Glyn Tarvoke

/random thought/

Elia sneaks off to play a cave, caves tend to be in mountains...

both Summerhall and Griffins Roost are near Mountains.

So it seems that there was a cave that sacred to the children of the forest in the mountains near Griffins Roost and therefore very close to Summerhall.

The Prince of Dragonflies and Jenny of Oldstones died at Summerhall. Jenny of Oldstones was friends with that dwarf woman on the hill at high heart, and Jenny said that the dwarf was a child of the forest (having seen an actual child of the forest in ADWD, we know they are nothing like that unfortunate creature woman described in ASOS).

/Random thought/

Except that we know some can work a "glamor" and slightly change their appearance. If COTF are still in the south, IMO they wld usually be in hiding. For example, the COTF Leaf we meet in ADWD's in the Bran chapters claims to have walked the southern kingdoms for many years--yet appears to Bran and the others as a COTF. It wld be my speculation that Leaf had walked the south but had done so in a glamored disguise. (And so would assume that there are some more COTF in the south even at the book's time but very, very few.)

In ADWD prologue, I think the wolf One eye is a homage to the wolf One Eye from Jack London's White Fang.

In A Storm of Swords, there is a prophecy not yet discussed by the Citadel. Davos, page 602. The quote reads,

"Stannis to Davos, as they discuss burning Edric Storm, "I know the cost. Last night, gazing into that hearth, I saw things in the flames as well. I saw a king, a crown of fire on his brows, burning ...burning, Davos. His own crown consumed his flesh and turned him into ash. Do you think I need Melisandre to tell me what that means? Or you?" The king moved, so his shadow fell on King's landing. "If Joffrey should die....what is the life of one bastard boy against a kingdom?"

"Everything," said Davos softly.

I think Stannis has misread his vision. I think the vision refers to him, Stannis, as a future he sees in the flames--not to Joffrey who dies choking. Later, we see Stannis's flesh melting away: he is described as continually losing weight as he deals with problems as he tries to grasp Westoros's kingship. Stannis has good points to be sure, but leading men is generally a position for which he ill suited. By the end of ADWD, Stannis is described as nearly skeletal.

because Doran (1) sees a weak King, (2) Cersei as Queen Regent, (3) they tried to kill his son (Trystane), (4) he has heard reports that Quentyn is on his way, and (5) he thinks sealing an alliance with the Golden Company and Jon Connington, may smooth the way for Dany, (6) because he can't trust any other envoy, and (7) because Connington would be an idiot to inform King's Landing that Doran is contemplating an alliance when he needs Dorne much more than Dorne needs him.

Also, Doran knows he is going to die soon. He needs Arianne to get some experience quickly. He knows that if Dorne throws in with JC and IMO the mummer's dragon, she will need to deal with any aftermath. Therefore, its important she herself check out the situation with JC and Aegon.

I'm pretty sure that Braavos is primarily based on Venice: the canals, the origin, the naval strength, the Arsenal which theoretically can build a galley in a day, and the (relative) religious tolerance all remind me of (what little I know about) Venetian history.

For Braavos homage, I'd go with Holland, over Venice. Amsterdam is filled with canals; it had a long ship going history (many colonies in places like Java and so forth); and is famous for its religious tolerance. Fought several wars to be free from the Spanish/Italian dominated Catholic Church. Now, we don't see the Braavosi riding bikes but apparently they are not invented yet.

Off topic, but I wonder if the Damphair chapter confirms the speculation that he was molested by Euron as a child. Yikes.

Interesting. Sounds like Euron but I tend to doubt that one. I think seducing your brother's beloved wife is enough to cause a lot of hate--and maybe a death or two. I often wondered if Theon Greyjoy's brothers had molested him. The books mentions beatings and cruelties but not the molestations--and it would be strange if Theon was molested not Asha now that I think about it so I'll maybe that speculation should be ruled out.