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reginarubie · 3 years

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The younger, more beautiful Queen - Cersei and Sansa (and Daenerys and Margaery; and Brienne of Tarth)

When Cersei recalls Maggy the Frog's prophecy about her being casted down by a younger, more beautiful queen we were all ready, thinking that younger, more beautiful Queen was supposed to be Sansa; then Margaery entered the picture and how could anyone actually ignore the dragon queen in the east and the threat she posed to Cersei and everything she stood for?

At which point many theorized each and every of three girls, younger and all described as beautiful may be the younger, more beautiful queen and would fulfill a part of Cersei's prophecy, each taking something she cared for from her. Which has many merits, especially thinking about how much Martin dislikes prophecies and likes playing around with them nudging towards the realization that we as people are the one who make our own destiny with Cersei being the real catalyst of everything Maggy the Frog prophetized for her.

Under the cut, my own personal vision of this prophecy and why I think that, no matter who will actually cause Cersei's downfall directly, Sansa (assuming she ending as QitN is also book!endgame, which we have good reason to believe it shall be so) is actually the younger, more beautiful queen.

People way more talented than me have already talked about this matter, but I wanted to give my input about it as well because I like to talk and this has been sitting in my files way too long and now I've decided to share with you all to see what you think about it.

Beneath her golden curls, the girl's face wrinkled up in puzzlement. For years after, she took those words to mean that she would not marry Rhaegar until after his father Aerys had died. "I will be queen, though?" asked the younger her.

"Aye." Malice gleamed in Maggy's yellow eyes. "Queen you shall be ... until there comes another, younger and more beautiful, to cast you down and take all that you hold dear."

Anger flashed across the child's face. "If she tries I will have my brother kill her."

Maggy 's prophecy has haunted Cersei all these years since first the words had been uttered and it's no wonder. Now, we know Cersei married the king - Robert Baratheon, first of his name - after he had won the Realm through conquest and we also know that the other part of Maggy's prophecy, about Cersei having three children and the King many more than her. So it stands to reason that this part may also come to be true in some way or the other.

Though show!canon has derailed and distanced itself from book!canon, it must hold some kind of importance that Cersei asks Jaime to find Sansa and kill her especially if we connect it with what child Cersei told Maggy the Frog "if she tries I will have my brother kill her"; while she easily, in the show, decides she will be the one to cause Margaery demise as well as Daenerys's.

But let's break the prophecy and try to determinate what exactly it may mean to Cersei now.

Maggy tells her that she will be the Queen for a time, which we know to be the truth, and that she will have three children while the king (Robert) will have over seventeen. She also tells Cersei that one day another may come, that she will be younger and more beautiful.

Note, the first person we know Cersei describes as beautiful, by her words, is Sansa both in show and the book.

In the very first episode of the series, when Martin was still very much part of the writing process of the episodes, Cersei comments on Sansa's beauty and on how it would be wasted in the North (foreshadowing in my opinion Sansa growing past her enamourment with beauty and return North to stay, but I digress).

While in Sansa VI, AGOT, she states "such a beautiful child. I do hope you know how much Joffrey and I love you"

Also, note that this is said about Margaery Tyrell in AFFC in Cersei III: “When all the vows were spoken, the king and his new queen stepped outside the sept to accept congratulations. "Westeros has two queens now, and the young one is as beautiful as the old one," boomed Lyle Crakehall, an oaf of a knight who oft reminded Cersei of her late and unlamented husband.”

(Guess maybe it can’t be Margaery after all tho I do remember someone saying someone else, someone younger — Catelyn about Sansa — would grow even more beautiful than she was and though she did not mean to confront Sansa with Cersei, but with herself, the phrasing did stuck me as strange)

So this girl coming to cast Cersei down will be younger (and all candidates for the place are younger than Cersei) and more beautiful (now this could be as simple as a math count of how many times each candidate is described as beautiful and confront that number with Cersei's).

The counts now stands as following:

Sansa: 18 times (without sharing those times with anyone, all on her own; 2 times she is defined as more beautiful than someone older)

Drawing by @innocent-enyo; sorry I took your pics, I fell in love with them! If it bothers you I will take them down!

Cersei: 17 times (thyo sometimes shared with Margaery so the counts, if we count the shared times with Margaery goes up to 20)

Drawing always by innocent-enyo.

[honorable mention] Brienne of Tarth: 8 times (wouldn’t it be just perfect if Brienne did manage of convince Jaime to fuck loyalty and follow her instead of Cersei? Oh wait… that’s already show canon) after all if every girl can be the another younger, more beautiful who will take (something) everything from Cersei why not Brienne the Beauty?, especially since it’s said sarcastically yet she is far more fair and beautiful in character than Cersei is. I would appreciate the irony and the twist, all I am saying 🤷🏼‍♀️

Drawing by Lucas Werneck.

Margaery: 7 times(of which 3 shared with Cersei)

Margaery Tyrell by innocent-enyo as well.

Daenerys: only 5 times (?! I am surprised as well, tho to be fair she is described as the most beautiful woman in the world once and she was asked if she had grown more beautiful in a lapse of time, but never confronted to another older)

Daenerys Targaryen by innocent-enyo again!

So we have a neck-to-neck between Sansa and Cersei.

And tho I do think each girl will fulfill part of the prophecy (to save Margaery from her marriage to Joffrey he is killed, which catalyses the series of events which brings to Tywin’s death and Myrcella’s; Brienne did convince in the show Jaime to leave Cersei behind for a time; Sansa took her legacy in a way becoming the second ruling queen of a kingdom of Westeros; Margaery in a way took away Tommen as well in the show since learning of her death he committed suicide; Daenerys took the throne and the promise of the child in the show) I think Sansa will be in the end the younger more beautiful queen because the stress on the prophecy is put on the fact that this Queen will take everything Cersei’s holds dear…

…what did Cersei want? [note; now we enter in the show only realm and book hypothesis of the story since we have yet to see the last two books]

To save and protect those she loved; she failed by her ultimate fault;

have the younger, more beautiful queen and enemy killed by her brother (lover)

To sit on the throne as queen regnant because she feels she deserves it.

To be with the man she loves publicly.

What did Sansa achieve by the end of the show:

She marched her troops South and managed to get Jon free and her plotting assured that her siblings were safe (they protected her as well)

Her “brother” (lover?, Martin I have faith in you) killed her rival (Daenerys) to protect her and their family.

She gains the North independence and is named Queen in the North and is the queen with the strongest power love and loyalty (“Ned Stark’s daughter will speak for them, she’s the best they could ask for” and “we didn’t choose you to rule us m’lady but perhaps we should have”)

I truly believe in the books she will end up (or it will be hinted at) with a man she loves or will grow to love.

So, imo, while each and every girl may take something from Cersei and perhaps none of them (fAegon I’m looking at you, sweetie) or only one of them will manage to directly cause her death and defeat in the end Sansa will be the younger, more beautiful Queen because all that Cersei held dear and wanted she managed to achieve and she will be remembered the way Cersei wanted to be remembered, which is ultimately imo the true meaning of Maggy the Frog’s prophecy.

#younger more beautiful queen #asoiaf theories #cersei lannister #sansa stark #daenerys targaryen #margaery tyrell #brienne of tarth

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thoughtsandgrumbles · 4 years

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Snow White and the Three Queens

Many metas have explored the parallels to Snow White in the series, and the parallels are strong with Jon, Arya, and Sansa all playing the Snow White role.

However, one major parallel seems to be missing: the poisoned apple. While there is a lot of discussion of green apple Fossoways and red apple Fossoways, it’s hard to extrapolate to get to the poisoned apple. Brienne and a tavern in Oldtown both have a lot of cider in their stories, but I’m not sure if it is related. And Arya, Sansa, Dany, and Cersei all have poisons in their plotlines.

I wonder if an apple substitute will be used. Recently @agentrouka-blog mentioned the importance of scenes involving a blood orange and a melon in Sansa’s and Arya’s plots. Melons seem to have a lot to do with heads and smashed heads. Oranges, especially blood oranges, seem to have a lot of meaning but I’m not sure what yet.

See below the cut to see the Snow White parallels. Please note that a lot of these ideas have been written by other people over the years, but I can’t remember who wrote them or where I read them.

Snow White starts with a Queen sewing at a window looking at the snow says “Would that I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as the wood of the window-frame.”

Lyanna was in a tower and probably looked out a window. The snow though was probably in her mind.

Her son, however, Jon Snow, ends up with the dark-haired Stark look.

Snow White’s father marries again, and the new wife doesn’t appreciate that Snow White is a rival for her own beauty.

This is a less exact parallel, and I’m certainly not anti-Catelyn, but Catelyn does worry about Jon and his heirs’ potential rivalry for the claims of her children.

The Queen, Snow White’s stepmother, who has a magic mirror, asks a huntsman to take Snow White into the woods and kill her. The huntsman has pity on Snow White and instead brings a boar’s heart back as proof he killed Snow White.

This is a fragmented parallel, but after Nymeria bites Joffrey on the Trident, Cersei sends the Hound and Jaime, Cersei’s mirror, into the woods to hunt for Mycah and Arya. As Jaime notes later, Cersei wanted Arya killed or maimed for what happened to Joffrey.

The Hound kills Mycah. Luckily, Jory finds Arya.

But after Cersei demands a dead direwolf form Robert, Lady takes the place of Arya and Nymeria, and Ned kills her. However, Cersei gets no part of Lady.

The Queen eats what she thinks is Snow White’s heart.

On another hunt, Queen Cersei arranges for King Robert’s death by drugging his wine, and he is killed by a boar.

Cersei eats the boar with relish: “ There has never been a boar so delicious. They cooked it with mushrooms and apples, and it tasted like triumph."

Snow White finds a small cottage belonging to seven dwarfs, and they let her stay in return for housekeeping services.

Here is a slight twist. Tyrion actually takes Sansa to the Hand’s tower after she is beaten by Joffrey in Court.

He offers to let her stay there guarded by one of his Mountain Clans. However, Sansa refuses so she can still escape with Ser Dontos.

The Queen finds out Snow White is alive and visits her as an old peddler selling stay laces to lace up a bodice. Snow White lets her in, and the Queen laces her so tightly she loses her breath and falls down as if dead. The dwarfs return and cut the laces, and Snow White begins to breathe and return to life.

Cersei gives Sansa a dress for her wedding to Tyrion. It’s a woman’s dress with a “waist so tight that Sansa had to hold her breath as they laced her into it.”

Marriage to Tyrion doesn’t make Sansa collapse as if dead, although she gets close several times, but it is a strong shift in circumstances.

The Queen again finds out Snow White is alive and this time comes to her as another old woman selling a poisonous comb. Warned by the dwarves, Snow White does not want to let her in but opens the door when the woman shows her the beautiful comb. The Queen combs Snow White’s hair, and Snow White falls down senseless. The dwarves return and take out the comb, and Snow White revives.

Here the Queen gets switched up. Sansa gets a hairnet with stones of poison from Dontos, who got it from Littlefinger, who is carrying out a plan with the Queen of Thorns.

It is the Queen of Thorns who adjusts Sansa’s hair:

"You do look quite exquisite, child," Lady Olenna Tyrell told Sansa when she tottered up to them in a cloth-of-gold gown that must have weighed more than she did. "The wind has been at your hair, though." The little old woman reached up and fussed at the loose strands, tucking them back into place and straightening Sansa's hair net.

It’s interesting to think why Olenna is called the Queen of Thorns. She is not an actual queen. It is a mark of respect for her strong political power. But was it necessary for GRRM to have this nickname instead of something like “The Thorn of HIghgarden.” Could it be partly to make this parallel?

Again, Sansa is not physically hurt by the hairnet’s poison, but it makes for a strong change in circumstances and leaves her imprisoned in a new but different situation.

Finally, we get to the famous poisoned apple. This time Snow White is on her guard, but the apple is white with red cheeks, and the Queen had poisoned only the red part. She eats the white part to put Snow White at ease and then Snow White eats the red part and falls down dead. This time the dwarfs cannot revive Snow White. The Queen’s envious heart found rest as far as an envious heart can find rest.

This is a part of the story I can’t figure out. Has it happened or will it happen later in the books?

Who will play the Queen? If the other Queens are Cersei and the Queen of Thorns, should it be Daenerys? Will it be Cersei again? Is it somehow Selyse? Is it even a reverse, and this time Sansa is the queen or acting as the queen?

Are the safe white and poisoned red parts of the apple somehow analogous to the green and red Fossoways? Or is it something else? As I’ve said, I’ve looked through the story for apple imagery have haven’t found much that seems to predict what will happen. There’s some cider imagery in Brienne’s and Aemon’s passages. @agentrouka-blog posted about blood orange and melon imagery connected to Sansa and Arya fighting, and I thought perhaps melons or oranges are taking the place of apples in this story.

The dwarves lay Snow White on a bier and mourn her for three days, but they don’t want to bury her because she looks so alive. Instead, they put her body in a glass coffin upon a mountain and one of the dwarves always stays by it. Three birds also come to weep for Snow White, an owl, a raven, and a dove. Snow White lays there for a long time until a king’s son comes into the forest and asks for the coffin. The dwarves won’t sell but ultimately give it to him at his request. As the prince’s servants carry it away on their shoulders, they stumble over a tree trunk, the apple is expelled, and Snow White opens her eyes.

Here I think the role of Snow White returns to Jon. Jon’s body will perhaps be preserved in an ice cell. Perhaps Melisandre will resurrect the body as Mirri Maz Duur resurrected Drogo’s body using blood magic.

This is a minor part of the Snow White story so it may not happen, but will there be an owl, a raven, and a dove who mourn Jon? I have no idea about the owl. But Bran and Sansa could be the raven and dove.

Then, I think, as @fedonciadale has suggested, that Sansa will wake him using her song magic.

The king’s son invites Snow White back to his father’s palace to marry him, and Snow White goes with him willingly.

This could be Jon or Sansa inviting the other both to Winterfell and to get married.

The Queen is invited to the wedding. Before the wedding, as she has each time she tried to kill Snow White, she asks her mirror who is the fairest, and this time, the Young Queen is the fairest. The Queen at first decides not to go, but she has no peace, so she decides to go to see the Young Queen.

And when she went in she knew Snow-white; and she stood still with rage and fear, and could not stir. But iron slippers had already been put upon the fire, and they were brought in with tongs, and set before her. Then she was forced to put on the red-hot shoes, and dance until she dropped down dead.

GRRM may not use this part of the story, but if he does, it’s difficult to tell who will play the Queen.

The idea of a Young Queen suggests Cersei, and the idea of the fire suggests Dany.

The Queen is forced to dance, which in ASOIAF is usually a war. Perhaps all three queens (Cersei, Olenna, and Dany) will die before the dance is done as in the show.

Anyway if you have thoughts on this, I would welcome it.

#snow white #jon snow #sansa stark #arya stark #queens evil and not so evil

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foreverreadingbeautifulbooks · 5 years

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Jonsa Fic Recs: Season 7 and 8 Fix-It Fics

So I started to make a rec post per a lovely anon request and honestly I couldn’t stop once I got started (my love for these fics knows no bounds and I ranted about each of them in italics below). There are so many talented writers in this fandom and tons of them have poured so much time and energy into writing such amazing fics that I wish they’d been given the reins to write the ending of the show. I tried to arrange all my recs below the cut in order of when they diverge from canon. Enjoy these fics and be sure to give these authors all some love cause they deserve so much of it! <3

wolf, circle north by MissFaber

Rating: Explicit Word Count: 130,532

Canon Compliant through: 6x10

Summary: Sansa and Jon fought to take Winterfell, now they will fight to keep it— against a dead army and their king, a dragon queen, a lioness, and a schemer with a poison tongue. + an alternate season 7 & season 8

I just found this fic a few days ago and even though I’m not entirely caught up yet, I had to add it to the list because I am already in love! Every interaction between Jon and Sansa is so in character and so well-written. The slow burn is already killing me and I need more of it immediately.

and no net ensnares me by @athimbleful

Rating: Explicit Word Count: 130,532

Canon Compliant through: 7x07

Summary: Since Jon left, Sansa has struggled to keep things together and she longs for his return. However, when he does return things only become worse. Jon learns about his parentage and doesn't know how to make sense of anything, how to fix the inevitable mess the reveal will create, or how to protect the people he loves. But at least, after all these years, the pack is finally back together. Then, one day, Sansa disappears. Post season 7 fic.

I adore this fic so much! Seriously, I pulled an all-nighter when I found this fic because as soon as I started reading it I couldn’t put it down! It’s that good! The plot is incredible the characterizations are great, the endings of the villains work perfectly in the story, all the Starks are so smart and actually use the abilities they’ve spent seasons gaining, and the ending is perfect! (I mean every fic by @athimbleful is amazing, but this one in particular is probably my favorite because I found it right when I was feeling down about the S8 finale and it helped remind me why I love Game of Thrones and Jonsa so incredibly much!)

they tumble down by @athimbleful

Rating: Explicit Word Count: 165,196

Canon Compliant through: 7x07

Summary: He meets her gaze for the shortest moment before turning to look out over the woods, gesturing at it with a gloved hand. “Is this why you brought me here? To talk about memories?”

“No. I wanted to talk about marriage.”

When Sansa suggests it's time for her and Jon to marry, she means they should make marriage alliances with the other Northern houses. Jon, though, assumes she means they should marry each other.

A post s7 story where Jon and Sansa struggle to navigate their new political landscape while suppressing their feelings for one another, Arya does everything in her power to protect her pack, and Bran and Sam try to figure out how to kill the Night King.

This fic is amazing. I adore the plot of the fic and I always love a good Arranged Marriage AU. But I love this one in particular because Jon and Sansa are so soft with each other and it just melts me every time! <3

what do you want (that you do not have) by @athimbleful

Rating: Teen Current Word Count: 80,865

Canon Compliant through: 7x07

Summary: When the Winterfellians learn that Cersei has hired men to kidnap Sansa, they decide that Sansa needs to run away and Jon volunteers to protect her. During their travels the tension builds between them--especially after Jon suffers an injury and they're taken in by an older couple. Because, in hopes of protecting their identities, Jon and Sansa have to pretend to be happily married and in love. Every day. In close quarters. For quite some time.

Takes place after the war against the NK is won. Not a kidnapping fic.

I love every second of this incredible fic, even when it hurts how in love both Jon and Sansa are with each other when neither believes the other could love them back. Fair warning that the slow burn is ssslllooowww (thimbleful is literally the queen of the slow burn) and every painful second of it is amazing! The result of this author’s fics are always so satisfying and I hope you all love it as much as I do!

A Heart That Offends by @noqueenbutthequeeninthenorth

Rating: Mature Word Count: 44,583 Canon Compliant through: 7x07

Summary: Jon comes home. Unfortunately, he brings Daenerys with him. The Northerners are furious, Arya can hardly look at him, Bran needs to tell him something important, and Sansa -- well, Sansa is haunting Jon's every thought. Just another post-S7 fic.

As with everything this author writes, this fic is so satisfying in the best possible way! All the characters are so beautifully written and the conversations and fights between Jon and Sansa are absolute perfection! Lyanna Mormont and Arya are both incredibly badass and the politics are amazing! I loved every second of reading it!

we are buried in broken dreams by annabeth_writes

Rating: Explicit Current Word Count: 49,373 Canon Compliant (mostly) through: 7x07

Summary: Sansa and Jon sleeping together before he goes to Dragonstone and when he comes back he finds out she is pregnant.

A full on s8 fix-it fic at this point.

This fic is so full of Jonsa feels that it makes you want to burst. Pregnant Sansa is so brave and amazing. I adored watching her find out everything she could about Daenerys and then use that information to her advantage. The fic is very well-written so enjoy if you check this one out!

victory is in my veins (oh ye of so little faith) by LadyAlice101

Rating: Explicit Current Word Count: 131,955 Canon Compliant (mostly) through: 7x07

Summary: “Jon,” Sansa says quietly, her hands twisting together in front of her. “Tell me the truth. Do you love her?”

He starts, eyes widening. “Love her?”

That’s all the confirmation she needs, but Jon rushes onward, stepping closer to her, hands outstretched and voice nervous, reassuring, as if he were a husband swearing to his wife that he loves only her.

“Sansa, no, no, gods, after this, I hope I never have to see her again.”

The Season 8 we deserved. (and that the characters deserved) (yeah i'll die mad about s8, sue me)

This fic was fabulous. It was genuinely so satisfying to read something with a better plot for the Starks (who actually talk to each other, what a concept?!) for every single episode of Season 8. (Seriously, any good therapist will recommend this as a cleanse for your soul! lol)

At Dawn We Break, At Dusk We Stand by misspensandscribbles

Rating: Mature Word Count: 55,758 Canon Compliant through: 7x07

Summary: "Forgive me," he tells her, his voice is almost inaudible but there is no mistaking the pleading in his tone. He must only fall to his knees before her, and then he'll be no different from the slaves and beggars she had seen in King's Landing.

"For what, your Grace?" she asks, her voice cold and detached. She sees him wince as though her words have cut through his skin, yet she remains unmoved. She cannot afford to let herself feel now.

He doesn't answer her question. Instead, he offers an explanation. "I couldn't allow the North to go through yet another war, Sansa, especially not one against dragons."

Oh my gosh, this fic! I’m in love with the plot and Sansa is so brilliant and badass throughout every second. The politics are to die for and the tension between Jon and Sansa is sssoooo intense. Also, I am also always a fan of Jaime Lannister as the sworn sword to Sansa and I adore their relationship in this fic!

oh you fool, there are rules (the reckoning begins) by by @cat-stark

Rating: Mature Current Word Count: 39,051 Canon Compliant through: 6x08

Summary:For some reason, it’s Theon Greyjoy’s voice in Rickon's head as he begins to run. “If you ever find yourself on the wrong end of a bow, don’t run straight.”

- or -

Baelish bastard. Lady Lannister. Lady Bolton. All names for one woman, the caged wolf who had learned how to play the game better than anyone. She would win the game for her family. She would do her duty to her king and country.

Never let it be said the daughter of Eddard Stark was without honor.

I adore literally everything about this fic. The plot is amazing and the characters have been written so beautifully. The author has managed to perfectly capture Sansa’s headspace, which is incredible to read. It’s been absolutely heartbreaking to watch her deal with some of the situations handed to her, but she does it with such love, grace, and political acumen that I can’t get enough of it. Please note that this is a complete Season 8 rewrite that has major departures from Season 7 and a few from Season 6.

To Be In Your Arms Again by ScullyLikesScience

Rating: Mature Current Word Count: 43,500 Canon Compliant through: 8x03

Summary: Jon goes south to help Daenerys win the Iron Throne. Sansa goes south to save him.

"In winter, I plot and plan. In spring, I move." ~ Henry Rollins

It’s amazing just how much the Starks communicating with each other makes me happy in fics now, but this fic has them working together very well and I loved it! I also truly enjoyed the political conclusion of this fic.

The Triumph of Winter by @foreverreadingbeautifulbooks

Rating: Mature Current Word Count: 28,754 Canon Compliant through: 8x05

Summary: Jon's heart constricted at the thought of his Sansa standing proud and defiant as dragonflames consumed her. “How could you do that?” he yelled. “How could you think that your death was an acceptable outcome?”

“You hypocrite!” she responded, throwing the accusation in his face as she stepped in closer, chest heaving in time with his own. “As if you hadn’t used your own life as a bargaining chip to save the North - to save our family. I can play the same game, Jon. I’ve watched too many members of my family die for me to surrender you to the flames, not when I might be able to save your life with mine! Not- ”

“Sansa!” Jon cut her off, aghast at her words as he stepped in and gripped her arms. “Your life is far more important than mine could ever be.”

She met his eyes defiantly, a fury contained in them that ignited his bones. “Not to me.”

- or -

The political landscape has changed in the aftermath of Daenerys Targaryen's decimation of King's Landing. As the wolves and the dragons prepare for another battle, the realm can only hold its breath and wonder who will win the Game of Thrones after this.

I hope it’s not too presumptuous to add my own fic to this list as I’m having so much fun writing my own Season 8 fix-it fic. This is my attempt to answer all the questions I was left with at the end of the season as most were never addressed. It’s filled to the brim with Stark sibling moments, Pol!Jon, friendships, political intrigue, magic, and, of course, Jonsa.

Brave, Gentle, and Strong by @the-last-of-the-starks

Rating: Not Rated Current Word Count: 12,991 Canon Compliant (mostly) through: 8x05

Summary: Jon and Arya return to Winterfell proceeding the sack of King's Landing to help rebuild their childhood home and a fallen Westeros. But will Jon and Sansa be able to rebuild their trust in one another and finally reveal their deepest, darkest secrets, or will those secrets tear them apart forever?

This fic is lovely and so far it’s been really interesting to get inside Jon and Sansa’s heads as they contemplate their relationship and everything that’s happened to them since they were first separated when Jon left for Dragonstone. As with many fics, I want to lock the two of them in a closet and not let them out till they talk to each other! I’m looking forward to more updates for this fic whenever they’re posted.

there is a crack, a crack in everything (that’s how the light gets in) by sansaswildlinglover

Rating: Not Rated Current Word Count: 12,991 Canon Compliant (mostly) through: 8x05

Summary: When King's Landing falls, Sansa marches south, still unaware that the future of the Seven Kingdoms lies in her hands, and that the peace she will broker comes with a price...

Sansa finds herself back in Winterfell, separated from her family by distance, duty and yet another secret, raising another bastard child as she rebuilds herself, the castle and the North.

Jon heals in the True North, finding his own worth again, and discovering that even after being lost, he can find purpose in his own heart and mind again, even burdened by the crippling guilt and resentment which will take him many years to learn how to carry and let go.

Ten years is a long time, but they say time heals all wounds. But what if time only adds more complications? Winter is always coming, and even family, duty and honour are at odds sometimes.

This one is currently on hiatus, but I am looking forward to when it comes back because so far the characterizations are really good and I absolutely adore the premise of Sansa raising a Lannister bastard in Winterfell!

Dear Jon by @sansa-in-the-north

Rating: Not Rated Current Word Count: 12,053 Canon Compliant through: 8x06

Summary: Sansa drops the quill onto the wooden table carved with the leaves of the heart-tree and leans back in her chair, letting out a loud, exasperated sigh. “Why do I struggle to find the words?”

Her sister’s grey eyes study her face attentively for a heartbeat. “Perhaps you don’t know what to say.”

“I do,” Sansa states without hesitation. “I know what to say.”

“But?”

Sansa shrugs, the thick grey furs draped over her shoulders rising and falling. “I don’t know if he’d like to hear from me.”

“Why wouldn’t he?”

[…]

Jon rises from his seat and folds the letter, holding it tight in his hand, and strides towards the exit doors of the common hall. He looks for some parchment and a quill, and when he finds everything he needs, he takes a deep sigh and prays that his words do not fail him. She apologised, but I’m the one who should ask for forgiveness.

***

Post s8 (partially) epistolary fic in which Sansa and Jon begin exchanging letters to find comfort, solace and, eventually, forgiveness.

This fic is exactly what I hoped it would be when I found a link to it. The letters are sweet and sad and it’s good to see my darling Starks reaching out to each other after everything they’ve been through.

all that's left are your bones by @cat-stark

Rating: Not Rated Current Word Count: 26,214 Canon Compliant through: 8x05 and part of 8x06

Summary: A raven flies North.The King of Westeros has need of a Stark once more.

- or -

A reluctant king must learn to rule.

Jon is such an angry version of himself, but it works so well in this fic where he has been forced to rule a country he never even wanted to reside in. The position and his own resentments have slowly been eating away at his soul and I’m so excited to see where the fic goes next with his character. Sansa is such an amazing queen and it is lovely to see her conducting herself with such grace and dignity no matter what is thrown at her.

wolves without teeth by @cat-stark

Rating: Not Rated Current Word Count: 55,329 Canon Compliant through: 8x06

Summary: It was a common saying in the North, in the endless stretch of years following the Long Night, and the after. The pack survives, whispered the North. A time for wolves will come again. Not like this, Sansa thought desperately.

- or -

Five years after the destruction of King's Landing, Starks emerge from the godswood of Winterfell. Starks who should be dead.

This genuinely might be my favorite Jonsa fic ever. I adore the way my favorite characters get a chance to confront their family members on the ways that they’ve been hurt by them. It features all of the Starks that have been lost throughout the show and it’s lovely to see them again even as they struggle to make sense of the situation that they’ve found themselves in. The characters are all perfectly written and I’ve adored every interaction that each of them has had.

Check out more of my Jonsa fic rec lists here!

#actually jonsa #jonsa fic #jonsa fics #jonsa fanfiction recs #jonsa fic recs #my jonsa fic recs #man I love these fics so incredibly much #I might just have to do a reread of several of these because they're so gooood #for the ones that are still works in progress #I get super excited whenever I see an e-mail update for any of them #<3 #enjoy everyone!!!

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ghostofbambifanfiction · 5 years

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How is arya’s arc tying into the battle? I don’t watch the show all that closely but I enjoy hearing people get really animated about the show and the characters :-)

“What do we say to the god of Death?”

Arya has been a servant of Death since shortly after Gendry was taken away from her in season 3. She told Beric Dondarrion that Death was her god. She travelled to Braavos to learn the way of an order of assassins who consider Death—or the many-faced-god—to be their one true god. Her motivation is to avenge her dead, and she does that by offering names to her god in the form of a kill list she recites to herself like a prayer. Death is her friend and her leader and a force she feels she knows, and being a harbinger of death has been the only thing to bring her satisfaction—not happiness, satisfaction—over the course of many years.

But emotionally? Mentally? Death has done her no good at all, just drove her deeper and deeper into her own darkness, compelling her to travel to truly disturbing lengths to exact her vengeance. And yes, along the way she has picked up these immensely impressive combat and stealth skills (no word yet on how she learned to seduce men, but I think that might have just been naturally ingrained in her soul), including the ability to fight whilst totally blind, but any relief she ever felt at a successful kill was perfunctory, the way a band-aid might relieve a bullet wound for a hot second.

What Arya was meant to say to the god of Death was, “Not today,” but that was swallowed up by pain and heartache, and she welcomed Death with open arms instead.

The only reason that Arya fell so deeply in with her god of Death in the first place is because the people she loved—her family, her friends, her soft places—were taken from her, one by one, and in the most vile and cruelest of ways. She was present for her father’s beheading, watched her brother’s wolf die and saw Robb’s body paraded through a courtyard with Grey Wind’s head sewn atop his shoulders, lost her strongest, healthiest friendship to the clutches of a red priestess who wanted to hurt him, left the Hound to die, was blinded by a man she thought to be her friend, and found a carer in Lady Crane only for her to die immediately, too. Arya fell in deeply with the god of Death because what she wanted—friendship, family, love, safety—was denied to her over and over again.

(Side note: It’s hilarious to me when people say that Arya is the most emotionally detached of all the Starks when Bran is now as detached as it gets and Sansa has long been able to shelve emotion in favour of common sense when occasion calls for it. Arya is all emotion and feeling. She has never been able to rein in the stirrings that rule her, nor the love she feels for other people. That’s why she never could have made it as a true Faceless Man, because she finds it impossible to let those feelings go. And why would she, when they’re all she has left of Robb, of Jon, of Gendry and Sansa and her mother and her father?)

So Arya has had this kill list, and she’s ticked quite a lot of names off it. Polliver, Meryn Trant, the Waif (who was lowkey and deservedly on her list, since she kept trying to kill Arya) and the entire male line of House Frey all fell victim to her devotion to her prayer and to her god of Death. Who is left on the list now? A couple of people have fallen on and off over the years, but Cersei Lannister remains the one constant and popular opinion is that the season will end with Arya killing her, mostly likely whilst wearing somebody else’s face—because she can do that, followers who don’t watch Game of Thrones. She can completely transform into other people. It’s a whole thing.

What happens if she kills Cersei, though? Her arc just… ends? Mission completed, heart a dank pit in her chest, her soul worn away by death and death and more death? Arya has been miserable for years as she embarked upon this mission? Confident, yes, and skilled and snarky and very, very clever, but miserable. And lonely. She’s been very, very lonely.

Anyway, there she was with her list and her horse and her plan to go King’s Landing and kill Cersei, and then her old pal Hot Pie informed her that her beloved brother Jon had taken back the North, so Arya turned her horse around and returned to Winterfell for the first time since she was a wee, innocent girl, where she was immediately reunited with Bran and Sansa and—following a brief and incredibly meta interlude which pointed out how stupid the fandom’s disdain of Sansa is—established her relationship with her brother and sister again. She and Sansa in particular make for a very strong unit as we’ve seen, supporting and respecting one another as they ought to.

The pit in her chest begins to fill with clean earth. A little spot on her soul is rubbed clean.

Enter Jon, her most beloved brother. Enter Gendry, the first and only boy she ever fell in love with. Hell, enter the Hound, who was her surrogate father for the best part of a season. She hugs her brother for the first time in years. She listens to the Hound say that he fought for her and realises for the first time, perhaps, that she meant a great deal to him. On what might be her last night on earth, she initiates sex with a smitten, awestruck Gendry—who she trusts and loves and cares for and feels totally comfortable with, and who reminds her of a time in her life when she was not so broken—because she wants to feel good and be close to him and grasp on to her humanity. It’s such a human thing, to want closeness and connection to another person. Arya has spent so much time alone and she has fooled plenty of viewers into seeing her as a lone wolf, cold and emotionless, but that’s the opposite of who she is. She is hot-blooded and passionate and loves the few that she loves with total commitment. She is no natural servant to the god of Death, because Arya is Life. She personifies Life.

The Night King is Death.

Arya believes she knows Death’s many faces, but she hasn’t yet stared into his cold blue eyes and accepted what exactly that means. We know that Arya is going to be part of the battle on Sunday. It would be ridiculous if she didn’t, what with her impressive skillset and equally impressive array of weapons. Right now, she seems reasonably confident and cocksure (she has plenty of reason to be) and is considering the battle with a detached coolness, but I think this battle is going to change her irrecoverably. For the first time, she will be fighting for the living, rather than to avenge the loss of one already dead. For the first time, she will be coming face-to-face with the Night King, her god of Death personified. She’ll see first hand the horrors he can inflict, feel the terror he strikes into human hearts and be confronted with the very worst of herself, amplified in tenfold because this is her god. This is who she has been serving—this cold, blank creature who takes everything beautiful and replaces it with rot, and who has no aim but to destroy life.

But what better way to end this revenge arc, what better way to see her permanently on a path to love and friendship, and inner peace, and life, than to be the one who finally destroys the Night King? Wouldn’t it be perfectly poetic if Arya Stark, servant of Death, was the one to put an end to him?

Kill the Night King or no (though I really, really hope that she’s the one to do it) I hope she decides that Death can play no more part in her life. I hope she lets herself be sad and human and vulnerable, especially with Gendry, who is clearly plummeting into love with her at breakneck speed. I don’t want Arya to carry on with her kill list until there’s nothing left of her heart and her soul is rusted over. Fuck killing Cersei. What’s killing Cersei going to do for her that hugging her sister or laughing with her brother or pressing her skin to the body of the man she loves can’t? It can’t bring back her lost friends and family, and it can’t bring her any real sense of peace. I don’t care how “badass” 90% of this fandom seems to think she is whenever she crosses off another name, nor how little they value her for any reason aside from her combat skills. I don’t care about the people who whinge and crow about how she isn’t “suited” to a romance plot—she is more suited to falling in love with somebody than almost any other character in that whole damn universe.

I don’t want Arya Stark to continue to embrace Death. I don’t want her to serve Death. Fuck Death! I want her to look Death in the face and say, “Not today,” just as she was instructed to when she was a very little girl with a wooden sword in her hand. I want Death to shatter and vanish before her very eyes, and free her from this dangerous, draining, desolate path of servitude. I want her to drive her catspaw dagger through the centre of Death’s chest and become the woman who saved the living.

I want her to live her fucking life.

#Game of Thrones #Arya Stark #Gendrya

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nightqueendany · 5 years

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Original Final Season 7 - Episode 8: Protectors of the Realm

As with last episode, this episode takes place entirely in King’s Landing and entirely at Night because again, the Long Night is not just ONE night!

Also, this episode has quite a bit of exposition but you will see why. Sorry not sorry.

In the Dragonpit

(which looks like the actual Dragonpit described in the books atop Rhaenys’ Hill [above], not just some repurposed gladiator arena *shakes head, rolls eyes*)

Team Stark/Targaryen prep for battle against the Night King, it’s decided the majority of non-fighters will be holed up in the Dragonpit as it’s the most strategically placed dwelling in the city other than the Red Keep. Bran will be in the pit as well.

Jon and Dany plan to be on the dragons protecting the Dragonpit (as they were supposed to be by the Godswood protecting Bran) - they can’t let the Night King/AOTD get to the Dragonpit, can’t let all those people die/turn and can’t let the Night King get to Bran - he’s the only one with the power to potentially defeat the Night King, **more on this in a bit**

While prepping in the Dragonpit (seeing the structure refortified, non-fighters of the city making their way in, passing out meals and blankets etc.), Dany can’t hold the truth from Jon any longer. She loves him and knows he wants to marry her but she can’t let him do so without knowing the truth - she’s infertile. Jon doesn’t believe it but if it’s true, it doesn’t matter to him, he loves her and knows what’s best for their people, all their people, is for them to join the Kingdoms once more through marriage in order to protect everyone.

They discuss logistics, who to tell of Jon’s parentage? He wants to tell his family but no one else matters

In the Red Keep

Team Stark/Targaryen periodically sends messengers to the Red Keep to inform Cersei of battle prep but the messengers keep coming back saying the Queen refused to see them

In reality, Qyburn is intercepting all correspondences for Cersei, feeding her lies about what is happening in the city

Cersei and Euron (who’s finally back from Dragonstone) are insistent about the wildfire under the city being a “last resort” - Qyburn assures them he’s planned for this and that Team Stark/Targaryen will be none the wiser.

Euron attempts to persuade Cersei to take shelter on his ship during the battle, but Cersei refuses, her place is the Red Keep, she’s not going anywhere.

On the Street of Steel

Gendry gives Arya the weapon that he made for her.

Soon after, Bran finds Arya, indicates her new weapon, and tells her she won’t need it. Arya is upset, she’s a warrior, she always has been, she should be outside fighting. Bran again reiterates that Arya must be a different kind of warrior for the fight against the dead, it’s what she’s trained for her whole life.

Arya, knowing she won’t be able to use the weapon Gendry made her, gives the weapon to Sansa who insists she be on the walls of the pit to defend it, with the rest of her people. Arya tells Sansa she won’t leave her side and Gendry and Theon say they will be at Sansa’s side too.

Plans for the Future

Once amongst a small group of their advisors and family, Jon and Dany announce that they will be married before the Battle for the Dawn. They have a few days, they don’t know what will happen during the battle to either of them, and they want the Seven Kingdoms united officially before then

Baelish and Varys obviously love this idea and they finally broach the topic of who they should name their heir, in the unfortunate event that they both die fighting the Night King. Jon, Dany, Melisandre and Bran look at Baelish and Varys suspiciously, but do nothing. They’ll think on it and tell everyone they will name an heir after the wedding, before the battle.

Because there are no weirwoods in King’s Landing and no septons either, Melisandre offers to officiate the ceremony. Dany finds this particularly appropriate as she was the one to bring Jon back from the dead.

Varys is clearly uncomfortable with this but says nothing

Okay, now that wedding stuff is settled, they need to plan for the upcoming fight against the dead...

Battle Plans

Jon speaks first and asks the one question on everyone’s minds, the only thing that matters really: How do you defeat the Night King?

Bran explains that when the Night King falls, the rest of the dead will fall with him. However, not all the dead were created by the Night King, so to make the battle easier, they have to go for the White Walkers - only three substances are known to kill White Walkers: Valyrian Steel, Dragonglass...and direwolf teeth.

Yes, Arya’s role in the battle finally has a purpose. Arya will warg Nymeria’s pack to find and take out all the Walkers so the living stand a chance against the dead - because even with all their armies pulled together, the dead still outnumber them.

Going back to the Night King, what does he want? How can he be destroyed?

Bran explains the NK was created by the COTF to defend themselves against the First Men. Sam and Missandei jump in, filling in gaps for Bran when they can. From what they can all tell from the symbols of the COTF, the histories in the different books they’ve read/skimmed through, and different visions of the past, the NK’s purpose was to destroy mankind for their wicked and violent ways, and the Children as well for making him. Only once the Men and Children put aside their differences and teamed up against the White Walkers did the dead retreat to the far North, aka The Pact.

So what went wrong, why is the NK back? Sandor Clegane chimes in. It’s simple. Man broke their promise. They went back to being at constant war. Violence is a disease. The Night King’s there to “cure” them. Beric asks Sandor who told him about violence being a disease. Sandor simply, sadly answers, “A friend.”

Missandei chimes in again. From what she was reading in one of the Targ history books she came across at Summerhall, it’s suggested that that’s why Aegon the Conqueror came to Westeros. He wanted to unite the realm to stop Winter from Coming.

Sansa wonders why the Stark words, the Starks aren’t the enemy. No. They’re not. The Stark words were always a warning, passed down through generations of what would happen if Man broke their promise. The meaning was just forgotten.

Alright, so they know what the Night King’s purpose is. But Jon gets everyone back on track to the matter at hand: How. Do. We. Kill. Him? Arya looks at Bran hopefully but no, direwolf teeth, dragonglass, Valyrian Steel, dragon fire...none of it will work on its own. On its own? everyone asks. Bran has an idea, but as it’s never been done before, he’s not sure it will work. Bran believes he’s got to warg the Night King from the past to make him vulnerable in the present - as he did to Hodor.

Will this kill Bran? the Starks ask, concerned for their little brother. Bran doesn’t know, but if it does, it’s a sacrifice he’s willing to make for the good of mankind. Jon doesn’t want to accept this, there must be another way, Bran tells him there isn’t, Jon leaves the meeting upset.

Though Dany wants to go after Jon, she hesitates, stays behind with Bran, she has a question. If the Stark words were always a warning of the threat of the dead, do the Targaryen words, Fire and Blood, have meaning as well because Aegon I wanted to protect the realm against the dead? Bran says he doesn’t know but it’s possible. Missandei listens to this and it jogs her memory to something else she read about: What’s the meaning of three, what’s the meaning of The Dragon has three heads? Dany hasn’t heard of this either, she’s curious, but again, Bran has no idea.

The Protectors of the Realm

As everyone else continues prepping, Bran is searching the city’s memories, popping up just long enough to give instructions, inform people of gaps or weak spots in the walls of the city, secret entrances that need to be blocked back up, etc. While delving into the past, Bran comes across a memory he realizes is recent - Varys and Littlefinger sneaking into the city.

VisionBran follows them and sees them meet in secret with Qyburn. The three discuss plans for the future, a future Bran realizes won’t include Cersei, Daenerys, or Jon. Qyburn assures Littlefinger and Baelish that once the dead are defeated and it’s clear Jon and Dany are dead too, he will poison Cersei and the Mountain. When Baelish and Varys ask for clarification as to how Qyburn will ensure Jon’s and Dany’s deaths during the battle, he shows them his scorpion prototype that was first seen on Euron’s ship when he attacked Dragonstone. Bran comes to with a gasp.

Jon and Dany are quickly informed of Varys’ and Baelish’s treasonous plot.

Baelish and Varys proclaim everything they did, they did for the realm, always to protect the realm. This gives Jon an idea as to how the two shall be dealt with but until then, they are put in chains.

Outside, snow starts to fall much more heavily on King’s Landing. They’re running out of time...

A Royal Wedding

Davos swings a cloak around Jon’s shoulders and fastens it for him as Missandei places a simple crown of winter roses on Daenerys’ head.

Everyone gathers around in the middle of the Dragonpit where Melisandre and Jon are waiting.

Dany emerges, clutching Jorah’s arm - he’s giving her away.

At Mel’s instructions, Jon and Dany recite the words of the religion of R’hllor and jump over a ditchfire, emerging on the other side as one. Having no other cloak available, Jon removes his and places it around Dany’s shoulders. They are finally married.

“Celebrations” begin (it’s really just everyone eating around bonfires in the Dragonpit, laughing, visiting, telling stories, etc.)

At Tormund’s prompting and questioning, Jaime is inspired to Knight Brienne which everyone loves

Jon and Dany escape the festivities and retreat to the loft they’ve been staying in while in King’s Landing - it’s simple and modest and Jon apologizes that their first night as man and wife isn’t befitting of a queen, Dany shakes her head and tells him it’s perfect, they begin to kiss

Love Montage

Tyrion prompts Pod to start singing

Cue montage of all the GOT “couples” cuddling and/or having sex - Missandei/Grey Worm, Jon/Dany, Theon/Sansa, Gilly/Sam, Arya/Gendry, Jaime/Brienne, (obligatory shot of Euron in Cersei’s bed dead asleep and Cersei beside him with a glass of wine, ambivalent)

Everyone else during the montage is shown laughing, talking, and enjoying life - Jorah/Lyanna Mormont, Bran/Meera/Howland Reed, Davos/Tormund, (hilarious shot of Baelish and Varys in chains, scowling at each other).

Three Blasts

Pod’s song ends and Bran approaches Tyrion - they need to inform Cersei of Qyburn’s betrayal, she’s in danger too, Tyrion agrees

Once Jaime and Brienne surface (with Tyrion giving them both a questioning but pleased look), Tyrion and Bran make their plea to Jaime - Cersei is under attack too, should be informed of Qyburn’s treason as they have a temporary truce with her. Jaime is likely the only one Cersei will let near her and he reluctantly agrees to deliver the message.

A horn blasts three times to announce the arrival of the dead and Jaime gives Brienne one last kiss goodbye before heading to the Red Keep

As instructed by Jon, Baelish and Varys are escorted outside the city walls in chains and then their chains bound to structures in the ground to prevent them from fleeing. They want to protect the city? There they are. The city’s “first defense” against the dead, standing together, alone, outside its walls. The protectors of the realm.

Episode 8 Inside the Episode: Protectors of the Realm

1) Arya warging Nymeria’s pack and Direwolf teeth destroying White Walkers?

This one was a kind of no brainer. We were supposed to have direwolves in the 8x03 episode anyway and Arya needs to use her powers somehow in the fight against the dead, not just some dumb cheap-shot on the Night King.

Also, I’ve always felt the direwolves could serve a bigger purpose in the fight against the dead. Bloodraven (likely) sent the direwolves to the Starks for a reason. Yes, to protect them, but what if the direwolves could do more? We’ve already seen Grey Wind fight in battles for Robb. What if the rest of the pack was meant to fight against the dead?

(And yes, I know Nymeria’s pack is mostly regular wolves but if she’s stumbled across a few other direwolves and maybe had some hybrid pups of her own, their teeth could still kill White Walkers - in this story)

2) The Night King’s Purpose

I really loved the idea of everyone having a little piece of the puzzle - Sam, Bran. Missandei, even Sandor Clegane. They all put the pieces together to figure out the Night King’s motives, why he wants to destroy the world.

Plus, the Night King’s purpose being to punish man for their violent ways, their sins, would make the story very biblical, which would make for some great parallels as well.

In the show, the Night King just wants to destroy everything, but we’re never really told why. This just makes his purpose more specific and the lesson of the story more specific as well - PEACE. Prioritize peace, put aside differences, fight with each other, not against each other, etc.

3) “Winter is Coming”, “Fire and Blood”, “The Dragon Has Three Heads” - AKA Stuff actually means things??

LOL yes, stuff actually means things. People have been speculating for a while that the Stark words “Winter is coming” was a warning about the White Walkers and I’m still pissed this was never paid off in the show - like really, what was the point? So now it actually has a point.

And, as GRRM hinted at in an interview, yes, I’m making it canon (my canon), that Aegon the Conqueror came to Westeros to save the planet from the White Walkers. It makes total sense. With that in mind, like the Stark words, the Targ House words will have meaning, as will “The Dragon Has Three Heads” which is more repeated in the books than on the show, but who the fuck cares? This is my final season, so I’m writing it the way I want and what makes the most sense to me.

4) Littlefinger and Varys?

They were meant to die together, I’m convinced. The bitchy, problematic, asexual scheming dream couple we were promised. Sorry not sorry. Lol

5) Royal Wedding and subsequent gangbang?

K, it’s not a gangbang, just a montage of everyone having sex. Because weddings make people want to have sex, right? It’s basically the montage scene from the show, just, you know, better. You can imagine for yourselves which couples are actually shown getting down and which are only “cuddling” - except Jon and Dany. Jon and Dany definitely would be shown having sex as they’ve got to “consummate” their marriage :D

Also, had to sneak in Meera and Bran in there. No, they’re not having sex, just talking and visiting with Meera’s father. She and Bran should have ended up together. It is known bitches.

6) Not really a note but apologies some characters like Davos and Tormund haven’t had much attention this series. Well, Davos has a bit. But not Tormund. I’m sure he would have a very important part in the books up until when/if he dies. But he’s never served a very big role in the show since Jon invited the wildlings south of the Wall, so he’s just not had a big role in this series either. Imagine his story whatever you’d like, likewise with all other minor character’s whose stories haven’t been touched on much here.

As always, comments are welcome.

Sorry this took so long to get out! Thanks to everyone who’s been keeping up with it!

Until next episode, which will possibly be posted next week but not sure. Still have some parts to finish.

To Read Previous Episodes:

Original Final Season 7: Preface Post

Season 7 Episode 1: Family, Duty, Honor

Season 7 Episode 2: Greywater Watch

Season 7 Episode 3: The Last of the Dragons

Season 7 Episode 4: Dragonglass

Season 7 Episode 5: The Storm

Season 7 Episode 6: Summerhall

Season 7 Episode 7: A City Fit For A King

Season 7 Episode 8: Protectors of the Realm (Current Episode)

Season 7 Episode 9: The Battle For The Dawn

Season 7 Episode 10: ?

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whitecrossgirl · 5 years

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All That Silence Said

AN: I am so amazed by the feedback and response I got to The Sound of Silence, honestly guys it just means so much to be that everyone has enjoyed it. This is the second part of the story and I hope you enjoy it. I won’t be writing anything for the next few weeks as I’ll be at home visiting family without my laptop but I’ll be uploading soon.

Mute AU

Brienne could sense the nervous tension in Jaime as they walked through the Red Keep. She had heard the stories, legends and myths surrounding Tywin Lannister and although she had never met him; she could tell there were truths intertwined with the myths. Jaime kept his little finger tightly looped around hers and she could feel his hand tremble slightly. He didn’t seem like the boastful, arrogant Lannister she had met, rather he seemed like a little boy, worried about getting in trouble. It stirred her resolve. She would speak for them both and she would not be intimidated by or kowtow to Tywin Lannister.

She faced a bear armed with only a wooden sword.

She would not tremble before the lion.

When they entered the room, Brienne looked at Tywin; tall, slim and carrying the arrogance and honour that came from the Lannister name. His eyes were apprehensive, the mind scheming and plotting behind them as he took in their haggard appearance; Jaime’s scruffy hair and beard; their filthy clothes, he barely cast a look in Brienne’s direction. All of his attention was focused on Jaime.

“What took you so long?” Tywin asked in a cold, yet commanding voice. Clearly he had expected Jaime returned to the capital months ago.

Jaime looked at his father. He crossed his wrists together, as if bound before he shook his head, opened his lips and dragged his finger across them in a single, swiping motion.

We were captured. They cut out my tongue.

“Speak boy,” Tywin ordered and Jaime glanced at Brienne; he still had apprehension in his eyes as she stepped forward.

“Jaime cannot speak; one of your men cut out his tongue when they captured the two of us.” Brienne explained and Tywin looked at her for the first time.

“And who exactly are you?” Tywin asked, although he could hazard a guess. The few witness reports he had of his son mentioned the tall woman in armour accompanying him.

“Brienne of House Tarth, I was Catelyn Stark’s sworn sword, ordered to being Ser Jaime back to the capital in exchange for her daughters. I am aware it is no longer possible.” Brienne replied calmly. They had heard the news one night when they had stopped in a tavern; they were still close enough that a few of the voices whispered their disgust at such a slaughter, especially at a wedding.

“Indeed; the younger Stark girl has not been seen since her father’s execution; Sansa Stark has married my son Tyrion.” Tywin replied as he pushed forward a quill and a scroll of parchment. “You might not have a tongue but you have both of your hands. Write.”

Jaime glanced at Brienne and glared at the parchment and scroll. He had always struggled with reading and writing; the letters would move around the page and he could spell the words in his head but never when they were formed by his hand. He did however, have one question for his father, one he was struggling to think of the actions for.

What will hapen to me now? Jaime scrawled on the parchment and pushed it to Tywin. If Tywin noted the misspelt word, for once he did not comment on it.

“You cannot remain in the Kingsguard. You can’t give your king the warning of an attack, or give orders to your men. I will speak with the king and you will be respectfully withdrawn from service. You will take my place as my son and heir and we will find you a bride.” Tywin explained; of course he had it all planned out. Tywin Lannister always had everything planned out.

Jaime wished he could speak; that he could rant, yell, swear and shout. He had spent months in captivity, travelled the length of Westeros, been captured, had his tongue removed, almost died several times and now that he had returned; what had he returned to? He would be removed from the Kingsguard, forced to take the role in life he had never wanted to take; lordship, marriage, heirs. Maybe it was foolish for him to have hoped for the slightest sign of care and consideration from his father.

Brienne had removed her finger from his when they had entered the room. She now linked it around her own again and turned her hand so that she was stroking the back of it with her thumb. With her other hand, she held it flat against her chest and pushed it downwards.

I’m here with you. Calm down.

Jaime nodded at her and unlinked their fingers. He looked at Tywin again and pressed his fingers to his chin and held it outwards to him. It was his own show of defiance. He would not write, only sign.

Thank you.

“You will need a bath,” Tywin said finally. “You still have your bedchamber.”

With that, Tywin opened the door and ordered one of the men standing outside to fetch a servant who would arrange a bath for Jaime. Upon the servant’s return, Jaime nodded at Brienne and left the room. He would find her later, hopefully unlike him, she would be in one piece. When the door slammed shut behind Jaime, Tywin fixed his attention on Brienne.

“You’re Selwyn Tarth’s daughter.” It wasn’t a question. He knew exactly who she was, about her House, her homeland, her suitability for his son.

“Yes, I am.” Brienne replied, not that Tarth was anything too special. Well, it was to her at least. It wasn’t one of the large, powerful houses or lands, however it was one of the best ports and places for trade with Dorne, Essos, Mereen, even as far away as Yi Ti.

“Tarth has declared neutrality in this war; how is it that the Evenstar’s only child and heir was sworn to the Starks?” Tywin asked and Brienne kept his gaze. She still did not see what was so intimidating about him. She knew of his power, of his plots and schemes, yet he did not intimidate her. He did not frighten her. They both knew that if anything, he owed her. She had returned Jaime to him; alive, if not fully well. Tywin Lannister owed her a debt.

And a Lannister always paid his debts.

“I was part of Renly Baratheon’s guard; after his death, I helped Lady Stark return to her son. I was sworn to protect her, not to the Starks. Protecting one person does not mean I protect or stand with them all. As of her death, I am sworn to no one and I respect my House’s neutrality. I want no sides in this war.” Brienne replied carefully. Although not one of her preferred lessons, she knew how to play politics. How to say the right thing in the right tone. How to play her part in the game.

“And my son,” Tywin prompted and still Brienne held his gaze. “You understand those actions he makes?”

“I do, he rescued me from a bear pit in Harrenhall when your ally Roose Bolton had me flung into it. Despite his inability to speak, we were able to communicate by developing a signing language. He is my friend,” Brienne explained before adding the next two words. “Nothing more.”

Tywin contemplated her words in silence for a moment before he spoke. “Then I thank you for returning my son to me. I owe you a debt. For now, you may stay in the Red Keep and serve as his interpreter.”

“Thank you,” Brienne said; they both knew he was making it sound like an assignment. Like he could control her, make her spy on Jaime and report back to him. It was actually a pitiful sign to her that Tywin held no interest in learning how to understand Jaime’s signing. To him, Jaime was perfect this way. A silent son couldn’t contradict, criticise or complain; three things Tywin loathed above all else.

For the second time, Tywin got a guard to arrange for a handmaiden, a bedchamber and a bath for Brienne. As she scrubbed weeks of dirt and filth from her skin, Brienne wondered how Jaime was going to cope. The two of them had built a strong knowledge and understanding on the road together; now that they were back with the rest of his family, they would have to begin again. His father had already refused to learn, she had to wonder how Cersei and Tyrion would react.

As it turned out, Cersei was able to outdo Tywin’s ignorance by completely ignoring Jaime. He had tried to visit her, yet she refused to see him. She had already been informed of his lack of tongue and she was repulsed and disgusted by him. Tyrion, on the other hand was proving his worth as the most decent Lannister by at least trying to understand him. Even if he couldn’t get all of the signs right.

“Let me try;” Tyrion said as he pointed to himself, pointed to his nose and dragged his middle finger down his arms three times.

I smell toilet.

Brienne tried to bite back a smile as Jaime grinned and opened his mouth in a silent gesture of the laughter he would have been making. Tyrion shook his head and sighed. “What did I say?”

“You said that you smell like a toilet.” Brienne replied and repeated the gesture of dragged the middle finger of her right hand down her left hand three times. “This sign means toilet.”

“At least I’m trying,” Tyrion argued as even Sansa gave a shy smile as she measured Brienne’s arm span. After their slightly awkward first meeting, Sansa had offered to make Brienne some clothes that would be suitable for her size. Although Brienne was reluctant in the young girl’s ability; she supposed it was better than nothing. Plus, anything that gave Sansa Stark a positive focus after the death of her mother and brother was fine by Brienne. “Has Father spoken to you any further about this marriage?”

Jaime frowned and shook his head. He made a cross with his arms in front of his face and twisted his hand around his ring finger twice.

I refuse to marry.

“You don’t want to get married?” Tyrion asked and Jaime glared and repeated the cross motion again.

I refuse.

“You won’t marry?” Tyrion guessed and Jaime nodded. Close enough. “You can try but Father will see this through. He might give you a choice, considering you’re the golden son. Do you think you’ll have a say in the matter?”

Jaime pulled a face and gave his smirking brother the middle finger. One of the few signs that was universal and needed no translation.

As the days passed; Jaime and Brienne began to settle into a new routine in the Red Keep. Now that Jaime had been formally dismissed from the Kingsguard; he and Brienne spent a lot of their time sparring and fighting. When they weren’t sparring, they were either practising their signing or teaching it to Tyrion and Sansa. Although Sansa was learning quickly, Tyrion was still stumbling over even some of the most basic signs and reliant on Brienne to translate for him. Jaime couldn’t deny that he was pleased that there was at least one area wherein he was cleverer than Tyrion. The rest of Jaime’s family remained distant and were either unable or unwilling to communicate with Jaime.

Tywin ignored anything Jaime did unless it was written on paper. Cersei maintained her stance on outright ignoring him. Tommen was unsure of how to react and kept as quiet as Jaime. Joffrey thought the whole situation was hilarious and spoke as if Jaime was deaf as well as mute. At least he did until Joffrey made a derogatory comment about Brienne that turned her cheeks scarlet with humiliation.

Jaime didn’t sign or write anything. Instead he stared Joffrey in the eye and drew his sword from its scabbard before raising his eyebrows testily at him. The point was made clear and Joffrey cowered back. He knew what happened to kings that angered Jaime. Yet once Joffrey had scuttled off to hide behind Cersei’s skirts, Jaime turned and kicked the wall in frustration. Hs lips were mouthing words that he couldn’t say, his face screwed up with the emotions that he couldn’t verbalize. Brienne knew that if he could speak, he would have been ranting and yelling at the top of his lungs.

Jaime stopped kicking the wall and instead leaned against it. His face was still screwed up, he was forcing himself not to cry as he made one gesture. He signed crowning himself and slitting his throat before pointing to himself.

Kingslayer. I’m the Kingslayer.

Brienne tilted his chin up with her right hand and made a sign with her left. She held out the index and thumb of her left hand before using them to point to herself, at Jaime and herself again.

Jaime. You are Jaime.

Jaime wiped his eyes and Brienne put her arms around him. She hadn’t meant to hug him but he seemed so helpless, devastated and alone. She had felt those feelings before and had no one to show comfort, that they cared. Brienne knew that she had made the right choice when Jaime latched onto her with the force of a drowning man clinging to his salvation and buried his head in her neck. Brienne tightened her hold on him and tracing circles on his back to reassure him and calm him down.

Jaime felt tears slip from his eyes and tried to wipe them on Brienne’s shoulder without her noticing. He was never more pleased with her decision to stay in the capital; he had no idea how he would have coped without her at his side. She was the only one who could physically understand him, the only one who could speak for him when even his own signing failed him. Sometimes, it was as if she could see into his head, like she could hear the words he was screaming in his mind and able to say them for him. She was the closest and truest friend that he had ever had. And yet, she had no idea how much he appreciated her. Even now, just being with him, offering that strong, silent support, he didn’t just feel like she was calming him down. Being held in her arms, felt like home.

As Jaime stepped back from the hug, he looked at Brienne and attempted a smile as he held his hand to his chin and held it out.

Thank you.

The hug seemed to unlock a door between them. Until that point, physical contact between them had been limited to linked fingers or rare touches on the hand or arm. Now physical contact came easier to the both of them. Neither of them had been particularly tactile people before but now it felt as natural as signing. They would lean against the other when sitting, hands would naturally reach out and hold the other’s when walking, each conversation at the end of the night ended with a hug and Jaime signing sweet dreams at her. Their daily fighting and training became more of a dance between them and if one helped the other up from a fall or knock to the ground, they held on for a moment or two longer than they should have.

Just a moment. Or two.

The thought struck Jaime one afternoon when he and Brienne had joined Tyrion and Sansa in their chambers. Sansa had made Brienne a dress to wear for the wedding and she was eager to see Brienne in it and any possible changes she could make. The thought had struck Jaime when Brienne had stepped out from behind the screen; not because she was wearing a dress made of deep sapphire blue which highlighted her eyes and was tailored to flatter her body, but it was the look in her eyes. A look that he had never seen in her eyes before. Jaime knew she felt beautiful in the dress; something he knew that she had never felt before. Jaime felt a rush of affection, more intense than he had ever felt before and a thought struck him.

He wanted Brienne to have that look in her eyes every day. He never wanted her to doubt that she was beautiful ever again. Because she was beautiful. She was the most beautiful woman in the world to him; not just in her looks but in her heart and soul too. She was compassionate, kind hearted, brave, loyal, intelligent, and witty and the realisation hit him as forcefully as a brick to the head.

How had he not realised it before?

He was in love with Brienne of Tarth.

“It’s wonderful Sansa,” Brienne said truthfully as she admired the dress in the mirror. Instead of trying to show a femininity that didn’t exist, like other seamstresses had attempted in the past, Sansa had chosen to make the dress sleeveless, showing her arms and coming in slightly at her hips before falling into a full skirt that moved easily as she walked. It didn’t bare her bust like other dresses or cling to places it shouldn’t cling, it was the sort of dress she imagined when she indulged in rare fantasies. Ones where she was a beauty and could wear a dress with ease.

“Thank you,” Sansa replied. “I thought the loose skirt would be better for moving or dancing, like when you’re fighting, you wear looser clothing.”

“I think it would,” Brienne said as she held out the skirt, feeling the smoothness of the material against her fingers. Brienne looked at Jaime and Tyrion, who had been carefully quiet in their discussion before she pointed at them with two fingers and tapped her temple with the same two fingers.

What do you think?

“You look marvellous Lady Brienne,” Tyrion replied verbally, not trusting himself to sign the wrong thing. Brienne looked at Jaime who smiled at her before pretending to swoon dramatically onto the bed. Jaime sat up and with his right hand, traced a circle across the edge of his face twice. One word, one sign that he’d never used before, not to Brienne, not about Brienne.

Beautiful.

Brienne smiled softly and pressed her hand to her chin and held it out, thanking him, before returning back behind the screen to change into her clothes. She tried to not think too much about Jaime’s response. She did feel that she looked beautiful in the dress and Jaime had started to playact with his signing; especially when expressing his emotions he chose to be more comical and overdramatic unless he was genuinely frustrated or upset. Things had started to change between them. Brienne wasn’t sure how to describe it; they were close friends, of that she was certain. Although it was also possible that they weren’t just close friends anymore.

Later that evening, Jaime led Brienne out into the gardens for a walk. The sun was beginning to sink below the horizon as they wandered through the water gardens towards the worn out steps that led down to a small cove of Blackwater Bay. As they walked across the pebble cove, Jaime glanced nervously at Brienne. He had been thinking about this all day, although if he was honest with himself, this thought had existed in the back of mind since he had returned to the capital and was informed that he was going to be married. It had been a reckless thought then; now he was certain of nothing else but this.

Brienne could tell that there was something weighing heavily on his mind. She signed his name but Jaime just gave her a reassuring smile before he wandered down to the water’s edge. Jaime picked up a pebble and attempted to skim it across the waves. Brienne smiled and did the same, taking the time to choose a suitable stone and flicking it with the right amount of force to send it skipping across the waves. Jaime grinned at her before he pointed back up the direction they had come from. Brienne turned to look at where he had pointed but couldn’t see a thing.

“I don’t see anyth-“ Brienne trailed off as she turned back to Jaime to see him knelt down on one knee on the pebbles. They were close enough to the edge of the water that the waves were ebbing and flowing over their shoes and Jaime’s knee. “What is this?”

Jaime took a deep breath and he held her hands in his. He set Brienne’s hands over his heart before turning her hands back towards her.

My heart is yours.

Jaime then let go of her right hand and kept a hold of her left hand. He traced his finger over her ring finger twice before pointing to himself.

Marry me.

“You want me to marry you?” Brienne asked and Jaime nodded, placing her hand over his heart again.

My heart is yours.

“Your heart is mine?” Brienne guessed and Jaime nodded again. He placed one finger to his temple and pointed to his heart before pointing at her. One finger at the temple translated as I feel.

I love you.

Brienne’s eyes widened at that. She knew that things had been changing between them, she hadn’t dared to even dream or hope that they would be changing like this. That they would have these feelings for each other. Had they been there all along or had they found them along the way; their experiences bringing them together instead of tearing them apart? She wasn’t sure, the only thing she knew for certain was that this was real. This wasn’t a joke or a cruel trick. She could see the anxiety in Jaime’s eyes; she hadn’t given him an answer, he wasn’t sure if she felt the same. He knew that she was afraid that this was an attempt to mock her, to make fun of her.

Jaime held three fingers to his temple and set them over his heart again.

I know I love you.

Brienne mimicked his actions, setting three fingers to her temple before setting them over her heart.

I know I love you.

Jaime beamed at her and with his fingers trembling nervously, he traced his finger over her ring finger and pointed to himself.

Will you marry me?

Brienne grinned at him and nodded her head. She took his left hand and nodded as she traced two circles around his finger.

Yes, I will marry you.

Brienne helped Jaime to his feet and they wrapped their arms around each other, hugging over another tightly. Brienne could feel Jaime’s lips against her cheek. He wasn’t trying to kiss her, he was mouthing words. Brienne moved back so she could see him; Jaime looked at her and mouthed the words again. Although it was slightly unclear, Brienne knew what he was saying.

“I love you too,” Brienne said, gently cupping his face in her hands. Jaime closed the gap between them and pressed his lips to hers. Brienne kissed him back and in that moment, nothing else existed. Nothing else mattered.

It was them against the world. It always had been and it always would be.

#game of thrones #fic #brienne of tarth #Jaime Lannister #braime #jaime x brienne #mute au #part 2 of 2 #long fic

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jailynn24 · 4 years

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New Chapter:

Just For Tonight and Maybe Tomorrow has been updated. I really hope you like it. Thank you so much for your patience with me.

Chapter 7: Texting With A Stranger

Tyrion’s eyebrows disappeared into his hairline, “Oh, really?” He leaned forward. “That is quite surprising. I can’t wait to see her again. The bar light was really not the greatest when we saw her. In fact, it was so loud I could have sworn I heard her name was Gemma…” Jaime plotted his death. It would be painful. Very painful. “My mistake.” He reached for his wine glass and silently cheered Jaime.

“You met her at a bar,” Tywin hissed.

“That is how people meet, father,” Jaime said as a headache formed. “Many people in fact.” He faced Tywin, “Would you rather it had been on Plenty of Dragons?”

“I don’t even know what that is,” Tywin pinched the bridge of his nose.

“A website,” Cersei answered. Her lips pursed in thought. “A hook-up site honestly. People just find people to fuck on it.”

“Language,” Tywin told her. She rolled her eyes.

“Well, this has been entertaining,” she stood and walked toward the door. “But I’d rather not be bothered by this cockfight any longer. Father,” she pulled her purse strap up to her elbow. “Do remember Robert needs those papers signed. Tyrion,” their younger brother looked over at her. She smothered a smirk. “You’re an ass.”

“Thank you, dear sweet sister,” he lifted his wine glass to her as well.

“And Jaime,” she did smirk this time. “Most people that meet in bars get herpes. I do hope you got checked out.”

“Well you would know better than I do,” he smiled tightly back at her.

She quirked her perfectly shaped left eyebrow at him and pursed her lips again. Subtly, she lifted her middle finger of her right hand and smirked again. His head was pounding now. He could always count on his family’s dinners to turn into a shit show. Cersei spun on her heel with her long, curly hair swinging around her. He touched the phone in his pocket as it buzzed another time. He pulled it out and looked at the brightly lit screen.

Honest question: Are all fathers a pain in the ass about marriage or is it just mine? He nearly laughed out loud in shock. He wanted to look out of the window to see if this was a joke somehow… because it hit too close to his own situation. Another text appeared quickly enough. Sorry! That was meant for Margaery. Please ignore the crazy stranger.

“Jaime!” He jolted and looked up at his father. “Shut that phone off and sit down. There is still a dinner to have.”

He bit back a sigh and typed out a reply, Might not have been for me, but to answer your honest question, it’s not just your father.

Before he placed his phone face down again, he got her reply. Thank the Seven. And I’m sorry for you. Jaime had a small smile on his face for the rest of the meal.

#I did a thing #My fiction #new chapter #My fic #Modern AU #Jaime Lannister #Brienne of Tarth #Brienne and Jaime #Jaime and Brienne #Jaime x Brienne #Brienne x Jaime #romance #friendship #alternate universe #AU

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asherlockstudy · 5 years

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I get that interview was HBO forced but it sounds insane when last season, he was saying Jaime needed to get away from her for good. I mean no nice post about Gwen after the last ep. I dont believe it was about not wanting to stir the hornet's nest if him and B didnt get together as he posted a huge loving one about Lena and that was a very controversial part of the plot. If hed know posted a gwen one saying"sorry JB didnt get a happy ending but here's me and Gwen in happier times" i dont get it

I think it’s very weird too…Imma analyze it. Not that I’m gonna reach any solid conclusion but I will just lay out all my thoughts.

Whatever the reason Nik doesn’t post or reply publicly to Gwen is, it has nothing to do with his personal preference for Braime or Jaime x Cersei. Even if we make the insane assumption that Nik appreciated that Jaime dumped Brienne to return to murderous Cersei and die with her without serving any purpose in the main plot (what lead actor of 8+ years would ever like being unimportant in the ending plot) and saw “pOeTRy” in it, it still doesn’t explain why he should prefer posting about Lena over Gwen. We would be naive to think he made a post about Lena and not Gwen because he prefers Cersei to Brienne. So, we still have no clear evidence of what Nik’s private thoughts and feelings are for his character after the ending.

Here’s what we have:

We have two interviews: one with HBO rofl and one with that journalist who collaborates with HBO and was an insider (I’m not gonna search his name) in which he stans Jaime’s choices, his love for Cersei and the tragic poetry in it all. Then we have him promoting the episodes and the documentary in his instagram and twitter, however he is entirely emotionally detached from his character and his fate. I would say he lowkey looks entertained in his weird af episode promo videos and secretly amused while filming the “thank you” video after the last episode where he says “Come on, it was great” and suggests a petition for an Arya (huh?) sequel.

We have two videos uploaded on yt with him: one is a video of a stalker in which Nik looks uncomfortable and passes the question to the random guy next to him who apparently happens to be a GOT fan, have an elaborate opinion on the last season, hate D&D and think they threw away Jaime’s beautiful character arc. What are the odds…The second is a skit in Jimmy Kimmel in which Nik drags his own character by making him stupid and clumsy, a sad little being because of his maiming and, most importantly, an unrepentant sister fucker. All of Jaime’s worst qualities displayed for laughs, plus that he’s actually a likeable but very stupid person. The skit ends with a dragon randomly burning him and his family alive and those credits

So, we have straightforward criticism towards D&D by Kimmel and NCW actually participates in it. This is what this skit means - that this level of writing, this kind of lame character and that ludicrous death is something that only Benioff and Weiss would like to produce. And, well, the Olsen sisters (although I think they’re cleverer than that).

So, we have two videos where NCW’s intentions are dubious AT BEST.

Then we have all the promos. When left to speak on his own, Nikolaj would say how the ending was beautiful and made sense and he once mentioned he sent a letter to thank them for this genius plot…Right. But then when asked or caught off guard (1:04):

youtube

Nobody tries to sugarcoat it, look at the title of the video: … NCW is ‘happy’. Then of course we have our Lady and Saviour Gwen who tries not to laugh as Nik struggles to find what to say and not just stand up and flee.

Also, this one. The best one:

youtube

I could make a thousand gifs for this but just watch again the entire video:

0:07 - Gwen’s face when Nik says he thought the script was fantastic

1:13 - “N-no..NO!!!” when asked if he would change something in the ending and Gwen’s reaction to that. Then, our leader Gwen proceeds to mock him: “So, it’s an immaculate- It’s immaculate?” to which Nik impulsively replies: “NO!” and goes on “do you ever read a book and think you want to rewrite this?” which implies, that yes he would want to rewrite it but knows he can’t.

(3:03 - 3:06) - VERY IMPORTANT ONE. When Gwen wondered who was closer to predicting the actual ending, Nik says “I was, yeah” and OMG look at Gwen’s face. It’s very subtle but she’s trying to communicate with her eyes a “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT” to him without being seen by the interviewer. It’s kind of a wife done with her husband’s shit look tbh, that level of subtlety. And Nik answers back with his eyes in equal subtlety and it’s like he says a “What? I truly was right lol….”. To me, this seems to mean that Nik always knew or feared that D&D would eventually destroy all his work and was eventually proven right. Unless this all is about Dany being killed by Jon but I doubt at this point Nik and Gwen cared enough to go all cryptic and eye communicating for this. No, it was about them.

3:09 - Nik is surprised and then clearly amused at the information by the interviewer that Kit was the one who came closer with his prediction. He can’t hide his smile and says an ironic “good for him” while looking knowingly at Gwen who then says this must be a lie. This shows that it is known amongst the actors that most of them are disappointed and Kit was one of them. Both Nik and Gwen apparently knew Kit hated his ending too and would never expect this to be how the show would wrap up. BTW that writing and that backlash really got to Kit, I hope he recovers soon. But think about this, Kit went into rehab for stress and alcohol, Emilia was devastated and gave a somewhat concerning interview and Nik’s public behaviour regarding GOT is inconsistent and unpredictable. I am thus assuming the writing of the final season and the backlash fucked them up way more than they let on.

This interview is a gem but here’s the most important part, perhaps the core of what baffles us:

1:32 - After all the miserable no-nos poor Nik mumbles, Gwen tells Nik what we all think: “I think it’s just a question, you know? Maybe you want to answer it?”

Of course he’s in a total loss for words. Literally, he doesn’t make any sense. Some incoherent sounds come out of his mouth and that’s it. This can mean two things: either he truly thinks the ending is perfect or the ending made him such a mess that he can’t even process it verbally two years later.

Either Gwen is much braver and Nik is extemely paranoid or Nik actually has many more restrictions in what he is allowed to say. I believe Gwen wanted Nikolaj to be as open as her about it and she still tries to make him open up but he doesn’t. In all the promos without exception, Gwen looks as if she knows Nik is full of shit and secretly agrees with her. If Gwen knows that for a fact, then we can’t argue and it’s actually what makes sense anyway. Nikolaj agrees with Gwen but is not eager to discuss it openly yet, or ever. This could be because he is very professional or because he doesn’t want to get a bad name as a “backstabber” of his projects or it might be a situation of a more sensitive nature.

If those rumours that the S8 script was changed are true, then Nik and Lena might have had a serious breakdown with D&D and a negotiation might have taken place. For instance, Nik and Lena were really unnecessary in E6, Nik’s scene in E1 could have been eliminated as well and Lena does not appear in E3. Yes, they are big actors but paying them 1,2 million for every episode seems a tad excessive when Emilia and Kit are now famous too and have like 300% times more screentime. All this is wild speculation but maybe they stretched their appearance in the episodes as much as possible and gave them a good amount of money to agree on the butchering of their characters and their importance as former lead actors. I mean, especially Lena was downgraded to a secondary character in this season. Lena had to really fight to see her salary rise in the previous seasons. And now it’s a million for every episode? Wow. How many minutes was she staring out of the window in S8? Maybe they were silenced and payed a shitload of money to stop complaining and promote the show and praise the writing as what it was supposed to be. Maybe they payed them in order to promote Peter, Kit and Emilia for the Emmys instead, who knows. When so much money is involved, things can get frustrating in ways we don’t even fathom. This is wild and rough speculation but all I’m saying is there may be reasons Nik avoids talking freely about his character that we can’t know.

Besides, it’s not just a Gwen problem. It is not a Gwen problem. Gwen revealed she sent a “Jaime is a fuckboi” meme to Nik privately and he answered playfully as ever (but again as if he’s in denial). They posted a story together a couple of weeks ago. Nik did not just ignore Gwen’s instagram post. Daniel Portman posted the photo and tagged Nikolaj too. Nik ignored him as well. Bryan Cogman, who Nik and Gwen owe a lot to, commented under the photo in a very sweet and emotional way. Guess what, Nik ignored him too! It’s ridiculous to think Nikolaj has stopped communicating and caring about Gwen AND Daniel AND Bryan just because his character returned to Cersei. Furthermore, the fact that they all keep tagging him shows they don’t think their relationships with him have become tense.

That’s not it. It’s not about Gwen. The only way that Gwen is involved in all this is that she wants Nikolaj to open up so that he would give a little acknowledgement to her character and the relationship with Jaime because she feels very much for Brienne. I’m sad to say, however, that it seems to me that Nik did not take that blow more lightly than Gwen. In fact, his behaviour is more inconsistent and troubling whereas Gwen’s openness about it made her confront that sore subject more healthily after all. I start believing Nik was actually way more devastated than Gwen. At least Brienne remained a decent character, ever faithful to her ideals, ever innerly strong. Jaime was entirely trashed, let alone that he was supposed to be a main character. If Nik can’t even handle a photo that reminds him of his destroyed character arc, I wouldn’t be surprised. Maybe Gwen wants Nik to open up so much for his benefit as well - he keeps it bottled up and she might know first hand how that affects him.

Long story short, the reasons Nik doesn’t post anything about his feelings for Jaime’s character arc, his relationship with Brienne and his collaboration with Gwen probably are both professional, after begrudging deals and agreements and restrictions from HBO, and very personal, inner and private, as he’s still trying to cope with a disappointment that crushed down on him from what used to be his dream job and a role he hoped would be a (or the) peak of his career. I bet all these years Nik was hopeful Jaime would be extremely important and fully redeemed in the end but also extremely scared and anxious that the writers won’t give him what he hoped for and what made sense. Would I exaggerate if I said this should be the biggest professional disappointment he ever experienced, provided that he didn’t like the character’s ending?

From everything Gwen has said about him, I have surmised that Nik is very emotional and anxious but with a very blasé and superficially amiable attitude. He avoids expessing emotion in real life which is why he might be dissociating a lot lately. He tries to distance himself from that part of Jaime’s character that involved Bryan and Gwen because this is the part that he loved and lost. Honestly, I can’t think of any other logical reason he ignored Gwen, Dan and Bryan one after the other and never made a post about his own character specifically or his good times with Gwen. It’s obviously not that he suddenly hates all of them to the point of not even replying. Even if HBO restricts him on what he can say in interviews for a while, there is no other explanation for this other than that D&D’s genius writing fucked him up emotionally as much as Emilia and Kit and he does not want to deal with it even though Gwen probably thinks it would be for the best if he did.

Now after I wrote all this, imagine if Nikolaj actually doesn’t give a shit and is just happy going on with his life while I am here wasting time. But… I don’t think so. I will never not believe Nik didn’t love Jaime to pieces. He had big dreams for this role, I am sure of it.

#nikolaj coster waldau #jaime lannister #gwendoline christie #nik and gwen #jaime x brienne #braime #got negativity #more

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fortunatelylori · 5 years

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This episode is more convoluted than the crypts of Winterfell

Disclaimer: Proceed with caution! There is snark ahead! I repeat: There is snark ahead! It had to be done, people. If I had to sit down and actually take this episode seriously, I would have lost my freaking mind!

So it happened. The first episode of season 8 aired. The leaks were true and I am now officially dead inside. Let’s get started.

General Impressions

Trying to review this episode is an extremely challenging exercise. There is no cohesiveness to it, no narrative strand to tie it all together. In an ideal world, an episode should be linked by a common theme. It should have a structure that pushes you towards the end from the very first scene onward.

Here the writers have completely given up on even pretending they care about structure and plot progression. They’re essentially jumping from scene to scene like a freaking gymnast on crack.

Surprised that Euron managed to travel to Essos and back and Cersei still hasn’t grown her hair? Seems dubious to you that the Wall gang not only survived the Wall falling but managed to get to Last Hearth through zombie infested territory? How about Ned Umber traveling all the way to Winterfell and back to Last Hearth just in time to die a pointlessly shocking and gratuitous death?

Well, I’m here to tell you to knock it off! GOT does not give a shit. This show has its priorities straight. And those priorities are:

Pretty pictures of people being dismembered, burned alive or generally dying painful deaths.

Porn ... we got to get that porn quota up, you guys! Just you ladies, of course! Who the hell wants to see naked men on this show?!?! Not the Ds certainly. That would be yikey.

For the sake of my own sanity, I’m going to try and bring some order to the chaos by splitting the episode into 3 main story lines. I’m extremely generous here because 2 of those story lines are barely there at all, and the other one is not linked together by anything other than location:

Story A

Winterfell is turned into a Big Brother type house where everyone that ever hated each other is now forced to coexist. If I were to pick a main character in this story line it would probably be Jon.

The problem is Jon is confused and confusing so watching him work his way through this meandering plot is painfully strange and frustrating. And that’s because his POV continues to be, at least, partly hidden, meaning that I never get any idea of what the hell he’s doing or what is actually driving him in this episode.

Generally this would allow for some sort of character reveal at the end of the episode when all these loose ends would be brought together and we’d finally know what Jon is up to but these are the Ds. They’re going to milk the ambiguity for all its worth and in true Ds fashion run it into the ground from sheer exhaustion.

If I were to summarize Jon’s story line in this episode it’s: Jon arrives at Winterfell and proceeds to be flabbergasted that the people he knew would be upset that he bent the knee, are actually upset that he bent the knee. He rides a dragon and gets down to some PDA in the middle of nowhere because he needs to amuse the royal bush. He reunites with his long lost family members and spends most of the episode sulking because Sansa is giving him the cold shoulder.

I feel like I’ll be saying this a lot but this is not a story line. This is a character aimlessly drifting from scene to scene whose reactions don’t make much sense.

Then there’s the parentage reveal:

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This goes just about as bad as you’d expect. The dialogue is slightly sophomoric with John Bradley being forced to deliver this line straight:

Your mother was Lyanna Stark. And your father, your real father, was Rhaegar Targareyen. You’ve never been a bastard. You’re Aegon Targareyen, true heir to the Iron Throne.

This little bit of exposition here just sounds off and strange, despite Bradley’s best efforts to soldier through it. Not to mention that the writers are ripping themselves off by having Sam parrot basically the same thing Bran said in season 7.

But the real problem with this scene is ... and I’m very sorry to say it ... Kit Harrington. He just doesn’t deliver. He doesn’t find the right tone and reactions to the monumental reveal and the whole scene falls flat on its stupid, exposition face.

It’s made even worse that this scene is following the Tarlys burning reveal in which John Bradley does, without a doubt, the best bit of acting in the whole episode.

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The Tarlys reveal is a strange and off kilter scene as well but Bradley sells you on Sam’s grief and horror so you’re instantly in his corner, which in turn helps ground the entire piece.

Harington doesn’t manage to do that so the scene ends up not amounting to much of anything other than setting up the future plot point of Jon and D*ny as rivals to the Iron Throne. We’ve known the truth of Jon’s parentage since season 6. What’s interesting to us in this scene is how Jon reacts to the news and we want to be given the opportunity to commiserate with him. Alas, we never get the chance.

Story B

The King’s Landing plot. This is not really a plot. More like an amalgamation of scenes that are sporadically thrown at you in haphazard fashion, with the only goal of setting up plot points for future episodes.

In quick succession we get Euron and Cersei having sex (off screen). Lena gets about 10 seconds to act some sort of emotion once the business is concluded and we’re off to the next plot point.

Theon and Yara reunite and separate within the span of 5 minutes and Bronn is off to kill the Lannister brothers - one man sent into hostile territory, in the freezing winter, with a crossbow. What could go wrong here? ... WHO CARES?!?! PORRRRRN!

The funniest thing about this plot is that the White Walkers are treated as an after thought at best.

Cersei is more upset she didn’t get her elephants. How much do you want to bet that the Ds blew their CGI elephant budget on the dragons? Speaking of which, should we start putting up flyers for Ghost? Lassie has been MIA for a while now, guys. I don’t think she’s coming back this time.

Bronn is trying to get it on with the 3 prostitutes in what is easily one of the least sexy scenes I’ve ever seen in my life. The 3 ladies of the night, however, seem determined to kill his buzz with talks of dragons disfiguring people. I guess everyone in Westeros is a fan of D*ny’s children, right? You know what they say: no press is bad press and all that.

Story C

The Wall gang meet up at Last Hearth and, in true redneck style, get down to some barbecue!

Again this isn’t a story line. It’s just two scenes hobbled together for the purposes of:

Exposition: we know that they’re going to ride to Winterfell and arrive in the next episode so we’ll have all of our main characters in place for the big battle in episode three.

Gratuitous child murder:

Complete with a strange parallel to this:

I take no credit for this connection. It was pointed out to me by @and-holly-goes-lightly. At this point they’re just hitting us over the head with the clues that once the Night King is dead, D*ny is the next, big bad.

And putting the fear of God into the audience when they realize they’ll have at least 1 episode of night scenes:

Do you see anything? Yeah ... hope you enjoy darkness for a full hour because that’s exactly what you’re going to get.

Favorite scenes

The opening sequence:

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The writers swore up and down that the first episode of season 8 would be filled with callbacks to the pilot. The only one that lands, in my opinion, and makes a good counterpoint is this scene. Visually, it looks amazing. We have a little Bran stand in to act as the POV and we have Arya watching her beloved brother finally arrive home.

It’s poignant and unsettling at the same time. When I watched it the first time, I wasn’t really sure why it felt so unsettling to me. I knew that D*ny wasn’t going to receive a warm welcome in Winterfell and I knew she’d be angry about it so that wasn’t the reason for my misgivings.

Later on I realized, the most unsettling thing to me in this scene is Jon. He left Winterfell as the character that I most relate to and came back as a distant, off putting figure. Jon, who has never been elevated above those around him, is now marching into Winterfell in the midst of a foreign army and he’s so dead eyed and distant, that he doesn’t even notice his sister in the crowd:

Who are they now? What are they to each other? There’s something deeply sad and mournful about these shots and seeing these two people that were so close at the end of a very long journey of being torn apart. And Maisie Williams does a fantastic job of conveying all of these emotions.

To me this scene was better than Jon and Arya’s reunion. The reunion is pretty by the numbers, with the two of them comparing swords and not truly ever communicating. It was heartwarming but it didn’t have the emotional punch this scene did.

The Tarlys burning reveal:

I’ve already talked about this scene in the Winterfell plot section but, while I felt the scene was awkward and choppy, John Bradley completely sold me on Sam’s tragedy and I can’t help but love the scene because of it.

There is something else that caught my eye, though:

From this scene, it seems pretty obvious to me that Jorah knew about the Tarlys’ execution. Which makes it all the more interesting that Jon, on the other hand, doesn’t know. I guess he’s not the only one keeping secrets.

The Gendrya reunion:

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Initially, I really disliked this scene because it feels stilted and it doesn’t flow properly. I still think it’s poorly constructed. However when watching the behind the scenes video, Maisie gave me some much needed context. Her saying that Arya was in love with Gendry and would have followed him to the ends of the Earth finally made the Gendrya relationship click for me.

While I’ve always liked the idea of them together, I never really understood how we were going to get there. But this is, actually, about a girl reuniting with her childhood crush and him being able to see her as a young woman, instead of a little girl.

It also plays in really nicely with Arya’s standoffish-ness in the scene, since Gendry abandoning her to go off with the Red Woman gets a romantic connotation as well as explains Gendry’s awkwardness around her. She’s not a little girl anymore and, dare I say it? He likes her.

It’s all very cute.

And these lines?

Gendry: It’s Valyrian steel. I always knew you were just another rich girl.

Arya: You don’t know any other rich girls.

Legitimately adorable banter.

The scene is also setting up something with the weapon Arya is commissioning. It looks like a spear or an arrow of some kind. It reminds me a bit of that flash back Bran has in the books of one of the Starks making an arrow from a weirwood branch. It’s been theorized that those arrows were meant to kill Aegon’s dragons. I wonder if they’ll tackle that plot point with Arya?

The opening credits:

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Yeah ... I’m really scraping the bottom of the barrel on this ...

I assume everyone noticed that the title sequence has been changed. What I found really intriguing is that they focus a lot on the underground tunnels of both Winterfell and King’s Landing.

The Winterfell sequence doesn’t feel like such a novelty since they’ve been pushing the crypts pretty hard in their promotion so far. The crypts represent the parentage reveal as well as possible danger for whoever hides down there once the dead attack the castle.

But King’d Landing is intriguing because the thing that I most associate with the tunnels underneath the Red Keep is wild fire. I guess we should get ready to see King’s Landing go up in flames.

Episode MVPs:

Lord “I think you’ll find you’re wrong” Varys

Varys would have been on this list for this alone:

Tyrion: You should consider yourself lucky. At least your balls won’t freeze off.

Varys: You take great offence at dwarf jokes but love making eunuch jokes. Why is that?

Thank you, Varys! Thank you! I’ve been saying that Tyrion is a mean spirited hypocrite since season 1. Glad I’m not the only one that noticed.

But then, Varys goes on to shoot down the idea of a Jon/D*ny marriage alliance with this:

Varys: Nothing lasts.

Lolz ... you, my friend, are a STAR! Keep doing what you’re doing!

Sansa “No time for your bullshit” Stark

If looks could kill ... Sansa was so on point this episode that I relished every second of it. Not only did she look stunningly beautiful but she decided to give some much needed reality checks to everyone she came into contact with.

Apparently everyone that arrives in Winterfell is delusional because Sansa’s actions of merely pointing out the obvious, like:

Armies and dragons eat a lot. How are we going to feed them?

You really took your sister at her word? Am I supposed to keep thinking you’re smart, Tyrion?

Is met with shock, horror and confusion. Everyone and their mother is wondering what Sansa is doing and what she’s up to. Jon is sulking because Sansa is not jumping at the bit to see him. D*ny is upset Sansa doesn’t like her. Tyrion is shocked that Sansa doesn’t think he’s as brilliant as he thinks he is.

Meanwhile, Sansa is just standing there, not breaking a sweat while everyone around her is twisting themselves into pretezles trying to figure her out. Now that’s a Boss Bitch right there! (yeah, yeah, too much Good Girls. I know).

Bran “King of the Clap back” Stark

Talking of Boss Bitches, here comes Bran to ruin D*ny’s day. He ain’t having whatever lame attempt at human emotion D*ny is trying to convey and decides to spread some reality checks of his own:

Bran: The Night King has your dragon. He’s one of them now. The Wall has fallen. The dead march South.

Also:

Your hair looks stupid. That coat is lame and I don’t like you very much.

(this was the subtext, right?)

But Boss Bran doesn’t stop there. He decides to out creep even himself by waiting in the freezing cold of night in order to spook Jaime Lannister upon arrival in Winterfell, like a ghost in a gothic novel:

Since I apparently have a lot more to say, I’m going to make a little series out of this. In the next two installments I will tackle the J0nereys and Jonsa relationships. Stay tuned!

* none of the gifs or pictures are mine. Thank you to the content creators!

#got 8x01 #got meta #house stark #house lannister #sansa stark #jon snow #arya stark #gendry waters #arya x gendry #gendrya #episode review #anti-daenerys

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dealbrekker · 5 years

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Buckle Up Buttercups

The following is the result of one of the long-ass arguments I have in my head while in the shower, all of which lately have been about--you guessed it--Season 8 GoT. ***Now I realize it would take a lot for this to actually happen, but the sheer energy in the visuals I was coming up with made me too happy so let’s roll with it***

Behold: A rewrite.

Episodes 1 and 2 would remain largely the same but with more scenes with Cersei in the South. More dialogue between her and Qyburn, her other advisers and Euron (I hate him) that would aid in leading to my re-imaginings. I would also stretch these things out into Episode 3. This would give us opportunity flesh out a possible Dany heel turn much better. I think that in this time, Jon’s true identity would be spilled to his sisters, rather than in the canon Episode 4. Bronn would show up and give his whole spiel to Tyrion and Jaime. More suspicion between our key players in the North--more discussions showing Dany’s growing anxieties and realizations that she’s very close to being alone in the North. This episode 3 would end with the Dead arriving and everyone having to put aside their misgivings.

Episode 4 plays out as just as the show’s Battle did until about the halfway point/a little before. I figure this would be right around the time the dead start throwing themselves on the fiery barricade Mellisandre ignited. Shots of the ground troops looking horrified and spent and defeated. Jon and Dany are chasing the Night King through the sky--breaking up that killing arctic wind in the process--but too distracted to continue stopping the dead on the ground with dragon fire.

Just when the bulk of the dead are breaking through into the castle, we get a wide shot from above and outward from Winterfell that show the unfathomable masses of dead coming. And then.

Streaming over the back portions of the dead are projectiles--massive glittering jars that upon impact explode in wicked bursts of wildefire. The green flames start vanquishing the dead. And then a swath of red and gold soldiers slam into the dead from the side (a throw back to the Knights of the Vale arriving at the Battle of the Bastards). King’s Landing has arrived.

And okay but listen. Cersei sits upon a horse, far back from the castle, with the Mountain and Qyburn and Euron (I hate him) by her side as her army swarms past her to fight the dead. She has her Smug Cersei Face locked in as she watches and her eyes flick to the sky where the dragons still battle. I am NOT trying to make Cersei a hero here, just stick with me. Her eyes are all for Dany and you can just sense the “yeah bitch, you thought” coming off her.

And I know it’s like the longest shot in the world to even think Cersei would come with her army if she sent one, but she has always believed herself invincible, especially with Mountain/Qyburn/Lannister followers blah blah. So I could see her coming. And definitely wanting to be there to soak up the moment. She stays back from the fighting, though, obviously.

We see the shock and confusion of our northern fighters, lasting only as long as possible before they have to refocus on the dead still pouring in. Jaime especially is floored by this turn of events and his face does that great thing where all his emotions flood out without words. This is point ONE of our hmmm moments.

The rest of the episode remains the same. Even with the Lannister forces, the dead are gaining ground, Qyburn convinces Cersei to retreat further back with little effort--because we can’t be that happy with her. Arya does her badass thing and ends the Night King (because I LOVED that and wouldn’t change it for the world).

But here’s where it alters.

Just when you think they’ve won--Cersei shows her true colors. I see this as a direct assault (with that shock factor those writers love so much but actually in a way that TRULY MAKES YOU FEEL THE WAY THEY INTENDED, NOT JUST ANGRY) on Rhaegal. Whether it is with a scorpion or wildfire--Cersei has clearly had this planned. The dragon dies. The Northerners outside witnesses this. Jaime, Brienne, and Pod. Dany and Jon. Arya and Bran see him falling from the sky somewhere beyond the weirwood. The episode ends on Dany’s enraged and defeated face transitioning to Cersei’s cold and domineering one. Dany now doesn’t have time to properly mourn Jorah. The Northerners have no time for anything. Cersei is the Big Bad. Like they clearly wanted her to be. But failed in doing.

Episode 5: A slight time jump. Cersei and her retinue stand in the Winterfell Hall before Dany, Jon, and Sansa. The only reason she is not dead is because A. Drogon is suffering from the wounds he received in battle and B. Cersei had tasked certain Lannister soldiers with procuring hostages. This can include Northmen and Samwell. Our 3 protagonists cannot make a move without risking their lives. Dany is verging on breaking down, and says something suggesting she doesn’t care about these people because they never cared for her, and is fully prepared to cut Cersei down with the Unsullied. Sansa will not bear it, nor will Jon. Everyone has their hands on their swords (except very obviously Jaime point TWO) while Tyrion and Varys are trying to mince words. Cersei says she figured this to be the case, and reveals that she has Missandei, too. Dany rages but stands back.

And here people cleverer than I would write scathing dialogue between Cersei and the others that would firmly keep Cersei the egotistical villain. Probably saying something like “I wanted the pleasure of destroying you all myself.” We get a fantastic standoff between Sansa and Cersei. “Little dove becomes a hawk, I see.” “No,” Sansa says. “She became the wolf she was always meant to be.”

Cersei makes references to possibly have spies among them, which would explain how she knows Missandei is important to Dany and Sam to Jon. Eyes shift vaguely at Tyrion and Jaime. Even Brienne side-eyes Jaime for the briefest of seconds Point THREE). More barbs are thrown. And now Cersie looks at Jaime and asks him to come back. Not in a weepy, begging way, but in a “I will destroy this place, come be the lion I know you to be” way. In an abuser telling their victim they’re not good enough for anything else kind of way. And he looks at Tyrion for a moment, and very obviously doesn’t look at Brienne. And crosses to Cersei’s side. Cue the jeers. Cue Brienne’s heartache. Cue our collective gasps and rage. Cue Cersei looking like the fucking Queen of the world for her victories. Cue Euron (I hate him) looking pissed.

And then, I honestly think that here Cersei would still have Missandei killed. As a threat. As a promise. Just because she fucking can. And she’s only truly interested in damaging Dany at this point, because she doesn’t know about Jon’s bloodline, and figures the North will be hers once Dany is dealt with.

Missandei’s death (after the proper build) would be the last straw for Dany. She cannot act, though, because the Mountain stands before them. She has the presence of mind to hold Greyworm back because she recognizes the futility of letting him throw himself at Cersei and the others. Lines are drawn and Cersei leaves.

The last 1/2 to 3/4 of the episode would be the Battle.

The battle would wage as most battles in the show have, but I will illustrate key things I imagine going down.

Sansa would speak with Jon before he heads out, urging him that it’s not just Cersei they need to keep an eye on. He nods. My Jon Snow, while not wanting the responsibility of ruling, has always put the realm before his own desires. He goes to find Dany. What he finds is a woman bereft. The battle has begun, houses North and South locked in deadly combat beyond the walls of the castle. Dany tells him all of this will be easy with Drogon. The tides will turn once she lays waste to the Lannister army. He says something to the effect of “And what of our army?” knowing that there will be no discerning Lannister bodies from Stark bodies in the wake of a dragon. Dany will look him dead in the eye and say they were never her men. It is a tone that clearly says they are his and they will die for it, same as Cersei’s.

Jon knows she is lost and kills her quietly as in the show. I think it would hurt him to do so. Jon is not without remorse for what Dany had been, what could have been built. They are family after all, but again, Jon has always done what’s best for the realm, or has at least tried to. Drogon appears, and for the sake of my ending, he’ll carry Dany away and vanish. The thought of a dragon loose in the world tickles me. The Unsullied and Dothraki that remain would be lost to the confusion of the dragon leaving and Dany’s disappearance. They’d throw themselves into the battle, killing both sides, but eventually break under the loss of command and Queen. (The surviving forces would be allowed to leave Westeros peacefully should they wish, or remain peacefully should they wish.)

This leaves Cersei and the Iron Throne--as the show had been leading to.

The armies see the dragon leaving and this bolsters the Lannister forces. We jump between individual battles. And here is where another plot corrects itself.

Jump to Cersei and her guards. The thick of battle edges closer to where she took up location, and Jaime is trying to get her to retreat further, touching the hilt of his sword and casting looks that make us rethink his motives, but her madness is upon her and she can’t look away from the battle. Jaime has to deflect several renegade soldiers--if only to keep up appearances--and even gets sucked into the masses for a time.

Sandor Clegane locates his brother where he guards Cersei. They engage after either one of them kills Qyburn, and separate from Cersei. We get flashes of their battle intermixed with the following. Ultimately Sandor defeats the Mountain---and lives because I genuinely like that character.

Euron (I hate him) is engaged by Yara and the surprise aid of the Iron Born. Theirs would be an awesome fight, in which Yara guts him like a pig and takes his fucking rings or shit. He pays the iron price, and she dedicates his death to Theon--a better Kracken than Euron (I hate him) ever was.

Flash back to Jaime. Enter Brienne. She is righteous in her anger and heartbreak. Jaime tries to control his emotions, but he mirrors her sadness. And they engage. He is halfhearted, she is all rage. It reflects their fight on the bridge when he was her prisoner. Their fight is only one that they can have, and we see all the emotion in their faces and actions.

And so does Cersei. When Jaime can no longer bring himself to attack Brienne, he steps back. Not quite yielding but no longer in the fight. Brienne hesitates. You can tell she doesn’t want to kill or even maim him. You know she’s remembering everything they’d been through until this moment. His step back has her tilting her head in question.

Flash back to Cersei across the way. Bronn has come to her side. “Earn your castle,” she tells him. “Kill them both.” Jaime hears this and leaps to action, taking a bolt to the side (shades of when Cersei sent the man to kill Tyrion in Blackwater Bay). Brienne launches toward Bronn but he knocks her across the face with his arm. She stumbles and falls. Bronn hovers above Jaime, who has eyes only for Brienne until Bronn says, “Let’s start with you.”

The crossbow aims at Jaime’s chest. And then he turns and shoots Cersei in the leg. At this point we’re all flipping our shits on our couches or whatever. Bronn saunters up to Cersei who is screaming in equal parts pain and wrath. Jaime is struggling to rise, horrified and shocked by what he’s seeing. Bronn squats to look Cersei in the eye. He’s behaving very unlike himself at this point. Viewers might start to suspect something.

He stares at Cersei for a long moment before he starts to recite names. Names that haven’t been crossed off an ever shortening list. Cersei is mesmerized and confused. Her name is last as Bronn pulls off his face and Arya Stark crouches before her (Bronn is dead because Arya is no fool). “You should have never made light of Winter, Cersei Lannister,” she tells the now thoroughly cowed Queen. “Winter is the season of wolves.” She stands. “But your name is no longer mine.” She turns to Jaime.

Now here I would accept either of two outcomes. Cersei defiant to the end in both, shaming him and Brienne and the Northern heathens he crawled to. He would plead once more, if only for the sake of the baby, because the baby is as much him as it is her. And she would sneer up into his face, laughing. “There was never any baby.”

By now, a crowd has amassed, and much of the fighting is in the far background. Jon has made his way to the circle. As has Tyrion and Davos. Jaime looks down at Cersei--hurt crossing his face. Tears in his eyes. And then anger comes. His hand clenches and only hatred is in his eyes. In this he either kills Cersei himself, quickly and cleanly, after telling her he stopped loving her long ago, before looking pointedly to Brienne. “I was never yours,” he says to Cersei, revealing his true motive. Once she dies, the Lannister armies yield.

If Jaime cannot bring himself to land the killing blow, he passes her off to Jon and Sansa for official trial and execution. In which Sansa watches one of her greatest tormentors beheaded, coming full circle to her father’s death. End of episode.

Final Episode:

The Epilogue we all wanted.

I’m up for different outcomes here. I always figured if we got any sort of happy ending it would be a non-mad Dany on the throne with or without Jon, but since we’ve gone the mad route for the sake of the bitter in bittersweet I’d accept the following options:

From Winterfell, the plans are made.

Jon on the Iron Throne, appointing Sansa Queen of the Independent North. Davos as his hand and Tyrion as hers. Arya as a roaming envoy between the two. She’d find a good balance with Gendry and the hint of something more with him down the road. Brienne would remain as Sansa’s head of the Queensguard, Jaime serving under her. (In this episode we get their hook up but as something far sweeter than the drunken celebration one even though I can’t say I hated that version). Bran remains in the North as well. It’s been some time so clean up and rebuilding has commenced.

Alternatively, Jon acts to appoint Sansa to the Iron Throne, claiming that he is better off as Jon Snow, not Aegon Targaryen. He’d be the Stark in Winterfell in that case. Or else, they’d call for an end to seven kingdoms as a whole, and allow self governance of each kingdom. If released from her service, Brienne returns to Tarth with Jaime and Pod. Jaime divests himself of the Lannister name and tells Tyrion he can do whatever the fuck he wants with Casterly Rock--Jaime is a Tarth now.

The episode ends with the Stark children together on the battlements, prepared to go their separate if not permanent ways. They’re all looking out over the grounds as life around the castle goes on. Dogs bark and horses stamp their feet. The blacksmith is working and children yelling.

“If Father and Mother could see us now,” Sansa says, wonderingly.

Arya smiles softly. “And Robb and Rickon.”

Jon nods, certain. “They can. They all can.”

It is quiet for a beat before one of them asks, “And what is to come now?” In a tone that ponders their futures. They turn and grin sheepishly at Bran, jokingly looking for his Sight.

He looks up at his siblings, and with a soft but true smile, he says quite simply: “Spring.”

#game of thrones #cersei lannister #got #daenerys targaryen #jaime lannister #brienne of tarth #sansa stark #jon snow #bran stark #a song of ice and fire #asoiaf #mine #text

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captainfangirlll · 5 years

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Daenerys book vs Daenerys show

Book: Daenerys has purple eyes and silver hair.

Show: Daenerys has green eyes and blonde hair.

Book: Daenerys is 14 years old in the books and Khal Drogo is (according to Danys perspective) like 23.

Show: The age gap between Drogo and Daenerys is not that big, but still he looks older than her.

Book: Daenerys assumes she’s gonna marry Viserys at some point for Targaryens traditions

Show: This is never mentioned

Books: The first time Daenerys burns and her dragons born she is naked and her hair burns so she stays bald.

Show: Daenerys hair doesn’t burn.

Book: Many Daenerys' followers died, including her maid Doreah

Show: Doreah betrays Daenerys with Xaro Xhoan Daxos

Book: Three emissaries from Qarth come to invite her to the city.

Show: People in Quarth didn’t want Daenerys in the city Xaro invokes the ancient custom of Sumai to allow her and her people to be admitted under his protection

Book: Xaro Xhoan Daxos invites Daenerys to be a guest at his manse and repeatedly asks her to marry him. She realizes that he does not physically desire her and that he only wants her dragons. The custom of Qarth is that after marriage each one has the right to ask one thing of the other. Eventually he tires of her refusals and politely tells her to leave his manse.

Daenerys is told to come to the House of the Undying to seek counsel from the warlocks, as their visions would reveal her future, but instead of aiding her they try to imprison her there. Fortunately, she has brought Drogon with her, and he sets fire on the ancient undead warlocks and burns the place to the ground.

Pyat Pree the warlock who had brought her is furious and vows revenge. Luckily, Magister Ilyrio had despatched three ships to find her with one of his finest warriors Strong Belwas, a mighty warrior-eunuch, and his Squire Arstan Whitebeard of Westeros. They are to escort her back to Pentos. Daenerys however never does what is expected. She decides to take the ships to slaver's Bay to buy herself an army.

Show: Xaro welcomes Daenerys to the city and makes her a guest, but her dragons are stolen by the warlock in the House of the Undying. Daenerys later escapes after retrieving her dragons and with her men invades Xaro's house where she finds Xaro in bed with Doreah, revealing that she had in fact betrayed Daenerys and her dragons to Xaro and Pyat Pree she locked them inside the merchant prince's vault to die, she and her people ransack Xaro's house of all its gold and precious items.

Book: Ser Barristan doesn’t tell Daenerys his identity he pass himself as man called Arstan Whitebeard and in Meeren Daenerys find out. Furious, she gave him and Jorah a mission to prove their newly-proclaimed loyalty.

Show: Daenerys always know Ser Barristan identity.

Book: Daenerys is visited by Quaithe of the Shadow, who warns her of the others descending on her: "Soon comes the pale mare, and after her the others. Kraken and dark flame, lion and griffin, the sun's son and the mummer's dragon."

Show: This prophecy is not mentioned.

Book: Daenerys problem in Meeren is not only The son of the harpy but, the "pale mare" that is a literal horse, carrying a refugee from Astapor. He too brings a gift: plague; by coincidence or not, those who contract it are said to be "riding the pale mare." It ravages not only the Meereenese but the armies of Yunkish slaves and sellsword companies.

Show: The only problem Daenerys has in Meeren are the songs of the harpy and rebel citizens.

Book: In the reopen of fighting pits in Meereen Drogon is attracted by the noise and chaos. Daenerys leaps into Drogon's back and the two fly away, leaving Meereen largely in the hands of Ser Barristan Selmy (who is not dead in books) not Tyrion who in books she haven’t meet yet.

Show: Daenerys is attacked but The sons of the Harpy in the fighting pits, but Drogon saves all and she flies away with him leaving Tyrion in charge because Ser Barristan is death.

Book: The final chapter (aside from the epilogue) is Daenerys's, as she attempts to return on foot to Meereen from a hill in the southern reaches of the Dothraki sea, which Drogon has taken for his haunt, only to be encountered by the khalasar of Khal Jhaqo as the novel ends.

Show: Drogon takes Daenerys in the Dothraki sea, and she is captured by them, that’s the end of season 5 and we all know what happens next.

Book: Tyrion Lannister is smuggled to Pentos with the help of Varys and left in the care of Illyrio Mopatis, supporter of Daenerys Targaryen. Tyrion decides to offer his services to her, and makes the journey in the company of a tall taciturn knight, "Griff," and his son "Young Griff." Tyrion takes note of the care with which Young Griff is tutored, as well as his coloring, and deduces that the boy is actually Aegon Targaryen, long-believed-dead son of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia of Dorne;Jorah kidnaps him as a prize to win his way back into Daenerys's graces. Unfortunately the Selaesori Qhoran, the ship Mormont hires to take them to Volantis, is waylaid by slavers, and he, Tyrion and Penny are sold at markets in the shadow of Meereen, claiming to be an entertainment act. From there, Tyrion sneaks his way to the camp of the Second Sons, led by Brown Ben Plumm, and pledges his sword to them as another step in getting closer to Daenerys.

Show: There is not an Aegon Targaryen and we never see Illyrion again, Jorah takes Tyrion to Daenerys and he serves her until (almost) the end.

OTHER DIFFERENCES

Book: The kraken, Victarion Greyjoy (Eurons brother), Captain of the Iron Fleet, has sail his forces east towards Meereen to serve Daenerys.

Show: Victarion doesn’t exist in the books.

Books: Prince Quentyn Martell, eldest son of Prince Doran Martell of Sunspear, is traveling east as well. He has a parchment signed by Ser Willem Darry many years ago, establishing that his elder sister Arianne Martell is to wed Prince Viserys Targaryen when he comes of age; it is Prince Doran's wish that Quentyn and Daenerys stand in place of their deceased elder siblings in this matter. Alas, he arrives too late, finding Dany about to enter into a political marriage (see below), and is then left in a bad position when her new husband tries to have her poisoned—a tactic notorious to Quentyn's uncle Oberyn Martell. In a last-ditch effort to prove his worth, Quentyn visits Dany's two dragons, Viserion and Rhaegal, and attempts to tame them. He dies of his burns three days later.

Show: Quentyn doesn’t exist in the show.

Book: Ser Barristan is a loyal servant to Daenerys and their relationship is deeper than the show, she names him the Lord Commander of her Queensguard and gives him new gold-and-silver armor.

When Drogon begins attacking people in Daznak's Pit, Barristan tries to protect Daenerys by drawing the dragon's attention to himself.

Show: Daenerys and Barristan relationship and his loyalty to her isn’t that explorer in show because he dies by the Son of The Harpy.

Books: Missandei is 10 years okd in books so her relationship with Daenerys more of protectiveness from Daenerys part.

Show: Missandei and Daenera are arround same age and they are best friends.

MY THEORIES

There is a lot of significant changes in Daenerys history from the books, so I think she will reunite with Tyrion like in the show, we don’t what will happen with Victorion is very possible he takes Yaras roll and give Daenerys the ships to go to Westeros.

At the moment she is with the Dothrakis amd we don’t know how she is gonna escape.

Aegon Targaryen is also a thing and theres a lot of theoriea that he is gonna be the one who cause Daenerys craziness and not Jon.

Personally I think Aegon will arrive first to Westeros and he will take KL, in books he he suggests attacking Westeros and go for it, establishing a beachhead which Daenerys can later reinforce. He too seeks Daenerys's hand, and too is keenly aware that he must have something worthwhile to offer her besides his own bloodline as her nephew, in a revelead chapter of Winds of Winter shows Aegon is already in Dragonstone.

My theory is that we will see a war between Daenerys and Aegon before a war between Cersei and Daenerys. Or Daenerys will go North to help Jon and after she will fight against Aegon for the throne.

• I don’t know how is gonna be her relationship with the Stark, I think Jonerys will be a thing in books aswell, maybe her relationship with Arya will be better since they both are alike and the two favorite female George characters.

• Missandei and Greyworm aren’t a couple in books so I don’t think Missaned death will be crucial in Daenerys journey.

• There is a possibility one of Daenerys dragons become and ice dragon but not in the way that happened in the show. Maybe with the Joramun's horn, which is a legendary horn with magical properties, This horn is mentioned by Ygritte and Free folk believe that blowing the horn can bring down the Wall awakes Dragons and more.

So we actually don’t know how is gonna be Daenerys descent to madness in the books or if is she will become mad at all. She still have Ser Barristan, Jorah, Missandei, the unsullied and her three dragons.

Is very possible she will meet Jon but she have to deel with Aegon first, in books Jon Targaryen blood isn’t confirmed yet.

Personally I believe she will fall in love with Jon like in the show, collaborate in the long night and become mad at the end. Also I believe Jon will kill her too, but George will writte the plot very different and with logic so we have to wait, there’s gonna be HUGE differences.

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acre1984-blog · 5 years

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Here are some good alternate endings!

1. Dany and Jon destroy the Throne together, ending the Game of Thrones.

"In short, the story should have been the last two Targaryens in the world finding their way back to each other and destroying the Throne (which was ultimately the downfall of their house) and thus ending the 'game.'

Rheagal should have lived and Dany and Jon should have used their dragons to burn the throne. The wheel would be broken — the throne having been created by dragon fire (and the Targaryens), and then destroyed by dragon fire (and the Targaryens) – bringing the story full circle.

It would have been clever if throughout the whole story we were made to believe that Dany wanted to sit on the Iron Throne when really all she wanted to do was destroy it."

2. Jon kills himself after killing Dany.

"Jon Snow should have died a la Melisandre after Dany (in a sort of Romeo & Juliet type manner) as he had fulfilled the Lord of Light's purpose. Drogon should have taken both of them away."

3. Brienne decides to be with Tormund.

Gendry on that effing boat [with Arya]. Sandor still alive with both his eyes and on the boat with him. I shipped Brienne with Jaime, but since he chose his sister...Brienne getting knighted and then choosing Tormund. Jon, King of the Seven Kingdoms.

Dany would still be dead. Since Mereen, I felt that she was a different person and lost her morals."

4. Bran is actually...the Night King?

"Everything stays the same. The credits roll then go to a cut scene of Bran warging out. The camera zooms in closer and closer until the shot is just Bran’s eyes. He blinks. His eyes flash to Night King blue. The end.

George R. R. Martin trolls all of us. The show's ending is actually the ending to The Winds of Winter. A Song of Spring will be where we are given the true ending."

5. We see where Drogon takes Dany.

"Keeping it as is cuz whatevs, but we actually see where Drogon takes Dany. He lands on a field full of dragon eggs because come on, we really think there were only three dragon eggs left in the world? He puts Dany on the eggs and sets the whole thing on fire. Dany is reborn again, but spends the rest of her days on the other side of the world just chilling."

6. Arya wears Grey Worm's face to kill Dany.

"We watched Arya for TWO GOD DAMN SEASONS learning to become a faceless man and she used it once to kill Walder Frey?!?

Arya should have killed Grey Worm and worn his face to kill Dany. Also, Arya needed a bad ass kill in the finale. That would have put Jon on the throne and Jon could have then exiled Arya so she could sail the world like she wanted."

7. Arya wears Jon's face to kill Dany.

"I wish Jon had realized he wouldn’t be able to kill Dany, so he sacrifices himself so Arya can take his face, get close enough to Dany and kill her. Jon is dead, but he did it to save everyone and still show some love for Dany. Arya would be exiled to go west anyway in my brain. Same general story but with a bit of umph to it, I guess. But I must say I thought it was very good in its simplicity."

8. Dany and Jon rule together.

"I’m such a sucker for happy endings that I really hoped Dany and Jon would just rule together, and because of that Sansa would still have the independent North. I understand the Mad Queen thing probably made for a more interesting plot, but I still hated watching Dany’s downfall considering everything she’d ever been through and coming out even stronger for it. I still hoped for them to rule together or at worst Jon giving up his right to the throne so she could rule on her own. But again, I’m just a sucker for happy endings, so to each their own."

9. Dany kills herself.

"All could be the same until after Danys Speech...Tyrion is sentenced to death by fire. Jon stands in front of Drogon and stops the execution. Tyrion explains to the Army why Jon was able to stop Drogon – because he's the rightful ruler. The army, and Grey Worm bend the knee to Jon. Dany is upset at losing power to Jon, losing the army, and losing power over Drogon, so she kills herself."

10. Bronn isn't on the small council because "that makes literally no sense."

"I don't know how it should have ended but I would personally like to have seen:

Brienne starting the next page of the knight book with her name and the first sentence would be that she's the first female head of the Kingsguard, and she helped form a constitutional monarchy.

Bronn NOT on the small council because that makes literally no sense.

Ending shot of the show should be a shadow of Drogon flying and a faint dragon's cry over some land that we've never seen before.

Sam should have said A Song of Ice and Fire is not yet finished.

Dany's eyes should have turned purple to honour the original writing, and she should have sat on the throne."

11. Bran was actually able to walk all along.

"Honestly I wish it would’ve just ended with Bran standing up and being like 'HAHA GOTCHA I could walk this whole time.'"

12. Brienne is pregnant with Jaime's baby.

"A glimpse of Brienne’s writing should have revealed: 'Fathered a child with Brienne of Tarth.'"

13. Dany melts the throne, then flies away with Drogon. Westeros becomes seven independent nations.

"Dany melts the throne, then her and Drogon fuck off. Jon and Tyrion are held responsible. It's decided that Westeros will be seven independent nations, with Bran serving as the protector. Jon is still banished to the Night's Watch (but we all know he's now King Beyond the Wall).

Final scene is an elderly woman tending to a lemon tree in the yard of a house with a red door. She looks up and smiles as Drogon flies over."

14. Jaime kills Cersei.

"Basically the gists of what I was hoping would go down is:

Jaime kills Cersei (thus fulfilling Maggy's prophecy).

Arya kills Dany (thus fulfilling Melisandre’s prophecy and completing her ‘no one’ arc).

Jon is nominated as King of Westeros (whether he rejects it or not is up to him, but damn his name should really be among the nominees, not because he’s a Targaryen, but because of his credibility).

Sansa remains Queen of the independent North.

If Arya exploring west has to remain the same, then I hope this happens: Gendry eventually realized that he’s not really feeling the ‘Lord’ title anyway and suddenly shows up at the harbor and tells Arya he wants to join her.

The people in the court council remain the same.

Flash forward to coronation day like in the finale, with Jon Snow visiting Castle Black (now no longer a place for the banished, but a middle meeting point for Westerosi and Freefolk to discuss matters when needed) to say hi to old friend Tormund and to pet Ghost."

15. The white walkers are the final enemy, and Jon has defeat them by killing Daenerys.

"I wanted the white walkers to be the final enemy and hoped for a more literal re-telling of the Last Hero/Prince story that was promised. Basically the winter is getting worse and people are losing the fight. The hero (Jon) tragically puts his sword through his lover (Daenerys) to create the weapon that drives the Others back where they came from and ends the winter... At least for the next couple thousand years. Jon, wounded and having nothing left to lose, is last seen chasing the remaining enemy way beyond the wall, knowing he won't make it back."

16. Sansa is queen of the seven kingdoms.

"I wish Arya was the one that killed Dany, but Jon still refuses the throne, and Sansa ends up on the throne of the seven kingdoms. She’s so level-headed and would’ve been so much better than Bran. And I wish Arya ended up with Gendry so that at least one couple could have a happy ending. But seriously, anyone but Bran."

17. Gendry becomes king.

"Should have been Gendry. Do you know how much fanfiction I'm going to have to read to make up for this?"

18. Dany gets killed, then is brought back to life, then kills everyone...again?

"Tyrion is killed by Dany for betraying her. Arya kills Dany. Drogon takes Dany to a wizard that brings her back to life, and comes back and torches everyone again to take back the Iron Throne."

#jonerys #daenerys targaryen #jon snow

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simplystefanie-rae · 5 years

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got series finale

Anyway random thoughts i had last night that I can remember:

I remember wanting to block out the first half hour because this ‘dany is a 2 dimensional villain used only to cause jon man pain’ was just torture to get through

tryion walked WAY too fucking long. are long tracking shots where people walk the only thing they can direct, do they think its artsy. you can only do so many of them before you get bored

greyworm im so sorry they had you end up this way

why is this show acting like the devastation the smallfolk suffered actually matters when they never gave a shit before

if jaime and cersei took like 5 steps back they would have been fine and not artily crushed to death

(tyrion to jon: ‘you heard her speech, did it sound like she was finished?’

me: but she wasnt speaking english)

i snorted at that scene where drogons wings were used as a backdrop on dany. Like yeah it looked really fucking cool but at the same time it was so stupidly on the nose evil lol

emilia clarke as just been carrying the entire season with her face acting alone and i cant believe im saying that now when i thought she couldnt act, i guess it really was just shit directing, surprise surprise

they made jon such a fucking idiot, all because they wanted him to be tortured by this decision in killing dany

tyrions entire talk about how all her righteous killing is a slippery slope is such fucking bullshit, they framed EVERY one of those scenes as a triumph we should root for. And with the exception of her burning the Khals religious place, why WOULDN’T we cheer for her executing slavers. like why is that being questioned. oh wait i know why they must have read some anti dany meta online and decided to ignore their own story for the sake of this bs dany is a crazy bitch plot

why didnt drogon also kill jon, like literally the entire time i was like ‘oh shit jons gonna be burned alive holding dany, well that makes sense, BECAUSE I SURE DONT KNOW HOW HE’D GET OUT ALIVE OTHERWISE CONSIDERING HE JUST KILLED THEIR QUEEN’

little did i know

why wasnt jon killed on sight because you know this bitch just went right up to greyworm and was like ‘i killed her’

whatever. anyway sure glad drogon can understand basic ASOIAF themes even if the writers couldnt. not that burning the iron throne mattered in the slightest

and again how dare they act like the smallfolk and what dany did to them matter NOW when they just go right back to ignoring their existence, nay, downright LAUGHING at the thought of them getting a say in how theyre governed

urgh

fuck this is long. okay well the entire outdoor council scene was really dumb. greyworm was all like ‘we control this city and demand JUSTICE’ but allows their prisoner tyrion the Most Moral Man to choose an opposing king. why. what??

have fun when bran dies and this council cant decide on a new king/queen

also poor fucking edmure, why was he even there. see this is how you know D&D dont understand these characters, like yeah im sure sansa would totally disrespect the last tully, her MOMS BROTHER. but lolol its comedy i guess

robert arryn + breast milk= jokes on us for making fun of him all those years i guess lol

seriously i dont understand why tyrion has this much clout with anyone

so is the underlying thing here that bran just NEEDED jon to know that he was rheagars son just so he, BRAN, could be king. that he knew what dany would do and that it would force jon to kill her making way for him, bran. to be king.

can bronn even read

what math does he know

why isnt brienne sansa’s queensguard

bran: ill find drogon

okay like what then tho. god i kind of wish there WAS a little ending scene where drogon took dany to asshai and she was resurrected

jon losing his man bun = coming full circle in D&D’s eyes

sansa’s dress already had major points in my book for not being black and bdsm-ish looking. it was so gorgeous, i need better stills of it

that said as much as i liked her being crowned queen it felt hollow, not just because her family wasn’t there for it, but because there was not ONE face we knew there that I could see, and there was hardly anyone there at all in the first place.

glad arya found her family just to leave her family. again.

if this were a better show, i could like the starks not being able to truly be together again, at least in body. So much has changed all of them, they’re all on different paths, and as long as they all know that they’re okay then the distance shouldn’t matter. But this show didnt earn that type of nuanced ending

and i guess thats it. i feel like i should say something about jaime and brienne but i think everyone said what im thinking last episode. brienne writing in the book just felt like a knife twisted in the gut since once again they’re doing this thing where they’re pretending this significant thing matters after they got their disrespect juice all over it

#got #stef talks got #god dont @ me with hate im just tagging this so people can block it

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boltsandashes · 5 years

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Game of Thrones - The Bells

Alright, so. My day so far has been waking up to find my parents’ basement flooded, then spending my entire monthly income at my car’s yearly inspection.

And then I got home and watched this episode.

And. I have some thoughts.

Spoilers starting after this.

So I.... did not like this episode. I didn’t hate everything in it. There was some spectacular acting, a few really great character moments. Jaime and Tyrion’s scenes are always brilliant and this was no different, even though I didn’t love the context of this one. Tyrion telling Jaime how grateful he was for him left me tearing up.

Jaime’s reunion with Cersei was also beautiful. Even after everything they’ve been through and done to each other, the way she just broke, seeing him, really made me feel for her. Her last moments too, they were heartbreaking.

I love how the woman we focused on at the start of the episode appeared to help Arya later.

I also really enjoyed the majority of the Clegane fight. (Though... maybe this is me coming from a zombie fandom, but eventually I was shouting for Sandor to just stab him in the brain!! Apparently that wouldn’t have helped, but you’d think it would’ve been a much more obvious choice than a shoulder, just in general.)

Finally, I loved the last Sandor-Arya conversation, and the way they cut between him fighting and her trying to survive later. There were some really great elements in this episode, and I feel like I just listed a lot.

So it’s kind of amazing that overall the episode was just... so goddamn painful to watch. The way they handled Dany was pretty unforgivable. I understand that they’re sending her down the Mad King route, but they shouldn’t be. It’s so out of keeping with how she used to be. It’s so disrespectful to her journey. It’s like watching an entirely new character.

Varys

Varys’ death was horrible and not in the way that Game of Thrones sometimes used to be horrible, where awful things happened but it was thematically satisfying or built to some larger purpose. It didn’t build to anything. No one cared when it happened (or at least, cared in a way where it changed any character motivations or actions). It’s not what signaled to anyone that Dany was going off the rails; everyone continued to follow her just as stalwartly as before. It led to nothing. Added nothing. I’m convinced it only happened because Melisandre made a quick prophecy last year that Varys would die, so they felt the need to clumsily throw it in. And that’s so deeply sad for such a significant character, such an interesting and complex character, to go out in a way that meant absolutely nothing in the end.

(Side note: we saw him writing letters about Jon’s true ancestry at least a day before the one he burned. Killing him didn’t stop the word from getting out, or shouldn’t have. Did no one think to care or question this? No follow up? ...Possibly it’s something that will somehow matter in the next episode and I hope so, because I still want Varys to have mattered. But after what happened in the rest of the episode I don’t see something like a letter mattering much anymore.)

The Fleet

This is just plain plot armor shining through and it irritates me. Last episode, Drogon and Rhaegal faced off against the fleet. Rhaegal was killed, and Drogon forced to retreat. This episode Dany destroyed the fleet, along with all the scorpions King’s Landing had set up, with absolutely no difficulty. You can’t set them up as being some huge threat to her in one episode and then, with no alteration in power or strategy, just have her crush them immediately afterward.

(And... this isn’t exactly about the fleet, but Dany pretty much proves here that she could fly all over the city without much difficulty, so why, why why why, wouldn’t anyone suggest her just flying into the Red Keep, bypassing all the soldiers, and taking out Cersei, leaving everyone else alive? Considering how important a minimal death count was, you’d think that would be the obvious strategy.)

Euron

So... I don’t know what popular opinion is on this character, but to me he’s always been just such a non-character. I can’t even explain it except that every time he’s on screen has always felt like wasted screen time. What I can say is that his fight with Jaime seemed so forced and out of character for him? Like the writers realized that since they’d been setting up a rivalry there they needed to have them fight at some point, so they just squashed it in while the world was already ending, and when it really made no difference.

You know what would’ve made more sense? For Euron to climb out of that water, see that the city was falling and Jaime was going to save Cersei, and say “yeah have her, man. She won’t be a queen anymore once the day’s done, what use is she to me now?” And then, if the writers felt like they still needed to fight, he could’ve gone for the dingy and Jaime could’ve gone after him then, since it was his and Cersei’s only way to escape.

And that would’ve been much more in keeping with Euron’s character, and highlighted the differences between Jaime, who actually loved Cersei and was willing to go back in to save her, and Euron, who only wanted her because she was the queen.

...All I’ve got to say is I’m glad Euron wasn’t actually the person who killed Jaime Lannister.

Jaime

I hated what they did with Jaime last episode. I don’t hate that he went back for Cersei. Honestly, when they said at first that he was planning to stay behind in Winterfell that felt desperately out of character to me, and I was excited when we saw him gearing up to go back. But then he said that he was going back to be with Cersei. As in... just drop every ounce of character growth we’ve seen from him over the series, stand by her side again and watch the world burn.

But I would’ve been so happy with his entire character arc, and his fate, with one easy tweak. Jaime’s motivation should have been trying to get Cersei to surrender in the first place. It’s so frustrating to me because that’s what Tyrion gets him to do anyway in this episode. It makes sense for Jaime to want to protect Cersei, who he’s spent his entire life in love with. It makes sense that he’d want to try and end the war without any more bloodshed than necessary, since he cares about people on both sides now. It doesn’t make sense for him to just snap like he did, decide “screw the rest of the world, I’m gonna go be evil again.” It just... doesn’t.

Nothing would’ve had to change, story-wise, with this tweak. Jaime could have gotten captured trying to get to Cersei. Tyrion goes to visit him, asks “why are you going back to her?” and Jaime says “I was trying to get her to stand down. If there’s a way this can end with her still breathing, I have to try.” And then Tyrion helps him escape. (Maybe in this version Jaime tells Tyrion to pass some last message along to Brienne.) He still goes to try and convince Cersei to surrender or leave with him, but gets there too late. The plot continues as it was, without severely damaging Jaime’s characterization and growth. Easy fix.

Daenerys (and Grey Worm)

Alright, this is the big one. I’m not going to go into detail on how awful that entire segment was. I just... it’s too much, I can’t. But I am going to talk about how that could have also been made much better with one small tweak.

They should have saved Missandei’s death for this episode.

If this is the route they wanted to go down –– Dany losing it, the city burning –– then I could have actually gotten on board with it. But there needed to be a reason. Not just “Dany’s suddenly crazy and bloodthirsty.” Not “Grey Worm’s just kind of an asshole now.” And yes, while you could say that their motivation was still anger over Missandei’s death in the episode, there’s a huge difference between an in the moment snap reaction and one that happens days later. So let’s rewrite just a smidge. Missandei’s still a prisoner at the start of this episode. Dany starts out the episode being fairly reasonable, and agreeing with Tyrion that if they hear the bells, she’ll accept the surrender.

The battle begins and the fighting goes on for a bit. Missandei’s there with Cersei watching the battle, maybe commenting proudly that there’s no way Cersei will win. Daenerys is the true queen and soon the people will realize that. When the bells sound and the soldiers stand down, Dany’s elated. Maybe meets Jon’s eyes across the battlefield and they share a smile. The war’s won, and not many people had to die. It’s everything she’s ever dreamed of.

But then Cersei, in a fit of panic at having lost and the vindictive rage that she’s so known for, drags Missandei out onto a balcony, meets Dany’s eyes, and slits her throat.

Dany, horrified and grief-stricken, takes flight with Drogon again. Grey Worm, heartbroken and enraged, raises his spear and kills one of the surrendered troops. Chaos breaks out. We cut to Dany, see her crying as she ruins the city, as all her dreams shatter around her with no way to fix it. She’s still falling apart, but her actions are understandable. We empathize with her, even as we’re horrified by what she’s doing.

This one change would have completely altered the spirit of the episode, without changing the content of it much at all. This would’ve given us multidimensional characters, understandable motivations, and the heartbreak of seeing Dany rise so high and crumble so completely right before our eyes. Instead of what we ended up with, which was just... demonizing her, honestly.

She deserved a lot better than this. The entire show did.

And... that ended up being so much longer than I’d expected. I’m sorry for the ramble, I just had a lot of feelings on this. Please reply to this or message me with your own thoughts, I’d love to hear what everyone thinks <3

#and now back to your regularly scheduled walking dead content #game of thrones #got spoilers #game of thrones spoilers #got: the bells #b&a opinions #jaime lannister #daenerys targaryen #cersei lannister

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turtle-paced · 5 years

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Revisiting Chapters: Catelyn VII, ACoK

This post is also on my wordpress.

Pssht, we’re not even up to the climax of ACoK, how important could this chapter be?

The story so far…

While Catelyn’s been doing her thing, other plots have been continuing beyond her sight. News of Robb’s campaign, Edmure’s campaign, and most of all, from Castle Cerwyn, is about to change her life.

Catelyn’s Family

The chapter begins with Catelyn and Brienne dining alone in Riverrun’s great hall, while outside everyone else is at a party. Out there, people are drinking good ale and celebrating Edmure’s victory at the fords and Robb’s victory at the Crag. Inside, Catelyn’s sitting in the shadows, drinking a vintage that “tasted thin and sour on her tongue.” Good use of filter words here, reminding us of Catelyn’s subjectivity. Is the vintage truly thin and sour? Or is Catelyn just not capable of finding any pleasure in wine right now?

I am become a sour woman, Catelyn thought. I take no joy in mead nor meat, and song and laughter have become suspicious strangers to me. I am a creature of grief and dust and bitter longings. There is an empty place within me where my heart once was.

Together with her thoughts of Bran and Rickon, including the thought that the people outside “never knew my sons”, it’s clear Catelyn has had news from Winterfell, and that the news was very bad indeed. But it’s not been said outright yet. Catelyn’s still processing. She tries to get Brienne to leave, to go outside and join the party, but Brienne’s not having it. With Brienne there and listening, and at last asking that one key question – did Catelyn receive news of her sons – Catelyn says it aloud.

Such a simple question that was; would that the answer could be as simple. When Catelyn tried to speak, the words caught in her throat. “I have no sons but Robb.”

This is not quite the same as ‘Bran and Rickon are dead’. While she is clearly, clearly cognisant of their deaths, she avoids saying ’my sons were killed’ even when she’s telling Brienne that her sons were killed. Instead, she tells Brienne that Bran and Rickon were “taken” at the Acorn Water, and focuses on what was done to their bodies, rather than the action of their (apparent) murder. This is because Catelyn’s having real trouble holding herself together, and those words would tip her right over into the abyss of her grief.

With her love for her younger sons seen in how deep and devastating the news is, Catelyn abruptly changes topic to her daughters, her words about them demonstrating her love for them in turn.

“Men would say [Sansa] has my look, but she will grow into a woman far more beautiful than I ever was, you can see that. I often sent away her maid so I could brush her hair myself. […]

“Arya was a trial, it must be said. Half a boy and half a wolf pup. Forbid her anything and it became her heart’s desire. […] I despaired of ever making a lady of her. She collected scabs as other girls collect dolls, and would say anything that came into her head. I think she must be dead too.” When she said that, it felt as though a giant hand was squeezing her chest.

Catelyn tells Brienne that she wants Theon and the Lannisters dead, and the only thing that stops her from truly embracing this desire is the knowledge that her daughters could still be saved. Maybe, in the case of Arya. Maybe. Catelyn is certain that she would take pleasure in killing Theon for what he did to her family.

Upon departing the great hall and Brienne, Catelyn goes to visit her dying father.

As she climbed to her father’s solar, she could hear them outside, shouting “Tully!” and “A cup! A cup to the brave young lord!” My father is not dead, she wanted to shout down at them. My sons are dead, but my father lives, damn you all, and he is your lord yet.

When she gets there, he’s asleep because the maester’s drugged him for his pain. Catelyn’s going to lose her father, too, and she’s having trouble accepting that as well on top of everything else. And there is a lot of everything else.

No matter how tightly I hold him, I cannot keep him here, she thought sadly. Let him go.Yet her fingers would not seem to unbend.

She reminisces about an incident from her childhood (which reminds us of the fact that she, Lysa, and Littlefinger were close, once), and talks about what she wants from life. What she wants is simple, and yet so hard to obtain. She wants her children back for her own sake, and Robb to be happy for his own sake, and their family to go on, in peace.

“I want,” she said once more, and then her words were gone.

Catelyn wants her family. Catelyn wants for her family. That’s some tragic wordplay.

The Problem of Evil

Catelyn believes in the Seven. That faith is being tested, in this chapter more than most. She’s started to feel that the gods are against her, or at least withholding their mercy from her.

If you never tell, never speak of it, will it become only a dream, less than a dream, a nightmare half-remembered? Oh, if only the gods would be so good.

This becomes more apparent as Brienne tries to comfort Catelyn, telling her that Bran and Rickon are with the gods.

“Are they?” Catelyn said sharply. “What god would let this happen? Rickon was only a baby. How could he deserve such a death? And Bran…when I left the north, he had not opened his eyes since his fall. I had to go before he woke. Now I can never return to him, or hear him laugh again.”

There are two separate injustices here that Catelyn cannot understand the grand cosmic reason for. First, the injustice to her sons, children, (seemingly) brutally murdered by a man they trusted. Second, the injustice to Catelyn herself, to lose her children. In the face of this massive horror, Catelyn finds that she can get no comfort from her faith.

“I have no one to talk to, father,” she told him. “I pray, but the gods do not answer.”

The gods don’t answer, but Jaime Lannister does. He’s got his own theological observations, which only serve to bring Catelyn’s problems of faith and justice into sharper relief.

“Your crimes will have earned you a place of torment in the deepest of the seven hells, if the gods are just.”

“What gods are these, Lady Catelyn? The trees your husband prayed to? How well did they serve him when my sister took his head off?” Jaime gave a chuckle. “If there are gods, why is the world so full of pain and injustice?”

“Because of men like you.”

This is exactly what Catelyn’s shown she’s afraid of in her private moments. Why would the gods do this to her? Why would the gods to this to Ned or Bran or Rickon? Why? They didn’t deserve it. There is no rhyme or reason to this. No justice. She cannot see the hands of the gods at work, but it’s only too clear what evil men are doing, a point developed when she asks Jaime why he threw Bran from the window.

“He was weak enough, but perhaps not so innocent. He was spying on us.”

“Bran would not spy.”

“Then blame those precious gods of yours, who brought the boy to our window and gave him a glimpse of something he was never meant to see.”

“Blame the gods?” she said, incredulous. “Yours was the hand that threw him.”

If the gods aren’t doing anything about Jaime and men like him, Catelyn’s going to have to act, and she knows where the responsibility lies.

Truth for Truth

So Catelyn goes to visit Jaime to get some answers about the clusterfuck that’s resulted in, so far as she knows, the murders of her husband and two of her sons, the disappearance and probable death of one daughter, and the captivity of her other daughter. Her first sight of him since the Whispering Woods emphasises Jaime’s bestial appearance – the narration doesn’t use the word, but between his shoulder-length hair and shaggy beard, it would seem we have a lion with a mane, here.

He also hasn’t drunk the wine Catelyn sent him, citing that while his death by poison could be covered up, it’s harder to claim his head simply fell off. Jaime’s a bit smarter than Cleos, it seems. It also seems that imprisonment, while not Jaime’s favourite occupation, has not actually broken him. He’s still got it in him to be a total asshole.

“A man chained hand and foot should keep a more courteous tongue in his mouth, ser. I did not come here to be threatened.”

“No? Then surely it was to have your pleasure of me? They say widows grow weary of their empty beds.”

Such an asshole. My god. Aside from his cruel mockery of Catelyn’s Joffrey-inflicted widowhood, Jaime also makes cracks about Robb’s courage and skill. There’s also that supremely arrogant line,

“There are no men like me. There’s only me.”

But he’s not totally unaffected by his imprisonment. When it looks like Catelyn’s about to leave, he gives in enough to say he’ll trade her, honest answer for honest answer.

“Your turnkey tells me nothing but vile lies, and he cannot even keep them straight. One day he says Cersei has been flayed, and the next it’s my father. Answer my questions and I’ll answer yours.”

Jaime is motivated by love of his family, but what looks like it should be a major redeeming feature turns out in the long run to be far more complicated. Jaime’s relationship with Cersei is ultimately demonstrated to be toxically abusive even without any questionable questions of sibling incest. His father does not love Jaime, just the image of what Jaime could be. Jaime makes reference to the lie he told Tyrion about Tysha later, too. Here and now, though, the other complication with love-as-redeeming feature is that it’s apparent with Jaime’s very first question that he only loves his family.

“Do all my kin still live?”

“Ser Stafford Lannister was slain at Oxcross, I am told.”

Jaime was unmoved. “Uncle Dolt, my sister called him. It’s Cersei and Tyrion who concern me. As well as my lord father.”

Didn’t he have, like, some kids with Cersei or something? Even if he doesn’t think of them as his children, they’re still officially his nephews and niece, and he’s spent a lot of time around them.

Catelyn, for her part, extracts confirmation from Jaime that he’s been sleeping with his sister, and is Joffrey’s biological father. More importantly, to her, she asks him how Bran came to fall from the tower window. Jaime, whatever else he might be here, honours the terms of their agreement and tells her that he threw Bran from the window. When Catelyn presses him, asking about the follow-up assassination attempt, however, Jaime denies that.

“On my honour as a Lannister.”

“Your honour as a Lannister is worth less than this.” She kicked over the waste pail.

Now and later in ASoS, we’ll see that this actually managed to get through Jaime’s emotional armour. Catelyn’s sheer contempt for Jaime’s integrity left a mark. Of more concern to Catelyn is the fact that Jaime starts ruling out other suspects –

“If you did not send the killer, your sister did.”

“If so, I’d know. Cersei keeps no secrets from me.”

“Then it was the Imp.”

“Tyrion is as innocent as your Bran.”

– and she believes him. (She shouldn’t, because Jaime’s dead wrong about his relationship with Cersei, but Catelyn’s got no way of knowing this.)

So, if it wasn’t Jaime, and it wasn’t Cersei, and it wasn’t Tyrion, who was it? Jaime recalls the dagger Catelyn describes to him, and says that yes, it changed hands, he remembers Robert showing it to him at the feast afterwards. As Catelyn can’t help but notice, this story matches what Tyrion claimed. Jaime couldn’t know what Tyrion told Catelyn and has had no chance to work out a matching story.

Petyr had sworn otherwise, Petyr who had been almost a brother, Petyr who had loved her so much he had fought a duel for her hand…and yet, if Jaime and Tyrion told the same tale, what did that mean? […] Somewhere there was a trap here.

Littlefinger’s already got lucky in ACoK that Tyrion’s got too much on his plate to handle coming after him. He should consider himself lucky that Catelyn’s staying in denial, too.

Jaime continues to ask Catelyn for news of the outside world, informing the readers that Tyrell alliances are currently up in the air. They discuss what honour’s worth, when a brother’s life is on the line. The important thing is in the background of this conversation, as Jaime drinks the wine Catelyn brought him. And at last, Jaime gets drunk enough that he truly lowers his guard and vents about his knighthood and his position in the Kingsguard.

“So many vows…they make you swear and swear. Defend the king. Obey the king. Keep his secrets. Do his bidding. Your life for his. But obey your father. Love your sister. Protect the innocent. Defend the weak. Respect the gods. Obey the laws. It’s too much. No matter what you do, you’re forsaking one vow or another.”

This too is important heading into ASoS. Jaime’s thought about the contradictory vows of knighthood, and his response was to give up on them entirely and abandon the possibility of ever being truly honourable. He continues on about Aerys, with a toast –

“To Aerys Targaryen, the Second of His Name, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protectorof the Realm. And to the sword that opened his throat.”

Catelyn’s horrified. She does not realise, of course, why Jaime put such an emphasis on “protector”. “Only a man like you would be proud of such an act,” she says. This of course provokes Jaime further, upset as he is that these honourable people keep insulting his. He returns to cruelty, and exposits a large chunk of detail about just how Catelyn’s first fiance came to grief.

“No doubt Ned wished to spare you. […] Well, you wanted truth. Ask me. We made a bargain, I can deny you nothing. Ask.”

“Dead is dead.” I do not wish to know this.

Jaime tells her unsolicited. The details are ugly. When Brandon and his companions called for Rhaegar to “come out and die,” Aerys arrested them for plotting Rhaegar’s murder, then demanded that the fathers of the young men arrested come to the Red Keep. So far so much public knowledge. What Jaime knows that Catelyn didn’t was that Rickard demanded trial by combat. Aerys gave it to him, naming fire as the champion of House Targaryen. Brandon was brought in to watch, tied by the throat and his sword placed just out of his reach. It ended with Rickard Stark burned alive and Brandon Stark strangled.

With this exposed, Jaime describes killing Aerys as his finest act. Because he’s an asshole and now a drunk asshole, he continues to vent his frustration at all the people who scorned him for it.

“As for your Ned, he should have kissed the hand that slew Aerys, but he preferred to scorn the arse he found sitting on Robert’s throne. I think Ned Stark loved Robert better than he ever loved his brother or his father…or even you, my lady. He was never unfaithful to Robert, was he?”

[…]

“I’ve never lain with any woman but Cersei. In my own way, I have been truer than your Ned ever was. Poor old dead Ned. So who has shit for honour now, I ask you?”

Oh yeah, Catelyn definitely left a mark. So what’s Jaime going to do about it? That’s a question for ASoS, where Jaime has a few more truths to confront.

A Trade

The chapter ends on a cliffhanger that is not resolved until the start of ASoS. Given that Catelyn asked for a sword in those final lines, the most reasonable initial assumption is that Catelyn killed Jaime herself. Instead, as we know, Catelyn forced Jaime to swear certain oaths to her, then released him into Brienne’s custody to exchange himself for her daughters.

That Catelyn had a plan has been apparent all chapter.

She had not meant to tell Brienne. No one knew except her and Maester Vypren, and she meant to keep it that way until…until…

Catelyn links her inability to tell Brienne to her own inability to fully process the news of her sons’ deaths, and yet that “until” still shows us she’s looking forward to some future mark that involves that acceptance.

The next indication of Catelyn’s true plan is the very fact that she switches topic from Bran and Rickon to Sansa and Arya. As I mentioned above, Catelyn says she wants Jaime dead, and then adds “but my girls.” Which gives us Catelyn’s priorities. Daughters first, then revenge.

Then she changes the topic again. Once again it’s a very abrupt change of topic, that makes sense in hindsight with the knowledge of her actions, but not without it. From talking about Robb and Theon, she goes to telling Brienne that she’s sent Jaime wine.

The ploy had served her well with Cleos Frey. I hope you’re thirsty, Jaime. I hope your throat is dry and tight.

There’s forethought involved here, we can see. She also asks Brienne to come with her to visit Jaime, at midnight.

There’s another telling bit when Jaime admits that he meant to kill Bran.

The easy way he said it took her breath away for an instant. If I had a knife, I would kill him now, she thought, until she remembered the girls.

This again reminds us of Catelyn’s priorities. Furthermore, it gives us an indication that killing Jaime in his cell is not part of her plan. Yet when Jaime really gets going with the taunting and the mockery, he’s just so obnoxious that it’s entirely believeable that Catelyn snaps and asks for Brienne’s sword.

Chapter Function

Hoo boy. This is one important chapter.

In the background are two significant events: Edmure winning at the Fords, and Robb taking the Crag. Edmure’s victory sets the stage for Tywin to bail the Lannisters out at the Blackwater. Robb taking the Crag is the first step in the sequence of events that leads to his marriage to Jeyne Westerling. These things shape the political landscape of ASoS.

Then there’s our reintroduction to Jaime Lannister, now with added character complexity. His struggles with his vows and his love for his family is set up here. There’s a bit more groundwork as to why he killed Aerys as well. His chat with Catelyn also keeps in view how Littlefinger’s been involved in the political plot thus far.

Most of all, this is an important chapter for Catelyn. The blow of (apparently) losing two children, on top of the other losses she’s suffered recently, affects her profoundly. Catelyn’s series arc involves her losing everything. We see her grief and her despair and her rage, all just barely kept at bay by her hope that maybe, maybe, she can get her daughters back. But that hope also inspires her to take drastic action. Her freeing Jaime is a truly desperate step. She knows that Jaime is the only hostage that can get her daughters back; she knows that Robb will never agree to ransom Jaime. As we see in ASoS, she knows it’s a long shot. She just wants her family back, whatever she can get of it.

From Catelyn’s decision, we get another major factor shaping the ASoS political landscape, sharpening internal tensions especially with the Karstarks, and Jaime and Brienne’s arcs both become possible.

Miscellany

There’s a rather telling bit of information about Catelyn’s relationship with Jon Snow here. At one point she thinks my son has no brothers. She cannot and will not acknowledge Jon Snow as any kin to Robb. This is a place where she cannot even acknowledge Robb’s own perspective on the matter, because we all know Robb considers Jon his brother.

Jaime refers twice to the (Littlefinger-instigated) rumour that Littlefinger slept with Catelyn. In amongst all the other painful news she hears this chapter, this goes over her head.

Clothing Porn

None.

Food Porn

Trout wrapped in bacon. Salad of turnip greens, fennel, and sweetgrass. Pease, onions, and black bread. This is a good meal, but consider that there’s a party going on outside. The gaoler has pigeon pie.

Next Three Chapters

Catelyn III, AGoT – Jon VIII, ACoK – Sansa VII, ACoK

#ASoIaF #cw: violence #revisiting chapters #catelyn stark #jaime lannister #brienne of tarth #a clash of kings

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