115 replies to this topic

[Torque]

I haven't finished all the books, but still haven't gotten a response to who coldhands really is....... or isnt'

[Ser Aegor Blackfyre]

I doubt it's Benjen, the children of the forest tell bran that "they killed him long ago." Benjen has only been gone/dead a couple of years which is nothing to the CotF.

Even after going back and rereading those sections of the book it's hard to come to a conclusion. I would have thought it was either Benjen or Bloodraven but as already stated I seriously doubt it's Benjen and since Bloodraven is the three-eyed-crow it can't be him.

The only viable candidate seems to be the Night's King, especially since he wouldn't have a problem killing black brothers.

Edited by Victarion Blackfyre, 17 August 2012 - 12:11 PM.

[Brindled]

Victarion Blackfyre, on 17 August 2012 - 12:07 PM, said:

...Bloodraven is the three-eyed-crow...

hmmm, i don't remember reading that in ASOS. if that's a spoiler i really have to stop reading these forums.

[Barristan the Old]

My first thought was that Coldhands was Benjen, but after reading more of him, I kind of doubt it's him. I think that GRRM tries to make things too realistic for Benjen to reappear after being lost beyond the wall for so long, although I do hope that we at least find out what happened to him.

[ivor the swine]

I though Ben Stark straight away, but after thinking about it lately i'm thinking towards a Craster son. A boy who survived and grew up in the woods with wolves (like Tarzan).

[Ser Zanohn]

Wait wait, weren't Tarzan's parents gorillas? Gods I misunderstood that story.

Victarion Blackfyre, on 17 August 2012 - 12:07 PM, said:

I doubt it's Benjen, the children of the forest tell bran that "they killed him long ago." Benjen has only been gone/dead a couple of years which is nothing to the CotF.

Spoiler

Long ago does not mean much... One could say that meaning a few hours, depending on the context, yet a few hours are nothing compared to our lifespan. Not to mention the Children know they are talking to a human being, so they could have taken into consideration that two years is a long time to Bran.

Edited by Ser Zanohn, 22 August 2012 - 04:52 PM.

[ivor the swine]

Oh yeah, I was thinking of Kevin Costner.

[KhaleesiDany]

I think it's Benjen. Not because I have any evidence, just because I've been waiting for him to show up.

[Kryssi Snow]

I'm not done with the book yet, but I seriously think it's Benjen.  What would Coldhands want with Bran unless he was Benjen?  And why would he save Sam unless he was a member of the Night's Watch?  It's Benjen!  Honor and integrity can even overcome Others.

[Big Daddy Dave]

I've finished ASOS and started Feast, and I hope it's Benjen. Otherwise, what's the point? He needs to be dealt with eventually anyway or there's no point in making a mystery of it. This is a nice setup to deal with him.

And if certain theories ARE to come true, he needs to be the one who can reveal certain information that other people are too busy being dead to reveal. He might be the only one who knows.

[DireDave]

Victarion Blackfyre, on 17 August 2012 - 12:07 PM, said:

I doubt it's Benjen, the children of the forest tell bran that "they killed him long ago." Benjen has only been gone/dead a couple of years which is nothing to the CotF.

Even after going back and rereading those sections of the book it's hard to come to a conclusion. I would have thought it was either Benjen or Bloodraven but as already stated I seriously doubt it's Benjen and since Bloodraven is the three-eyed-crow it can't be him.

The only viable candidate seems to be the Night's King, especially since he wouldn't have a problem killing black brothers.

Xtopher, on 29 April 2012 - 03:51 PM, said:

If he actually were Benjen. How in the hell did he turn into that "thing"?
He is a Stark so we know he´s not some exotic guy from Asshai that dominates the arts of magic, not even a follower of Rh´llor. I hope that if it actually is him they explain with lots of detail how he changed into that. For Bran not to have recognize him means he doesnt even look like him anymore.

Hi, am I being stupid or did someone rip some pages from my copy. I am sure I never read about Bran meeting Cold Hands or the children of the forest telling Bran anything as his chapters end when he goes through the Wierwood door. The next I read about him was when Sam was keeping it a secret from Jon that Bran was still alive...This has made me confused because I'm sure I've missed a chapter now :oS

[Lonely Wanderer]

Coldhands = Benjen is a bit too obvious, eh? Even though Benjen's spent most of his adulthood at the Wall, he's visited Winterfell several times and got to know with his brothers children. Bran ought to suspect something, especiously since the ''Dead Ranger'' is hiding his face, but not even the stranger's voice has woken any suspicion in Bran.

[ManceRayder]

i've been wondering less about who coldhands is, and more about what he is.  i think it is possible that he is a wight who has been taken over by a warg or perhaps merely a puppet of the three eyed crow's that he used to guide and protect Bran en route to the cave.  thoughts?

[Bear Island Bruiser]

My theories are either that it's Benjen and that the Children of the Forest 'saved him' as in they let him keep his memories completely like they did for the last warrior or that it's Nights King.  He's cursed to watch forever, has been dead a long time and it's cause is different to that of a normal wight as it was caused by the curse and his closeness to a female other, or whatever his Queen was.

It may also just be a wight that's been dead a very long time and the retained memories have come to the fore over time but that would seem a little undramatic and the waste of a good opportunity.

[OberynBlackfyre]

4Given, on 10 September 2012 - 02:06 PM, said:

Coldhands = Benjen is a bit too obvious, eh? Even though Benjen's spent most of his adulthood at the Wall, he's visited Winterfell several times and got to know with his brothers children. Bran ought to suspect something, especiously since the ''Dead Ranger'' is hiding his face, but not even the stranger's voice has woken any suspicion in Bran.

It's really not "obvious" as the children of the forest tell Bran and the others that Coldhands was killed "long ago" by the Others. In any other series I would say "long ago" could be like a year or two, but with the timeline the books have that deal with thousands of years I really really doubt it's Benjen. I more believe in the theory that he is the Night King who was a brother of the nights watch and then fell in love with a white walker, then they forsaked him for being bewitched. Plus Coldhands knew of that ancient Gate underneath the night fort, which I'm sure no living brother to date knows about.

[Aerys Blackfyre]

I do not think B=CH
if we get to see Benjen again, I'm sure he will have a more important role in the plot

[Irishcrusader95]

i don't quite believe that its Benjen. this 'coldhands' guy strikes as someone who has been out there doing this for a long time. my thinking a ranger from long ago who by some magic has become a sort of silent guardian. he did after all say to Sam that he was unable to pass the wall so sort of like the 77 sentinels, only literally, he is a watchman for all the time to come though to what purpose i can not say.

[Bear Island Bruiser]

Yeah at first I thought it clearly had to be Benjen, what with keeping his face hidden and everything, but the more i think about it the more I'm siding with the Nights King theory.  It kind of goes along with him not really having a name and only being known at Coldhands, the eternal watcher etc. etc.

[Irishcrusader95]

Bear Island Bruiser, on 27 September 2012 - 09:02 AM, said:

Yeah at first I thought it clearly had to be Benjen, what with keeping his face hidden and everything, but the more i think about it the more I'm siding with the Nights King theory.  It kind of goes along with him not really having a name and only being known at Coldhands, the eternal watcher etc. etc.

but the Night King was an evil character which had turned to worshiping the white walkers and other terrible things. it does not make sense to me at all that he would somehow become this completely different guy, its far too out of character for one who went as bad as he did.

[Spearsister]

Irishcrusader95, on 27 September 2012 - 09:59 AM, said:

but the Night King was an evil character which had turned to worshiping the white walkers and other terrible things. it does not make sense to me at all that he would somehow become this completely different guy, its far too out of character for one who went as bad as he did.

I agree, he was obsessed with power and ruled the Night's Watch for 13 years till he was finally cast out. I'm pretty sure he would resent them after that.

These are my theories:
1. He's Benjen Stark. I think this is the most likely theory -- his corpse never turned up, and GRRM never leaves an open mystery for no reason. That, and his face is covered with a scarf. Bran wouldn't recognize him; I'd imagine death would have altered his voice a little, too.
2. He's one of Craster's sons. We never see any baby wights crawling around; I think they become full-fledged Others.
3. He's the Night King's son.