Was Maester Aemon murdered?

[Skinchanging Sweetrobin]

Although murdering such an old man may seem pointless on first glance, I propose that Aemon was actually murdered by Maester Marwyn and agents on the Red God.

Means:

1) Marwyn has a glass candle and has been watching Sam and Maester Aemon.

"He knew you were coming."

"How?"

Alleras nodded at the glass candle. (Samwell V, AFfC)

2) Marwyn has an ally of the Cinnamon Wind. No simple merchant ship would turn around that fast. Especially without emptying their holds.

"The swan ship that delivered Slayer should serve my needs well enough."

“Where has he gone?” asked Sam, bewildered.

“To the docks. The Mage is not a man who believes in wasting time.” (Samwell V, AFfC)

3) The Cinnamon Wind crew takes special note of events related to Dany. They find her in Qarth to look upon her dragons.

“I bring you Quhuru Mo, captain of the Cinnamon Wind" (Daenarys II, ACoK)

4) Xhando of the a Cinnamon Wind crew was with a Red Priest when Samwell comes upon Dareon in Braavos.

"Someone was sawing on a fiddle, and he saw two girls dancing around a red priest holding hands.....Elsewhere an older woman with huge breasts was turning tiles with a massive Summer Islander in black-and-scarlet feathers. In the center of it all sat Dareon, nuzzling at the neck of the woman in his lap. She was wearing his black cloak." (Samwell III, AFfC)

Motive:

1) We know that Maester Marwyn is the only Maester who is pro-magic and certainly pro-blood magic specifically. Everyone else is a "Grey Sheep." We know this because Qyburn, a lover of blood magic said so. Also, Mirri Maz Duur, a user of blood magic worked extensively with Maester Marwyn - long enough to learn Common Tongue.

“The archmaesters did not like my thinking, though. Well, Marwyn did, but he was the only one." (Jamie VI, ASoS)

Ser Jorah Mormont spoke up "A maester?"

"Marwyn, he named himself....He taught me this speech" (Daenarys, GoT)

2) We know the Maester Aemon is on Team Grey Sheep and not Team Blood Magic. He trusts Team Grey Sheep and wants to get his blood and the baby's blood away from blood magic (specifically Mel). Maester Aemon would definitely not be on Marwyn's Team Blood Magic.

“Aemon said the Citadel must send her a maester at once, to bring her home to Westeros before it is too late.” (Samwell V, AFfC)

3) We know that Maester Marwyn wants to be the first Maester to get to Dany. So much so that he leaves immediately.

“What will you do?” asked Alleras, the Sphinx.

“Get myself to Slaver’s Bay, in Aemon’s place. The swan ship that delivered Slayer should serve my needs well enough. The grey sheep will send their man on a galley, I don’t doubt. With fair winds I should reach her first.” (Samwell V, AFfC)

4) Two other Maesters who tried to get to Dany also mysteriosly died. The first was Maester Kedry of the Yronwoods - in a pirate attack. Why would the Maester, of all people, be killed in a pirate attack? Wouldn't he be hiding or asleep? I would understand if everyone died, but only some people died. The second was Maester Kerwin who is sacrificed by Victarion purely because Moqorro told him to.

The corsairs had come aboard in the darkness before the dawn, as the Meadowlark was anchored off the coast of the Disputed Lands. The crew had beaten them off, at the cost of twelve lives…..Then he turned to his Dornish passengers, the three who still remained of the six who had come aboard at the Planky Town. (The Merchant's Man, ADwD)

He pointed at the maester.

"That one. Cut his throat and throw him int he sea, and the winds will favor us all the way to Meereen." Moqorro had seen that in his fires. (The Iron Suitor, ADwD)

Opportunity:

1) Despite not having enough money, the Cinnamon Wind takes Samwell, Gilly, Maester Aemon and the wildling babe to Oldtown. Maester Aemon is now captive aboard the Cinnamon Wind, allies of Maester Marwyn.

2) Samwell was doing chores on the Cinnamon Wind, leaving Maester Aemon alone for most of the day. Anyone could have entered to administer a poison.

3) Maester Aemon's body (and his king's blood) and Maester Aemon's books are presumably still aboard the Cinnamon Wind. The wildling babe may be as well.

[Armstark]

I don't agree with you assumption that Maester Aemon was a part of the grey sheep.

The archmaesters did not like my thinking , though. Well, Marwyn did, but he was the only one.

Aemon was no archmaester and wasn't even at the CItadel in Qyburn's time there. How can that statement encompass Aemon then?

And Marwyn even says the opposite is true:

Archmaester Marwyn shrugged. “Perhaps it’s good that he died before he got to Oldtown. Elsewise the grey sheep might have had to kill him, and that would have made the poor old dears wring their wrinkled hands.”

“The world the Citadel is building has no place in it for sorcery or prophecy or glass candles, much less for dragons. Ask yourself why Aemon Targaryen was allowed to waste his life upon the Wall, when by rights he should have been raised to archmaester. His blood was why. He could not be trusted. No more than I can.”

[Martin's Ghost]

Interesting theory and lots of details to carry it.

However, why kill Aemon before reaching Oldtown? Why not "smuggle" him directly to Marwyn? If the Cinnamon Wind was in Marwyn's employ it should be an easy task.

[Skinchanging Sweetrobin]

I don't agree with you assumption that Maester Aemon was a part of the grey sheep.

The archmaesters did not like my thinking , though. Well, Marwyn did, but he was the only one.

Aemon was no archmaester and wasn't even at the CItadel in Qyburn's time there. How can that statement encompass Aemon then?

And Marwyn even says the opposite is true:

Archmaester Marwyn shrugged. “Perhaps it’s good that he died before he got to Oldtown. Elsewise the grey sheep might have had to kill him, and that would have made the poor old dears wring their wrinkled hands.”

“The world the Citadel is building has no place in it for sorcery or prophecy or glass candles, much less for dragons. Ask yourself why Aemon Targaryen was allowed to waste his life upon the Wall, when by rights he should have been raised to archmaester. His blood was why. He could not be trusted. No more than I can.”

It's true that the Grey Sheep didn't trust Aemon, but that was because he was a Targaryen. Aemon, though, trusted the Grey Sheep. Ordering Sam to have the Citadel send a Maester to Dany is proof of that. Granted, I think Aemon's trust is a little misguided. The Grey Sheep may want to kill Dany and her dragons.

Keep in mind, Aemon has no Valyrian chain. He did not study magic and feared Mel's blood magic. And it was his idea to switch the babies. The point being, Aemon would never be on Team Blood Magic with Maester Marwyn.

Interesting theory and lots of details to carry it.

However, why kill Aemon before reaching Oldtown? Why not "smuggle" him directly to Marwyn? If the Cinnamon Wind was in Marwyn's employ it should be an easy task.

Because Aemon didn't want to go to Oldtown. He wanted to go straight to Dany. Only after getting really sick did he switch back to wanting to go to Oldtown.

Of course, if the Cinnamon Wind and Marwyn are as evil as I think they are, why not just kill Samwell and keep Aemon and Gilly as your prisoners?

I don't know. I guess Sarella has plans for Samwell?

[Maester Feelgood]

I'm not sure if I can get behind Aemon being murdered but I like your thinking. His death was just so organic.

I did a similar post over on the general forum that you should check out called Moqorro and the Cinnamon Wind. It's based off of a lot of similar information and starts to point out connections between Marwyn, Moqorro, Illiryo, the red priests and Volantis.

It's here, if I linked it correctly I hope.

http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/105835-moqorro-and-the-cinnamon-wind/

[Skinchanging Sweetrobin]

I'm not sure if I can get behind Aemon being murdered but I like your thinking. His death was just so organic.

I did a similar post over on the general forum that you should check out called Moqorro and the Cinnamon Wind. It's based off of a lot of similar information and starts to point out connections between Marwyn, Moqorro, Illiryo, the red priests and Volantis.

It's here, if I linked it correctly I hope.

http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/105835-moqorro-and-the-cinnamon-wind/

I definitely read your thread and it was an inspiration for this. You completely convinced me that the Cinnamon Wind is an agent of Marwyn and likely Doran. Doran knows stuff before everyone else. The Cinnamon Wind's swift speed and the Glass Candles might be the reason.

Though, I will say, I don't believe the Cinnamon Wind ever went east of Qarth. I think they simply lied so they would have an excuse to take on Dany.

[Maester Feelgood]

I definitely read your thread and it was an inspiration for this. You completely convinced me that the Cinnamon Wind is an agent of Marwyn and likely Doran. Doran knows stuff before everyone else. The Cinnamon Wind's swift speed and the Glass Candles might be the reason.

Though, I will say, I don't believe the Cinnamon Wind ever went east of Qarth. I think they simply lied so they would have an excuse to take on Dany.

First, let me say I'm super excited you read my post and it got the wheels turning so thanks you.

The more I delve into the Cinnamon Wind the more connections I'm seeing. I like that you root their connection down to those who practice blood magic to those who don't.

There are so many individual characters with so many individual interests headed to Dany. I think it's inevitable that they form essentially two factions, that want to pull Dany in two different directions. Be it as simple as head to Westeros or head to Essos, or Dig deeper into sorcery vs. build your army organically like Stannis faced with Mel and Davos. It remains to be seen.

[Armstark]

It's true that the Grey Sheep didn't trust Aemon, but that was because he was a Targaryen. Aemon, though, trusted the Grey Sheep. Ordering Sam to have the Citadel send a Maester to Dany is proof of that. Granted, I think Aemon's trust is a little misguided. The Grey Sheep may want to kill Dany and her dragons.

Keep in mind, Aemon has no Valyrian chain. He did not study magic and feared Mel's blood magic. And it was his idea to switch the babies. The point being, Aemon would never be on Team Blood Magic with Maester Marwyn.

Aemon did trust the Citadel. There is no evidence he even knew about the grey sheep let alone trust in them. The grey sheep's agenda is not common knowledge and why would they ever bring him into the loop if they distrust him because of his blood? And even if they did why would Aemon continue to trust in the CItadel if he knew they were behind the dragon killings? Makes no sense to me. The reason Aemon got send to the Wall is precisely so that he never finds out about their scheming.

[roxWolfox]

I like your reasoning, and you have obviously given thought to this, but M. Aemon was a geriatric. The guy had one foot on a banana peel, the other on an oil spill. Sometimes when people die in ASoIaF, it's a natural death. I know Mr. Martin doesn't dwell to much on dying naturally, but it's there in the pages somewhere.

What I'd love to see is Old Frey die of natural causes, just for the uproar! :devil:

[Rhaquentis]

No, I believe he was just an old man way past his time, travelling on a ship, dealing with the cold, humid sea air, when he should be somewhere warm inside. :dunno:

[Skinchanging Sweetrobin]

I like your reasoning, and you have obviously given thought to this, but M. Aemon was a geriatric. The guy had one foot on a banana peel, the other on an oil spill. Sometimes when people die in ASoIaF, it's a natural death. I know Mr. Martin doesn't dwell to much on dying naturally, but it's there in the pages somewhere.

What I'd love to see is Old Frey die of natural causes, just for the uproar! :devil:

I would say the biggest weaknesses to my argument are

1) Aemon is already old

2) There's no evidence of him looking poisoned (unlike say Tywin)

3) He was already feeling ill before Braavos

4) Sam was left alive

However, it just seems way too convenient for Marwyn that Aemon died.

1) Dany doesn't get a Maester

2) The Grey Sheep don't get a proper informant - they only get Sam

3) Marwyn, a blood magic lover, gets a boat load of king's blood.

4) Marwyn gets a bunch of important books.

Imagine if Aemon lived a couple more months: Either Maester Aemon makes it to Dany (horrible for Marwyn) or Aemon gets off the boat in Oldtown with his books and informs the Grey Sheep in person (horrible for Marwyn).

[roxWolfox]

:D

I see what you mean.

But, in the same breath, it's like saying: "What if Greywind had been allowed to attend the Red Wedding?" Heh heh...

[Skinchanging Sweetrobin]

:D

I see what you mean.

But, in the same breath, it's like saying: "What if Greywind had been allowed to attend the Red Wedding?" Heh heh...

The hardest part is that literature and story telling already include Dickensian coincidences. For example, Sam runs into Arya in Braavos. I don't think anyone planned that. And it was highly unlikely. It was done by GRRM for a fun scene.

So, here we have an insanely fortuitious situation for Marwyn. Conspiracy or coincidence?

[roxWolfox]

The hardest part is that literature and story telling already include Dickensian coincidences. For example, Sam runs into Arya in Braavos. I don't think anyone planned that. And it was highly unlikely. It was done by GRRM for a fun scene.

So, here we have an insanely fortuitious situation for Marwyn. Conspiracy or coincidence?

Or, Sam's presence was there to remind Arya that she is a Stark of Winterfell, Princess of the North.

As for Marwyn, he's been linked to so many conspiracies that I just can't recall them all. Quaithe, Shiara (sp?) Seastar, Asshai, Illryio...you name it, his name pops up anytime people discuss the dragons or Dany's visions in the Undying house. Every time. Just google him, and you'll see for yourself. :D

[Skinchanging Sweetrobin]

I just remembered that a third maester also died on the way to see Dany: Measter Kerwin

So, that's three suspicious deaths for maesters who were on their way to see Dany.

Kedry, by the weird pirates.

Aemon, who is myseriously picked up by the Cinnamon Wind

Kerwin, who is oddly singled out by Moqorro for execution.

[espresso]

The way your theory goes, I am getting worried that Sam would be the next face of Jaquen. :'(

[Robbs Graves]

This is a really interesting thread! I never noticed the fact that Marwyn made off with a Targaryen corpse. There's so many implications to this. What the hell is he going to do with it?