Why Was Winterfell Library Burned?

[Modesty Lannister]

The common assumption is that the arson in the Winterfell library happened as a distraction, so that Bran would be killed.

The man, who attempted to assassinate Bran was stopped by Catelyn Stark and killed by direwolf Summer.

Later, we find out that:

“Who was he?” Catelyn asked them.

“No one knows his name,” Hallis Mollen told her. “He was no man of Winterfell, m’lady, but some says they seen him here and about the castle these past few weeks.”

“One of the king’s men, then,” she said, “or one of the Lannisters’. He could have waited behind when the others left.”

“Maybe,” Hal said. “With all these strangers filling up Winterfell of late, there’s no way of saying who he belonged to.”

“He’d been biding in your stables,” Greyjoy said. “You could smell it on him.”
“And how could he go unnoticed?” she said sharply.
Hallis Mollen looked abashed. “Between the horses Lord Eddard took south and them we sent north to the Night’s Watch, the stalls were half-empty. It were no great trick to hide from the stableboys. Could be Hodor saw him, the talk is that boy’s been acting queer, but simple as he is...” Hal shook his head.

“We found where he’d been sleeping,” Robb put in. “He had ninety silver stags in a leather bag buried beneath the straw.”

“It’s good to know my son’s life was not sold cheaply,” Catelyn said bitterly.

Hallis Mollen looked at her, confused. “Begging your grace, m’lady, you saying he was out to kill your boy?”

Greyjoy was doubtful. “That’s madness.”

“He came for Bran,” Catelyn said. “He kept muttering how I wasn’t supposed to be there. He set the library fire thinking I would rush to put it out, taking any guards with me. If I hadn’t been half-mad with grief, it would have worked.”

“Why would anyone want to kill Bran?” Robb said. “Gods, he’s only a little boy, helpless, sleeping...”

Catelyn gave her firstborn a challenging look. “If you are to rule in the north, you must think these things through, Robb. Answer your own question. Why would anyone want to kill a sleeping child?”

Before he could answer, the servants returned with a plate of food fresh from the kitchen. There was much more than she’d asked for: hot bread, butter and honey and blackberry preserves, a rasher of bacon and a soft-boiled egg, a wedge of cheese, a pot of mint tea. And with it came Maester Luwin.

“How is my son, Maester?” Catelyn looked at all the food and found she had no appetite. Maester Luwin lowered his eyes. “Unchanged, my lady.”
It was the reply she had expected, no more and no less. Her hands throbbed with pain, as if the

blade were still in her, cutting deep. She sent the servants away and looked back to Robb. “Do you have the answer yet?”

“Someone is afraid Bran might wake up,” Robb said, “afraid of what he might say or do, afraid of something he knows.”

Catelyn was proud of him. “Very good.” She turned to the new captain of the guard. “We must keep Bran safe. If there was one killer, there could be others.”

Catelyn, AGOT

However, from this quote we see that the murderer kept repeating that Catelyn wasn’t supposed to be there. So, he expected Bran to be alone. This indicates that the man was not acting alone. Someone told him that the room would be empty, which means he had an accomplice in the castle whom the assassin trusted with the inside knowledge or trusted him implicitly.

The assassin has been allegedly sleeping in the Winterfell stables where Robb found a leather bag with 90 silver stags. So, why would an assassin leave the money behind? When you do something so risky, you want to keep your money on you. Even if his plan was to rush back to the stables, collect the money and a horse and flee, that is a risky plan bordering on stupid. It is much better to keep money on you, keep a hourse outside WInterfell, sneak out and flee.

All that leads me to believe that the money was planted by the assassin’s accomplice, so that people of Winterfell would conclude that had been a payment by a rich lord in exchange for the assassination of Bran. And who is richer than the Lannisters?

Now, back to the fire in the library. Hallis Mollen tells us that the stables were half empty, because most horses left either for the Wall or King’s Landing.

So, why not set the stables on fire? Straw burns easily, the stables are easily accessible, situated next to one of the castle exits (look at Winterfell map) and the fire would have scared the horses, so the distraction would have been much bigger. If one has a horse outside Winterfell, the escape route is clear.

Instead, the fire was set in the tower where the library is. This means the fire is more easily contained and the resulting chaos and distraction are much lesser. The tower is in the middle of the castle yard, which makes it much more difficult for the arsonist to escape. It is situated between the kitchens and the maester’s tower, so we can safely assume there is always someone near and the arsonist may have been easily spotted.

Therefore, if the arson in the library was meant to be a distraction, it was a stupid and highly risky operation. It may have been more easily achieved by setting the stables on fire.

Which leads me to believe that fire in the library was only meant to look as a distraction while it was actually the main goal of whoever started it.

So, what was the goal?

While in Winterfell during king Robert party’s stay, Tyrion spent a lot of time in the library.

Tyrion Lannister looked up from his books and shivered, though the library was snug and warm. Something about the howling of a wolf took a man right out of his here and now and left him in a dark forest of the mind, running naked before the pack.

When the direwolf howled again, Tyrion shut the heavy leatherbound cover on the book he was reading, a hundred year-old discourse on the changing of the seasons by a long-dead maester. He covered a yawn with the back of his hand. His reading lamp was flickering, its oil all but gone, as dawn light leaked through the high windows. He had been at it all night, but that was nothing new. Tyrion Lannister was not much a one for sleeping.

His legs were stiff and sore as he eased down off the bench. He massaged some life back into them and limped heavily to the table where the septon was snoring softly, his head pillowed on an open book in front of him. Tyrion glanced at the title. A life of the Grand Maester Aethelmure, no wonder. “Chayle,” he said softly. The young man jerked up, blinking, confused, the crystal of his order swinging wildly on its silver chain. “I’m off to break my fast. See that you return the books to the shelves. Be gentle with the Valyrian scrolls, the parchment is very dry. Ayrmidon’s Engines of War is quite rare, and yours is the only complete copy I’ve ever seen.” Chayle gaped at him, still half asleep. Patiently, Tyrion repeated his instructions, then clapped the septon on the shoulder and left him to his tasks.

Tyrion, AGOT

He is very respectful with the books, orders septon Chayle to return the ones he has been using to their proper place. He is reading a book about the changing seasons, which is quite appropriate for someone travelling north for the first time and visiting the house whose motto is “Winter is coming”. We also learn that the Winterfell library possesses rare Valyrian scrolls.

While on his way for the Wall, Tyrion reads a book about properties of dragonbone.

With Lord Eddard Stark’s permission, Tyrion had borrowed a few rare volumes from the Winterfell library and packed them for the ride north.

Tyrion, AGOT

Accoring to this comprehensive timeline https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aj_uNZmcJaTddG9BVU5tRnJJTE5KcE5JRkFha1ZfNUE#gid=8

everyone left Winterfell on May 20, 298 AC. The assassination attempt on Bran happened 8 days after that and the scene with Tyrion reading a book and talking to Jon happened 18 days after leaving Winterfell.

So, when the library was burned, the rare tomes were in Tyrion’s hands. Bran woke up on August 8, Tyrion arrived back in Winterfell on August 22. No books are mentioned in his not so pleasant exchange with Robb. Tyrion presents his drawing of a saddle for Bran and gets attacked by three direwolves – Bran’s Summer, Robb’s Grey Wind and Rickon’s Shaggydog.

The night the library was set on fire, the dogs and direwolves went wild with barking. The kennels are behind the library tower.

There was no way Tyrion could have been in Winterfell at the time. So, my only conclusion is that the direwolves attacked Tyrion, because they smelled the books on him.

That means Tyrion STOLE rare books from Winterfell and had them with him when he returned. He continued to travel with Jorik and was finally arrested by Catelyn Stark in Inn at the Crossroads on September 13, 298 AC.

He was arrested after he has just come into the inn. So, he had no chance to unpack. Were the books left behind? Or did they travel to the Vale with Catelyn’s party?

If they were left in front of the Inn, what was their further destiny?

If they were left in the Eyrie and Sansa hasn’t found them, she is not likely to find them during the winter since the Eyrie has been abandoned. Has Littlefinger found them?

Or is it possible that Tyrion managed to retrieve them when leaving the Eyrie and took them to King’s Landing?

It is very curious that such rare books just disappeared from the narrative altogether.

Much later, in ASOS, Roose Bolton burns a book in Harrenhal.

To summarise I can only conclude:

• the library in Winterfell was set on fire. We do not know how many books survived. Winterfell was later put to torch by Ramsey Snow. When arson in the library initially happened, it was noticed that the assassin smelled of stabbles and assumed he slept there. But, is it possible that the assassin was Ramsey Snow’s Reek of that period? A Reek that preceded the Reek he sacrificed before posing as a Reek to Theon? Is it possible Ramsey Snow set the library on fire while his Reek went to assassinate Bran? It looks very possible, since we know that Ramsey has his way with dogs and dogs and dire wolves kept barking during the library arson. So, it is quite possible to assume that Ramsey approached Winterfell with Reek going via kennels, which are right behind the library tower. Reek would have trusted him implicitly if he told him Bran had been alone. He would have muttered and smelled badly. Fits the description of the assassin. Ramsey would have had enough time to search through the library, get what he wanted (if Tyrion didn't get to it first), set it on fire, walk to the stables, plant the money, take a horse and leave during the commotion Sounds like a plan? It sure does.
• Roose Bolton’s burning of the book in Harrenhal, attempted stabbing of Bran with Valyrian steel sword possibly by Reek and Roose Bolton’s stabbing of Robb Stark at the Red Wedding seemed very slow, deliberate and ritualistic. It is also very Boltonlike to use a dagger as an assassination weapon. If you ask how could Bolton's get to this particular Valyrian steel dagger that belonged to both Littlefinger and Tyrion, I'd say it is pretty obvious. They got the information from Littlefinger and stole it from king Robert's armoury while in Winterfell in order to frame Tyrion. Does this prove Boltons have been in cahoots with Littlefinger from day one? It pretty much does and is corroborated further by the fact that Littlefinger took Sansa's friend only to reinvent her as fake Arya

  Lord Petyr leaned forward. “I’ll find a place for her.”

  “Not in the city,” said the queen.
  “Do you take me for a fool?”
  The queen ignored that. “Ser Boros, escort this girl to Lord Petyr’s apartments and instruct his

  people to keep her there until he comes for her. Tell her that Littlefinger will be taking her to see her father, that ought to calm her down. I want her gone before Sansa returns to her chamber.”

  “As you command, Your Grace,” Ser Boros said. He bowed deeply, spun on his heel, and took his leave, his long white cloak stirring the air behind him.

  Sansa was confused. “I don’t understand,” she said. “Where is Jeyne’s father? Sansa, AGOT

• Furthermore, Bolton/Littlefinger alliance may have preceded AGOT, because Littlefinger wanted revenge on the Starks because of the Brandon episode while Roose Bolton must have harboured his ambition to become Lord Paramount of the North as a hereditary trait. Note that Roose Bolton's true born son Domeric had been fostered in the Vale by Redforts, not far from the Fingers where Littlefinger was born and Gulltown where he served before becoming master of coin.
• Is it possible that Boltons enacted their plan of destruction of the Starks the second Ned left for King’s Landing? Is it also possible that they are after very specific books and that Tyrion, by stealing them, managed to rob them of the knowledge they were seeking and that may something to do with ruling the north?

Thank you for your patient reading. All inputs are welcome. Trolls are not. :-)

[cocoalover1956]

This is a very interesting read. While I'm a little skeptical about the Boltons' role in this, you're right about the catspaw's plan being remarkably strange. He arrived to Bran's room from the library very quickly considering the distance, the danger, the fact that a bunch of men were headed to the library. If he had set the fire, he likely would have been caught. So there was someone working in concert with him, someone yet to be identified. Catelyn's reasoning could be a huge red herring.

[Modesty Lannister]

This is a very interesting read. While I'm a little skeptical about the Boltons' role in this, you're right about the catspaw's plan being remarkably strange. He arrived to Bran's room from the library very quickly considering the distance, the danger, the fact that a bunch of men were headed to the library. If he had set the fire, he likely would have been caught. So there was someone working in concert with him, someone yet to be identified. Catelyn's reasoning could be a huge red herring.

So far, Catelyn's reasonings were always red herrings. And when reading POVs in general, one ought to try to separate a subjective conjunctures and objective chain of events.

[Rippounet]

You raise some interesting points, but I think the most interesting one is that some very specific books will definitely play a major role in the TWoW (knowledge is power). We already know the Citadel has some very important books, and you just reminded us that the Winterfell library had some as well.

One might wonder about books in King's Landing too. There are some interesting theories about what a faceless man was doing in KL before Arya met -and freed- him, and, generally speaking, what the FM's agenda in Westeros really is. The FM seem to be seeking information, and it is often assumed it is about dragons -and how to slay them. But information about the North could prove just as important in the coming war(s).

However;

fire in the library was only meant to look as a distraction while it was actually the main goal of whoever started it.

I don't know. While it is a possibility, the early burning of Winterfell's library could also be a chance event -for plot convenience. And Tyrion somehow getting away with crucial information as well.

In other words, while I agree with your conclusion that the burning of books is relevant (as evidenced by Bolton's role in this), I'm not sure that what happened in Winterfell was deliberate. If it were, someone might have noticed that Tyrion had accessed important information and done something about it -or tried to. As it is (=as far as we know), it seems that only Tyrion was ever interested in the Winterfell books.

I would thus be tempted to go the opposite way: the fact that the Winterfell library was burned means that whoever was after the information it contained lost their interest in it, and, instead, set their sights on the Citadel itself, not knowing that Tyrion had had a chance to get that information before the burning.

We don't know what it is exactly, but Tyrion's likely joining forces with Dany might reveal it. I could see Tyrion's knowledge be a very important point later on.

You also underline the fact that books may not contain only information about dragons, but also about blood magic, and even... Possibly about ancient history linking the Boltons, the Starks, the CotF and the Others...

In fact, if we assume that books are to play a crucial role in the "near"-future, one may also wonder about the Night's Watch's archives. Sam mentioned much of what he'd discovered to Jon, but it's entirely possible that he also gained key knowledge without really realizing it. Again, this could prove very important later on.

At any rate, these are very interesting points to consider.

[Kienn]

Pretty sure Tyrion just returned the scrolls during his stop at Winterfell.

[Tha Dogg Pound]

Interesting, a very plausible first half theory. The Boltons,being involved somehow doesn't make much sense. But I do agree with everything else.

[AryaNymeriaVisenya]

I think it is important that all the Starks' historical documents and knowledge possessed in writing is gone. A lot of important information gone up in smoke there but I also think it highlights a division between the First Men and Andals. Andals cling to documents and the written word, First Men only took up writing to communicate with Andals. Bran is currently hooked in to the Library of the First Men. What has proven more important so far, written words or oral stories? Old Nan has got a better hit rate than the library of Castle Black

[Trigger Warning]

This is a very interesting read. While I'm a little skeptical about the Boltons' role in this, you're right about the catspaw's plan being remarkably strange. He arrived to Bran's room from the library very quickly considering the distance, the danger, the fact that a bunch of men were headed to the library. If he had set the fire, he likely would have been caught. So there was someone working in concert with him, someone yet to be identified. Catelyn's reasoning could be a huge red herring.

Well the fire may have taken some time to grow to a point where it could engulf the library and get everyone's attention.

[Modesty Lannister]

I think it is important that all the Starks' historical documents and knowledge possessed in writing is gone. A lot of important information gone up in smoke there but I also think it highlights a division between the First Men and Andals. Andals cling to documents and the written word, First Men only took up writing to communicate with Andals. Bran is currently hooked in to the Library of the First Men. What has proven more important so far, written words or oral stories? Old Nan has got a better hit rate than the library of Castle Black

It is immensy important that the Stark library went up in flames and it's barely mentioned. I would not agree with you that First Men had no interest in the written word since Tyrion mentions that there is a Valyrian scroll in the Winterfell library. These things are rare in all libraries of Planetos since it has been more than 300 years since the Doom of Valyria. And in our modern wars, destruction of documents is very deliberate and frequent. If Boltons wanted to take over the north from day 1 of AGOT (and why wouldn't they, it is their historic goal), documents and books would play an important role. And the only other instance when a book (an old one) is burned, is when Roose Bolton burns one in front of Arya in Harrenhal. GRRM does not put clues and connections into his narrative without a reason. He always uses each clue in the end.

[Modesty Lannister]

Well the fire may have taken some time to grow to a point where it could engulf the library and get everyone's attention.

Firefighters in modern days warn in all fire drills that fire can spead throughout a whole house in less than 30 seconds. And a library is full of fire fuel - paper.

Just watch this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsaLCdC3iWw

[Modesty Lannister]

Interesting, a very plausible first half theory. The Boltons,being involved somehow doesn't make much sense. But I do agree with everything else.

You say it does not make much sense. Which part of my reasoning do you object to from the POV of textual evidence, logic and overall relations between characters and their strategies?

[Modesty Lannister]

You raise some interesting points, but I think the most interesting one is that some very specific books will definitely play a major role in the TWoW (knowledge is power). We already know the Citadel has some very important books, and you just reminded us that the Winterfell library had some as well.

One might wonder about books in King's Landing too. There are some interesting theories about what a faceless man was doing in KL before Arya met -and freed- him, and, generally speaking, what the FM's agenda in Westeros really is. The FM seem to be seeking information, and it is often assumed it is about dragons -and how to slay them. But information about the North could prove just as important in the coming war(s).

However;

I don't know. While it is a possibility, the early burning of Winterfell's library could also be a chance event -for plot convenience. And Tyrion somehow getting away with crucial information as well.

In other words, while I agree with your conclusion that the burning of books is relevant (as evidenced by Bolton's role in this), I'm not sure that what happened in Winterfell was deliberate. If it were, someone might have noticed that Tyrion had accessed important information and done something about it -or tried to. As it is (=as far as we know), it seems that only Tyrion was ever interested in the Winterfell books.

I would thus be tempted to go the opposite way: the fact that the Winterfell library was burned means that whoever was after the information it contained lost their interest in it, and, instead, set their sights on the Citadel itself, not knowing that Tyrion had had a chance to get that information before the burning.

We don't know what it is exactly, but Tyrion's likely joining forces with Dany might reveal it. I could see Tyrion's knowledge be a very important point later on.

You also underline the fact that books may not contain only information about dragons, but also about blood magic, and even... Possibly about ancient history linking the Boltons, the Starks, the CotF and the Others...

In fact, if we assume that books are to play a crucial role in the "near"-future, one may also wonder about the Night's Watch's archives. Sam mentioned much of what he'd discovered to Jon, but it's entirely possible that he also gained key knowledge without really realizing it. Again, this could prove very important later on.

At any rate, these are very interesting points to consider.

I agree with you observations about the Citadel and the books, but that has nothing (or little) to do with this theory. I also agree about the immense role books will play. But, I also believe that GRRM hinted several times that books play an immense role from day one. Yet, since no one cares for books, no one notices. Tyrion is blameless for the arson as I demonstrated. He may not be blameless for steeling the books, but, if he managed to take them with him, at least they survived. The issue here is did the Boltons get the books they wanted or are they in Tyrion's posession. While I agree with your input on the books in general, I'd apreciate if you could concentrate on my theory if it interests you. :cheers:

[Modesty Lannister]

Pretty sure Tyrion just returned the scrolls during his stop at Winterfell.

Why isn't it mentioned then? The scene is pretty long and it would take one sentence to say "ANd here I return the books I borrowed from your library". GRRM spent a lot of time talking about Tyrion, library and books. He does not skip through an important thing like returning what he stressed was borrowed. So, no. I don't believe Tyrion returned the books. There is not a single word in the text to corroborate it.

[kimim]

Why isn't it mentioned then? The scene is pretty long and it would take one sentence to say "ANd here I return the books I borrowed from your library". GRRM spent a lot of time talking about Tyrion, library and books. He does not skip through an important thing like returning what he stressed was borrowed. So, no. I don't believe Tyrion returned the books. There is not a single word in the text to corroborate it.

Sure Martin would skip it, at this point in the series, anyway. In the last two volumes, he'd describe everything. Even if he kept the books, there's no reason to assume that this is the same as stealing them. Tyrion is heading the KL, where Ned, the owner of the books, happens to be. He could continue reading them, then return them to Ned, or send them to WF later, etc. There are any number of possibilities that don't involve stealing ancient books, which would be akin to stealing extremely valuable gems back in those days.

btw I always found the burning of WF library weird. As you say, why not set fire to the stables? Why go all the way to the library? It fits the other books burnings we hear about and see--Bolton, the early histories in the library at CB. I think Martin sends Sam to the Citadel, despite the fact that he patently won't have the time to become a full-fledged master (no five-year delay) as there's something in the library there which he must see.

[Lord Lyman]

The library may have been chosen based on its location from Bran's room. If it happens to be on the opposite side of the castle, then it ensures that everyone is well away from bran. Given that its in a stone tower, it will be very difficult to put out thus giving the would be assassin ample time to complete his deed.

Why did he leave the silver behind? They are made of metal and clink. Not exactly something you want, when part of your job is to be stealthy.

[Sweetgirl205]

The library is a great place to start a fire. Lots of old books and wooden furniture.

Also, the library held many important documents and maps. Remember, Westros doesn't have Google. Any information would need to be in a book.

[aryagonnakill#2]

I'm sorry but the entire logic of this thread is backwards. You state that the assassin thinking Catlyn would not be there meant he had an accompliss in the castle, but thats just wrong. An accompliss in the castle would have told him that Catlyn WAS there, since she had not left in days everyone would have known that. The story makes more sense as it was, when the man started hiding in the stables Bran had just been injured and Catlyn would have been expected to act more "sane", but anyone in the castle would have known otherwise.

[Modesty Lannister]

Sure Martin would skip it, at this point in the series, anyway. In the last two volumes, he'd describe everything. Even if he kept the books, there's no reason to assume that this is the same as stealing them. Tyrion is heading the KL, where Ned, the owner of the books, happens to be. He could continue reading them, then return them to Ned, or send them to WF later, etc. There are any number of possibilities that don't involve stealing ancient books, which would be akin to stealing extremely valuable gems back in those days.

btw I always found the burning of WF library weird. As you say, why not set fire to the stables? Why go all the way to the library? It fits the other books burnings we hear about and see--Bolton, the early histories in the library at CB. I think Martin sends Sam to the Citadel, despite the fact that he patently won't have the time to become a full-fledged master (no five-year delay) as there's something in the library there which he must see.

GRRM never misses a detail. I agree with you that Tyrion probably had no intention of stealing the books (he would have offered to purchase them if he really wanted to keep them, money is not the issue), was destracted by direwolves and possibly forgot about them at that moment. But he did not return them. You are right he may have wanted to read more and return them to Ned in King's Landing. The point of my theory is not that Tyrion wanted to steal the books, but that he may still have them.

I am sure you are right about Sam and the books. Also four books maester Aemon took with him are important. However, Roose Bolton is a meticulous and coolblooded planner. GRRM has linked him with LF very suddenly. Planting fake Arya is not Tywin's style. It does not sound like something coming out of his head at all. And Roose takes fake Arya idea in a stride. So, the link between him and LF does not look newly forged (since we keep mentioning the Citadel).

[Modesty Lannister]

The library may have been chosen based on its location from Bran's room. If it happens to be on the opposite side of the castle, then it ensures that everyone is well away from bran. Given that its in a stone tower, it will be very difficult to put out thus giving the would be assassin ample time to complete his deed.

Why did he leave the silver behind? They are made of metal and clink. Not exactly something you want, when part of your job is to be stealthy.

I explained everything in detail in my theory. You just have to look at the map of Winterfell.

[Modesty Lannister]

I'm sorry but the entire logic of this thread is backwards. You state that the assassin thinking Catlyn would not be there meant he had an accompliss in the castle, but thats just wrong. An accompliss in the castle would have told him that Catlyn WAS there, since she had not left in days everyone would have known that. The story makes more sense as it was, when the man started hiding in the stables Bran had just been injured and Catlyn would have been expected to act more "sane", but anyone in the castle would have known otherwise.

The assassin did not expect Catelyn there. Has he seen she wouldn't be there in a vision or did someone tell him Bran would be alone? If he saw it in flames, then I'm wrong. If someone told him, that someone has misinformed him or didn't know himself. In both cases that someone did not care for the assassin to live or die. And why would assassin listen? The relationship between Reek and his master gives very solid answer to all these question, because Reek is trained to obey his master and trust him implicitly, never questioning a thing. Reek also smells, mutters and looks like that assassin did (no matter who the Reek is, because Ramsey replaces one after another after killing them). This guy did not look professional at all. He was not told Bran's direwolf never leaves his side. So, whoever was sent up there, was sent to his doom rather to fulfill his task. Or whoever sent him just didn't care about that part of the outcome. And Ramsey does not care and is completely ammoral. Also, whoever left all that money must have been rich. Ramsey isn't rich. Roose Bolton and Littlefinger are. And the ample amount is there to point to the Lannisters, which LF has been doing with the letter. We also know that LF is the only person (apart from Tyrion) who knows that the dagger belonged to both himself and Tyrion. Since we know it cannot be Tyrion who ordered Bran's killing, it leaves LF. The type of assassination points to Ramsey and the link between LF and Ramsey is Roose.