A Game of Thrones Reread - Part 6

Ah, another reread already? Where does the time go!

Today we will say goodbye to Winterfell! It's funny, I've read the entire series twice before, but it has been several years. I remember all the big events, but a lot of the smaller events and some character moments must have slipped my mind. More are coming back to me as I read, but I remember less than I thought. What I'm getting at, is that I remember disliking Catelyn, but after her first two chapters I thought maybe my dislike was unjustified. Nope. This chapter pretty much seals it for me, I do not like her. I'll get into it more below, but this chapter opened up the floodgates a bit, and I remembered a lot of the reasons I dreaded her POV's.

But that's not all! We also get a wedding! And presents! Everybody loves presents!


JON

Summary

Jon and Ghost walked up the stairs towards Bran's room. Jon stopped on the landing, afraid to enter the room, but steeling his courage, he walked in. Lady Stark was there beside the bed, as she has been every day, day and night. She never left the room, so Jon had stayed away. Jon left this day, however, and there was no more time to wait.

It took a moment for Lady Stark to notice him, but when she did she asked what he was doing there. Jon said to see Bran, to say good-bye.  Catelyn looked at him coldly and told him to leave.  She threatened to call the guards. Jon told her to call them, and approached Bran anyway. Jon spoke to Bran, making his farewells, as Bran's unnamed direwolf's howl could be heard through the window.

"I wanted him to stay here with me," Lady Stark said softly.

Jon watched her.  Lady Stark told him she prayed for it, that she went to the sept and prayed that Ned would change his mind and that Bran would stay. Jon told her it wasn't her fault.

Her eyes found him. They were full of poison. "I need none of your absolution, bastard."

Jon left the room without saying anything, when Lady Stark called out "Jon." She had never called him by his name before.

"It should have been you," she told him. Then she turned back to Bran and began to weep, her whole body shaking with the sobs.

In the courtyard, Jon found confusion, as everyone prepared to leave. Robb found him and told Jon Uncle Benjen was looking for him, they were to have left an hour ago. Robb and Jon made their farewells, but Jon had one more stop to make before he met with his Uncle Benjen. Jon found Arya in her room, packing her chest, with Nymeria helping. Jon told her that he brought her a present. Arya set Nymeria to guard her door, while Jon presented Arya with a sword. It was a sword Jon had had made special, shorter and skinnier than any other sword, so that Arya could wield it. Jon told her to train with it every day.

"First lesson," Jon said. "Stick them with the pointy end."

Jon and Arya joked around as they said their good-byes. Before Jon left, he told Arya that all the best swords have names, and this one was no different. Arya begged to know its name.

"Can't you guess?" Jon teased. "Your very favorite thing."

Arya seemed puzzled at first. Then it came to her. She was that quick. They said it together:

"Needle!"

My Thoughts

Man, I do NOT like Catelyn. Now granted, she hasn't exactly had it easy. Forced to see evidence of her husband's unfaithfulness every day. And now dealing with the crippling and possible death of her favorite son. But the absolute vitriol and hate she throws at Jon Snow, it's just hard to excuse. And it's not like she's thinking these things because of her grief over Bran, it's just her grief that's causing her to say it instead of just thinking it. It's definitely coming back to me why I disliked Catelyn so much. It doesn't help any that Jon Snow was my favorite right from the start, so I'm bound to dislike anyone that goes against him. Of course, Catelyn also gives me so many other reasons to dislike her.

Was this the last time Robb and Jon saw one another? I think it was, and that makes me sad. At least they had a chance to say their good-byes.

I really like Arya as a character too, and it is cool that Jon and her have this special bond. All of the Stark children seem to like and respect Jon (with the exception of Sansa), but it seems the connection between Jon and Arya is deeper than that. They do both look the most like Starks, after all. And we get the introduction of one of the most famous swords in the entire series - Needle. Remember, Arya, stick them with the pointy end.

DAENERYS

Summary

Daenerys wed Khal Drogo in the field outside of Pentos, as the Dothraki believe all things of importance should happen under an open sky. Khal Drogo's entire khalasar was in attendance, forty thousand men, plus women, children, and slaves. Dany, her brother, Magister Illyrio, and Ser Jorah Mormont discussed the impending nuptials. Ser Jorah Mormont had sworn his sword to Viserys the night Dany met Khal Drogo, and has been his constant companion since. Viserys was glad Khal Drogo would take Dany "as long as he pays the price."

Illyrio waved a languid hand in the air, rings glittering on his fat fingers. "I have told you, all is settled. Trust me. The khal has promised you a crown, and you shall have it."

 Viserys was impatient to take Khal Drogo's army to Westeros and overthrow the Usurper. Magister Illyrio cautioned the Dothraki do things at their own pace. Illyrio cautioned that after waiting this long, what is another few months or years? Ser Jorah also cautioned patience. That night, Dany had a dream of Viserys chasing her, before he was replaced by a dragon. And then it was the wedding day.

The wedding was a tremendous affair, with more people than Dany had ever seen in one place. Outside of the city walls, the Dothraki shed any vestiges of civilization and all went bare chested, including the women. Dany was seated on a dais beside Khal Drogo, with Khal Drogo's bloodriders next, and just beneath them Magister Illyrio Viserys, and Ser Jorah which makes Viserys fume. Dany felt alone, as she had no common language with Drogo, and she was too far away from her brother and the others.

So she sat in her wedding silks, nursing a cup of honeyed wine, afraid to eat, talking silently to herself. I am blood of the dragon, she told herself. I am Daenerys Stormborn, Princess of Dragonstone, of the blood and seed of Aegon the Conqueror.

 Dany was having a hard time watching the festivities. There were women dancing, when a man would push a woman over and take her right there, as a stallion mounts a mare, for all to see. Occasionally fights would break out over a woman, and the men would fight - to the death. Magister Illyrio warned Dany that a Dothraki wedding with less than three deaths is considered dull. Her wedding had at least a dozen. Dany suffered through several more hours until the sunset, then Khal Drogo stood. It was time for presents.

Viserys gifted her with three handmaids - Irri, Jhiqui, and Doreah. Irri was to teach her riding, Jhiqui would teach her Dothraki, and Doreah would teach her the "womanly arts of love." Ser Jorah gifted her with books, the history of the Seven Kingdoms. Magister Illyrio gifted her with three stone eggs.

"Dragon's eggs, from the Shadow Lands beyond Asshai," said Magister Illyrio. "The eons have turned them to stone, yet still they burn bright with beauty."

Dany thought of how expensive the eggs must be, but Illyrio could afford it. He had made a fortune in horses and slaves from his part in selling her to Khal Drogo. Drogo's bloodriders offered her ceremonial gifts, a whip, an arakh, and a dragonbone bow, and as part of the ceremony she refused these gifts, and passed them to her husband. She received many more gifts, more gifts than she could ever want or use. And lastly, Khal Drogo presented his gift. It was a horse, the finest horse in the khalasar. Dany was afraid, but it was made clear she was meant to ride it. She climbed on the horse and started forward - and felt free for the first time that day. She spirited it through the crowds, as people jumped aside, before returning to Khal Drogo. As she approached him she was a burning fire pit in the way, and jumped the fire. Khal Drogo smiled for the first time that day.

And then it was time. Khal Drogo led Dany away from the festivities, to a small stream. There he began removing all the bells from his long braid. Dany helped him, and then unraveled his braid, letting his long hair fall loose. It was then the Khal's turn, and he undressed Dany. He then took his time, touching her all over, being very gentle. After what seemed hours, Dany allowed him to take her.

My Thoughts

Yeah, I glossed over the end a bit. If you want to read the Khal Drogo/Dany foreplay/fingering scene get the book out and read it yourself!

Ahem, anyway, what actually happened in this chapter? Well, after this chapter I really wish I remembered A Feast for Crows better. I have read the first three books multiple times, and remember them pretty well, but I only read Feast once, and it was quite a few years ago. But I remember the Martell's being in contact with Viserys, or at least having knowledge of his doings, and I can't remember how the wedding played in to things. Ah well, I'll file it away for future use.

It's telling that Ser Jorah cautioned Viserys patience, as we will soon learn that he is a spy for King Robert. He easily finagled his way into Viserys' counsel, and now is in a position to provide the King with much information. Magister Illyrio is still somewhat of an enigma. We know he is plenty powerful, and has a long reach. And of course, the gifting of the dragon's eggs might be the most significant event so far. Only time will tell on that part, but giving the last Targaryen three dragons is a pretty big deal. Of course, if he was aware they could one day hatch, there is no way he would have parted with them.

I didn't remember much of Khal Drogo, but he comes off as very likeable. As we only see him from Dany's point of view, up to this point he seemed nothing more than a barbarian. A hulking, mindless, brute. But when it comes down to it, his gift, and the way he treats Dany, he actually comes off as a good husband. In truth, he might be the only person in Dany's short life that has treated her with actual respect.

Oh, I almost ended the blog post without mentioning the best part. As Magister Illyrio so eloquently states to Viserys, the Khal did indeed promise Viserys a crown. And that ain't no lie, he'll give Viserys a crown all right. I can't wait.


And that's it for today! Hopefully I can stick to my one post a day plan for the rest of the week. I also hope everyone enjoys the new layout for the blog. Trying something new.