Freygatarian Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I'm rereading the first book, and I picked up on Varys talking to Ned about Rhaegar's daughter Rhaenys having a black kitten she named Balerion. Varys says "I always wondered what happened to him." We see this black cat and hear stories about him several more times throughout the books:First we saw Arya chasing him per Syrio's instructions.Then from Varys we learn of him as Rhaenys' pet before she dies.Cersei says in AFFC "Black cats brought ill luck, as Rhaegar's little girl had discovered in this very castle."The black cat stole food from Lord Tywin at a feast (think someone told this as a story).At the end of ADWD Tommen whines about the black cat scaring him and his cats.Other minor appearances (interactions with Sansa)After rereading AGOT I've come to the conclusion that Balerion the cat is the warged cat of Rhaenys Targaryen. My reasoning is:This cat seems to hate Lannisters. Rhaenys would have pretty good reasons to hate Lannisters.Targaryens are able to ride dragons because they have a warg like bond with themWe've seen that skinchangers can warg into an animal upon deathGRRM keeps bringing attention back to this cat. The only other animal that gets this much air time are warged wolves; there must be a reason the cat gets so much attention.Am I missing anything? Has this been discussed ad nauseum? Let me know what you guys think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Bronn l Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 This is very, tenuous. Therefore I love it, and am immediately on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jem Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Discussed ad nauseum? Yes, but I'm willing to go another round.I believe that the predominant view is that Balerion the black tom is being warged (or skinchanged) by Bloodraven and that the cat one of Bloodraven's "a thousand eyes and one" in Kings Landing.I find it unlikely that it is Rhaenys. Firstly, we don't know how the Targs and other ancient Valaryians controlled their dragons, but it seems that it was some combination of using dragon horns and blood magic. We don't know that Targs can warg and we have seen little evidence that they can. The only Targ who can warg is Bloodraven, but that skills seems to have come from his mother's side of the family.I like to think that it is Arya spying through Balerion's eyes at the end of ADWD. We have seen that she can warg cats and we know that she has a history with Balerion. I'd like it if she was spying on little Tommen and planning the downfall of the Lannisters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pliny Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I'm so glad you asked this Freygatarian! I was just wondering about this cat myself. As you say, Mr. Martin makes a point to bring this cat back again and again. There must be some reason, right? Is this Chekov's cat?But if it is Rhaenys, so what? I mean, what does it mean for the living characters? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freygatarian Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 To me the cat seems anti-Lannister, and the fact that he belonged to Rhaenys has me convinced!Maybe it's never explicitly said that Targs can full blown warg, but all of the Starks seem to have at least some connection with and control their wolves even if they can't outright jump in their bodies. Sort of like a precursor to warging. Dany has no blood magic or dragon horns, and she figured out a way to ride her dragon.I'm curious if Arya will get to use her powers for her own desires. Seems like the Faceless Men are supposed to forget their past lives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freygatarian Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 But if it is Rhaenys, so what? I mean, what does it mean for the living characters?Good question...maybe all the opinions on this thread are correct and intertwined. Could the Faceless Men be in league with Bloodraven and the CoTF? They're making moves, but to what end? And Rhaenys the cat could be an agent of her great great great great uncle Bloodraven too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHedgeWizard Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I definitely think that the black cat is Rhaneys' pet and she is infused with it. i actually think the cat will come up in the future. When Aegon VI takes king's landing i think it's the cat that will know he is a fake and a mummer's farce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redriver Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I'd go with Bloodraven.Makes plot sense to have eyes in KL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kephv Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 It could be both. She's dead but Bloodraven lives. If that was the case, if a skinchanger warged the cat he'd also find someone else in there - like how Bran does with the ravens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FanTasy Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I'd go with Bloodraven.Makes plot sense to have eyes in KL.I am curious, what is the plot sense? What could be Bloodravens goal in monitoring what happens in Kings Landing? What does he want to achieve? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHedgeWizard Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I am curious, what is the plot sense? What could be Bloodravens goal in monitoring what happens in Kings Landing? What does he want to achieve?probably to know the "going ons" in kings landing. i wonder how he would be able to warg into Balerion the cat though. doubt he would even know the cat existed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gurkhal Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I'm rereading the first book, and I picked up on Varys talking to Ned about Rhaegar's daughter Rhaenys having a black kitten she named Balerion. Varys says "I always wondered what happened to him." We see this black cat and hear stories about him several more times throughout the books:First we saw Arya chasing him per Syrio's instructions.Then from Varys we learn of him as Rhaenys' pet before she dies.Cersei says in AFFC "Black cats brought ill luck, as Rhaegar's little girl had discovered in this very castle."The black cat stole food from Lord Tywin at a feast (think someone told this as a story).At the end of ADWD Tommen whines about the black cat scaring him and his cats.Other minor appearances (interactions with Sansa)After rereading AGOT I've come to the conclusion that Balerion the cat is the warged cat of Rhaenys Targaryen. My reasoning is:This cat seems to hate Lannisters. Rhaenys would have pretty good reasons to hate Lannisters.Targaryens are able to ride dragons because they have a warg like bond with themWe've seen that skinchangers can warg into an animal upon deathGRRM keeps bringing attention back to this cat. The only other animal that gets this much air time are warged wolves; there must be a reason the cat gets so much attention.Am I missing anything? Has this been discussed ad nauseum? Let me know what you guys think. I think this is bull because the Targaryens have no Warg connection of history. The only family that we know have something to do with Warging are the Starks, and Bloodraven is an exception and not the norm for the Targaryens in this regard. Its just a freaking cat and nothing more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHedgeWizard Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 this isnt your everyday house cat. this is Balerion the Tom Cat. Ruler of the Red Keep and soon to be slayer of Ser Pounce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gurkhal Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 this isnt your everyday house cat. this is Balerion the Tom Cat. Ruler of the Red Keep and soon to be slayer of Ser Pounce.Dream on. Ser Pounce is going to go Medieval on Balerion's ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revan Baratheon Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Screw bludy cat lovers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHedgeWizard Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Dream on. Ser Pounce is going to go Medieval on Balerion's ass.Ser Pounce is some punk ass lannister cat biotch. Balerion the Dread in a cat's body. we're talking about a bad ass kitty here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val the Wildling Princess Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I also got the impression that the black cat is Balerion being warged by BR, otherwise I think there would be too many lines dedicated to a simple black cat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHedgeWizard Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I also got the impression that the black cat is Balerion being warged by BR, otherwise I think there would be too many lines dedicated to a simple black cat.what reason does BR have to hate the lannisters so much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the Scorpion Knight Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 what reason does BR have to hate the lannisters so much?where do we start:usurpation, unneccesary murder of children not to mention a CIVIL WAR when it's least needed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHedgeWizard Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 where do we start:usurpation, unneccesary murder of children not to mention a CIVIL WAR when it's least neededMany reasons why the reader would hate the Lannisters. But i dont think Bloodraven would care about that. im sure he doesnt care too much about the targeryens, who imprisoned him and sent him to the Wall. the Starks rebelled against the Targs too but he seems to get along with Bran.i think it makes more sense that Rhaenys is in Balerion than bloodraven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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