Post by stdaga on Mar 5, 2018 0:21:40 GMT
This is a chapter that has much foreshadowing about both Tyrion and Jon, but while reading over it, I wondered what could be hint's of parentage about either one of them. At first look, it doesn't seem like much. But there are a few things.
Tyrion
A few dragon hints for Tyrion, perhaps?
This is a long quote but I think it has some interesting hints.
First of all, I have begun to use madness a Targaryen key word, rather like I think of Snow for Jon, Ice for Ned, Storm or Hammer for Robert. Madness for Targaryen's, and Dany has a lot of "mad" and "madness" hints! And here is Tyrion taken by "a strange madness". I think it's a hint of possible dragon blood for Tyrion.
The rest of this passage intrigues me, and of Tyrion's description of both the stairs against the wall (a dragon clawing it's way up the wall) and of his ride in the cage (a dragon flying up over the wall). Wording like began to ascend, moved upward slowly, then more smoothly, the ground fell away, above the towers, inching upward, etc. Tyrion wrapping his hand around the iron bars to hold on. Are these hints that Tyrion will indeed get to ride a dragon? His descriptions of Castle Black and the world beyond really remind me of Bran's view of Winterfell while climbing and his vision of the world in his coma dream.
Madness and riding that cage like a dragon in flight! Seem like Targaryen hint's for Tyrion if you ask me.
Jon
Tyrion and Mormont have this exchange about Jon.
So, first of all, I want to say to the many people think that Mormont know's some truth of Jon's parentage, I disagree. I don't think Jeor Mormont is sneaky or crafty, he is blunt and straightforward, and in this exchange, I think he plainly thinks of Jon as a Stark bastard, and nothing more.
What I do think is interesting is the repeated theme of three men to guard Tyrion. But it is Jon that is hinted at. Three men to guard someone special. Jon Snow is only a boy. Three strong swords. Keep safe!!! I must say I have never picked this out of the text before, and it's uncomfortable for me, because I have long thought if there was a baby at the toj, it was not Jon. But here we have the idea of Jon being a boy, with three strong swords needed to keep something safe. It really connects to the idea that of the three kingsguard (strong swords) at the toj, and what they were keeping safe, which certainly hints at Jon Snow, "only a boy". And if Jon was the baby at the toj and three strong swords were meant to keep him safe, then it really does hint at Rhaegar being his father.
I always thought it was nice that Tyrion thinks of Jon here, and how he might wish to go home and see his brothers. I don't always give Tyrion credit for being kind or very thoughtful of others, but then I see this, or think of how kind Tyrion is to Sansa, and am again struck by what a complicated and interesting character GRRM has created in Tyrion Lannister. It also gives me an "aahh" kind of moment when Jeor seems to be sad about the neices he has never met, nor will ever have the change to meet, like that sassy Lyanna Mormont.
But, as to this quote directed at Jon and brothers and mother's left behind. In Jon's next POV, he will talk to Sam about who his mother might have been, so this is something that obviously is on Jon's mind, and now I am rather connecting it to this statement by Jeor Mormont. Since we know that Cat is not Jon's mother, nor does he ever think of her in this way, who could be the mother that is left behind that Jon needs to forget? Of course, the more obvious idea to me is of Lyanna Stark (probably who Jeor's niece is named after), and her bones lying in the crypts of Winterfell.
But perhaps that is not it. Is it possible that Jon's mother has been at Winterfell, alive, for all of these years? Of course, I can't come up with one good candidate that isn't Cat. There is that black-haired serving woman who is present when Bran wakes from his coma but that is really unlikely. Any thoughts on this? It's probably just a nod to Lyanna in the crypts but another strong hint that Jon is the son of Lyanna Stark.
Both the idea of a shaggy pale shape, silent, and the idea of Ghost as a white shadow have kingsguard imagery hovering around Jon. Now, this could be for two reasons, I think. One, it hints that Ser Arthur Dayne is Jon's father. Or two, it could indicate that Jon is meant to be king and be surrounded by a kingsguard, which would work for Jon if he is either the son of Rhaegar, who should/could have been king, or Robert, who is the current king.
I suppose this could be seen for imagery as King in the North as well, as I think that Ned was KitN in all but title, but Ned certainly has no kingsgaurd. Also, we will see Robb appoint a sort of kingsguard around himself but I don't know how many of them there are, and they certainly don't wear white, so it's not an easy fit for that for me.
I suppose, if a person thinks that Ned actually claimed the throne from Jaime, making Ned the true king of Westeros, this kingsguard imagery could also work for Jon, but a person sure needs to squint to see it, even for me!
Later, Jon asks a favor of Tyrion and for messages to deliver to his brothers, to Robb and Bran and Rickon. While I laugh every time I think of Tyrion telling Robb to melt his sword and take up needle work with the girls, and my heart melts when Jon asks Tyrion to "help" Bran, it is the message to Rickon that is questionable to me.
"While I am away" is an odd thing for Jon to say. After all, if he takes his vows, he gives up his connection to Winterfell, or at least his right to live there. So, it's almost like Jon is speaking with some impermanence for his time in the Night's Watch. As if it hints to me that Jon will return to Winterfell, it will again be his home.
Oh, warm and fuzzy feeling!
Jon and Tyrion
This passage is often used as a hint that both Jon and Tyrion are related and are Targaryen bastards. Honestly, if that turns out to be the case, then I will look back at this passage as the blinking arrow pointing me to the truth. Whether I favor this notion or not, I guess the passage deserves a nod.
It could also hint that most of Tyrion's family, such Joff, Myrcella and Tommen are bastards, (since they are) and also hint at his siblings, at Cersei and Jaime being Targaryen bastard's as well. This would work whether Tyrion has dragon blood or not, as he is still related to them all through Joanna Lannister. This concept also works well without Tyrion and Jon being related. It's the interpretation I prefer!
Parentage tinfoil
Pyp is probably a Florent bastard, those ears tell every time! And to turn of the shiny a notch, now that Pyp knows the proper way to hold a sword, he is probably the next SotM!
Some none parentage thoughts
An interesting concept about Tyrion that may or may not have to do with parentage is also hinted at in this chapter.
Tyrion has an interesting exchange with Maester Aemon. Now, it is not revealed to the audience for many chapter's, towards the end of the book, in Jon's second to last chapter, but I wonder if Tyrion know's who he is. Tyrion rarely shows any deference to many people but he shows it to Aemon.
It's an interesting exchange between the two men. Tyrion had just angered Aliser Thorne from the room, and really does a pretty good job of mocking the Night's Watch as an organization, but when Aemon speaks, Tyrion listens. He speaks gently and shows regard to the elderly man. Now, perhaps Tyrion has a level of respect for the very elderly, and this is our first look at it. But I think that Tyrion must know who Aemon is. Tyrion know's his dragon lore and probably his Targaryen history as well.
What is more interesting to me is that Aemon calls Tyrion a giant, and not with sarcasm, but it is a theme that will follow Tyrion throughout these novels. Giant! My giant of Lannister, from Shae. I have repeatedly tried to connect the idea of giant to the Lannister's or even the Targaryen's, or even the idea of dragon's as being giants, but none of those things fit. The creature that giant is most often associated with are kraken's, but I can't imagine that Tyrion has Iron Born blood. But this association of giant's to Tyrion is important.
In our very first meeting with Tyrion, we get this image from Jon. When he opened the door, the light from within threw his shadow clear across the yard, and for just a moment Tyrion Lannister stood tall as a king. While Tyrion is not called a giant, he is associated with being as tall as a king. I know this if often used to hint at the idea of Jon's eventual kingship, and perhaps it does, but Jon also refers to Robert Baratheon as a giant in the same chapter.
Perhaps this is a hint of Ned's opinion of Robert more than Jon's, but it draws the connection from kings to giants, and Tyrion to being as tall as a king. Now, this might not hint that Tyrion has kingsblood as much as it hints to possible kingships for Jon or even Tyrion, but I can't help but wonder about a blood connection to kings for Tyrion. Is this a hint at a possible Targaryen parent for Tyrion? Just trying to keep to the parentage them, all though we know I have a derailing problem.
What I am more interested in is what Aemon senses in Tyrion. There is something there. Is it blood of the dragon that Aemon senses, or something else. Giant! There are mountains referred to as giants, the Giant's Lance in the Eyrie, and Tyrion's first link to giants in the story is the mountains of the north, "cold blue-grey giants with jagged promontories and snow on their shoulders". The giant imagery in Tyrion's arc has to mean something!
Another interesting thought I have on Tyrion is Tyrion as a messenger. We know that Tyrion is smart, he has wits and is well read and he has a gift for words. He uses them to save himself multiple times in the story. I think the thing that would be hardest for Tyrion is if he lost is ability to communicate, not by written word, but by speech. I think it is his gift.
Mormont actually get's Tyrion to promise to speak to King Robert about the needs of the Night's Watch. Tyrion doesn't believe that anyone will believe him and he promises he will tell the king. Now, Tyrion never had a chance to talk to Robert Baratheon about this because Catelyn kidnapped him, but I believe that Tyrion would have kept his word, in spite of him thinking he would fail, and passed the message on to the king.
I think at some point in this story, Tyrion will be able to keep that vow to Mormont when he tells "the king" whomever that is, if it's Aegon, or Tommen, who is currently the king, or Jon if he is king, or even Daenerys, queen/king is still the ultimate ruler, that help needs to be sent to the wall. I hope that this will be a promise that Tyrion is able to keep. If anyone can convince people of the impossible, it might be the tongue of Tyrion Lannister.
Another thought I have about this passage, and again, is it has nothing to do with parentage, are the dark shapes that Mormont see's in his dreams, and the darkness he thinks is coming. Dark shapes and darkness. I think this relates back to what Bran see's in his coma dream, whatever Bran see's "deep in the heart of winter".
It's possible that this is the Other's, or wights, but I am not convinced. It could be the Other's, who are related to "shadows" in the Game prologue but I think it could also be dragons, with the "winged shadow" being part of Drogon's imagery, and Drogon (or Dany) might be the Stallion who Mounts the World. Still, shadow's are an aspect of light, and it is the darkness that Mormont dreams of, so perhaps it is something far worse than the Other's or the dragon's. But what?
Tyrion
A few dragon hints for Tyrion, perhaps?
Behind the King's Tower, the Wall glimmered in the light of the moon, immense and mysterious. Tyrion stopped for a moment to look up at it. His legs ached of cold and haste.
Suddenly a strange madness took hold of him, a yearning to look once more off the end of the world. It would be his last chance, he thought; tomorrow he would ride south, and he could not imagine why he would ever want to return to this frozen desolation. The King's Tower was before him, with its promise of warmth and a soft bed, yet Tyrion found himself walking past it, toward the vast pale palisade of the Wall.
A wooden stair ascended the south face, anchored on huge rough-hewn beams sunk deep into the ice and frozen in place. Back and forth it switched, clawing its way upward as crooked as a bolt of lightning. The black brothers assured him that it was much stronger than it looked, but Tyrion's legs were cramping too badly for him to even contemplate the ascent. He went instead to the iron cage beside the well, clambered inside, and yanked hard on the bell rope, three quick pulls.
He had to wait what seemed an eternity, standing there inside the bars with the Wall to his back. Long enough for Tyrion to begin to wonder why he was doing this. He had just about decided to forget his sudden whim and go to bed when the cage gave a jerk and began to ascend.
He moved upward slowly, by fits and starts at first, then more smoothly. The ground fell away beneath him, the cage swung, and Tyrion wrapped his hands around the iron bars. He could feel the cold of the metal even through his gloves. Morrec had a fire burning in his room, he noted with approval, but the Lord Commander's tower was dark. The Old Bear had more sense than he did, it seemed.
Then he was above the towers, still inching his way upward. Castle Black lay below him, etched in moonlight. You could see how stark and empty it was from up here; windowless keeps, crumbling walls, courtyards choked with broken stone. Farther off, he could see the lights of Mole's Town, the little village half a league south along the kingsroad, and here and there the bright glitter of moonlight on water where icy streams descended from the mountain heights to cut across the plains. The rest of the world was a bleak emptiness of windswept hills and rocky fields spotted with snow.
Finally a thick voice behind him said, "Seven hells, it's the dwarf," and the cage jerked to a sudden stop and hung there, swinging slowly back and forth, the ropes creaking.
"Bring him in, damn it." There was a grunt and a loud groaning of wood as the cage slid sideways and then the Wall was beneath him. Tyrion waited until the swinging had stopped before he pushed open the cage door and hopped down onto the ice. AGOT-Tyrion III
Suddenly a strange madness took hold of him, a yearning to look once more off the end of the world. It would be his last chance, he thought; tomorrow he would ride south, and he could not imagine why he would ever want to return to this frozen desolation. The King's Tower was before him, with its promise of warmth and a soft bed, yet Tyrion found himself walking past it, toward the vast pale palisade of the Wall.
A wooden stair ascended the south face, anchored on huge rough-hewn beams sunk deep into the ice and frozen in place. Back and forth it switched, clawing its way upward as crooked as a bolt of lightning. The black brothers assured him that it was much stronger than it looked, but Tyrion's legs were cramping too badly for him to even contemplate the ascent. He went instead to the iron cage beside the well, clambered inside, and yanked hard on the bell rope, three quick pulls.
He had to wait what seemed an eternity, standing there inside the bars with the Wall to his back. Long enough for Tyrion to begin to wonder why he was doing this. He had just about decided to forget his sudden whim and go to bed when the cage gave a jerk and began to ascend.
He moved upward slowly, by fits and starts at first, then more smoothly. The ground fell away beneath him, the cage swung, and Tyrion wrapped his hands around the iron bars. He could feel the cold of the metal even through his gloves. Morrec had a fire burning in his room, he noted with approval, but the Lord Commander's tower was dark. The Old Bear had more sense than he did, it seemed.
Then he was above the towers, still inching his way upward. Castle Black lay below him, etched in moonlight. You could see how stark and empty it was from up here; windowless keeps, crumbling walls, courtyards choked with broken stone. Farther off, he could see the lights of Mole's Town, the little village half a league south along the kingsroad, and here and there the bright glitter of moonlight on water where icy streams descended from the mountain heights to cut across the plains. The rest of the world was a bleak emptiness of windswept hills and rocky fields spotted with snow.
Finally a thick voice behind him said, "Seven hells, it's the dwarf," and the cage jerked to a sudden stop and hung there, swinging slowly back and forth, the ropes creaking.
"Bring him in, damn it." There was a grunt and a loud groaning of wood as the cage slid sideways and then the Wall was beneath him. Tyrion waited until the swinging had stopped before he pushed open the cage door and hopped down onto the ice. AGOT-Tyrion III
First of all, I have begun to use madness a Targaryen key word, rather like I think of Snow for Jon, Ice for Ned, Storm or Hammer for Robert. Madness for Targaryen's, and Dany has a lot of "mad" and "madness" hints! And here is Tyrion taken by "a strange madness". I think it's a hint of possible dragon blood for Tyrion.
The rest of this passage intrigues me, and of Tyrion's description of both the stairs against the wall (a dragon clawing it's way up the wall) and of his ride in the cage (a dragon flying up over the wall). Wording like began to ascend, moved upward slowly, then more smoothly, the ground fell away, above the towers, inching upward, etc. Tyrion wrapping his hand around the iron bars to hold on. Are these hints that Tyrion will indeed get to ride a dragon? His descriptions of Castle Black and the world beyond really remind me of Bran's view of Winterfell while climbing and his vision of the world in his coma dream.
Madness and riding that cage like a dragon in flight! Seem like Targaryen hint's for Tyrion if you ask me.
Jon
Tyrion and Mormont have this exchange about Jon.
Much later, when the serious business of eating was done and the others had left, Mormont offered Tyrion a chair beside the fire and a cup of mulled spirits so strong they brought tears to his eyes. "The kingsroad can be perilous this far north," the Lord Commander told him as they drank.
"I have Jyck and Morrec," Tyrion said, "and Yoren is riding south again."
"Yoren is only one man. The Watch shall escort you as far as Winterfell," Mormont announced in a tone that brooked no argument. "Three men should be sufficient."
"If you insist, my lord," Tyrion said. "You might send young Snow. He would be glad for a chance to see his brothers."
Mormont frowned through his thick grey beard. "Snow? Oh, the Stark bastard. I think not. The young ones need to forget the lives they left behind them, the brothers and mothers and all that. A visit home would only stir up feelings best left alone. I know these things. My own blood kin … my sister Maege rules Bear Island now, since my son's dishonor. I have nieces I have never seen." He took a swallow. "Besides, Jon Snow is only a boy. You shall have three strong swords, to keep you safe." AGOT-Tyrion III
"I have Jyck and Morrec," Tyrion said, "and Yoren is riding south again."
"Yoren is only one man. The Watch shall escort you as far as Winterfell," Mormont announced in a tone that brooked no argument. "Three men should be sufficient."
"If you insist, my lord," Tyrion said. "You might send young Snow. He would be glad for a chance to see his brothers."
Mormont frowned through his thick grey beard. "Snow? Oh, the Stark bastard. I think not. The young ones need to forget the lives they left behind them, the brothers and mothers and all that. A visit home would only stir up feelings best left alone. I know these things. My own blood kin … my sister Maege rules Bear Island now, since my son's dishonor. I have nieces I have never seen." He took a swallow. "Besides, Jon Snow is only a boy. You shall have three strong swords, to keep you safe." AGOT-Tyrion III
What I do think is interesting is the repeated theme of three men to guard Tyrion. But it is Jon that is hinted at. Three men to guard someone special. Jon Snow is only a boy. Three strong swords. Keep safe!!! I must say I have never picked this out of the text before, and it's uncomfortable for me, because I have long thought if there was a baby at the toj, it was not Jon. But here we have the idea of Jon being a boy, with three strong swords needed to keep something safe. It really connects to the idea that of the three kingsguard (strong swords) at the toj, and what they were keeping safe, which certainly hints at Jon Snow, "only a boy". And if Jon was the baby at the toj and three strong swords were meant to keep him safe, then it really does hint at Rhaegar being his father.
"If you insist, my lord," Tyrion said. "You might send young Snow. He would be glad for a chance to see his brothers."
Mormont frowned through his thick grey beard. "Snow? Oh, the Stark bastard. I think not. The young ones need to forget the lives they left behind them, the brothers and mothers and all that. A visit home would only stir up feelings best left alone. I know these things. My own blood kin … my sister Maege rules Bear Island now, since my son's dishonor. I have nieces I have never seen." He took a swallow. "Besides, Jon Snow is only a boy. You shall have three strong swords, to keep you safe." AGOT-Tyrion III
Mormont frowned through his thick grey beard. "Snow? Oh, the Stark bastard. I think not. The young ones need to forget the lives they left behind them, the brothers and mothers and all that. A visit home would only stir up feelings best left alone. I know these things. My own blood kin … my sister Maege rules Bear Island now, since my son's dishonor. I have nieces I have never seen." He took a swallow. "Besides, Jon Snow is only a boy. You shall have three strong swords, to keep you safe." AGOT-Tyrion III
But, as to this quote directed at Jon and brothers and mother's left behind. In Jon's next POV, he will talk to Sam about who his mother might have been, so this is something that obviously is on Jon's mind, and now I am rather connecting it to this statement by Jeor Mormont. Since we know that Cat is not Jon's mother, nor does he ever think of her in this way, who could be the mother that is left behind that Jon needs to forget? Of course, the more obvious idea to me is of Lyanna Stark (probably who Jeor's niece is named after), and her bones lying in the crypts of Winterfell.
But perhaps that is not it. Is it possible that Jon's mother has been at Winterfell, alive, for all of these years? Of course, I can't come up with one good candidate that isn't Cat. There is that black-haired serving woman who is present when Bran wakes from his coma but that is really unlikely. Any thoughts on this? It's probably just a nod to Lyanna in the crypts but another strong hint that Jon is the son of Lyanna Stark.
On the far side of the catapult, a muffled voice called out a challenge. "Who goes there? Halt!"
Tyrion stopped. "If I halt too long I'll freeze in place, Jon," he said as a shaggy pale shape slid toward him silently and sniffed at his furs. "Hello, Ghost." AGOT-Tyrion III
Tyrion stopped. "If I halt too long I'll freeze in place, Jon," he said as a shaggy pale shape slid toward him silently and sniffed at his furs. "Hello, Ghost." AGOT-Tyrion III
He turned to look north. "I have a mile of Wall to guard. Will you walk with me?"
"If you walk slowly," Tyrion said.
"The watch commander tells me I must walk, to keep my blood from freezing, but he never said how fast."
They walked, with Ghost pacing along beside Jon like a white shadow. AGOT-Tyrion III
"If you walk slowly," Tyrion said.
"The watch commander tells me I must walk, to keep my blood from freezing, but he never said how fast."
They walked, with Ghost pacing along beside Jon like a white shadow. AGOT-Tyrion III
I suppose this could be seen for imagery as King in the North as well, as I think that Ned was KitN in all but title, but Ned certainly has no kingsgaurd. Also, we will see Robb appoint a sort of kingsguard around himself but I don't know how many of them there are, and they certainly don't wear white, so it's not an easy fit for that for me.
I suppose, if a person thinks that Ned actually claimed the throne from Jaime, making Ned the true king of Westeros, this kingsguard imagery could also work for Jon, but a person sure needs to squint to see it, even for me!
Later, Jon asks a favor of Tyrion and for messages to deliver to his brothers, to Robb and Bran and Rickon. While I laugh every time I think of Tyrion telling Robb to melt his sword and take up needle work with the girls, and my heart melts when Jon asks Tyrion to "help" Bran, it is the message to Rickon that is questionable to me.
"Rickon will ask when I'm coming home. Try to explain where I've gone, if you can. Tell him he can have all my things while I'm away, he'll like that." AGOT-Tyrion III
Oh, warm and fuzzy feeling!
Jon and Tyrion
"Thank you, my lord of Lannister." He pulled off his glove and offered his bare hand. "Friend."
Tyrion found himself oddly touched. "Most of my kin are bastards," he said with a wry smile, "but you're the first I've had to friend." He pulled a glove off with his teeth and clasped Snow by the hand, flesh against flesh. The boy's grip was firm and strong. AGOT-Tyrion III
Tyrion found himself oddly touched. "Most of my kin are bastards," he said with a wry smile, "but you're the first I've had to friend." He pulled a glove off with his teeth and clasped Snow by the hand, flesh against flesh. The boy's grip was firm and strong. AGOT-Tyrion III
It could also hint that most of Tyrion's family, such Joff, Myrcella and Tommen are bastards, (since they are) and also hint at his siblings, at Cersei and Jaime being Targaryen bastard's as well. This would work whether Tyrion has dragon blood or not, as he is still related to them all through Joanna Lannister. This concept also works well without Tyrion and Jon being related. It's the interpretation I prefer!
Parentage tinfoil
Tyrion grinned. "And has Ghost learned to juggle yet?"
"No," said Jon, smiling, "but Grenn held his own against Halder this morning, and Pyp is no longer dropping his sword quite so often as he did."
"Pyp?"
"Pypar is his real name. The small boy with the large ears. He saw me working with Grenn and asked for help. Thorne had never even shown him the proper way to grip a sword." AGOT-Tyrion III
"No," said Jon, smiling, "but Grenn held his own against Halder this morning, and Pyp is no longer dropping his sword quite so often as he did."
"Pyp?"
"Pypar is his real name. The small boy with the large ears. He saw me working with Grenn and asked for help. Thorne had never even shown him the proper way to grip a sword." AGOT-Tyrion III
Some none parentage thoughts
An interesting concept about Tyrion that may or may not have to do with parentage is also hinted at in this chapter.
Tyrion has an interesting exchange with Maester Aemon. Now, it is not revealed to the audience for many chapter's, towards the end of the book, in Jon's second to last chapter, but I wonder if Tyrion know's who he is. Tyrion rarely shows any deference to many people but he shows it to Aemon.
"Oh, I think that Lord Tyrion is quite a large man," Maester Aemon said from the far end of the table. He spoke softly, yet the high officers of the Night's Watch all fell quiet, the better to hear what the ancient had to say. "I think he is a giant come among us, here at the end of the world."
Tyrion answered gently, "I've been called many things, my lord, but giant is seldom one of them."
"Nonetheless," Maester Aemon said as his clouded, milk-white eyes moved to Tyrion's face, "I think it is true."
For once, Tyrion Lannister found himself at a loss for words. He could only bow his head politely and say, "You are too kind, Maester Aemon."
The blind man smiled. He was a tiny thing, wrinkled and hairless, shrunken beneath the weight of a hundred years so his maester's collar with its links of many metals hung loose about his throat. "I have been called many things, my lord," he said, "but kind is seldom one of them." This time Tyrion himself led the laughter. AGOT-Tyrion III
Tyrion answered gently, "I've been called many things, my lord, but giant is seldom one of them."
"Nonetheless," Maester Aemon said as his clouded, milk-white eyes moved to Tyrion's face, "I think it is true."
For once, Tyrion Lannister found himself at a loss for words. He could only bow his head politely and say, "You are too kind, Maester Aemon."
The blind man smiled. He was a tiny thing, wrinkled and hairless, shrunken beneath the weight of a hundred years so his maester's collar with its links of many metals hung loose about his throat. "I have been called many things, my lord," he said, "but kind is seldom one of them." This time Tyrion himself led the laughter. AGOT-Tyrion III
What is more interesting to me is that Aemon calls Tyrion a giant, and not with sarcasm, but it is a theme that will follow Tyrion throughout these novels. Giant! My giant of Lannister, from Shae. I have repeatedly tried to connect the idea of giant to the Lannister's or even the Targaryen's, or even the idea of dragon's as being giants, but none of those things fit. The creature that giant is most often associated with are kraken's, but I can't imagine that Tyrion has Iron Born blood. But this association of giant's to Tyrion is important.
In our very first meeting with Tyrion, we get this image from Jon. When he opened the door, the light from within threw his shadow clear across the yard, and for just a moment Tyrion Lannister stood tall as a king. While Tyrion is not called a giant, he is associated with being as tall as a king. I know this if often used to hint at the idea of Jon's eventual kingship, and perhaps it does, but Jon also refers to Robert Baratheon as a giant in the same chapter.
His father had talked of him often: the peerless Robert Baratheon, demon of the Trident, the fiercest warrior of the realm, a giant among princes. AGOT-Jon I
Perhaps this is a hint of Ned's opinion of Robert more than Jon's, but it draws the connection from kings to giants, and Tyrion to being as tall as a king. Now, this might not hint that Tyrion has kingsblood as much as it hints to possible kingships for Jon or even Tyrion, but I can't help but wonder about a blood connection to kings for Tyrion. Is this a hint at a possible Targaryen parent for Tyrion? Just trying to keep to the parentage them, all though we know I have a derailing problem.
What I am more interested in is what Aemon senses in Tyrion. There is something there. Is it blood of the dragon that Aemon senses, or something else. Giant! There are mountains referred to as giants, the Giant's Lance in the Eyrie, and Tyrion's first link to giants in the story is the mountains of the north, "cold blue-grey giants with jagged promontories and snow on their shoulders". The giant imagery in Tyrion's arc has to mean something!
Another interesting thought I have on Tyrion is Tyrion as a messenger. We know that Tyrion is smart, he has wits and is well read and he has a gift for words. He uses them to save himself multiple times in the story. I think the thing that would be hardest for Tyrion is if he lost is ability to communicate, not by written word, but by speech. I think it is his gift.
He was in deadly earnest, Tyrion realized. He felt faintly embarrassed for the old man. Lord Mormont had spent a good part of his life on the Wall, and he needed to believe if those years were to have any meaning. "I promise, the king will hear of your need," Tyrion said gravely, "and I will speak to my father and my brother Jaime as well." And he would. Tyrion Lannister was as good as his word. He left the rest unsaid; that King Robert would ignore him, Lord Tywin would ask if he had taken leave of his senses, and Jaime would only laugh. AGOT-Tyrion III
The Lord Commander did not seem amused. "You are not fool enough to believe that, my lord. Already the days grow shorter. There can be no mistake, Aemon has had letters from the Citadel, findings in accord with his own. The end of summer stares us in the face." Mormont reached out and clutched Tyrion tightly by the hand. "You must make them understand. I tell you, my lord, the darkness is coming. There are wild things in the woods, direwolves and mammoths and snow bears the size of aurochs, and I have seen darker shapes in my dreams."
"In your dreams," Tyrion echoed, thinking how badly he needed another strong drink. AGOT-Tyrion III
"In your dreams," Tyrion echoed, thinking how badly he needed another strong drink. AGOT-Tyrion III
"The gods help me if I do not get some sleep tonight. Yoren is determined to ride at first light." Tyrion got to his feet, sleepy from wine and tired of doom. "I thank you for all the courtesies you have done me, Lord Mormont."
"Tell them, Tyrion. Tell them and make them believe. That is all the thanks I need." He whistled, and his raven flew to him and perched on his shoulder. Mormont smiled and gave the bird some corn from his pocket, and that was how Tyrion left him. AGOT-Tyrion III
"Tell them, Tyrion. Tell them and make them believe. That is all the thanks I need." He whistled, and his raven flew to him and perched on his shoulder. Mormont smiled and gave the bird some corn from his pocket, and that was how Tyrion left him. AGOT-Tyrion III
I think at some point in this story, Tyrion will be able to keep that vow to Mormont when he tells "the king" whomever that is, if it's Aegon, or Tommen, who is currently the king, or Jon if he is king, or even Daenerys, queen/king is still the ultimate ruler, that help needs to be sent to the wall. I hope that this will be a promise that Tyrion is able to keep. If anyone can convince people of the impossible, it might be the tongue of Tyrion Lannister.
Another thought I have about this passage, and again, is it has nothing to do with parentage, are the dark shapes that Mormont see's in his dreams, and the darkness he thinks is coming. Dark shapes and darkness. I think this relates back to what Bran see's in his coma dream, whatever Bran see's "deep in the heart of winter".
It's possible that this is the Other's, or wights, but I am not convinced. It could be the Other's, who are related to "shadows" in the Game prologue but I think it could also be dragons, with the "winged shadow" being part of Drogon's imagery, and Drogon (or Dany) might be the Stallion who Mounts the World. Still, shadow's are an aspect of light, and it is the darkness that Mormont dreams of, so perhaps it is something far worse than the Other's or the dragon's. But what?
(I'm getting allergic to that discussion...) It could be something else hidden somewhere else. But I have no idea of what. Perhaps a whisper on the winds from the heart tree?
