12/19/15 - Chapter 11: Jaime II

[Clara]

1-Jamie saw an inn, but no people at sight. Cleos said they stayed there last week, and there were people. I totally forgot this was the Inn of the Kneeling Man, which stood on the spot where the King in the North knelt. They hear a horse in the stable, and when Jaime opens the door sees a boy with a crossbow. It seems he doesn’t like bows at all. The boy told them to undo their swordbelts, and they see a man as well. I like he is named a lot the man who wasn’t an inkeep. This man got there with his wife who wasn’t there at the moment, and they found the inkeeper was dead, but didn’t know who did it. I think from the start you can tell there’s something shady about all this.

2-The man who wasn’t and inkeep had horse meat to share, if they had silver to give. The boy wasn’t his son, he and his wife found him and took him. For some reason, I think there was never a wife. They talk about the news, and the man tells the travelers to stay off the kingsroad. Brienne wants to follow the Trident to the sea, and that way they’ll stay away from the worst of the fighting. But the man says they won’t reach Maidenpool, they will encounter outlaws or Beric Dondarrion, who was still with Thoros. Interesting Jaime thinks Thoros was only good to compite with Robert with drinking, and how Beric can die if you put a sword in his body. At this point we don’t know much, but it’s said Beric can’t die which always catched my attention.

3-They know they’ll need horses to travel, and the man has three, but not for sale. Jaime seems to know this kind of people, because he says the man will show them anyway, and he does. The horses aren’t in the best condition. Jaime says they should pay one gold and one silver, but Brienne ends up paying three golds, one for each. The man was reluctant at first, but Brienne offers their skiff as well. Jaime says the man is robbing her, and I have to agree. I wonder why she paid so much. Brienne asked for provisions, and it was smart of her to say no when the man offered beds for the night.

4-Jaime supports her, while Cleos want to sleep in a bed for once, lol. He complains a lot. Jaime says she has to take the chains off his feet, he won’t be able to ride if not. Brienne is not stupid, she didn’t take the chains off Jaime’s hands. At least he tried, lol.

5-Again, Brienne is not dumb, she took the best horse and Jaime got the one with a blinde ye, and he knows he can’t get away with a horse like that. Jaime would have picked the same road Brienne did, the one the inkeep told them not to pick. Maybe she got what Jaime said back in the stables about how much shit there was, indicating men were there, probably the outlaws he mentioned. Jaime seems more observant than I remembered.

6-Jaime remembers Tyrion and Cersei and asked Brienne if she has brothers, and she replies she doesn’t. She calls him Kingslayer, and Jaime thinks it always goes back to Aerys. He was 15 when he got his white cloak, and when Brienne asked him why he joined, he sayd it was a great honor, but it was really for love. I guess he knew she wouldn’t understand it.

7-There were a lot of details I didn’t remember about thi story. Tywin wanted to marry Jaime to Lysa Tully, and only thinking about it makes me laugh, they’re so so different! But if Jaime had the cloak, he would be near Cersei. I also forgot Aerys cut Illyn Payne’s tongue because he said Tywin was the one who ruled the realm, which is not hard to believe. And he was the captain of the Hand’s guard, a detail I didn’t remember. Jaime at first thinks of Casterly Rock, but believes is a small Price to pay for Cersei. He does really seems to love her. I wonder how Cersei took care and made Aerys take Jaime as one of his seven.

8-Jaime took the white, and Tywin was so furious he gave up being Hand, and took Cersei with him back to Casterly Rock. Which makes me wonder if he knew about them, although if he was mad and he wanted to go it made no sense to live Cersei in King’s Landing. Four Hands followed him, and Lord Rossart was the last, and he was an alchemist. Interesting Tywin lasted so long, even after Payne said the Hand ruled and considering Aerys killed three Hands quite quickly.

9-Jaime told Brienne she layed her King as well, and when she said a shadow did it, Jaime said he wasn’t so clever and didn’t think of saying a shadow killed Aerys, which I found kinda funny. He has a humor I really like, although I don’t think Brienne liked this at all. But he was trying to provoke her, so she would come closer and he could grab her knife. But I am sure she’s been provoked enough, and know who she’s dealing with. Brienne said being a knight was a gift a few had, and he soiled his cloak. This was sad, she want nothing more than being a knight, and she can’t.

10-Jaime said the cloak soiled him, not the other way around. Really interesting. When he slept, he dreamt of Aerys asking Jaime to bring him Tywin’s head, and I forgot the King was so scared he pissed himself. Jaime killed Lord Rossart, and he wonders why no one asked for him. He cut Aery’s throat, and thought a King shouldn’t die so easily. This was so interesting to read again!

11-Tywin’s men found him, and Crakehall who was one of those, wasn’t surprised. This was really interesting: ”He had not seemed surprised to find Aerys slain; Jaime had been Lord Tywin’s son long before he had been named to the Kingsguard.” I was surprised he asked Jaime who should be King now, I guess because he killed the King, but still it surprised me. Jaime said they can name whoever they wanted, and he sat on the throne, where Ned found him. I wonder why Jaime said Ned had no right to judge him, maybe because at the end someone had to kill the King, and Ned was part of the rebellion. Although I don’t think he would have killed Aerys if Jaime didn’t do it before. We learned a little more about Jaime in this chapter, and I am loving rereading this again, his story is really interesting.

[Vicki]

Your point 3, I think Brienne offered so much because she wanted to make sure they had those horses, and they didn't need their skiff anymore since they were going to travel on horseback from here on out. She probably received a lot more than 3 dragons from Catelyn as well, so giving 3 dragons away probably wasn't a big deal to her.

Your point 8, I think it was only after Tywin left that Aerys went through so many Hands. After Tywin left the position became a curse.

1. Brienne, Jaime, and Ser Cleos Frey find an inn along the riverfront. The name of it is ironic, “Kneeling man,” named after Torrhen Stark, the last King in the North, who knelt to King Aegon the Conqueror on this very spot. Jaime finds it amusing and I couldn’t help but smile. I forgot the King Who Knelt offered his submission in the riverlands.

2. As soon as Jaime knocks on the door a boy opens it with a crossbow pointed at him. He asks whose side he’s on but Jaime only says the crossbow is a coward’s weapon. He should have told that to Joffrey! Brienne assures the boy they mean no harm and they have coin to pay for food and drink.

3. The man who works here isn’t the original owner. That guy was found dead, killed by somebody. He runs the inn now, for his “family.” The boy isn’t even his; he took him in when the boy lost his mother to the Mummers. They pay for food and share news. The man doesn’t know Stannis lost the battle and says he has a magic sword. He doesn’t recommend using the kingsroad; wolves and lions both prey on the weak. Brienne says they’ll be sailing toward Maidenpool and ride by way of Duskendale and Rosby, the safer route. Why on earth did she have to say that out loud? The man says there are outlaws along that route, too.

4. They discuss Beric Dondarrion, the lightning lord. It’s said he attacks as quick as lightning and cannot die. Thoros of Myr travels with him. The man recommends they avoid the river and travel on land, but stay off the main road. As it happens, there are three horses in the stable outside. The man says they’re not for sale but Brienne offers three gold dragons and their skiff, an excellent bargain for him. Weird how he insists they stay the night. Brienne insists they ride tonight. Instead of going south he suggests they go southeast. Brienne thanks him and they depart. Something seems fishy about this.

5. Jaime is happy to be on a horse again, even though his mount is old and can only see out of one eye, lol. They find the crossroads the man told them about, but instead of going southeast Brienne goes south. Jaime is impressed; it’s what he would do. Ser Cleos asks why they aren’t going the way the innkeep suggested and Brienne reminds him he was no innkeep; the road he suggested leads into the forest where it’s way too easy to fall into a trap. Jaime decides she’s strong and clever.

6. They take turns keeping watch at night in a grove. Jaime asks Brienne if she has siblings, apparently not. She was practically her father’s son. She ignores his jests and Jaime thinks it’s strange how she reminds him of Tyrion. It’s because of this he apologizes for offending her and this time uses her actual name, not wench. She tells him his crimes are past forgiveness, kingslayer. Wow, how unfair. They argue about oaths. She asks why he joined the kingsguard if loyalty meant nothing to him and it’s difficult for him to explain. It was for love, though he doesn’t tell her any of this. Cersei was at court since she was 12 and he wanted to be with her. I forgot this part, but it makes perfect sense now. I forgot Lord Tywin meant for him to marry Lysa Tully and it was Cersei who told him to join the kingsguard so he can be with her instead. Wow...Cersei made him choose between Casterly Rock or her. Ha! When Tywin found out Aerys made Jaime a white cloak he left King’s Landing, abandoning his position as Hand, and took Cersei with him. They simply switched places.

7. Brienne acknowledges Aerys was a bad king, but he was still his king, and Jaime should have protected him. Knowing what I know now, I don’t blame Jaime for it anymore. He calls her a kingslayer too; he heard she killed Renly. She says what really happened but he understandably doesn’t believe her. He makes fun of her and goes too far again. He seems determined to piss her off. I forgot Ser Arthur Dayne knighted him. He says don’t blame him for not being born a man, since she wants to be a knight so bad. She stalks off rather than hit him.

8. Jaime dreams of Aerys Targaryen that night. He’s in his golden armor, not white like so many people forget, and gets ready to kill him. He remembers how easy it was to kill this crazy fucker. He killed Rossart first, the last Hand before Aerys died. The two lords that entered first asked who Jaime means to be the next king and I’m surprised Jaime considered putting Viserys or little Aegon on the throne, just to outrage Robert and Ned. Instead he lets Lord Crakehall decide for him and sits on the Iron Throne. He waits to see who would claim the throne first and Ned Stark arrives. Jaime thinks Ned had no right to judge him either. Then the dead start attacking him with green flames all around. Every time he kills one two more pop up, interesting.

[Clara]

Yes it makes sense, and I think at some point she mentions Catelyn gave her quite a lot. And I understand after Tywin left the four Hands came, since he was Hand for 20 years or so. Sorry if I wrote in a confusing way!

About your point 3, I don't know why Brienne said it. I don't think she trusted the man, but maybe she wanted to know what he said about that? I don't know, it doesn't make a lot of sense. Maybe she trusted this man more than Jaime did, even though she took the other way later.