A Game of Thrones Reread - Part 8

I'm starting this post later than usual, so I'm going to try to make my summaries a little shorter tonight. Of course, every time I start typing I intend to write less, but then somehow get carried away. So I won't waste time with this blurb, just to say if you're reading the posts, please comment! I'd like to foster a discussion if I can, and maybe one of you will point out something I've missed.

And now, the reread. Remember, these posts assume you've read through A Feast for Crows, do there will be spoilers.

CATELYN

Summary

Ned and the girls left eight days ago, and Catelyn was still by Bran's side. Maester Luwin enters the room, and tries to convince Catelyn to make some decisions, as the king's visit was very expensive, and many positions need to be filled as Ned took so many men south with him. Catelyn sends him away, but he presses. Catelyn angrily confronts him, saying she does not care about any of that stuff when Bran may die at any moment. Robb entered the room and interrupted, telling Maester Luwin he would make the appointments. Robb dismissed Maester Luwin, so he could talk to his mother alone.

Robb confronted his mother, telling Catelyn that she must do her duty, and to not forget about Rickon. Robb has been running Winterfell for the past week, and the pressure is getting to him. Bran's wolf started howling outside, and Robb opened the window. Catelyn hated the sound of the howling and told Robb to close the window. The other wolves had joined in. Robb told him that Bran needs to hear the wolves sing, and that he could now tell the wolves apart from the sound of their howls. Robb told Catelyn that he would close the window if she promised to get some sleep, when he was interrupted by the barking of many dogs. Curious, Robb looked out the window. The library was on fire.

Catelyn was immediately worried for Bran, but when she realized it was a different building on fire she relaxed and thanked the gods. Robb looked at her like she was crazy, told her to stay with Bran, and rushed out. Catelyn went to the window to see what was happening herself. When she turned back around there was a man in the room. "You weren't s'posed to be here," he says. He advances towards Bran, and Catelyn spins to the window to call for help. The man is on her faster, and pulls her head back and brings the knife up to her throat. She grabs the blade with her hand, feeling its edge cut into her fingers. Catelyn was able to bite his hand, causing him to let go, and she was able to let out a scream. The man was standing over her, bringing the knife up again, as Catelyn saw a shadow advance through the door. A low rumble let out, and as the man turned Bran's wolf jumped on him, ripping his throat out. The wolf then advanced to Catelyn, and licked the blood from her wounded hand. She began to laugh, which is how Robb and Maester Luwin found her.

Catelyn slept for four days. Catelyn woke up, feeling more like herself than she had since before Bran was injured. She met with Robb, Theon Greyjoy, Maester Luwin, and Ser Rodrik Cassel. They showed her the knife used in the attack, an expensive dagger made with Valyrian steel. Catelyn informs the others about the message sent by Lysa Arryn, and puts forth her theory that Bran saw something and someone is trying to silence him. It is determined someone must go to King's Landing and inform Ned of what occurred. Catelyn insists that Robb stay, as there must always be a Stark in Winterfell. It is decided Catelyn and Ser Rodrik will travel south with the dagger.

My Thoughts

Okay, I don't really like Catelyn, and she was pretty insufferable for the first half of the chapter, but then she gets bad ass. She grabs the blade with her hand, the edge cutting down to the bone?? Yikes. And then once she gets her four days of sleep, she is back in control and hyper-competent. I also liked the view of Robb becoming more of a man, as seen through her point of view.

And of course, we can't discount the biggest bit of awesome in the chapter. Bran's wolf sensing trouble, and ripping out the son of a bitch assassin's throat! It's impossible to read that without wanting to let out a cheer. And FINALLY Catelyn has come around on the direwolves, allowing the wolf to sleep in Bran's room after trying to shut it out. I love how the relationship between the Starks and the wolves is kind of understated in these chapters. They are always there, but it's never really the focus, we pick up on it from conversations, or just the fact the wolf follows the child. This time, we see truly what the wolf can do.

And the negative of the chapter, the long, long, long, long plot thread of who actually ordered the assassination on Bran. A plot thread that would go on for TWO MORE BOOKS, to the point where it didn't even matter who sent the man with the dagger anymore. I think this was actually the most frustrating plot thread in the entire series for me. When we DO finally discover who sent the man with the knife (it was Joffrey), it's so anti-climactic that I just couldn't understand why GRRM made us wait so long to find out. All the back and forth. It was Littlefinger's knife! He lost it to Tyrion! Wait, Tyrion wouldn't bet against Jaime, it couldn't be Tyrion! Oh, Joffrey overheard that there was nobody 'strong enough' to put Bran out of his misery, so he took his very expensive dagger and a bag of money, gave it to some nobody mercenary, and had him create a diversion and assassinate a noble child a week after Joffrey was out of the castle. I almost think that GRRM had a different plan for this, and changed his mind sometime later. I don't know, this probably bothers me more than most. And also, so long Ser Rodrik's moustache! I'm pretty sure this is the last we'll see of you!

SANSA

Summary

Sansa is eating breakfast with the Septa. Today was the day Sansa and Arya had been invited to share the large carriage with the queen and princess Myrcella. Sansa was very excited, but dreaded her sister's involvement. Arya ruined everything. The Septa told Sansa to find Arya and make sure she was properly dressed before attending the queen and princess.

Sansa found Arya on the banks of the Trident, trying to brush mud out of Nymeria's fur. Arya told Sansa she would not go to the queen, she was having too much fun exploring with her friend Mycah. Sansa could not understand Arya's fascination with looking at these things, and getting dirty. Sansa hated riding. Arya went on telling Sansa of all the things she's seen since they left Winterfell, all the while Nymeria was doing her best to avoid getting brushed. Sansa thought about how the wolves reflected their masters, as Arya would not be tamed either. Lady sat by Sansa, as elegant as her name suggested.

Sansa returned to camp, wondering how she could be related to Arya. Arya didn't look like the rest of the children, she looked like Jon Snow, like a bastard. Sansa had asked her mother once if Arya was a bastard too, and was assured she was not. Sansa noticed a crowd around the queen's wheelhouse, and approached to see what happened. There were three new arrivals at camp, Ser Barristan Selmy, Renly Baratheon, and Ser Ilyn Payne. The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, King Robert's youngest brother, and the King's Justice. Ser Ilyn scared Sansa, and as she tried to flee she bumped into the Hound, who mocked her. At this point the newcomers noticed Lady and a new commotion started. Queen Cersei sent Joffrey to Sansa, who backed the Hound away and informed the others that the direwolf was Sansa's pet. The queen informed Sansa they would have to visit in the wheelhouse another time, and told Joffrey to spend the day getting to know Sansa.

Sansa could not be more happy, spending the entire day with her prince. Joffrey was the perfect gentlemen, and the two of them went off riding alone. Joffrey left behind the Hound, and Sansa did not bring Lady. After many hours of riding, they heard strange clacking noises coming from the woods. In a clearing they found Arya and Mycah, practicing sword fighting using broom handles. Joffrey and Sansa interrupted their swordplay. He laughed at Mycah, the butcher's boy, mocking him for fancying himself a knight. Arya yelled at him to leave them alone, but Joffrey ignored her. Joffrey unsheathed his own sword and told Mycah to attack him, to see what skill he had. When Mycah refused, Joffrey continued to mock him, placing the tip of his sword on his cheek and drawing blood. Arya could not stand idly by anymore and broke her broomstick over the back of Joffrey's head. Joffrey turned to her in a rage, and advanced with his sword drawn. Arya backed up against a tree, when Nymeria pounced. The wolf had Joffrey by the arm, and Joffrey cried out in pain. Arya called Nymeria back, took Joffrey's sword and threw it into the river. Arya and Nymeria then left.

Sansa went to Joffrey, offering comfort and telling him she would find help.

His eyes snapped open and looked at her, and there was nothing but loathing there, nothing but the vilest contempt. "Then go," he spit at her. "And don't touch me."

My Thoughts

Well, Sansa is an insipid, naive little brat, huh? I guess I'm biased, and Sansa IS only twelve, but how naive can you be?? I realize her defining character trait is the fact she wants to be a character in one of the many stories she loves, but open your eyes. I did find her intense fear of Ser Ilyn Payne a little strange. I'm sure the guy was scary looking, and having no tongue is pretty creepy, but the way her fear was described it seemed like there should be more to it. Maybe there is something later on and I'm just not remembering it. We also meet Ser Barristan Selmy (another character who gets screwed by Joffrey, a recurring theme really), and Renly of course. Renly and Selmy have a fun rapport, which makes them both easy to like.

We also have the first conversation between the Hound and Sansa. There's is a very strange relationship. I don't remember the specifics, but I will definitely be paying closer attention to their interactions this reread. The Hound is a very interesting character. So far in the reread he comes off as nothing more than a base villain, but as with everything in these books, there is much more to it. The only truly one-dimensional character is Joffrey, who near as I can figure has absolutely no redeeming traits at all. I guess his mother might be right there with him.

And on to the real meat of the chapter. Arya is awesome, but at this point that is also her biggest fault. She had to sneak off and practice to use a sword. Granted, she is nine but she has absolutely no care for anyone other than herself. A willful child to say the least. I did enjoy seeing Arya's clear influence on Nymeria, who would not have her coat be brushed. Anyway, placing this chapter directly after the Bran chapter was exceedingly clever. Bran's wolf saving his life is one of the biggest moments of awesome in the whole novel. But now we have that in our head when Joffrey is threatening Arya. And as much as we'd all love (or I would, I suppose I shouldn't automatically assume everyone reading this is as bloodthirsty as I) for Nymeria to rip out Joffrey's throat as in the previous chapter, we know this would be terrible. Nymeria attacking Joffrey at all is disastrous. As protective as Cersei is of Joffrey, it's the simple fact that a wild beast (I know the direwolves aren't truly wild, but, well, yeah they kind of are) attacked the crown prince! This act is going to cost both girls their wolves. Sansa in a more permanent fashion. In fact, this may be the last time Nymeria and Arya are together, at least through Feast for Crows. I think they may have one more chapter together, but I'm not sure.


And that's the reread! Lots of cool direwolf action, although Nymeria's actions have much more negative ramifications than Summer's do. As annoying as Sansa is, I did not with that punishment on her. I just wish it was Sansa that eventually took Joffrey down. Or Arya. Or any Stark really.  Well, we'll get more into the punishments tomorrow. Along with a very interesting dream sequence.