhaegar?
12. So the Starks disapprove of gambling too.
13. Poor Ser Rodrik; he is very vexed by this singer! lol
14. I find it interesting how singers in the medieval world knew each other so well... and LOL at Ser Rodrik's opinion of boy singers!
15. Marillion is annoying, and a boastful little liar. He amuses Cat, though.
16. Strange how just after Marillion mentions the Starks loving no song but the howling of wolves does Tyrion and his companions, and Yoren of the Night's Watch, burst in!
17. I love how Tyrion says, "Nothing would be more likely to ruin my supper" when Marillion pleads to sing him of his father's victory at King's Landing, lol. Unfortunately, this draws his attention to Catelyn. It's so sad, too, because right now Tyrion has all respect for Cat. He suspects nothing that's about to happen.
18. I think it's so clever what Cat does by asking each House if they're still loyal to Riverrun, pitting them all against Tyrion. Tyrion is smart, but she has him confused, totally caught off guard. This is one of these rare occasions in the series.
19. I wonder why the Brackens give each other uncertain looks...and are hesitant to reply.
20. I love the last sentence of this chapter, too: "She did not know what was more satisfying: the sound of a dozen swords drawn as one or the look on Tyrion Lannister's face."
I completely laughed at the thought of Robert being outraged his younger brother would suggest outlawing brothels. There's a lot in this chapter I had forgotten all about, which I think is pretty interesting to note. That's the beauty of re-reading. 1. Forgot Janos Slynt was already Commander of the City Watch. He says he'll need more men to guard the city, especially with this tourney coming up. Nice of Ned to give him more men.
2. It cost 40,000 gold dragons for a champion's purse? Wow... What a waste of money, in my opinion, anyway.
3. Funny how Ned doesn't want the tourney to happen, and yet everyone is calling it in his name! The irony.
4. That is mean of Renly to call his own niece ugly...
5. What we know about Stannis: he is against brothels. Everyone's laughing about Stannis's uptight way of living but Ned. Is Ned personally against whoring too? More likely he just isn't the kind of person who makes fun of another man because of his character flaws.
6. "Ponderous reading" is a nice way of saying it's boring. The book is basically one gigantic book of genealogical records, with dates of births, weddings, and deaths of every important family member in Westeros. I've done a little bit of genealogical work myself so I don't find it boring, personally. :)
7. We learn a little more about the Lannisters. They're an ancient family descended from the great Lann the Clever, a trickster from the Age of Heroes, a time/era before the Andals crossed the Narrow Sea. He winkled the Casterly's from Casterly Rock with only his wits and stole gold from the sun to brighten his hair. Sounds like Tyrion totally fits the bill here... And in a way they are thieves, stealing the Iron Throne the way they did -- was Lann ever this dishonorable?
8. Sounds like Lord Arryn was a nice man. Strange Ser Hugh was rather rude to Ned, the Hand of the King... Interesting Jon Arryn was gruff with his lady wife.
9. Had to look up what a cordwainer is: "A shoemaker who makes shoes from new leather."
10. Lord Jon was also quarreling with the king... Interesting Robert never mentioned this to Ned. Lord Jon was also greatly interested in breeding hunting hounds. Lord Jon brought Stannis with him to get his new suit of plate instead of Renly, who would do that sort of thing, unlike Jon Arryn. He also talked of sending his son to Dragonstone to be fostered there -- He must not have wanted Lysa too close to him, hence the arguing with his wife. Lord Arryn takes an interest in Stannis. And I know why. :)
11. Stannis and Lord Arryn were always cordial, but never friendly. When Robert traveled to Winterfell to name Ned Hand of the king, Stannis departed for Dragonstone, probably because of something Lord Arryn had said to him...
12. They went to a brothel together, something very uncharacteristic of them both... Stannis is a humorless man, honorable, but also merciless. He's the very opposite of Robert. Ned doesn't understand what could have made Stannis run away after Jon's death. Ned finds it hard to believe Stannis could be afraid of anything. Ned also finds it strange they never brought Renly along on their travels together.
13. Totally forgot about the part where Renly shows Ned a picture of Margaery Tyrell and is disappointed Ned doesn't recognize her. Renly says she looks just like Lyanna but Ned disagrees. This is very queer...
14. I think it's funny Ned tells Jory to start visiting whorehouses and Jory grins and says, "Hard duty, my lord." :)
15. The City Watch wears golden cloaks...strange, since in this same chapter gold is described predominantly as a Lannister color. Though I suppose it would also be a Baratheon color, wouldn't it.
16. The Dondarion flag is a purple lightning bolt on black. Lord Beric is a Dondarion. (I don't feel the need to hide this spoiler since it doesn't exactly reveal anything).
17. Interesting Tobho Mott knows how to work Valyrian steel; had learned at Qohor as a boy. That is rare.
18. I like that Ned knows that silence sometimes yields more than questions. In other words, the less you talk the more the other person will tell you what you want to know.
19. Introduction to Gendry! :) Jon Arryn and Stannis Baratheon both were very interested in him. But why is Tobho Mott so suspicious of them wanting to see him? Was he charged to protect the boy? Gendry had "sullen blue eyes." Isn't Jon Snow's eyes described as sullen? Just putting that out there!
20. Gendry is bold when he refuses to sell his bull-horned helm, and I love how Ned doesn't take offense for that, despite Tobho Mott's reprimanding the boy for being rude to the Hand.
21. They were asking Gendry about his mother...who she was and what she looked like. His mother, according to Gendry, had yellow hair, used to sing to him, worked at an alehouse, and died when he was little. Stannis had glared at him like he was a "raper who done for his daughter." lol
22. Ned's now figuring out Gendry is a bastard of King Robert Baratheon. Curious when Mott is asked who paid for Gendry's apprentice fee he looked fretful. Why? Sounds like he's covering for somebody... When Ned pushes the issue, he mentions some lord had paid the fee, never gave a name and wore no sigil on his coat, but he apparently was wearing purple. Of House Dondarion, perhaps? I really don't know. This lord paid for Gendry to remain a secret. CURIOUS! I can't believe I forgot all about this!!! *SPOILER FOR LATER BOOKS IN A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE* (view spoiler) And Mott knows he's the king's bastard, paid to keep it secret. Won't even straight out tell Ned this, the man is so afraid he'll get into trouble. Ned decides he likes Mott, and even offers to take Gendry if h e ever wanted to learn to fight. :) I just love Ned. "He has the look of a warrior." *SPECULATION ON GENDRY* (view spoiler)
Yes, Jon's dream intrigued me too, mostly because I can't believe I totally forgot all about it my first read, and also because I've come to notice that all of Jon's dreams seem to have significance. 1. First time readers won't know the significance of this character, but I just now recognized that Dareon is mentioned here... jerk.
2. I had to look up how much 20 stones would weigh, 14 pounds a stone, so Sam would weigh at least 280 pounds according to Jon. I've known people who weigh bigger than that, sadly. Pretty impressive, however, for someone to eat so much in this kind of world.
3. Introduction to Sam. :) Gods he is described as humongous, and hideous, even... I always thought of Sam as plump and cute, lol.
4. Jon doesn't recognize the Tarly sigil, probably because he's from way far down south, and Jon probably has only memorized the ones of the North, and other really large Houses, like Baratheon, Targaryen, and Lannister.
5. Surprised Randyll Tarly let his son keep his arms when he sent him to the Wall. Maybe it's to make it look all the more like Sam eagerly volunteered to join the Night's Watch.
6. Thorne has outdone himself as being a total ass...
7. I'm surprised Jon only talks to Halder and not to Ser Alliser when commanding him to stop. "There's no honor in beating a fallen foe." :) He even goes as far as kneeling beside Sam to help him up. Halder does as he says -- a battle of leadership here.
8. Ser Alliser makes Jon defend Sam against three others... to what purpose? Humilate them all? Jon is an excellent swordsman. Though Jon's used to fighting against two, "never three."
9. I love how Pyp joins Jon now. :) And Green as well.
10. Rast was a raper. Was he one of the brothers whom Yoren brought forth with him when Benjen, Jon, and Tyrion were on their way to the Wall?
11. I like how fair Halder is to Jon, even though he was fighting against him just now.
12. Didn't expect Pyp to say this of Jon: "You don't want to know what his mother calls him." Was he trying to intimidate Sam? Or was he just being funny?
13. It's pretty brave of Sam to admit he's a coward, though I think it's more his dad's doing that made him one. He also admits he's trying not to be, and I automatically like him for it. I like honest characters. :)
14. Oh gods...when Sam is tearful and says, "I never do better." I felt so awful for him! His father is truly an awful person.
15. Grenn clearly doesn't like Sam's craven attitude. But then again, he's not the sharpest tool in the shed. But I love Pyp and Grenn's antics; they are funny together.
16. It's makes sense the recruits would try out different tasks, for the leaders to see where their skills lay. Jon "cherished" ranging for game with Ghost, giving his game to the Lord Commander's table. (I would think he'd give it to the cooks for all of the brothers to share). But they most often had him smithing with Donal Noye, and other jobs too. It's nice hearing all the many different kinds of jobs there are at Castle Black beside guard duty and training recruits.
17. It's interesting how nobody at Castle Black cares hat Ghost runs around freely with Jon. I'd think they'd want him to lock the direwolf up. Dunno...
18. Interesting that Jon wondered what Tyrion would think of Sam... Is he having a WWTD (What would Tyrion do) moment?
19. Pyp sounds like a really fun guy to friends with, but I understand completely why Jon chooses to sit with Sam this time; he's sitting all alone with no friends. Jon can remember when he was in those same shoes and Tyrion had been his friend. :)
20. It's funny how Jon says, "What's wrong now?" When Sam looks like he's going to cry.
21. Sam says he's never seen snow until last month. Does this mean then that it doesn't ever snow in the Reach during winter years? I like how Jon smiled when Sam was describing his first snow in the barrowlands on his way up to the Wall. :)
22. Eventually Jon asks, astonishingly, what Sam's doing here if he's afraid of everything. This, of course, makes Sam cry, lol. Jon seems to have passed the "crying torch" on to Sam!
23. It's so cute how Ghost is the one who comforts Sam when he's crying. :) I don't suppose Jon's ever had to console a complete stranger before, so he doesn't know what to do. Ghost, thankfully, breaks the awkwardness of the moment by licking Sam's tears away. This makes Sam laugh, and Jon laughs with him.
24. There's something about Sam that can get Jon to feel comfortable talking about his past. :) Had forgotten about his dreams, where he's looking for everybody but Winterfell is abandoned. Hmm... Apparently he'd never told anyone of his dreams before, until Sam. "...yet somehow it felt good to talk of it." *SPECULATION OF JON SNOW'S PARENTAGE* (view spoiler)
25. Then he talks about the crypts of Winterfell... "Somehow I know I have to go down there, but I don't want to. I'm afraid of what might be waiting for me." He says he's not afraid of the Old Kings of Winter, "I scream that I'm not a Stark, that this isn't my place, but it's no good, I have to go anyway..." but then he stops and says he always wakes when he goes down the stairs into complete darkness. Now he feels embarrassed. OMG How did I forget all of this??? *SPECULATION ON JON SNOW'S PARENTAGE* (view spoiler) This makes me wonder if Jon has ever been down to the crypts in his life? Would Ned prohibit him from going down there for any reason? Or has the crypt always scared Jon, even when he's awake?
26. Already we learn why Sam came to the Wall, and it is sad. It's weird his father managed to find two warlocks, all the way from Qarth, to make him braver; and it still didn't work. Jon finds it strange that talking about this doesn't provoke Sam to cry. His past doesn't exactly scare him (hell, he finally left that hellhole only to jump into another one!). He's scared now of Castle Black. There are no women here to be nice to him. Food is rationed, and he is expected to exercise and train every day, and he will likely die a cold, gruesome death up here -- of course he is frightened of Castle Black.
27. We also learn why Dareon came here -- says he never raped a girl but she apparently says he did. This should wave a red flag.
28. Love how Jon makes all the other boys stop making fun of Sam. Also how he scared Rast into agreeing, though it does seem rather dark for Jon to do, threatening him like he did. But I suppose there are appropriate times when to threaten someone...I wouldn't know; I'm not a dude.
29. "Fat and awkward and frightened he may be, but Samwell Tarly was no fool." *SPOILER FOR A FEAST FOR CROWS* (view spoiler)
30. It's sweet that Jon calls Sam his brother, but then I frowned when he thought of Robb, Bran, and Rickon and how he was never truly one of them. :( "...Winterfell might still haunt his dreams, but Castle Black was his life now..." :(
(Don't ignore your dreams, Jon!)
About Arya, I think she's still too young yet for us to decide if she can ever be a lady in court. Ladies can still be deadly. After all, she is described as being a lot like Lyanna, who was crowned the queen of love and beauty, and apparently she was also willful, according to Ned. Who knows, maybe when she's older she could fall in love, get married, have babies, and run a castle, all while fighting battles -- like the Mormont women. But for now she is only 9.1. I had to look up what a warren is: "a densely populated or labyrinthine building or district."
2. The smallfolk say the last year of summer is always the hottest, but Pycelle doesn't agree, though he envies Ned's summer snows. I still think it's an oxymoron, lol. Where I live it snows like crazy in the winter, and it is sweltering hot in the summer. I'd love to learn more about their strange weather patterns.
3. Would you really want a summer that never ends? I'd miss the snow!
4. How old is Pycelle? Sounds like he was around before Ned's father was even born!
5. Sounds like I've picked up a mystery novel suddenly! Ned investigating the murder of Jon Arryn, the last Hand. I like it. Makes you think.
6. Knowing what I know now... *SPOILER FOR A STORM OF SWORDS* (view spoiler)
7. Pycelle says Maester Colemon was young and like a son to him. He curiously sent him away, though, as Lord Arryn was dying... *SPECULATION ON JON ARRYN'S DEATH* (view spoiler) Though I admit I can't remember exactly what happened. Hence why I am rereading the book series. ;)
8. *SPOILER FOR A STORM OF SWORDS* (view spoiler)
9. "The seed is strong." This becomes very important later on in A Game of Thrones.
10. Suspicious of Maester Pycelle to say "...death is the most natural thing of all, Lord Eddard." I suppose it's true, but still, it stood out to me. "...his burdens lifted at last." Very grim.
11. Holy crap, Grand Maester Pycelle is old!!! He served King Aegon the 5th! Even if just for a few short months. Is he as old as Maester Aemon? Here Aegon the 5th is called the Fortunate; I heard he was Aegon the Unlikely. Fortunate sounds nicer, actually. :)
12. Bold of Ned to suggest poison so bluntly, though quietly. I guess he trusts Pycelle with this thought? Or maybe he's interrogating him, perhaps.
13. Pycelle says poison is common in the Free Cities. *SPOILER FOR LATER CHAPTERS IN A GAME OF THRONES* (view spoiler)
14. Makes me wonder if Pycelle is in on the murder, because he says poison is possible, but not likely. Maesters know of all the common poisons, but not all. But he's not just any maester, he's the Grand Maester. What about the rarer poisons?
15. Funny Pycelle tacks on eunuchs to the list of people who might use poison for murder. *SPECULATION ON JON ARRYN'S MURDER* (view spoiler) He even says Varys's name. "Put not your trust in spiders, my lord." Wtf...
16. "There was something about Varys that made his flesh crawl." I didn't get that vibe from him. Just his dry powder on his hands, for me.
17. Really like how Ned insists on reading that book Jon Arryn was reading before he fell ill. It almost seems Pycelle doesn't want him to read it.
18. Interesting that Cersei and her kids were on their way to Casterly Rock with Tywin to pay for Joffrey's name day's tourney. Is turning 12 really special? Why did she have to go there for this?
19. I love the phrase: "Dark wings, dark words."
20. Strange Pycelle brings up Bran with the above mentioned phrase... But maybe he's just being kind...
21. Smart of Ned to wonder who Pycelle serves.
22. I love how cocky Arya is about water dancers, like a know-it-all. For a 9-year-old this is cute.
23. Interesting how the godswood in the Red Keep's woods is a great oak, and how Ned and his daughters pray by it even though its not actually a weirwood. And awe at the girls falling asleep while he keeps his vigil all night. It's an ancient oak, though... and it's called a heart tree, despite not being a weirwood. Does it have a carved face in it too? *SPOILER IN DANCE WITH DRAGONS* (view spoiler) Elm, alder, and black cottonwood trees are also in this godswood, all overlooking the river. Sounds very pretty.
24. "When dawn broke over the city, the dark red blooms of dragon's breath surrounded the girls where they lay." What's dragon's breath? Is it a flower? This confused me.
25. Sansa had dreamed of Bran that night. :) "I saw him smiling." *SPOILER FOR DANCE WITH DRAGONS* (view spoiler)
26. Sounds like Ned is not against his children entering his wife's faith. That's good. He sounds like an incredibly loving and accepting father.
27. This is depressing: "But he will never lie with a woman, or hold his own son in his arms." *SPECULATION OVER THE LORD OF WINTERFELL* (view spoiler)
28. Ned is trying to be nice by offering Arya the glories of being a lady of a castle, but Arya screws up her face and says, "No, that's Sansa." LOL! It's interesting, though, now that I reread it, how Ned says "You will marry a king..." Is he simply saying it to be nice, or is this an omen? I'm probably just looking too far into it... lol. Sounds like he still wants her to be a lady, though.
29. Ned deeply respects Ser Barriston. I do too. :)
30. Lysa had made it harder for Ned to question the Hand's servants when she took them with her back to the Vale.
31. Why is Petyr telling Ned all this now? To get him to trust him, I'm sure... Petyr's spooking Ned by telling him all the people who are known spies, one for Varys, one for the queen. This emphasizes how nothing he does goes unnoticed. Creepy. He must tread carefully. This almost seems like a threat. He even tells him not to trust anyone in his own guard. Which I suppose is true...anyone can be a spy.
32. And right after Petyr just told him all of this, what does Ned do? "Perhaps I was wrong to distrust you." NO!!! Unless of course Ned was lying to Petyr just now, but I doubt it. Ned is too honorable. :( It'll get him into such trouble here.
You know what, I never thought about what "Hodor" means. It makes me wonder what Hodor's and Old Nan's sername was, who they're related to. They seem special. Hodor is described as a half-giant, and Old Nan sure knows a lot of stories most have forgotten...maybe a part of them is children of the forest? Where did they find Old Nan? Such mystery...1. I think it's interesting that Grey Wind, who's Robb's wolf, is the one who shepherds Rickon around when they're all playing. Shaggydog would always be at his heels, snapping at the others if they got too close, geez... *SPECULATION ON THE DIREWOLVES* (view spoiler)
2. Very interesting to note: "His fur had darkened until he was all black, and his eyes were green fire." Why does Shaggydog look so very different than the others??? Summer, however, is silver and smoke with eyes of yellow gold. Bran thinks he's the smartest, though smaller than Grey Wind.
3. Bran was almost a man grown at 8? Um... I kind of assumed a boy becomes a man at 16 in this world of knights and lords and ladies. He'd only be a half a man grown, then.
4. Old Nan says crows are all liars. Ha! (I wonder if this alludes to anything in the book series?) They made Old Nan be his babysitter, and he hates it. Bran's gotten so sullen now. I understand why, but still. He is really rather unpleasant at the moment.
5. Old Nan's story of the 3-year-old boy dying is sad, and a bit creepy that she can't keep her story straight, a different boy every time, but always there is a dead 3-year-old boy. Also forgot she is related to Hodor, the simpleminded giant. :) Something's special about those two.
6. Bran feels abandoned -- broken and left behind. Why didn't any of them write back to him when they heard he woke up?
7. Bran had only his brothers (not including Jon), and Robb is different now. He never smiled, and trains in the yard everyday, and at night talked to Luwin about account books...too busy for Bran and Rickon. He has to be a man now.
8. Sometimes Old Nan would confuse him with some other Brandon Stark...lol. Catelyn says she thinks they've all melted into the same person for Old Nan. Poor Old Nan! It's hard to get everybody straight when you are as old as sin.
9. "Fear is for the winter..." Spooky... "In that darkness, the Others came for the first time."
-- First time? Were there other times? This was before the Andals came to Westeros.
10. Totally forgot about Old Nan's story about a last hero, who had a sword, a horse, a dog, and a dozen companions to find the children of the forest to ask them to use their magic to stop the Others because the First Men's armies cannot. His friends, horse, and dog die, his sword breaks, and the Others come for his hot blood... Then Old Nan is interrupted by Hodor and Maester Luwin. Wow... *SPOILER FOR A DANCE WITH DRAGONS* (view spoiler)
11. Old Nan is Hodor's great-grandmother. He's nearly 7 feet tall! His real name is Walder but everyone calls him Hodor because that's the only thing he can say.
12. There is coldness between Robb and Tyrion. Tyrion says, "Your bastard brother has all your father's graces, it would seem." Jon was always 'fascinated' and 'curious' of Tyrion, but rarely ever cold to him as Robb is being. He certainly never threatened him with an unsheathed sword, I don't believe. And then Tyrion says of Bran, "You Starks are hard to kill." Exactly what Jon said once! Too coincidental, to me.
13. The high seat of Winterfell is cold stone with carved heads of direwolves on the ends of its massive arms. Bran feels like a baby sitting in it. :) Well, you pretty much are, compared to the rest of your ancestors!
14. OMG, Bran cries again! Tyrion had just called him a cripple, that's why. But we know by now Tyrion is a very blunt character, but he doesn't mean to hurt these kids -- he just says it as it is.
"I'm not a cripple!"
"Then I'm not a dwarf. My father will rejoice to hear it." And of course Greyjoy would laugh at this; however, I laughed too, so yeah. Theon laughs at everything. *SPOILER FOR A CLASH OF KINGS* (view spoiler)
15. Maester Luwin is excited about Tyrion's blueprints on Bran's special saddle. I like it!
16. Robb, however, is suspicious. When he asks why he would do this for Bran, he says Jon asked it of him. And I love this phrase, "And I have a tender spot in my heart for cripples and bastards and broken things." I just love Tyrion here.
17. Summer growls first, at seeing Tyrion, then Grey Wind picks it up. I wonder why the direwolves don't like him? The direwolves even attack Tyrion until Bran yells at them to stop and command Summer to come to him. Maybe they're going off of how Robb is feeling? Robb strongly distrusts Tyrion... and he's the oldest in the remaining pack. It's still weird, though, that Robb doesn't say anything to stop it. Maybe this means Bran is the closest to understanding the impact/nature of their direwolves than even Robb?
18. There it is again: Shaggydog's "eyes burning like green fire." What could it mean?
19. I love how Tyrion says, "How interesting," after that ordeal. He admits his dignity is harmed. And I like that Robb is now shaken, admitting he doesn't know why they did that. Didn't realize he'd had his sword unsheathed this entire time. That may have something to do with it.
20. It's big of Robb to apologize for being too hasty with Tyrion, and he finally sheathes his sword, then invites him to stay if he likes. :)
21. It's sad that Tyrion says, "Spare me your false courtesies, boy. You do not love me and you do not want me here." He decides to take an inn instead. :( It seems Robb is too much like his mom (when it comes to the Lannisters, especially). I wonder if Jon would treat Tyrion the same way if he heard the Lannisters were involved in Bran's two attempted murders.
22. Bran is reliving the climb and the Lannister twins in his dream. Only the twins are gargoyles, twisted and grotesque. "...as long as he did not hear them he was safe." They start to climb toward him and he tells them he didn't hear, crying, and wakes. :( This is so sad, to me... Bran can't remember what it was he wasn't supposed to hear, but he knows he shouldn't have heard it at least.
23. It's cute they call Jon "Ser Alliser's bane." :)
24. Yeah, if Benjen was sent to look for Waymar Royce he's probably dead too now...
25. Surprised Robb gets so angry at Yoren's suggestion that Benjen Stark's dead... he frightens Bran, too. And also surprised Yoren looks at him, unimpressed, and says, "Whatever you say, m'lord." Ballsy of him.
26. Benjen knows the Haunted Forest better than anyone on the Wall. Guess that's why he's first ranger.
27. Innocent Bran says the children of the forest will help Benjen, and gets laughed at. Even Maester Luwin shoots his remark down. :( But Yoren validates what he says, saying the children may be all dead in the kingdoms, but who's to say if they are all dead north of the Wall? "Up there, a man can't always tell what's alive and what's dead." Sounds like Yoren believes in the Others by that statement.
28. It's so sweet how Robb promises to find Bran a horse, how he'll surprise their mother when he's on a horse, and how they'll go to the Wall and visit Jon -- won't even tell him they're coming -- it'll be an adventure. :) And then Robb bursts out crying, of course, and Bran wraps his fingers around his brothers'. Oh gods, the feels!
About the way Drogo treats her, I suppose you're right there. It does seem really different from the last chapter where they are making love. Now he just treats her basically the way Dothraki girls are treated. That's how I saw it. It is sad, but grabbing a girl you find attractive to have sex with her and murdering other men so you can have sex with her is despicable, so I hardly see why Drogo having sex with Daenerys the way he does is any worse. I do agree I find it strange he suddenly doesn't care that she's crying, except I don't think he knew she was crying, because she says she hides her tears from him. And at night he's sleeping so he doesn't hear her sobbing. I think part of this is her fault, because she tries to keep it hidden from him for fear he'll abuse her the way Viserys would abuse her. And about Rhaegar, I don't remember if Jorah talked about Rhaegar before, or any more, to Dany. I want to learn as much as I can about him.
1. Jorah describes the Dothraki Sea, which is really a vast stretch of grassy plains. When the flowers bloom, dark red is everywhere "like a sea of blood." And there are a hundred kinds of grasses. I'd like to see grasses as dark as indigo!
2. Jorah also mentions the Shadowlands beyond Asshai, too, that have ghost grass, with stalks as pale as milkglass. It murders all other grass and glows in the dark with the spirits of the damned. The Dothraki believe the world will end when ghost grass covers the entire world. Spooky! Totally forgot about this part. I wonder if this will come into play in future books?
3. When Dany says, "It's so beautiful here, I don't want to think about everything dying." I couldn't help but think about what might happen if the Others get past that Wall!
4. Didn't realize Viserys had the option of waiting for Drogo at Pentos with Illyrio. Instead he chose to go with. His mistake. Makes me wonder again what game Illyrio is playing.
5. Dany feels at peace with the 'sea.' And Jorah's smiles give her comfort, though she finds him hairy and unattractive. "Not a queen," said Dany. "A khaleesi." I wonder if there is deeper meaning here. *MY SPECULATION ON WHO WILL ULTIMATELY RULE AFTER ROBERT BARATHEON* (view spoiler)
6. Why would the Khal ignore her? Is it a cultural thing, where women were merely property? And whatever happened to the lovemaking??? Now it sounds like he's raping her. Odd she even wanted to kill herself, I'd totally forgotten about this part! It's horrible.
7. Dreaming of her black dragon gives her the will to go on. Her dreams of being scorched clean actually helps her body to adjust to the pain in real life, neat! She's no longer fragile but tough, strong.
8. Dany loves her silver.
9. Forgot all about the land of Essos... the rivers, the ruins, forest of Qohor... and everyone's afraid of the Dothraki. What a chaotic way to live. Someone needs to do something about them...
10. The lemurs have silver hair and huge purple eyes. WTF!?!? Sounds like the Targaryens!
11. Eventually she has orgasms at night instead of pain. I took this to mean she is coming into her role as a strong Dothraki woman, not a scared innocent little girl. Especially later, when she learns to ride him mercilessly.
12. She's trying to get away from her brother who's ruining the beauty for her, lol.
13. Incredibly ballsy of her to shove him away when he threatens her! Love it! She's never defied him before until now. You can definitely see how living life as a Dothraki is changing her for the better.
14. It's fortunate her bloodriders came when they did and stopped Viserys before he hurt her; and it's merciful of Dany to not want him harmed. He's still her brother, after all. Now she realizes how pitiful he is -- how he always has been. She feels hollow now where fear used to be. :)
15. Though she does not want him harmed she still wants him to pay, and he will by public humiliation. Ha!
16. Jorah choosing Dany's side over Viserys speaks volumes for me. He does not want to serve a crazy madman; he'd rather serve a 14-year-old girl. He even tells her Rhaegar was the last dragon, "Viserys is less than the shadow of a snake." Ha! But what does he mean, Rhaegar was the last dragon? Last good Targaryen king? The last dragons died out over 150 years ago!
17. Love this part:
"The common people pray for rain, healthy children, and a summer that never ends, "Ser Jorah told her. "It is no matter to them if the high lords play their game of thrones, so long as they are left in peace." He gave a shrug. "They never are."
-- The basis of ASOIAF right there. Also the first mention of the title. :) Dany can't help but agree with Jorah, after a time.
18. Ser Jorah prays for home... awe. I hope he gets to go home! *SPOILER FOR A STORM OF SWORDS* (view spoiler)
19. Now she sees King's Landing when she thinks of home. Interesting, since she's never been there.
20. The eggs are supposedly only stone... But they are heating up for Dany! Right now we are wondering with Dany whether or not she is imagining it or if it is real. That they are incubating. *SPOILER FOR A CLASH OF KINGS* (view spoiler)
21. Dany had heard the first dragons came from the east, from the shadowlands beyond Asshai and the islands of the Jade Sea. I thought they came from the pits of Valyria, though, or is that where humans first tamed them?
22. The last dragons had died more than 150 years ago, during the reign of Aegon III, aka Dragonbane. Wonder why...?
23. When the Doom hit Valyria, magic died in the west...but Dany knows there's still manticores, basilisks, spellsingers, warlocks, aeromancers, shadowbinders, and bloodmages in the east. If they're all still around, why not dragons? That's very true. Wonder what all those things/people above mentioned are...
24. Irri says dragons are "terrible evil beasts." What's that say about Dany, then?
25. Doreah, who is not Dothraki, a slavegirl from Lys, was from a whorehouse. She says dragons came forth from a cracked moon that got too close to the sun. This story sounds like such a fantastic fable, too fantastic to be real even for the World of Ice and Fire. She also says dragons will return again when the other moon cracks. *SPECULATION ON THE PTWP* (view spoiler)
26. Doreah taught her how to please Khal Drogo, and one night Dany takes him outside and rides him this time, where everyone can see. I'd be so embarrassed if that were me, lol. But apparently everything of importance in a man's life must be done under the open sky: I love this! Khal Drogo being manned by a woman is important in his life. She is a force to be reckoned with, is how I took this meaning. Apparently he really likes it. I wonder if he's ever been ridden before. ;) Very sexy, and so now not only is Dany stronger and tougher, but she's sexually more powerful too. Sexually in control of her life.
27. Pregnant at 14... she had to grow up fast! Already we can tell she is growing up to be an incredibly strong person, one of the strongest characters in the entire series.
