Ned wears two faces here and I wonder if his grim face is his dire face showing through all the years of old. The wolf face that says: "It is time to die."
That makes a lot of sense. The solemn, quiet, "dire" wolf...
"I can see it. You have more of the north in you than your brothers."
I can split them up. The last few are short though.
Nah, it's all good.
There were questions asked and answers given there in the chill of morning1, but afterward Bran could not recall much of what had been said. Finally his lord father gave a command2, and two of his guardsmen dragged the ragged man to the ironwood stump in the center of the square3. They forced his head down onto the hard black wood4. Lord Eddard Stark dismounted and his ward Theon Greyjoy brought forth the sword5. “Ice,” that sword was called6. It was as wide across as a man’s hand, and taller even than Robb7. The blade was Valyrian steel, spell-forged and dark as smoke8. Nothing held an edge like Valyrian steel9.
1. Chill of morning - that loved Will and Gared not...
2. As if some silent command had been given...
3. they moved forward on silent feet, twins to the first...
4. Kneeling like Ser Waymar.
5. Does anyone else find it strange Theon of all people is handing Ned his sword? Why wasn't Robb carrying it?
6. "Ice," that sword was called. But it wasn't "Ice." It's just called "Ice"... got it.
7. Is Robb short?
8. Where there's smoke, there's fire.
9. Like a Ginsu!
His father peeled off his gloves1 and handed them to Jory Cassel, the captain of his household guard. He took hold of Ice with both hands and said, “In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon2, the First of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm3, by the word of Eddard of the House Stark4, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North5, I do sentence you to die6.” He lifted the greatsword high above his head.
1. (not made of moleskin)
2. "In the name of the Stag..."
3. (Robert is none of those things, he's just a fool)
4. "by the word of the Direwolf..."
5. You owe it to a man to look into his eyes and hear his last words. We know that questions were asked and answers were given. Ned later claims the man died well, but that his words made no sense. Mayhaps, Gared didn't deserve to die. Nonetheless, Ned, the Father, has just Judged him... justly or no.
6. I can't help but think Ned sealed his fate with this execution. He evoked the Stag, by the word of the Direwolf, and sentenced this man of the Night's Watch to die. A man who had just escaped the Others, like the last hero. Except, rather than aid or refuge, this man found himself shortened by a head.
Just after bringing down his sword, Ned came upon a direwolf, dead in the snow, with a foot of shattered antler in it's throat. Coincidence? I think not.
The Stark way is the Older Way.
Bran’s bastard brother Jon Snow moved closer. “Keep the pony well in hand,”he whispered. “And don’t look away. Father will know if you do.”
Bran kept his pony well in hand, and did not look away.
Bran kept his first mount in hand, and looked. Later, he will keep Summer in hand, and look. Later still, the raven, the trees, Hodor...
His father took off the man’s head with a single sure stroke1. Blood sprayed out across the snow, as red as summerwine2. One of the horses reared and had to be restrained to keep from bolting3. Bran could not take his eyes off the blood4. The snows around the stump drank it eagerly5, reddening as he watched6.
1. "Better a swift death than a hard one from cold and starvation."
2. Red blood, White snow. Red eyes, White fur. Red sap, White bark. Red fire, White ice.
3. Horses don't like death. It's true in real life as well. ::: It freaks them out. Like the bodies of Othor and Jafer Flowers. Yet, Ghost, was not afraid.
4. In a few years he will taste it.
5. Or, did the stump drink it eagerly. :::
6. Well yeah, who wouldn't redden if you stare while they eat?
The head bounced off a thick root and rolled1. It came up near Greyjoy’s feet2. Theon was a lean, dark youth of nineteen who found everything amusing. He laughed, put his boot on the head, and kicked it away3.
1. The most fun Gared's had in a while... LOL
2. Interesting it should roll towards Theon, who will later betray House Stark.
3. Something tells me that he won't always laugh at dismemberment.
“Ass,” Jon muttered, low enough so Greyjoy did not hear1. He put a hand2 on Bran’s shoulder, and Bran looked over at his bastard brother. “You did well,” Jon told him solemnly3. Jon was fourteen, an old hand at justice4
1. A growl?
2. A paw?
3. Geeze these guys are serious. You'd think Jon was carved out of stone. ...hmm.... with a direwolf curled at his feet...
4. Twice Bran's age. So Jon has likely seen these beheadings for seven years.
And before I forget, or you all fly past it, I always thought it strange how much they talked of wind/mist like imagery in the first part of this chapter, until it all goes away following the execution.
What do you suppose that means?
Originally, it was just something I noticed that seemed to stick out to me after its use in the prologue. ::crackpot:: Lately I've been wondering if it's not meant to possibility draw a parallel between the Starks and the WW?
Why must I always be the isle of crazy alone in an ocean of sensibility? The should to everybody else’s shouldn’t? The I-will to their better-nots?
Originally, it was just something I noticed that seemed to stick out to me after its use in the prologue. ::crackpot:: Lately I've been wondering if it's not meant to possibility draw a parallel between the Starks and the WW?
I'm really digging the use of smileys! :::
Don't be shy, I want to hear more...in fact, even though I'm sure Weasel Pie is sleeping right now, I guarantee his ::crackpot:: started beeping when he got your ::crackpot:: signal re: Starks & WWs
“Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
To the best of my recollection, the only trees mentioned by name (other than lemon trees, of course) are sentinels, iron woods and weirwoods. The only other trees we see drinking blood are the weirwoods, yet the iron wood trees are mentioned quite a bit. Here we also have an iron wood stump appear to drink blood. Is there any connection/parallel???
Why must I always be the isle of crazy alone in an ocean of sensibility? The should to everybody else’s shouldn’t? The I-will to their better-nots?
Originally, it was just something I noticed that seemed to stick out to me after its use in the prologue. ::crackpot:: Lately I've been wondering if it's not meant to possibility draw a parallel between the Starks and the WW?
I'm really digging the use of smileys! :::
Don't be shy, I want to hear more...in fact, even though I'm sure Weasel Pie is sleeping right now, I guarantee his ::crackpot:: started beeping when he got your ::crackpot:: signal re: Starks & WWs
Thanks! You really picked some cute smilies and they are easy to get to. Drop downs are so much more convenient than codes! ::thumbs up::
As for more, I'm not sure how much more I've really put together in my mind yet. I tend to lean more towards gut instinct and have really nothing definitive to back it up. (Still figuring out that part of it) I do think that there is a close tie between the others and the Starks, or at least their ancestry. Possibly the old Stark ghosts or spirits are the others??? Maybe an attempt at immortality???
Why must I always be the isle of crazy alone in an ocean of sensibility? The should to everybody else’s shouldn’t? The I-will to their better-nots?
Thanks! You really picked some cute smilies and they are easy to get to. Drop downs are so much more convenient than codes! ::thumbs up::
Thank you! The smiley menus I'm pretty sure were done by Weasel Pie and @serduncan. I just started adding stuff as I went. Found some funny stuff out there. There are some coded shortcuts, I've listed them in the smiley thread as I create them.
As for more, I'm not sure how much more I've really put together in my mind yet. I tend to lean more towards gut instinct and have really nothing definitive to back it up. (Still figuring out that part of it) I do think that there is a close tie between the others and the Starks, or at least their ancestry. Possibly the old Stark ghosts or spirits are the others??? Maybe an attempt at immortality???
I understand, I go by stream of consciousness a lot, whereas many folk here post their theories with a lot of passages. Don't be shy about starting a new thread, either, even if you don't have an essay ready. People here are pretty helpful, and it's always great to discuss new topics. Again, I'm pretty sure WP will be ::: when he sees this stuff. He also likes anything about tunnels.
“Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
It is a little strange that Theon is the sword bearer hander overer. I wonder if the reason for that is to make Theon feel like a part of the family/part of Winterfell.
Good point. I sometimes wonder if there's little things hidden like this in order to contradict Theon's later reflections that Ned was more his warden than a father figure towards him? Ned really did try to treat Theon as part of the family. It allows us as readers to understand that Theon is creating his own alternative reality later on in order to justify his betrayal of the Starks.
Why must I always be the isle of crazy alone in an ocean of sensibility? The should to everybody else’s shouldn’t? The I-will to their better-nots?
Weasel Pie, I was wondering if you were planning to continue? I was very much enjoying reading through your reread. In an attempt to be helpful, I'll put up the next few chapters. Hope I'm not overstepping...