Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard
Ser Barristan and Eddard converse over the body of Ser Hugh as the silent sisters attend to the corpse. Eddard wonders if he was killed by the Lannisters before he could talk. Barristan says Hugh was Jon’s squire for four years and desperately wanted a knighthood, but he was not ready. The two head to King Robert’s tent, where he is preparing to fight in the melee. His two squires are trying to get him into his armor, but he is too fat. Eddard points this out, and Robert sends the squires looking for a breastplate stretcher. Eddard is troubled by the fact that the squires are both Lannisters. Ser Barristan tells Robert as a ploy to get him to stand down that if he fights, no one would dare strike him, and Robert throws a breastplate at him in fury and orders him out. He tells Eddard to stay and laments to him about how dead he feels. He only became king instead of Jon or Eddard because his claim was better. He married Cersei to tie Lord Tywin to him, but gets no joy from marriage. He would just leave for the Free Cities and work as a mercenary if he were not so worried about Joffrey taking the throne. He is hopeful that with Eddard at his side he can turn around his admittedly poor reign. He also mentions that Renly told him about Loras’s sister and how beautiful she is. Robert’s melancholy lifts at breakfast, and Eddard becomes confident that once he proves the Lannisters were behind Jon’s death the king will crush them.
Eddard joins Sansa to watch the rest of the tournament as Sandor and Jaime take their places. Petyr and Renly make wagers on who will win. Sandor unseats Jaime on the second tilt, and Renly laments Tyrion’s absence, for he would have won twice as much. As Gregor and Loras take their places for the second match, Eddard contemplates the Mountain That Rides. He is a solitary man who only leaves his lands for wars and tournaments. He will soon be married a third time, and both of his previous wives, as well as his sister and father, died under strange circumstances. The day he inherited his father’s lands, Sandor left to take service with the Lannisters as a sworn sword and never returned. Rumor has it that it was Gregor who killed Rhaegar’s infant son, Aegon, by dashing his head against a wall and that he raped and killed Elia afterward. He also fought inGreyjoy’s Rebellion. Ser Loras unseats Gregor with the aid of a mare in heat that distracts Gregor’s horse. Gregor is furious and calls for his sword, which his squire fetches. He kills his own horse before knocking Ser Loras from his saddle. Before he can land the killing blow, Sandor is there and stops him. They fight until Robert puts a stop to it. A shaken Loras cedes the final match to Sandor, who wins the champion’s prize. Later, a boy from the Dornish Marches named Anguy wins the archery competition by defeating Ser Balon Swann and Jalabhar Xho in the final round. Finally, in a free-for-all melee of forty men,Thoros of Myr wins the last prize of the day. At the feast that night, Jory brings Arya down fresh from a training session withSyrio Forel and with bruises. Eddard worries that Syrio is pushing her too much. He has her do strange things like walk around blindfolded and catch cats. He asks her if she would like a new tutor, but she says no.
Quotes…
Ned only needed a glance to understand the difficulty. “The boys are not at fault,” he told the king. “You’re too fat for your armor, Robert.”
Robert Baratheon took a long swallow of beer, tossed the empty horn onto his sleeping furs, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and said darkly, “Fat? Fat, is it? Is that how you speak to your king?” He let go his laughter, sudden as a storm. “Ah, damn you, Ned, why are you always right?”
“I will not keep you long, my lord. There are things you must know. You are the King’s Hand, and the king is a fool.” The eunuch’s cloying tones were gone; now his voice was thin and sharp as a whip. “Your friend, I know, yet a fool nonetheless … and doomed, unless you save him. Today was a near thing. They had hoped to kill him during the melee.”
He was at the door when Ned called, “Varys,” The eunuch turned back. “How did Jon Arryn die?” “I wondered when you would get around to that.” “Tell me.” “The tears of Lys, they call it. A rare and costly thing, clear and sweet as water, and it leaves no trace. I begged Lord Arryn to use a taster, in this very room I begged him, but he would not hear of it. Only one who was less than a man would even think of such a thing, he told me.”
by Mel
We realize that the knight that the Mountain killed is the squire that was knighted after Jon Arryn died. Second day of the tournament and the Mountain loses to Ser Loras and does not take it very well. He decides to cut his horses head off and then goes to attack Ser Loras. The Hound intercedes and fights with his brother until the king stops it. I was really rooting for the Hound against his brother, but it was not to be. Varys’ let’s Ned know that the Lannister’s are not to be trusted and that Jon Arryn was, in fact poisoned. Most likely be the knight who was killed in the tournament the day before.
Book to HBO
The claim that Ned cut down a dozen great knights is true for the show, but not at all true in the novels—Ned is competent and capable, as trained as any nobleman, and physically brave… but he’s not a great swordsman. Barristan is not present when Ned speaks to Robert, nor is he involved in convincing Robert that he can’t take part. Also, because we didn’t see the feast scene from Sansa II, we don’t realize that Robert was more or less indirectly goaded into committing to the melee (not the joust, as on the show) by Cersei. We do not see Jaime joust against and lose to the Hound (and so do not see Renly’s remark that he’d be even richer if Tyrion had been around, confirming a detail soon to be given), and it’s Sansa—not Barristan—who questions the honor of Ser Loras’s using a mare in heat to gain an advantage. Finally, Renly and Littlefinger make their wager. HBO always makes it very obvious that there is a gay relationship between Renly and Loras, which I totally missed reading the books, and in fact when the scene was on I told my husband, ‘That didn’t happen in the book’ But then looking into it on the forums the author definately states that they are lovers.
Game of Thrones, Chapter 29, Sansa
Sansa goes to the Hand’s tournament with Septa Mordane and Jeyne Poole. Participants in the tournament include all sevenKingsguard; Ser Gregor Clegane, called the Mountain That Rides; Lord Yohn Royce, whose armor is thousands of years old and covered in runes that supposedly protect him from harm; his sons Ser Andar and Ser Robar; Lord Jason Mallister, who slew three of Prince Rhaegar’s bannermen on the Trident; his son Patrek; Thoros of Myr, who wields a flaming sword and scaled the walls of Pyke during Greyjoy’s Rebellion; Ser Balon Swann; Lord Bryce Caron; the twins Ser Hobber and SerHoras Redwyne; six Freys, Ser Jared, Ser Emmon, Ser Hosteen, Ser Danwell, Ser Perwyn, and Ser Theo; Martyn Rivers;Jalabhar Xho, an exiled prince from the Summer Isles; Lord Beric Dondarrion; Sandor Clegane; Lord Renly Baratheon;Jory Cassel; Harwin; Alyn; Lothor Brune; Ser Aron Santagar; and Ser Loras Tyrell.
Sansa thoroughly enjoys the whole affair, and her enthusiasm is not dimmed even when Gregor’s lance spears one of his challengers in the neck, killing him. By the end of the day, only four riders remain, Sandor, Gregor, Jaime, and Loras. Loras has been giving a woman in the crowd a white rose after every victory. After his final victory, he rides up to Sansa and gives her a red rose, leaving her speechless. Afterward, Lord Petyr talks to her and touches her briefly before turning away. That night, there is a feast at which Sansa is seated next to Joffrey, whom she has not spoken too since the incident on theTrident, but he is polite and disarming. She is lost in the magical evening as multiple food courses go by and singers and Moon Boy perform.
During the evening, King Robert gets increasingly more drunk and ever louder until he finally interrupts the whole banquet by telling Cersei that he will fight in the melee whether she likes it or not. Cersei leaves in a huff, and Robert shoves Jaime aside when the knight tries to reason with him. Joffrey asks Sansa if she would like an escort back to the castle. When she says yes, he summons Sandor to take her. She tries complimenting him on his riding and addresses him as a knight, but both acts anger him. He is disdainful of knights and their vows. He is drunk and mocks her and says that Gregor killed the knight earlier in the day on purpose. He makes Sansa look at his hideous face and tells her that Gregor burned it in a brazier when they were younger because Sandor had taken a toy knight of his and was playing with it. Four years later, Prince Rhaegar made Gregor a knight. When they get back to Sansa’s rooms, he tells her that if she ever tells anyone what he just told her, he will kill her.
Quotes…
To the other maidens he had given white roses, but the one he plucked for her was red. “Sweet lady,” he said, “no victory is half so beautiful as you.” Sansa took the flower timidly, struck dumb by his gallantry. His hair was a mass of lazy brown curls, his eyes like liquid gold. She inhaled the sweet fragrance of the rose and sat clutching it long after Ser Loras had ridden off.
“You must be one of her daughters,” he said to her. He had grey-green eyes that did not smile when his mouth did. “You have the Tully look.”
“I’m Sansa Stark,” she said, ill at ease. The man wore a heavy cloak with a fur collar, fastened with a silver mockingbird, and he had the effortless manner of a high lord, but she did not know him. “I have not had the honor, my lord.”
Septa Mordane quickly took a hand. “Sweet child, this is Lord Petyr Baelish, of the king’s small council.”
“Your mother was my queen of beauty once,” the man said quietly. His breath smelled of mint. “You have her hair.” His fingers brushed against her cheek as he stroked one auburn lock. Quite abruptly he turned and walked away.
by Mel
We have quite the exciting joust going on and Sansa is loving it. She’s not even effected when one of the jousters is killed by a lance through his neck. We also learn more about the Hound, Sandor and his brother Gregor, whom they call the Mountain. Poor little Hound, playing with his older brother’s GI Joe toy and here comes Gregor and pushes his face into the fire leaving him scarred for the rest of his life. In this day and age, I’m pretty sure a councelor would tell his parents that he has violent tendencies. Sandor confides this story to Sansa but then threatens her that he will kill her if she tells anyone. Also, Littlefinger is a little creepy brushing Sansa’s cheek and telling her how much she looked like her mother and that she was his queen of beauty once. King’s Landing is just not a good place to take a child, I’m thinking.
Book to HBO
The tourney is much sketchier than in the novel, alas. The feast is gone entirely, as is Sansa being lead away by the Hound, and hearing his story and his threats directly from him. It is Littlefinger that tells her the story.
Game of Thrones, Chapter 28, Catelyn
Catelyn and Ser Rodrik are on the road back to Winterfell. It is raining heavily, and they decide to stay at an inn for the night. It is an inn Catelyn stayed at many times in her youth, run by a fat woman named Masha Heddle. Lord Jason Mallister, his sonPatrek, and a contingent of knights pass them on the road. Lord Jason is a bannerman to Catelyn’s father, but he does not recognize her because she is so disheveled. They take rooms at the inn. Once in her room, Catelyn glances out at the crossroads and ponders what to do next. If she turns west, she can be at Riverrun quickly to warn Lord Hoster of the coming danger. She would take that course of action, except Hoster has been bedridden for two years. To the east, the road passes through the Mountains of the Moon to the Vale of Arryn and the Eyrie, where Lysa may have proof that could bring downHouse Lannister. That route is extremely dangerous, with both predators and hostile mountain clans blocking the way, and only well-armed parties have a chance of making the journey safely. Catelyn decides she must wait until she is back in theNorth and then send riders. She thinks of her father’s bannermen, House Blackwood and House Bracken constantly in feud, Lady Shella Whent of Harrenhal, the last of her line, and Lord Walder Frey, who has outlived seven wives. She wonders how many are truly loyal to Riverrun, as when Lord Hoster called the banners during Robert’s Rebellion, House Darry, House Ryger, and House Mooton fought for House Targaryen and Lord Walder held back his strength until after the decisive battle on theTrident, leading Hoster to label him the Late Lord Frey.
Catelyn and Ser Rodrik return to the common room for dinner and decide to masquerade as father and daughter. A singer named Marillion strikes up a conversation with them. He asks who the greatest singer they know is, and when Rodrik answersAlia of Braavos, he claims he is far better. Just then, Tyrion enters with Jyck, Morrec, and Yoren and asks for rooms. He is not glancing in Catelyn’s direction, but Marillion leaps up to get his attention, and Tyrion sees her and calls her by name. Catelyn gets up and turns to an older man in the service of House Whent and asks if he is loyal to Riverrun. He replies in the affirmative. Next, she turns to three men-at-arms of House Bracken and courts their loyalty as well. Finally she turns to a group of Frey men-at-arms and asks the same. When all is settled, she formally accuses Tyrion of conspiring to murder Bran and orders him seized in the name of King Robert.
Quotes…
“This man came a guest into my house, and there conspired to murder my son, a boy of seven,” she proclaimed to the room at large, pointing. Ser Rodrik moved to her side, his sword in hand. “In the name of King Robert and the good lords you serve, I call upon you to seize him and help me return him to Winterfell to await the king’s justice.” 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.
by Mel
I hated this part in the book, but I really didn’t like it in the HBO series. Poor Tyrion has no idea what is going on but there he has the whole Inn pointing swords at him. I’m sure he can guess that either his brother or sister is to blame for this.
Book to HBO
It plays out much the same as in the novel. The most notable changes are having Bronn be the sellsword who gives up his place to Tyrion, and the fact that it seems that the Frey man-at-arms drew his sword on Catelyn’s behalf, when in the novel the Frey captain keeps his men seated and uninvolved.
Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard
Janos Slynt, Commander of the City Watch, makes a report to the small council on the state of the city. With all the knightscoming to take part in the tournament, the city is full of crime and unrest. He specifically mentions a woman’s head found in the rainbow pool at the Great Sept, causing Varys to shudder. Eddard orders the hiring of fifty new watchmen and loans the watch twenty of his own men. After Janos takes his leave, Eddard once again vents his disgust at the tournament. Pycellereplies that the realm benefits by giving the great a chance for glory and the lowborn a respite from their woes. Petyr adds that the inns and whorehouses also prosper, causing Renly to bring up the time Stannis tried to outlaw brothels. He further wonders how Stannis ever conceived his ugly daughter, as he approaches his marriage bed as if he were going into battle.
After the meeting, Eddard returns to his chambers and tells Harwin to fetch Jory. As he waits, he peruses the tome that Jon was reading when he died, The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms by Grand Maester Malleon. The book is over a century old, and Eddard has trouble seeing how it can be important. He turns to the section onHouse Lannister, which traces its lineage back to Lann the Clever, a legendary trickster from the Age of Heroes who supposedly tricked House Casterly into giving him Casterly Rock and stole gold from the sun to brighten his curly hair. When Jory arrives, Eddard tells him to pick the men for the city watch and give Alyn the command. Jory has been questioning Jon’s servants that are still in the city. Ser Hugh was arrogant and refused to answer questions for a captain of the guard, the serving girl said nothing of interest, the potboy mentioned that Jon had gone to see an armorer with Stannis, and the stableboy talked of Jon and Stannis visiting a brothel together. Eddard is curious as to why Jon and Stannis spent so much time together, as they were not friends. He also wonders why Stannis remains at Dragonstone and what could frighten a man who once held Storm’s End for a year against the might of House Tyrell and House Redwyne while forced to subsist on rats and shoe leather. Eddard is also uneasy about Renly. Several days before, Renly showed him a picture of Margaery Tyrell and asked if she looked like Lyanna. He seemed disappointed when Eddard said no.
Eddard has decided to visit the armorer that Jon and Stannis visited, as he had never known Jon to be interested in fancy armor. He has Jory begin searching brothels to discover which one Jon and Stannis visited. He rides with Varly and Jacks. Earlier that morning, he had sent Desmond and Tomard to scout his route and make sure he is not followed. As they pass the River Gate, they see Lord Beric Dondarrion arriving to take part in the tournament. They arrive at the house of the armorer,Tobho Mott, and Eddard proceeds to question him about Jon’s visit. He learns that Jon and Stannis came to see a boy, and he asks to see him as well. The boy is named Gendry. Gendry is carrying a bull’s head helmet that Eddard offers to buy, but he says he made it for himself and it is not for sale. Tobho prepares to punish him for insolence, but Eddard moves on, asking what he talked about with Jon. Jon asked about his mother, a worker in an alehouse. Stannis watched everything, but said nothing. Eddard dismisses Gendry and then asks Mott who paid Gendry’s apprentice fee. Mott at first tries to deny that anyone did, but finally admits it was a short, stout lord with a brown beard that kept his face hidden. Eddard takes his leave, wondering why Jon had taken an interest in one of the king’s bastards.
“They asked to see the boy,” the armorer said, “so I took them back to the forge.”“The boy,” Ned echoed. He had no notion who the boy might be. “I should like to see the boy as well.”
“This is Lord Stark, the new Hand of the King,” he told him as the boy looked at Ned through sullen blue eyes and pushed back sweat-soaked hair with his fingers. Thick hair, shaggy and unkempt and black as ink. The shadow of a new beard darkened his jaw. “This is Gendry. Strong for his age, and he works hard. Show the Hand that helmet you made, lad.”
by Mel
Very curious. We are introduced to Gendry, who has been working as an apprentice that Ned recognizes as one of Robert’s bastartds. The question is, why did Jon Arryn and Stannis find him interesting also.
Book to HBO
Notably, Tobho Mott doesn’t seem to know anything about Gendry’s identity in this section, whereas it’s clear in the novel that he at least suspected.
Game of Thrones, Chapter 26, Jon
Jon is instructing Dareon and Pyp when a new recruit, Samwell Tarly, enters the practice yard. He is immensely fat and very nervous. Ser Alliser immediately mocks him as Ser Piggy. After he is outfitted, Ser Alliser orders Halder to test him. He is felled quickly, but Ser Alliser orders Halder to press the attack again. Jon tells Halder to stop, which infuriates Ser Alliser. He tells two other recruits, Rast and Albett, nicknamed Rat and Pimple respectively, to join Halder in attacking Jon and Sam. Pyp and Grenn immediately come to Jon’s aid. After the battle, Sam thanks them. When they ask why he did not fight back, he tells them he is a coward, which shocks the boys. Sam walks away forlorn, and Jon goes to put up his armor.
Life for the trainees at Castle Black revolves around training in the morning and work in the afternoon. The trainees are set to a variety of tasks to discover their strengths. These activities include hunting for game, working at the forge withDonal Noye, running messages, standing guard, mucking out stables, fletching arrows, assisting Maester Aemon with the ravens, and aiding Bowen Marsh with his accounting. That day, Jon is tasked with spreading crushed gravel over the top of the Wall to make it less slippery, and he thinks of Sam as he works and how it takes a certain kind of courage to admit cowardice. At dinner, Jon and the others listen to Pyp, who had been an actor, tell a story, but Jon takes his leave to join Sam, who is sitting alone. They go outside and talk. Ghost joins them, and Sam is frightened initially, but the wolf seems to like him. Jon tells Sam the story of how he found the direwolves in the snow and soon begins talking about Winterfell, revealing he is having a recurring dream in which he wanders the halls of the castle looking for Eddard or Robb or Arya or Benjen. Ben is still missing. Lord Commander Mormont is still searching for him, with Ser Jaremy leading two sweeps and Qhorin Halfhand searching from the Shadow Tower, but they have found no trace of Ben, only the blazes in the trees he left to mark his way, which suddenly vanish in the highlands of the northwest.
Jon wonders why a self-proclaimed coward would join the Watch, and Sam explains how his father, Lord Randyll, was always disappointed in him as an heir, because he is fond of dancing and reading and not fond of martial pursuits, and that after another son, Dickon, was finally born after Sam was followed by three girls, Randyll gave Sam the choice of joining the Night’s Watch or dying in an accident. Jon tells Sam they should return to the hall and listen to Dareon sing. He was an apprentice singer until he was discovered in bed with the daughter of Lord Mathis Rowan of Goldengrove, who Dareon claims consented but named it rape when her father found out. Sam declines and goes to get some sleep, so Jon returns alone and joins Pyp, Toad, Halder, Grenn, Jeren, Dareon, Rast, and Albett and tells them not to hurt Sam during practice. All agree except Rast, so Jon goes to his room that night with Grenn, Pyp, and Ghost and frightens him into agreeing. After several days, Sam works up the courage to join them and interact with them. When he comes to thank Jon and call him friend, Jon says they are not friends, but brothers.
Quotes…
“My name is Samwell Tarly, of Horn …” He stopped and licked his lips. “I mean, I was of Horn Hill, until I … left. I’ve come to take the black. My father is Lord Randyll, a bannerman to the Tyrells of Highgarden. I used to be his heir, only …” His voice trailed off.
“I’m Jon Snow, Ned Stark’s bastard, of Winterfell.” Samwell Tarly nodded.
“I … if you want, you can call me Sam. My mother calls me Sam.”
“You can call him Lord Snow,” Pyp said as he came up to join them. “You don’t want to know what his mother calls him.”
“You are almost a man grown now, and my heir,” Lord Randyll Tarly had told his eldest son, his long knife laying bare the carcass as he spoke. “You have given me no cause to disown you, but neither will I allow you to inherit the land and title that should be Dickon’s. Heartsbane must go to a man strong enough to wield her, and you are not worthy to touch her hilt. So I have decided that you shall this day announce that you wish to take the black. You will forsake all claim to your brother’s inheritance and start north before evenfall. “If you do not, then on the morrow we shall have a hunt, and somewhere in these woods your horse will stumble, and you will be thrown from the saddle to die … or so I will tell your mother. She has a woman’s heart and finds it in her to cherish even you, and I have no wish to cause her pain. Please do not imagine that it will truly be that easy, should you think to defy me. Nothing would please me more than to hunt you down like the pig you are.”
“We’re not friends,” Jon said. He put a hand on Sam’s broad shoulder. “We’re brothers.”
by Mel
I just love Jon Snow. He has the kindest heart and has the ability to lead others. I see great things for Jon. I also feel sorry for Sam, but feel that he will finally be happy with his brother’s on the wall.
Book to HBO
This scene feels quite similar to what’s in the novel. There are some omissions in dialogue—Pypar (who no longer seems to have been a mummer) doesn’t recognize that Samwell is a nobleman of the Reach by his accent, Lord Randyll and Heartsbane, his Valyrian steel great sword, is not named, neither is much of the Tarly history, and Lord Randyl’s efforts to “make a man” of Samwell.
Game of Thrones, Chapter 25, Eddard
Lord Eddard questions Grand Maester Pycelle on the death of Jon Arryn. It is extremely hot, causing Pycelle to comment that the smallfolk claim the last year of summer is always the hottest. He goes on to say that King Maekar’s summer was even hotter and had even some in the Citadel claiming that the Great Summer, the summer that never ends, had come at last, but it broke in the seventh year and was followed by a long, harsh winter. Jon had come to Pycelle asking after a certain book one day, and the very next day, he had a terrible stomach illness. His Maester, Colemon, was purging his stomach, and Pycelle sent him away because he feared it might kill Jon. He often called out Robert’s name in his final days, and his last words were “the seed is strong.” Eddard suggests he may have been poisoned, but Pycelle discounts it, saying that he has been Grand Maester for nearly forty years under Robert, Aerys II, Aerys’s father Jaehaerys II, and even Jaehaerys’s father Aegon V and did not think Jon’s illness was suspicious. Eddard mentions Lady Lysa’s accusations that poison was the culprit, but Pycelle counters that while poisonings are common in the Free Cities, the poisoner has always been held in contempt in the Seven Kingdoms as recorded by Grand Maester Aethelmure. When Eddard mentions that poison is a woman’s weapon, Pycelle counters that it is also the weapon of eunuchs and warns Eddard not to trustVarys. Eddard prepares to take his leave and asks Pycelle to send him the book Jon was reading, a book of genealogies written by Grand Maester Malleon. Eddard asks if Cersei was with Jon when he died, and Pycelle reports that she and her children were journeying to Casterly Rock when it happened, escorting Lord Tywin who had come to the city to see the tournament held on Joffrey’s name day.
On the way back to his chambers, Eddard sees Arya practicing balancing, and they talk about Bran, whom they have just learned has woken up. Arya asks if he can still be a knight, and Eddard tells her that he cannot but may still be a great lord and councilor. Arya asks if she can raise castles and be a councilor too and is disappointed with Eddard’s answer that she cannot. Eddard returns to his rooms, and Alyn comes to inform him that Lord Petyr requests an audience. He has been doing his own investigating and discovered that four members of Jon’s household remained after Lysa fled to the Eyrie, a pregnant kitchen girl, a stablehand who joined the City Watch, a potboy discharged for theft, and Jon’s squire, Ser Hugh of the Vale, who was knighted by the king after Jon’s death. Eddard says he will call on the squire, and Petyr shows him two spies, one from Varys and one from Cersei, that keep him under watch. He tells Eddard he should send a man he trusts instead. Eddard tells Petyr he was wrong not to trust him, but Petyr rejoins that not trusting him was one of the few smart things he has done since coming to King’s Landing.
Quotes…
“So you are quite certain that Jon Arryn died of a sudden illness?”
“I am,” Pycelle replied gravely. “If not illness, my good lord, what else could it be?”
“Poison,” Ned suggested quietly.
“Lord Petyr,” Ned called after him. “I … am grateful for your help. Perhaps I was wrong to distrust you.”
Littlefinger fingered his small pointed beard. “You are slow to learn, Lord Eddard. Distrusting me was the wisest thing you’ve done since you climbed down off your horse.”
by Mel
Not really sure if I trust Maester Pycelle or not. He seems a little sly. He seems to not believe that Jon Arryn could have been poisoned. Littlefinger points out all of Varys and Cersei’s spies, and then gives him a few leads of people to talk to concerning Jon Arryn.
Book to HBO
This scene has been merged (and put after) the small council sequence of the Eddard VI chapter, which works pretty well. The details are quite the same, down to the incredibly dry-and-dusty tome of Grand Maester Malleon.
Game of Thrones, Chapter 24, Bran
Bran watches Rickon run in the yard with Summer, Grey Wind, and Shaggydog. Bran is now eight and having trouble coping with his paralysis. Old Nan is with him to take care of him and keep him company. Nan is the oldest person inWinterfell. She came to be a wetnurse for another Brandon whose mother died giving birth, though whether this Brandon was a brother of Lord Rickard or of Lord Rickard’s father changes depending on when Nan tells the story. At any rate, the boy died of a chill at three, but Nan stayed on at the castle. Her two sons died during Robert’s Rebellion and her grandson died during Greyjoy’s Rebellion, while her daughters long ago married, moved away, and died. Her only kin left is the stableboy, Hodor. Robb spends all his time now trying to be a lord, drilling the guard, going over accounts, and visiting outlying holdfasts.
Bran is cranky and in no mood for Old Nan’s stories. She offers to tell the story of Brandon the Builder and how he raised both Winterfell and the Wall, but Bran says he prefers the scary stories. Nan therefore proceeds to tell Bran a story of theOthers. Many thousands of years ago, a winter came that was the harshest ever experienced and a night came that lasted a generation. It was then that the Others came. They rolled over all in their path, defeating armies by the score. As all hope seemed lost, the last hero rode forth into the Far North with a sword, a horse, a dog, and a dozen companions to find the children of the forest and magic to defeat the Others. After years of fruitless searching, all of the hero’s companions died and his sword shattered and the Others closed in on him with packs of pale white spiders the size of hounds. Just as Nan reaches the climax of the story, Maester Luwin comes in with Hodor and tells Bran he is required in the great hall to meet Tyrion, who has just arrived.
Hodor carries Bran to the hall, where Robb, flanked by Theon, Hallis, and a dozen guards, is talking to Tyrion, his servants, Yoren, and three other members of the Night’s Watch. Robb is rude to Tyrion and threatens him as Bran enters the room. Tyrion asks Bran if he remembers how he happened to fall, but he cannot. He then gives the boy a gift, telling him that he can ride a horse using a special saddle of Tyrion’s design. Suddenly, Rickon and the three direwolves burst into the room, and the direwolves proceed to attack Tyrion until they are called off. Robb apologizes for his earlier rudeness and offers Tyrion chambers in the castle, but Tyrion takes his leave to find an inn in town, and Robb turns his attention to Yoren while Bran goes back to his room. He falls asleep and has a dream relating to his fall in which he desperately states that he did not hear Cersei and Jaime’s conversation. At dinner with the Watch members, Yoren reports Ben’s disappearance. After the feast, Robb sits in Bran’s room and cries for fear and grief.
Quotes…
“Any man of the Night’s Watch,” the dwarf repeated, “but not me, do I take your meaning, boy?”
Robb stood and pointed at the little man with his sword. “I am the lord here while my mother and father are away, Lannister. I am not your boy.”
“I have a gift for you,” the dwarf said to Bran. “Do you like to ride, boy?”
Maester Luwin came forward. “My lord, the child has lost the use of his legs. He cannot sit a horse.” “Nonsense,” said Lannister. “With the right horse and the right saddle, even a cripple can ride.”
The word was a knife through Bran’s heart. He felt tears come unbidden to his eyes. “I’m not a cripple!”
“Then I am not a dwarf,” the dwarf said with a twist of his mouth. “My father will rejoice to hear it.” Greyjoy laughed.
Robb Stark seemed puzzled. “Is this some trap, Lannister? What’s Bran to you? Why should you want to help him?”
“Your brother Jon asked it of me. And I have a tender spot in my heart for cripples and bastards and broken things.” Tyrion Lannister placed a hand over his heart and grinned.
By Mel
My heart goes out to Bran, what torture to watch your little brother run around and play and you can’t even get out of bed. Robb’s rudeness to Tyrion has always bothered me, but I can understand his attitude towards all Lannister’s at this point. I love how Tyrion gives Bran the hope to ride a horse again.
Book to HBO
This uses only the start of the chapter. Rather than Luwin entering to reveal Tyrion Lannister is present (that’s for next episode), Robb arrives to speak with Bran. It’s a good, strong scene, and Old Nan’s a fine presence. I was sad that they didn’t include the funny story of Theon saying at least Hodor knows his name and Old Nan laughs and says his name is Walder. Tyrion is not attacked by the direwolves and we don’t even see Rickon. There is no conversation between Robb and Yoren concerning Uncle Ben.
Game of Thrones Video
This is an awesome video made by http://www.youtube.com/user/queenp93.
***DO NOT WATCH IF YOU HAVEN’T FINISHED THE FIRST BOOK OR SEASON 1 OF GAME OF THRONES***
Game of Thrones, Chapter 23, Daenerys
Drogo’s party reaches the edge of the Dothraki Sea. Daenerys is riding with her entourage, including Ser Jorah, Irri, herkhas (bodyguard), and Viserys. Illyrio had counseled Viserys not to make the journey and offered the comfort of his manse, but Viserys refused to leave Drogo’s side until he receives his promised crown. A sudden impulse takes Daenerys, and she decides to ride out into the grasses of the Dothraki Sea, leaving orders with Ser Jorah for no one to follow her. Daenerys thinks back on her journey thus far. The journey was not easy for Daenerys at first. Riding all day left her sore and bloody, and Drogo’s lovemaking at night made it even worse. She was almost ready to kill herself when she had a dream of being purified by dragonfire. From that point on, she became stronger and more confident. She also took an interest in the beauty of the land around her. The party made their way through the hills around Norvos, past villages of white stucco, forded four rivers, traveled down ancient Valyrian roads, and passed through the Forest of Qohor.
Daenerys’s reverie is interrupted when a furious Viserys rides out to scold her for having Ser Jorah command him not to intrude, but Daenerys stands up for herself and shoves him away. Viserys is about to respond when Jhogo rides up and coils his whip around Viserys’s neck. When Daenerys sees him on the ground red-faced and sobbing, she realizes what a pitiful creature he really is. She orders his horse taken away, a dreadful insult and humiliation amongst the Dothraki. Daenerys is afraid afterward that she has woken the dragon and that Viserys will hurt her later, but Ser Jorah tells her that Rhaegar was the last dragon and Viserys is merely the shadow of a snake. She realizes that he would make a terrible king and that he will never retake the Seven Kingdoms. Back at camp, she notices that her stone dragon eggs are unusually warm. As Irri, Jhiqui, and Doreah bathe her, she asks about dragons, but they tell her they are all gone. Daenerys recalls that Viserys told her the last Targaryen dragons had died a century and a half ago during the reign ofAegon III, who was given the epitaph Dragonbane. That night she talks with Doreah late into the night about sex, and when Drogo comes, she pleases him so thoroughly that he calls out her name at his climax. When they are on the far side of the Dothraki Sea some time later, Daenerys, now fourteen, realizes she is pregnant.
Quotes…
“Wait here,” Dany told Ser Jorah. “Tell them all to stay. Tell them I command it.”
The knight smiled. “You are learning to talk like a queen, Daenerys.”
“Not a queen,” said Dany. “A khaleesi.”
Viserys came upon her as sudden as a summer storm, his horse rearing beneath him as he reined up too hard. “You dare!” he screamed at her. “You give commands to me? To me?” He vaulted off the horse, stumbling as he landed. His face was flushed as he struggled back to his feet. He grabbed her, shook her. “Have you forgotten who you are? Look at you. Look at you!”
“You do not command the dragon. Do you understand? I am the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, I will not hear orders from some horselord’s slut, do you hear me?” His hand went under her vest, his fingers digging painfully into her breast. “Do you hear me?”
The whip made a sound like thunder. The coil took Viserys around the throat and yanked him backward.
“Jhogo asks if you would have him dead, Khaleesi,” Irri said.
“Have you ever seen a dragon?”
“No dragon,” Irri said. “Brave men kill them, for dragon terrible evil beasts. It is known.”
“It is known,” agreed Jhiqui.
“A trader from Qarth once told me that dragons came from the moon,”
“He told me the moon was an egg, Khaleesi,” the Lysene girl said. “Once there were two moons in the sky, but one wandered too close to the sun and cracked from the heat. A thousand dragons poured forth, and drank the fire of the sun. That is why dragons breathe flame. One day the other moon will kiss the sun too, and then it will crack and the dragons will return.”
The two Dothraki girls giggled and laughed. “You are foolish strawhead slave,” Irri said. “Moon is no egg. Moon is god, woman wife of sun. It is known.”
“It is known,” Jhiqui agreed.
They were on the far side of the Dothraki sea when Jhiqui brushed the soft swell of Dany’s stomach with her fingers and said, “Khaleesi, you are with child.”
“I know,” Dany told her.
by Mel
I despise Viserys, not quite as much as Joffrey, but almost. I loved that Dani stuck up for herself for once and has realized he would not make a good king and would never win back the kingdom. I love Ser Jorah, he is so kind with Dani. I find her hand maidens funny, and love it in the book and on HBO when they say, ‘It is known’
Book to HBO
True to HBO fashion, they made the scene with Dani and Doreah almost make you wonder if Dani wasn’t going to end up being a lesbian in the series. I had not read the books yet and remembered thinking oh great, I kind of wanted her to fall in love with Khal Drogo. Luckily, it was just one love making lesson and she got it right after the first lesson.
