Moments of Foreshadowing 8 [TPatQ spoilers]

[Dead Wolf]

"Bring on your storm my lord, and remember, if you would, the name of this castle"-Ser Cortnay Penrose

"I am the storm, my lord"-Euron Greyjoy

Danaerys Stormborn

foreshadows the defeat of Dany and Euron at Storm's End. Euron almost certainly praftices dark magic, the kind that cannot breach the castle's walls. Dany's dragons may also be stopped by the magic Brandon the Builder wove into the very stones of the Baratheon castle. Or it may simply foreshadow military defeats for Greyjoy and Targaryen.

[tze]

Right after giving Qyburn the go-head to move Gregor to the dungeons and begin the Ungregor process, Cersei drinks "a cup of strongwine". Heh.

“No,” said Tyrion, “I fear a trap. Littlefinger is subtle and ambitious. I do not trust him. Nor should you.”
“He won Highgarden to our side...” Cersei began.
“... and sold you Ned Stark, I know. He will sell us just as quick. A coin is as dangerous as a sword in the wrong hands.”

As we've seen with the Faceless Men, who've used poisoned coins to kill people, a coin absolutely can be as dangerous as a sword in the wrong hands: a poisoner's hands. And in that context, Tyrion's warning about Littlefinger here is a very subtle hint at Littlefinger's association with poisonings. (Particularly apt, given Littlefinger's participation in two particular poisonings---Jon Arryn's poisoning and Joffrey's poisoning---that were both blamed, at least at one point, on Tyrion.)

When the Lannisters and Tyrells sit down together to discuss the Stark/Greyjoy situation in ASOS, Tywin makes an interesting comment:

“[balon Greyjoy] ought to be offering fealty,” snapped Cersei. “By what right does he call himself king?”
“By right of conquest,” Lord Tywin said. “King Balon has strangler’s fingers round the Neck."

Tywin's word choice in describing how the Greyjoys have "usurped" the Starks' kingdom foreshadows the method by which the Tyrells will, essentially, do the same to the Lannisters: they move in on the Lannisters' kingdom after choking Joffrey with the Strangler.

“A strange and subtle folk, the Volantenes,” he muttered, as he put the elephant aside.

When speaking of the Volantenes in AFFC, Doran Martell "put the elephant aside". This foreshadows Volantis doing the same thing in ADWD, when they put "the elephants" (the peace party) aside in favor of "the tigers" (the war party) due to Dany's actions.

And actually, it's interesting to note what particular item is juxtaposed with Jorah's initial Astapor pitch:

Bolts of silk and bales of tiger skin, amber and jade carvings, saffron, myrrh... slaves are cheap, Your Grace. Tiger skins are costly.”
“Those are Illyrio’s tiger skins,” she objected.
“And Illyrio is a friend to House Targaryen.”
“All the more reason not to steal his goods.”
“What use are wealthy friends if they will not put their wealth at your disposal, my queen? If Magister Illyrio would deny you, he is only Xaro Xhoan Daxos with four chins. And if he is sincere in his devotion to your cause, he will not begrudge you three shiploads of trade goods. What better use for his tiger skins than to buy you the beginnings of an army?”

Dany's endeavors in Astapor are explicitly associated with tiger skins. Specifically, stealing (expropriating?) tiger skins. This could simply foreshadow the end result of Dany heading to Astapor (because she starts freeing slaves by "stealing" them, the tigers come into play), or it could specifically foreshadow the future of the slave soldiers of Volantis (as Jorah wants to use tiger skins to buy slave soldiers, perhaps the Volantene "tigers" will later be a catalyst for a Volantene slave rebellion? The whole "you end up causing what you're trying to prevent" idea?). Though given that "tigers" = war, this could simply have been meant as foreshadowing Dany going to war at Astapor (something neither she nor Jorah anticipated at this point). Moreover, Dany says "[t]hose are Illyrio's tiger skins", foreshadowing Dany carrying out (and later failing to carry out, as she ends up not using those tiger skins for anything but a feint) Illyrio's war plans.

In Volantis, Quentyn sees "a dozen Unsullied spearmen in ornate armor and tiger-skin cloaks". Tyrion sees slave soldiers in Volantis and says "Their helms were tiger’s masks, the faces beneath marked by green stripes tattooed across both cheeks". You could read these things, in conjunction with Dany taking the tiger skins and heading to Astapor in ASOS, as hints that the slave soldiers of Volantis will end up with Dany (particularly given that one category of slave soldier wears "tiger's masks", which evoke the Brazen Beasts, and the other is Unsullied, which Dany gets control of in Astapor).

But you could also read these things as hints that Dany won't end up with the support of the slave soldiers of Volantis. Strategies that succeed one time fail the second time, so the fact that she got Unsullied support in Astapor could then indicate that she won't get Unsullied support in Volantis (the whole point of the Unsullied is their supposed failure to be able to betray their masters, after all). And "green" is a color that has been associated with negative things for Dany elsewhere, so the fact that slave soldiers in Volantis have specifically "green" tiger stripes may not presage positive things for Dany vis a vis them.

On the high road through the Mountains of the Moon, while still in Catelyn's custody, Tyrion has the following exchange with Bronn:

“I am not fond of eating horse. Particularly my horse.”
“Meat is meat,” Bronn said with a shrug. “The Dothraki like horse more than beef or pork.”
“Do you take me for a Dothraki?” Tyrion asked sourly. The Dothraki ate horse, in truth; they also left deformed children out for the feral dogs who ran behind their khalasars. Dothraki customs had scant appeal for him.

Given Tyrion's current placement, this seems relevant. It could simply be read as a general hint that Tyrion will end up with Dany. (Though since Tyrion speaks disparagingly of the Dothraki, it could indicate that he won't end up siding with Dany.) Given the placement, it could foreshadow what happens the next time Tyrion is captured on the high road: he bribes the clansmen, and not with money (hence the reference to Dothraki customs, as the Dothraki don't customarily use money). It could be read to foreshadow something that hasn't yet happened: if "Dothraki customs had scant appeal for" Tyrion, then perhaps he breaks some particular Dothraki custom in the future? The obvious one would be him riding someone else's mount, as that's a huge no-no among the Dothraki: either Dany's silver,

perhaps in the upcoming battle for Meereen? Barristan is riding it at the beginning of the battle, so it's certainly possible for Tyrion to end up on it by the end,

or perhaps someone else's dragon, finally putting to bed the "only one person can ride a dragon at a time" idea. (He's ridden Groat's mount, of course, but Groat was dead by that point, so that doesn't really seem to track.)

The arrow was black, Jon saw, but it was fletched with white duck feathers. Not mine, he told himself, not one of mine. But he felt as if it were.

In ADWD, we met a different White Duck: Ser Rolly Duckfield, the first of Aegon's Kingsguard. Jon's comments in ASOS hint at Aegon's Blackfyre connection (the arrow with the "white duck" feathers is black), as well as the fact that Jon is what Aegon claims to be (Rhaegar's hidden son). That's why Jon looks at the "Aegon" symbol and feels as if it's his.

I ought to have a banner sewn, she thought as she led her tattered band up along Astapor’s meandering river. She closed her eyes to imagine how it would look: all flowing black silk, and on it the red three-headed dragon of Targaryen, breathing golden flames. A banner such as Rhaegar might have borne.

Unless Rhaegar had a personal sigil we've never been told about, he would never have borne such a banner. Any change to a sigil, no matter how small, is always fraught with meaning in Westerosi culture, and the Targaryen sigil does not include "golden flames". Given that Dany demonstrates this misunderstanding while en route to executing her "dracarys" plan, you could read this as a subtle hint that Dany doesn't understand the implications of "changing" things in Astapor, any more than she understood the implications of changing her House's sigil. (You could also read it as a hint tying to Dany to Aerion Brightflame (like him, she often thinks she's a literal dragon), since his personal sigil did include "golden flames". Though given the Rhaegar reference, Dany could be inadvertently foreshadowing the reveal of someone else who bears the Targaryen banner, associates himself with Rhaegar, and is (additionally) associated with gold---Aegon, via his alliance with the Golden Company:)

It's kind of striking how often "Strongs" are associated with false identities in ASOIAF. Ser Robert Strong is the false identity of Ungregor; Ser Lucamore Strong's "whole life was a lie"; Rhaenyra's sons of dubious paternity are associated with House Strong; Strong Belwas first appears in the company of a man with a hidden identity; Griff sees "two Strongs" in the Golden Company, among a litany of names he acknowledges are unlikely to be genuine. Can we read into this anything for other "Strongs" that appear in ASOIAF? For example, Bronze Yohn Royce's master-at-arms is called Strong Sam Stone, and given the juxtaposition of "Strongs" with hidden identities, could this indicate a future connection between Sansa/Alayne (given the hidden identity aspect) and Strong Sam Stone? (Given the Jon/Sansa parallels, it would make sense for Sansa's storyline to intersect with a "Sam". And where Jon and Sam are "brothers", Alayne Stone and Sam Stone have the same surname, something usually associated with family)

From TPATQ:

If the "mud-brown" Sheepstealer turns out to still be alive, as many have speculated, that would potentially put a very different spin on this tidbit from AFFC:

Maester Thomax’s Dragonkin, Being a History of House Targaryen from Exile to Apotheosis, with a Consideration of the Life and Death of Dragons had not been so fortunate. It had come open as it fell, and a few pages had gotten muddy, including one with a rather nice picture of Balerion the Black Dread done in colored inks.

Because if the "mud-brown" Sheepstealer is still alive, he (definitely not Drogon) would be the largest and oldest of the dragons---the new Balerion.

Moreover, we have this tidbit from TMK:

Riderless, the big black stallion was slowing to a trot. Dunk jumped out and grabbed him by the reigns. At the far end of the lists, Ser Glendon Ball wheeled his mare and raised his splintered lance. Men rushed onto the field where the Fiddler lay unmoving, facedown in a puddle. When they helped him to his feet, he was mud from head to heel.

"The Brown Dragon!" someone shouted. Laughter ripped through the yard as the dawn washed over Whitewalls.

In both cases, the "black dragon" ends up covered in mud, symbolically becoming the "brown dragon". Is this a hint that a literal brown dragon is set to (re)-enter the narrative, and will be associated with a (formerly) "black" dragon? Literally replacing a black dragon, or metaphorically associating with a "black dragon"? (My money would be on Jon if the latter, given that Sam is holding the book when he's summoned to Jon in AFFC, and given that the "brown" black dragon in TMK had formerly taken the pseudonym of John.) Is it a hint about a metaphorical "black" dragon becoming a metaphorical "brown" dragon? And it's particularly interesting that the "muddy" black dragon appears in conjunction with a book about Lightbringer (the Jade Compendium in AFFC) and the arrival of the dawn (in TMK).

The queen raged when she learned that Maidenpool had gone over to the foe, that the girl Nettles had escaped, that her own beloved consort had betrayed her, and she trembled when Lady Mysaria warned her against the coming dark, that this night would be worse than the last.

A hint that the new Long Night will be worse than the last? And when "the night" finally comes, Rhaenyra's dragons die. A hint at what will happen to Drogon/Rhaegal/Viserion (or even House Targaryen in general?) in the new Long Night?

"Ser Robert" Quince, killed by a spear, instantly recognizable by his enormous size. "Ser Robert" Strong, killed by a spear, instantly recognizable by his enormous size (just upwards instead of outwards). The body of the former "Ser Robert" was found charred. (Rather inexplicably, actually, since he supposedly died by a single spear thrust.) Given that wights can be destroyed by fire, and given that Qyburn's creation is likely to be vulnerable to fire for the same reason as the wights, this could foreshadow fire taking down Ser Robert Strong. (Which would be particularly apt, given what Gregor once did to Sandor.)

Meleys, called the Red Queen, with her copper horns and scarlet scales. Melisandre, Red Priestess and Stannis's "true queen", with her copper hair and scarlet silks. Could the fate of Meleys foreshadow the fate of Melisandre? Meleys dies at Rook's Rest, due to a sneak attack from Vhagar (the oldest living dragon in Westeros) and Sunfyre (the golden dragon), and she specifically dies after falling from a great height. The oldest living "dragon" in Westeros is a good description of Bloodraven (and "Rook's Rest" is an apt reference to that "sleeping" raven/crow). With Sunfyre, there are some different possibilities. Golden dragons symbolize money, and the Iron Bank has taken an interest in the affairs in the North/at the Wall. House Karstark has been heavily involved in events at the Wall, and the Karstark sigil is a sunburst. (Not to mention, the new sigil of House Thenn explicitly evokes the Karstark sunburst.) Or Sunfyre could represent the Golden Company/Dorne here, symbols of Aegon's support for the Iron Throne; I think it's unlikely they'll head North, but news of them certainly would.

Meleys dies after falling from a great height, and Melisandre is currently situated at the Wall, where it's repeatedly mentioned that people have a history of falling to their deaths. Is this a hint that Mel will take a tumble off the Wall? Vhagar falls on Meleys from above while she's distracted with trying to kill Sunfyre, which could indicate that Mel will be killed by forces associated with Bloodraven while she's distracted with whatever Sunfyre represents here (the Karstarks? The Iron Bank representative? News about Aegon's arrival?). Given the "Aegon's forces" (the White Duck, Aegon's Kingsguard) association of the "black arrow fletched with white duck feathers" I mentioned earlier---the tool that that killed Ygritte---then given that Mel at one point pretends to be Ygritte, it would make a certain amount of sense for the arrow that kills Ygritte to symbolize the same general force that will play a part in Mel's death as well. In that case, Sunfyre would make sense as a symbol of Aegon's forces. (Not that Aegon's forces would literally kill Mel, but in the sense that news of Aegon's support for the Iron Throne could instigate events at the Wall that lead to Mel's death.)

Though this "fall" could be metaphorical. Aegon's allies (as well as the Iron Bank and even the Karstarks) all represent military forces superior to what Mel commands by this point, given the scanty number of Queen's Men currently present at the Wall. And Bloodraven represents a magical force superior to Mel's. So the instigators of Meleys's fall could represent the forces responsible for Melisandre's "fall from power": the combined emergence of political forces and magical forces that are each superior to her own. (And if Bloodraven = Vhagar, that would point to magical superiority being the determining factor in Mel's "fall".) It's possible Mel actually survives, and "Meleys" simply symbolizes the way in which Melisandre falls from power, not as a representation of her literal death.

(As a general note, I think it makes sense to look at the dragons independently of their riders, in the sense that Dragon A can represent Person A in the main series, while the rider of Dragon A would represent Person B (or Group D ) in the main series. The analysis doesn't really make sense if you assume the rider and the dragon both represent the exact same person or group. But if the dragon represents someone/something associated with the rider's parallel---a beneficial force, or a force of danger, specifically---then things take on some very different perspectives. Rhaenyra, obviously a Dany parallel, rode the yellow Syrax, yet currently the yellow-associated Yunkai is Dany's enemy. Aegon's dragon was Sunfyre the Golden, representing two elements (the sun-associated House Martell and the Golden Company) that have either joined Aegon, or are likely to join him in the future---yet both could do him just as much harm as good: House Martell's forces are not vast, and the presence of the Golden Company raises the Blackfyre specter in people's minds.)

If Meleys symbolizes Melisandre, then who is Princess Rhaenys, the Queen Who Never Was? You can make the argument for Dany: Rhaenys's mother was a storm-associated Baratheon, Dany is called "Stormborn". Rhaenys is so "blackened" by the end that she's unrecognizable---which sounds like an excellent metaphor for what's likely to happen to Dany by the end of the story. Rhaenys's husband was the Sea Snake, who had one of the largest fleets in Westeros, and Dany is likely to marry (at the very least, to definitely join up with) a Greyjoy. Rhaenys appears to have been the prior generation's Rhaenyra, so it would make sense for Rhaenys to symbolize Dany just as much as Rhaenyra symbolizes Dany. And if Princess Rhaenys = Dany, then Meleys would either literally symbolize Melisandre, which would mean Mel will end up with Dany (which I find unlikely, as I'll be suprised if she lives too much longer), or more likely, the Meleys/Melisandre connection symbolizes the R'hllor forces in general---a group that Dany is likely to join up with, and which will probably harm her just as much, if not more, than than they help her.

You can also make the argument that Princess Rhaenys symbolizes Jon. Princess Rhaenys was supported by the North---specifically, House Stark and Houses Dustin and Manderly. Part of the GNC rests on the idea that House Dustin and House Manderly are working together to support the same candidate for King in the North. Princess Rhaenys's corpse ends up "blackened", and Jon is a member of the Night's Watch. Jon arguably has the best claim to the Iron Throne, but will almost certainly never actually sit the Iron Throne, which sounds analogous to the Princess Rhaenys situation. If Princess Rhaenys = Jon, then the Meleys/Melisandre connection symbolizes the aid/danger aspect of Jon's relationship with Melisandre.

Though here's an interesting possibility: perhaps Princess Rhaenys symbolizes Stannis? Both have a Baratheon parent, but both end up losing the allegiance of Storm's End. Rhaenys probably had the best claim to the Iron Throne, but was repeatedly passed over---hence the nickname "the Queen Who Never Was". Stannis (arguably) has the best claim to the Iron Throne, but has been repeatedly passed over, and is unlikely to ever actually get the throne; it's possible Stannis will go down in history as "the King Who Never Was". Rhaenys died after being lured into a trap, and Stannis repeatedly gets lured into traps (the trap on the Blackwater, the Bolton trap re: the Dreadfort, the Karstark trap re: Winterfell); while Stannis fell into (but survived) the Blackwater trap, evaded Roose's trap, and

we know that Stannis evades the Karstark trap, as he learns about Karstark's plan to betray him,

given how frequently traps appear in his arc, it's very possible there's another trap waiting for him in the near future that he won't evade, which could tie his end to Rhaenys's end.

A Stannis/Rhaenys parallel would actually tie quite well into the "Rhaenys as the earlier generation's Rhaenyra" idea, since Dany is a clear Rhaenyra parallel and I think it's likely Dany's arc will follow Stannis's in a number of ways once she finally gets to Westeros: siding with the Red Priesthood, constantly shooting herself in the political foot, fighting her relative

who holds Storm's End

rather than their mutual enemies, the allegiance of the two pirate fleets (Salladhor Saan's fleet with Stannis and the Greyjoy Fleet with Dany), the Dragonstone association, the "horses decimated by the snow" idea, being told about the Others but ending up actually fighting everyone but the Others, etc.). And a Stannis/Rhaenys parallel would fit the Meleys/Melisandre connection perfectly.

Prince Daeron is called "the Daring", but shows himself to be more accustomed to following than leading, and takes part in a conspiracy to destroy an upstart king (the Caltrops conspiracy against Hugh the Hammer) without declaring himself King in turn. Ser Barristan is called "the Bold", but shows himself to be more accustomed to following than leading, and takes part in a conspiracy to destroy an upstart king (Hizdahr) without declaring himself King in turn. Could Daeron the Daring's fate foreshadow Barristan the Bold's fate? Daeron dies in a battle with dragons flying overhead,

similar, perhaps, to the situation with Rhaegal and Viserion in Meereen.

Three stories exist of Prince Daeron's death: one in which he dies by fire (his burning pavilion collapses on him), one in which he's killed by a morningstar wielded by Black Trombo, and one in which he's killed by a sword by some random nobody soldier. The "black" Moqorro will undoubtedly take part in the upcoming battle for Meereen, fire-breathing dragons are in play, and it would be rather GRRM-esque for the great Barristan the Bold to die at the hands of some random soldier who doesn't even realize who he's killed. Perhaps all three elements could somehow coalesce in Barristan's death, or perhaps multiple stories will arise of Barristan's death?

The original Dance had three Queens: Queen Alicent, Queen Helaena, and Queen Rhaenyra. Two of those three queens were "dragon queens" (Helaena and Rhaenyra). Only two of the actual dragons, Tessarion and Meleys, appear to have borne the Queen moniker (though neither of their riders actually became Queen (or King), interestingly). Given Littlefinger's oft-discussed mention of a "War of three Queens", do the three Queens of the first Dance foreshadow three Queens in the upcoming Dance? Two dragon Queens, one non-dragon Queen?

Dany is clearly the parallel for Queen Rhaenyra, but it's harder to assess our new Queen Alicent and Queen Helaena. Cersei at first sounds like a perfect Alicent: her father was Hand of the King, she likes wearing green, she masterminded putting her son on the throne, there's a decent chance Queen Alicent played a role in poisoning King Viserys just like Cersei played a role in poisoning King Robert, etc. Queen Helaena had Targ blood and married Aegon, which sounds like an Arianne parallel. However, Queen Helaena also went mad after her son was murdered in front of her, which points to Cersei and not Arianne. And Arianne can be associated with Aegon's supposed mother Elia, as both women are/were Princesses of Dorne, while Cersei never became a Princess of Dorne (despite the attempt(s) to marry Cersei to Oberyn Martell).

I think it makes sense to look at the "three queens" during the first Dance as hints toward "three queens" specifically during the second Dance. That would likely knock Cersei out of the running entirely, as her Queenship is all but finished right now, well before the Dance has commenced. It also likely knocks out Marg and the Queen of Thorns, as I can't see either holding any "queenship" position during a Dany/Aegon fight. (Unless the Queen of Thorns gets her hooks into Dany, as a kind of Alicent figure (with the sides switched)? Dany does have a history of getting screwed over by expecting help from women like Olenna Tyrell.) Queen Alicent was the daughter of the Hand at the beginning of the Dance and was the mother of Aegon. Queen Margaery is the daughter of the current Hand, but we don't know who Aegon's Hand will be when Dany arrives. It's currently Connington, but he's a dead man walking. If/when Connington dies, who would Aegon name as Hand? Doran Martell is a likely choice, which could align his daughter, Arianne, with Queen Alicent. That would make a certain amount of sense, given that Arianne is also, like Aegon's mother, a Princess of Dorne, but that would also imply that Aegon does not marry Arianne.

In such a case---if Aegon doesn't marry Arianne, and Arianne takes on the Alicent role rather than the Helaena role---who would be our Helaena? Myrcella is a potential candidate, but I can't see any actual parallels between Helaena and Myrcella as of yet. I think Sansa would be a much stronger choice there. Queen Helaena watched her son be murdered in front of her, and Sansa is currently playing mother to Sweetrobin, who is being murdered in front of her. Queen Helaena's dragon was Dreamfyre, whom she never rode during the Dance. The Starks all began warging via their dreams, and given the whole "bird/flying" motif in her arc, Sansa could be a candidate to warg a dragon (which, given her lack of practice, she would have to start doing via her dreams). There's also the "Rhaena" association: Dreamfyre was once ridden by one Rhaena (Jaehaerys's sister), and a different Rhaena (Daemon's daughter) in the Dance clearly symbolizes Sansa (hatchling died, betrothal to a prince of dubious paternity cancelled, ended up in the Vale), so you can sort of tie Sansa to Dreamfyre by connecting her to the two "Rhaenas". Queen Helaena "spent her days in darkness", and "darkness" has been repeatedly associated with Stark power, so Helaena ending up in the darkness could represent Sansa embracing the darkness-related power of the Old Gods.

It's widely assumed that Aegon will marry Arianne, but I'm wondering if perhaps Arianne will end up in the Alicent position, and Aegon will end up (at least trying to) marry Sansa while having an affair with,

Elia Sand? She's named for his mother, but personality-wise she's like Lyanna. Aegon claims to be Rhaegar's son, so it would make thematic sense for him to repeat Rhaegar's mistake, and Elia Sand is well-positioned to be a Lyanna figure. If Aegon should (at least try to) marry Sansa, making her the Helaena figure, then we'd also have the Robert's Rebellion Stark/Martell situation switched, with Elia Sand as the new Lyanna Stark, and Sansa Stark as the new Elia Martell.

If we try to analogize Arianne with Helaena, then we're left without an Alicent. Given the Martells' hatred of the Lannisters, I can't see any logical way for Cersei to play the role of Alicent in the upcoming Dance. Unless Cersei marries Connington, Aegon's "second father", making her his symbolic mother? That . . . would make a certain amount of sense, actually. Maggy the Frog spoke of Cersei's "pale white throat", and emphasizing her throat's color could be a hint that other parts of her body won't be "white" by that point, they'll be grey, because Cersei will catch greyscale from Connington. Connington doesn't want to marry, but he might not want to pass up an opportunity to seize the Rock and simultaneously infect Tywin's daughter/Robert's Queen with greyscale. Then again, if Arianne should marry Connington, the same general analysis would apply, because doing so would make her Aegon's "mother". And Arianne's one-time effort to seduce Renly could be a hint, given that Renly and Connington share a sexual orientation.

The people turning against Queen Rhaenyra for the "murder" of Queen Helaena---a "murder" which probably wasn't even a murder---likely foreshadows people (Dorne) turning against Dany for the "murder" of Quentyn, a "murder" which wasn't even a murder.

The "Sowing" was a search for new dragonriders. Two Greyjoys currently want dragons, and the Greyjoy words are "We Do Not Sow". The "Sowing" association there could indicate that one or more Greyjoys will end up with a dragon. (Though given that the Greyjoy words are "We Do Not Sow", this could hint that no Greyjoy will take part in a new "Sowing", i.e. no Greyjoy will be getting a dragon.)

Dany has been warned of three treasons. The "Treasons" in TPATQ are dragonriders who turn against Queen Rhaenyra. Given that there are three dragons in play, do the "Treasons" hint that Dany's three treasons will involve the three dragons ultimately fighting against her?

[Lyse Stark]

Right after giving Qyburn the go-head to move Gregor to the dungeons and begin the Ungregor process, Cersei drinks "a cup of strongwine". Heh. As we've seen with the Faceless Men, who've used poisoned coins to kill people, a coin absolutely can be as dangerous as a sword in the wrong hands: a poisoner's hands. And in that context, Tyrion's warning about Littlefinger here is a very subtle hint at Littlefinger's association with poisonings. (Particularly apt, given Littlefinger's participation in two particular poisonings---Jon Arryn's poisoning and Joffrey's poisoning---that were both blamed, at least at one point, on Tyrion.) When the Lannisters and Tyrells sit down together to discuss the Stark/Greyjoy situation in ASOS, Tywin makes an interesting comment: Tywin's word choice in describing how the Greyjoys have "usurped" the Starks' kingdom foreshadows the method by which the Tyrells will, essentially, do the same to the Lannisters: they move in on the Lannisters' kingdom after choking Joffrey with the Strangler. When speaking of the Volantenes in AFFC, Doran Martell "put the elephant aside". This foreshadows Volantis doing the same thing in ADWD, when they put "the elephants" (the peace party) aside in favor of "the tigers" (the war party) due to Dany's actions. And actually, it's interesting to note what particular item is juxtaposed with Jorah's initial Astapor pitch: Dany's endeavors in Astapor are explicitly associated with tiger skins. Specifically, stealing (expropriating?) tiger skins. This could simply foreshadow the end result of Dany heading to Astapor (because she starts freeing slaves by "stealing" them, the tigers come into play), or it could specifically foreshadow the future of the slave soldiers of Volantis (as Jorah wants to use tiger skins to buy slave soldiers, perhaps the Volantene "tigers" will later be a catalyst for a Volantene slave rebellion? The whole "you end up causing what you're trying to prevent" idea?). Though given that "tigers" = war, this could simply have been meant as foreshadowing Dany going to war at Astapor (something neither she nor Jorah anticipated at this point). Moreover, Dany says "[t]hose are Illyrio's tiger skins", foreshadowing Dany carrying out (and later failing to carry out, as she ends up not using those tiger skins for anything but a feint) Illyrio's war plans. In Volantis, Quentyn sees "a dozen Unsullied spearmen in ornate armor and tiger-skin cloaks". Tyrion sees slave soldiers in Volantis and says "Their helms were tigers masks, the faces beneath marked by green stripes tattooed across both cheeks". You could read these things, in conjunction with Dany taking the tiger skins and heading to Astapor in ASOS, as hints that the slave soldiers of Volantis will end up with Dany (particularly given that one category of slave soldier wears "tiger's masks", which evoke the Brazen Beasts, and the other is Unsullied, which Dany gets control of in Astapor). But you could also read these things as hints that Dany won't end up with the support of the slave soldiers of Volantis. Strategies that succeed one time fail the second time, so the fact that she got Unsullied support in Astapor could then indicate that she won't get Unsullied support in Volantis (the whole point of the Unsullied is their supposed failure to be able to betray their masters, after all). And "green" is a color that has been associated with negative things for Dany elsewhere, so the fact that slave soldiers in Volantis have specifically "green" tiger stripes may not presage positive things for Dany vis a vis them. On the high road through the Mountains of the Moon, while still in Catelyn's custody, Tyrion has the following exchange with Bronn:

Given Tyrion's current placement, this seems relevant. It could simply be read as a general hint that Tyrion will end up with Dany. (Though since Tyrion speaks disparagingly of the Dothraki, it could indicate that he won't end up siding with Dany.) Given the placement, it could foreshadow what happens the next time Tyrion is captured on the high road: he bribes the clansmen, and not with money (hence the reference to Dothraki customs, as the Dothraki don't customarily use money). It could be read to foreshadow something that hasn't yet happened: if "Dothraki customs had scant appeal for" Tyrion, then perhaps he breaks some particular Dothraki custom in the future? The obvious one would be him riding someone else's mount, as that's a huge no-no among the Dothraki: either Dany's silver,

perhaps in the upcoming battle for Meereen? Barristan is riding it at the beginning of the battle, so it's certainly possible for Tyrion to end up on it by the end,

or perhaps someone else's dragon, finally putting to bed the "only one person can ride a dragon at a time" idea. (He's ridden Groat's mount, of course, but Groat was dead by that point, so that doesn't really seem to track.)

In ADWD, we met a different White Duck: Ser Rolly Duckfield, the first of Aegon's Kingsguard. Jon's comments in ASOS hint at Aegon's Blackfyre connection (the arrow with the "white duck" feathers is black), as well as the fact that Jon is what Aegon claims to be (Rhaegar's hidden son). That's why Jon looks at the "Aegon" symbol and feels as if it's his. Unless Rhaegar had a personal sigil we've never been told about, he would never have borne such a banner. Any change to a sigil, no matter how small, is always fraught with meaning in Westerosi culture, and the Targaryen sigil does not include "golden flames". Given that Dany demonstrates this misunderstanding while en route to executing her "dracarys" plan, you could read this as a subtle hint that Dany doesn't understand the implications of "changing" things in Astapor, any more than she understood the implications of changing her House's sigil. (You could also read it as a hint tying to Dany to Aerion Brightflame (like him, she often thinks she's a literal dragon), since his personal sigil did include "golden flames". Though given the Rhaegar reference, Dany could be inadvertently foreshadowing the reveal of someone else who bears the Targaryen banner, associates himself with Rhaegar, and is (additionally) associated with gold---Aegon, via his alliance with the Golden Company:) It's kind of striking how often "Strongs" are associated with false identities in ASOIAF. Ser Robert Strong is the false identity of Ungregor; Ser Lucamore Strong's "whole life was a lie"; Rhaenyra's sons of dubious paternity are associated with House Strong; Strong Belwas first appears in the company of a man with a hidden identity; Griff sees "two Strongs" in the Golden Company, among a litany of names he acknowledges are unlikely to be genuine. Can we read into this anything for other "Strongs" that appear in ASOIAF? For example, Bronze Yohn Royce's master-at-arms is called Strong Sam Stone, and given the juxtaposition of "Strongs" with hidden identities, could this indicate a future connection between Sansa/Alayne (given the hidden identity aspect) and Strong Sam Stone? (Given the Jon/Sansa parallels, it would make sense for Sansa's storyline to intersect with a "Sam". And where Jon and Sam are "brothers", Alayne Stone and Sam Stone have the same surname, something usually associated with family) From TPATQ: If the "mud-brown" Sheepstealer turns out to still be alive, as many have speculated, that would potentially put a very different spin on this tidbit from AFFC: Because if the "mud-brown" Sheepstealer is still alive, he (definitely not Drogon) would be the largest and oldest of the dragons---the new Balerion. Moreover, we have this tidbit from TMK:

In both cases, the "black dragon" ends up covered in mud, symbolically becoming the "brown dragon". Is this a hint that a literal brown dragon is set to (re)-enter the narrative, and will be associated with a (formerly) "black" dragon? Literally replacing a black dragon, or metaphorically associating with a "black dragon"? (My money would be on Jon if the latter, given that Sam is holding the book when he's summoned to Jon in AFFC, and given that the "brown" black dragon in TMK had formerly taken the pseudonym of John.) Is it a hint about a metaphorical "black" dragon becoming a metaphorical "brown" dragon? And it's particularly interesting that the "muddy" black dragon appears in conjunction with a book about Lightbringer (the Jade Compendium in AFFC) and the arrival of the dawn (in TMK).

A hint that the new Long Night will be worse than the last? And when "the night" finally comes, Rhaenyra's dragons die. A hint at what will happen to Drogon/Rhaegal/Viserion (or even House Targaryen in general?) in the new Long Night? "Ser Robert" Quince, killed by a spear, instantly recognizable by his enormous size. "Ser Robert" Strong, killed by a spear, instantly recognizable by his enormous size (just upwards instead of outwards). The body of the former "Ser Robert" was found charred. (Rather inexplicably, actually, since he supposedly died by a single spear thrust.) Given that wights can be destroyed by fire, and given that Qyburn's creation is likely to be vulnerable to fire for the same reason as the wights, this could foreshadow fire taking down Ser Robert Strong. (Which would be particularly apt, given what Gregor once did to Sandor.) Meleys, called the Red Queen, with her copper horns and scarlet scales. Melisandre, Red Priestess and Stannis's "true queen", with her copper hair and scarlet silks. Could the fate of Meleys foreshadow the fate of Melisandre? Meleys dies at Rook's Rest, due to a sneak attack from Vhagar (the oldest living dragon in Westeros) and Sunfyre (the golden dragon), and she specifically dies after falling from a great height. The oldest living "dragon" in Westeros is a good description of Bloodraven (and "Rook's Rest" is an apt reference to that "sleeping" raven/crow). With Sunfyre, there are some different possibilities. Golden dragons symbolize money, and the Iron Bank has taken an interest in the affairs in the North/at the Wall. House Karstark has been heavily involved in events at the Wall, and the Karstark sigil is a sunburst. (Not to mention, the new sigil of House Thenn explicitly evokes the Karstark sunburst.) Or Sunfyre could represent the Golden Company/Dorne here, symbols of Aegon's support for the Iron Throne; I think it's unlikely they'll head North, but news of them certainly would. Meleys dies after falling from a great height, and Melisandre is currently situated at the Wall, where it's repeatedly mentioned that people have a history of falling to their deaths. Is this a hint that Mel will take a tumble off the Wall? Vhagar falls on Meleys from above while she's distracted with trying to kill Sunfyre, which could indicate that Mel will be killed by forces associated with Bloodraven while she's distracted with whatever Sunfyre represents here (the Karstarks? The Iron Bank representative? News about Aegon's arrival?). Given the "Aegon's forces" (the White Duck, Aegon's Kingsguard) association of the "black arrow fletched with white duck feathers" I mentioned earlier---the tool that that killed Ygritte---then given that Mel at one point pretends to be Ygritte, it would make a certain amount of sense for the arrow that kills Ygritte to symbolize the same general force that will play a part in Mel's death as well. In that case, Sunfyre would make sense as a symbol of Aegon's forces. (Not that Aegon's forces would literally kill Mel, but in the sense that news of Aegon's support for the Iron Throne could instigate events at the Wall that lead to Mel's death.) Though this "fall" could be metaphorical. Aegon's allies (as well as the Iron Bank and even the Karstarks) all represent military forces superior to what Mel commands by this point, given the scanty number of Queen's Men currently present at the Wall. And Bloodraven represents a magical force superior to Mel's. So the instigators of Meleys's fall could represent the forces responsible for Melisandre's "fall from power": the combined emergence of political forces and magical forces that are each superior to her own. (And if Bloodraven = Vhagar, that would point to magical superiority being the determining factor in Mel's "fall".) It's possible Mel actually survives, and "Meleys" simply symbolizes the way in which Melisandre falls from power, not as a representation of her literal death. (As a general note, I think it makes sense to look at the dragons independently of their riders, in the sense that Dragon A can represent Person A in the main series, while the rider of Dragon A would represent Person B (or Group D ) in the main series. The analysis doesn't really make sense if you assume the rider and the dragon both represent the exact same person or group. But if the dragon represents someone/something associated with the rider's parallel---a beneficial force, or a force of danger, specifically---then things take on some very different perspectives. Rhaenyra, obviously a Dany parallel, rode the yellow Syrax, yet currently the yellow-associated Yunkai is Dany's enemy. Aegon's dragon was Sunfyre the Golden, representing two elements (the sun-associated House Martell and the Golden Company) that have either joined Aegon, or are likely to join him in the future---yet both could do him just as much harm as good: House Martell's forces are not vast, and the presence of the Golden Company raises the Blackfyre specter in people's minds.) If Meleys symbolizes Melisandre, then who is Princess Rhaenys, the Queen Who Never Was? You can make the argument for Dany: Rhaenys's mother was a storm-associated Baratheon, Dany is called "Stormborn". Rhaenys is so "blackened" by the end that she's unrecognizable---which sounds like an excellent metaphor for what's likely to happen to Dany by the end of the story. Rhaenys's husband was the Sea Snake, who had one of the largest fleets in Westeros, and Dany is likely to marry (at the very least, to definitely join up with) a Greyjoy. Rhaenys appears to have been the prior generation's Rhaenyra, so it would make sense for Rhaenys to symbolize Dany just as much as Rhaenyra symbolizes Dany. And if Princess Rhaenys = Dany, then Meleys would either literally symbolize Melisandre, which would mean Mel will end up with Dany (which I find unlikely, as I'll be suprised if she lives too much longer), or more likely, the Meleys/Melisandre connection symbolizes the R'hllor forces in general---a group that Dany is likely to join up with, and which will probably harm her just as much, if not more, than than they help her. You can also make the argument that Princess Rhaenys symbolizes Jon. Princess Rhaenys was supported by the North---specifically, House Stark and Houses Dustin and Manderly. Part of the GNC rests on the idea that House Dustin and House Manderly are working together to support the same candidate for King in the North. Princess Rhaenys's corpse ends up "blackened", and Jon is a member of the Night's Watch. Jon arguably has the best claim to the Iron Throne, but will almost certainly never actually sit the Iron Throne, which sounds analogous to the Princess Rhaenys situation. If Princess Rhaenys = Jon, then the Meleys/Melisandre connection symbolizes the aid/danger aspect of Jon's relationship with Melisandre. Though here's an interesting possibility: perhaps Princess Rhaenys symbolizes Stannis? Both have a Baratheon parent, but both end up losing the allegiance of Storm's End. Rhaenys probably had the best claim to the Iron Throne, but was repeatedly passed over---hence the nickname "the Queen Who Never Was". Stannis (arguably) has the best claim to the Iron Throne, but has been repeatedly passed over, and is unlikely to ever actually get the throne; it's possible Stannis will go down in history as "the King Who Never Was". Rhaenys died after being lured into a trap, and Stannis repeatedly gets lured into traps (the trap on the Blackwater, the Bolton trap re: the Dreadfort, the Karstark trap re: Winterfell); while Stannis fell into (but survived) the Blackwater trap, evaded Roose's trap, and

we know that Stannis evades the Karstark trap, as he learns about Karstark's plan to betray him,

given how frequently traps appear in his arc, it's very possible there's another trap waiting for him in the near future that he won't evade, which could tie his end to Rhaenys's end. A Stannis/Rhaenys parallel would actually tie quite well into the "Rhaenys as the earlier generation's Rhaenyra" idea, since Dany is a clear Rhaenyra parallel and I think it's likely Dany's arc will follow Stannis's in a number of ways once she finally gets to Westeros: siding with the Red Priesthood, constantly shooting herself in the political foot, fighting her relative

who holds Storm's End

rather than their mutual enemies, the allegiance of the two pirate fleets (Salladhor Saan's fleet with Stannis and the Greyjoy Fleet with Dany), the Dragonstone association, the "horses decimated by the snow" idea, being told about the Others but ending up actually fighting everyone but the Others, etc.). And a Stannis/Rhaenys parallel would fit the Meleys/Melisandre connection perfectly. Prince Daeron is called "the Daring", but shows himself to be more accustomed to following than leading, and takes part in a conspiracy to destroy an upstart king (the Caltrops conspiracy against Hugh the Hammer) without declaring himself King in turn. Ser Barristan is called "the Bold", but shows himself to be more accustomed to following than leading, and takes part in a conspiracy to destroy an upstart king (Hizdahr) without declaring himself King in turn. Could Daeron the Daring's fate foreshadow Barristan the Bold's fate? Daeron dies in a battle with dragons flying overhead,

similar, perhaps, to the situation with Rhaegal and Viserion in Meereen.

Three stories exist of Prince Daeron's death: one in which he dies by fire (his burning pavilion collapses on him), one in which he's killed by a morningstar wielded by Black Trombo, and one in which he's killed by a sword by some random nobody soldier. The "black" Moqorro will undoubtedly take part in the upcoming battle for Meereen, fire-breathing dragons are in play, and it would be rather GRRM-esque for the great Barristan the Bold to die at the hands of some random soldier who doesn't even realize who he's killed. Perhaps all three elements could somehow coalesce in Barristan's death, or perhaps multiple stories will arise of Barristan's death? The original Dance had three Queens: Queen Alicent, Queen Helaena, and Queen Rhaenyra. Two of those three queens were "dragon queens" (Helaena and Rhaenyra). Only two of the actual dragons, Tessarion and Meleys, appear to have borne the Queen moniker (though neither of their riders actually became Queen (or King), interestingly). Given Littlefinger's oft-discussed mention of a "War of three Queens", do the three Queens of the first Dance foreshadow three Queens in the upcoming Dance? Two dragon Queens, one non-dragon Queen? Dany is clearly the parallel for Queen Rhaenyra, but it's harder to assess our new Queen Alicent and Queen Helaena. Cersei at first sounds like a perfect Alicent: her father was Hand of the King, she likes wearing green, she masterminded putting her son on the throne, there's a decent chance Queen Alicent played a role in poisoning King Viserys just like Cersei played a role in poisoning King Robert, etc. Queen Helaena had Targ blood and married Aegon, which sounds like an Arianne parallel. However, Queen Helaena also went mad after her son was murdered in front of her, which points to Cersei and not Arianne. And Arianne can be associated with Aegon's supposed mother Elia, as both women are/were Princesses of Dorne, while Cersei never became a Princess of Dorne (despite the attempt(s) to marry Cersei to Oberyn Martell). I think it makes sense to look at the "three queens" during the first Dance as hints toward "three queens" specifically during the second Dance. That would likely knock Cersei out of the running entirely, as her Queenship is all but finished right now, well before the Dance has commenced. It also likely knocks out Marg and the Queen of Thorns, as I can't see either holding any "queenship" position during a Dany/Aegon fight. (Unless the Queen of Thorns gets her hooks into Dany, as a kind of Alicent figure (with the sides switched)? Dany does have a history of getting screwed over by expecting help from women like Olenna Tyrell.) Queen Alicent was the daughter of the Hand at the beginning of the Dance and was the mother of Aegon. Queen Margaery is the daughter of the current Hand, but we don't know who Aegon's Hand will be when Dany arrives. It's currently Connington, but he's a dead man walking. If/when Connington dies, who would Aegon name as Hand? Doran Martell is a likely choice, which could align his daughter, Arianne, with Queen Alicent. That would make a certain amount of sense, given that Arianne is also, like Aegon's mother, a Princess of Dorne, but that would also imply that Aegon does not marry Arianne. In such a case---if Aegon doesn't marry Arianne, and Arianne takes on the Alicent role rather than the Helaena role---who would be our Helaena? Myrcella is a potential candidate, but I can't see any actual parallels between Helaena and Myrcella as of yet. I think Sansa would be a much stronger choice there. Queen Helaena watched her son be murdered in front of her, and Sansa is currently playing mother to Sweetrobin, who is being murdered in front of her. Queen Helaena's dragon was Dreamfyre, whom she never rode during the Dance. The Starks all began warging via their dreams, and given the whole "bird/flying" motif in her arc, Sansa could be a candidate to warg a dragon (which, given her lack of practice, she would have to start doing via her dreams). There's also the "Rhaena" association: Dreamfyre was once ridden by one Rhaena (Jaehaerys's sister), and a different Rhaena (Daemon's daughter) in the Dance clearly symbolizes Sansa (hatchling died, betrothal to a prince of dubious paternity cancelled, ended up in the Vale), so you can sort of tie Sansa to Dreamfyre by connecting her to the two "Rhaenas". Queen Helaena "spent her days in darkness", and "darkness" has been repeatedly associated with Stark power, so Helaena ending up in the darkness could represent Sansa embracing the darkness-related power of the Old Gods. It's widely assumed that Aegon will marry Arianne, but I'm wondering if perhaps Arianne will end up in the Alicent position, and Aegon will end up (at least trying to) marry Sansa while having an affair with,

Elia Sand? She's named for his mother, but personality-wise she's like Lyanna. Aegon claims to be Rhaegar's son, so it would make thematic sense for him to repeat Rhaegar's mistake, and Elia Sand is well-positioned to be a Lyanna figure. If Aegon should (at least try to) marry Sansa, making her the Helaena figure, then we'd also have the Robert's Rebellion Stark/Martell situation switched, with Elia Sand as the new Lyanna Stark, and Sansa Stark as the new Elia Martell.

If we try to analogize Arianne with Helaena, then we're left without an Alicent. Given the Martells' hatred of the Lannisters, I can't see any logical way for Cersei to play the role of Alicent in the upcoming Dance. Unless Cersei marries Connington, Aegon's "second father", making her his symbolic mother? That . . . would make a certain amount of sense, actually. Maggy the Frog spoke of Cersei's "pale white throat", and emphasizing her throat's color could be a hint that other parts of her body won't be "white" by that point, they'll be grey, because Cersei will catch greyscale from Connington. Connington doesn't want to marry, but he might not want to pass up an opportunity to seize the Rock and simultaneously infect Tywin's daughter/Robert's Queen with greyscale. Then again, if Arianne should marry Connington, the same general analysis would apply, because doing so would make her Aegon's "mother". And Arianne's one-time effort to seduce Renly could be a hint, given that Renly and Connington share a sexual orientation. The people turning against Queen Rhaenyra for the "murder" of Queen Helaena---a "murder" which probably wasn't even a murder---likely foreshadows people (Dorne) turning against Dany for the "murder" of Quentyn, a "murder" which wasn't even a murder. The "Sowing" was a search for new dragonriders. Two Greyjoys currently want dragons, and the Greyjoy words are "We Do Not Sow". The "Sowing" association there could indicate that one or more Greyjoys will end up with a dragon. (Though given that the Greyjoy words are "We Do Not Sow", this could hint that no Greyjoy will take part in a new "Sowing", i.e. no Greyjoy will be getting a dragon.) Dany has been warned of three treasons. The "Treasons" in TPATQ are dragonriders who turn against Queen Rhaenyra. Given that there are three dragons in play, do the "Treasons" hint that Dany's three treasons will involve the three dragons ultimately fighting against her?

You mean that the riders of the dragons will betray her? Tyrion betrays Dany for gold and Victarion for blood, the Jon betrays her for love?

ETA: for all of you who are unfamiliar with English idioms; shooting yourself in the foot means to sabotage your success by saying or doing stupid stuff.

Rhaenyra shot herself in the foot by being cruel and paranoid.

[Lost Melnibonean]

Edmure is going to die...

Alyssa Arryn had seen her husband, her brothers, and all her children slain, and yet in life she had never shed a tear.

[Fire Eater]

Tyrion has a LOT of unfinished business in the Vale...

Tyrion felt a pang of rage. "You fucking son of a pox-ridden ass," he spat. "I hope you die of a bloody flux."

For that, Mord gave him a kick, driving a steel-toed boot hard into Tyrion's ribs on the way out. "I take it back!" he gasped as he doubled over on the straw. "I'll kill you myself, I swear it!" The heavy iron-bound door slammed shut. Tyrion heard the rattle of keys.

A Lannister always pays his debts...

The foreshadowing points to Tyrion landing in the Vale so I imagine Mord would be the only guy left to which he feels obligated to pay his debt to by the time LF dies. Funny how he says he hopes Mord dies of the bloody flux which has spread amongst people in Meereen.

"Bring on your storm my lord, and remember, if you would, the name of this castle"-Ser Cortnay Penrose

"I am the storm, my lord"-Euron Greyjoy

Danaerys Stormborn

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that is reaching IMO. Nothing suggests Dany will lose at SE, against Aegon or the Lannisters. How is Euron going to get to SE when is focused on Oldtown? That is a long trek, and he wouldn't be able to take SE by siege or storm. There is also nothing to suggest he practices dark arts.

@tze

Excellent job all around with a few disagreements. To add to what you said about Vhagar and BR connection, Vhagara was ridden by Aemond, whose nicknames were "One-Eye" and "Kinslayer" while BR has one eye and slew Daemon and his sons.

A few squatters had found shelter in the castle's deep vaults and undercellars, but the sound of Caraxes's wings sent them fleeing. When the last of them was gone, Daemon Targaryen walked the cavernous halls of Harren's seat alone, with no companion but his dragon . . . On the fourteenth day of the prince's vigil, a shadow swept over the castle, blacker than any passing cloud. Vhagar had come at last . . . Vhagar . . . ascended more gradually, in ever widening circles that took her and her rider out over the waters of the God's Eye

"Do you ever find anyone in your dream?" Sam asked.

Jon shook his head. "No one. The castle is always empty."

Daemon is the king consort and the former king's brother, and he is waiting at the halls of a castle for Vhagar and Aemond. Their dragons meet over the God's Eye which houses the Isle of Faces. Jon is the rightful king and brother to King Robb. While he is out he may be having that dream again where he is wandering Winterfell alone. On the fourteenth day after the Ides of Marsh, BR may visit Jon. They are meeting under the eye of the Old Gods, or the weirwoods.

ETA: Daemon also commanded the gold cloaks and was loved by them to the point they sided him against his rival Otto Hightower, who "wrote too many letters." Jon commands the black cloaks, and seems to be loved by plenty of men side with him against his rival Marsh, who has sent letters to KL and will write more after ADwD. The rivalry between Jon and Marsh was akin to Otto and Daemon, between the warrior and the steward, where the Hand of the King performs the functions akin to a steward and Marsh is First Steward.

[Lyse Stark]

The foreshadowing points to Tyrion landing in the Vale so I imagine Mord would be the only guy left to which he feels obligated to pay his debt to by the time LF dies. Funny how he says he hopes Mord dies of the bloody flux which has spread amongst people in Meereen.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that is reaching IMO. Nothing suggests Dany will lose at SE, against Aegon or the Lannisters. How is Euron going to get to SE when is focused on Oldtown? That is a long trek, and he wouldn't be able to take SE by siege or storm. There is also nothing to suggest he practices dark arts.

@tze

Excellent job all around with a few disagreements. To add to what you said about Vhagar and BR connection, Vhagara was ridden by Aemond, whose nicknames were "One-Eye" and "Kinslayer" while BR has one eye and slew Daemon and his sons.

A few squatters had found shelter in the castle's deep vaults and undercellars, but the sound of Caraxes's wings sent them fleeing. When the last of them was gone, Daemon Targaryen walked the cavernous halls of Harren's seat alone, with no companion but his dragon . . . On the fourteenth day of the prince's vigil, a shadow swept over the castle, blacker than any passing cloud. Vhagar had come at last . . . Vhagar . . . ascended more gradually, in ever widening circles that took her and her rider out over the waters of the God's Eye

"Do you ever find anyone in your dream?" Sam asked.

Jon shook his head. "No one. The castle is always empty."

Daemon is the king consort and the former king's brother, and he is waiting at the halls of a castle for Vhagar and Aemond. Their dragons meet over the God's Eye which houses the Isle of Faces. Jon is the rightful king and brother to King Robb. While he is out he may be having that dream again where he is wandering Winterfell alone. On the fourteenth day after the Ides of Marsh, BR may visit Jon. They are meeting under the eye of the Old Gods, or the weirwoods.

And add to that Jon is the only Targaryen who follows the Old Gods, which relates back with the part regarding Daemon's vigil.

[HexMachina]

Wow Tze, that was quite the post :) I wont quote, for.obvious reasons.

Regarding Meleys, another link could be that she is said to have grown lazy, but is still terrible.when roused. Mel is hinted to have been a slave at one point, which is a life of hardship. She is now with Stannis, and treated well by Stannis and the NW; she doesn't have thay same life of hardship and could be considered to have grown "lazy". It could be that she will become "terrible" when she learns Stannis is not AAR and she has been wrong all along

[Mithras]

tze, that was a mind blower. Please keep it coming :drool:

I think Tyrion and Victarion will side with Dany, at least initially. They will be a somewhat reversed parallel of Corlys – Daemon to Dany.

As for Sansa, I made a case some time ago.

Cats liked the smell of Cat. Some days she would have a dozen trailing after her before the sun went down. From time to time the girl would throw an oyster at them and watch to see who came away with it. The biggest toms would seldom win, she noticed; oft as not, the prize went to some smaller, quicker animal, thin and mean and hungry. Like me, she told herself. Her favorite was a scrawny old tom with a chewed ear who reminded her of a cat that she’d once chased all around the Red Keep. No, that was some other girl, not me.

“Hedge knights?” said Alayne, when the door had closed.

“Hungry knights."

Shadrich the Mad Mouse is a thin and mean animal. LF called him a hungry knight. Cats fight for the oyster Arya threw in the middle of them. Oyster is the prize. We know that pearls are gathered from some kind of oysters. Pearls are very valuable gemstones, worthy of kings and queens. An example is the slippers which the Butcher King sent to Dany. And there is a good symbolism on Sansa being a pearl inside an oyster because she is hiding behind Alayne Stone persona.

I think these all mean that there will be a catfight to win the prize (which is an oyster with a pearl in it and that pearl being Sansa). Biggest tomcats like Brienne and Yohn Royce (Strong Sam) will lose the contest and Shadrich will capture Sansa because he is a smaller, quicker animal, thin mean and hungry.

Asha's three POVs in ADwD are called The Wayward Bride, King's Prize and The Sacrifice.

Sansa is starting to be less proper and more wayward under the effect of Myranda Royce. She was the bride of Tyrion and is going to be bride (Harry the Heir) again as far as she knows. Arya’s foreshadowing I gave described her as a prize that Shadrich will win. And finally there is this sacrifice element. Recalling a controversial Sansa POV awaits us in TWoW, I wonder how the things will show up. Which King’s Prize will Sansa be? And what will be the sacrifice?

I really like the Meleys-Mel comparison.

A face took shape within the hearth. Stannis? she thought, for just a moment … but no, these were not his features. A wooden face, corpse white. Was this the enemy? A thousand red eyes floated in the rising flames. He sees me. Beside him, a boy with a wolf’s face threw back his head and howled.

The red priestess shuddered. Blood trickled down her thigh, black and smoking. The fire was inside her, an agony, an ecstasy, filling her, searing her, transforming her. Shimmers of heat traced patterns on her skin, insistent as a lover’s hand. Strange voices called to her from days long past. “Melony,” she heard a woman cry. A man’s voice called, “Lot Seven.” She was weeping, and her tears were flame. And still she drank it in.

Mel can see the threats to her life. She sees BR and automatically assumes that he is the champion of the enemy. Her reaction to him is even more curious. It is like dying and being resurrected.

Melisandre paid the naked steel no mind. If the wildling [Mance] had meant her harm, she would have seen it in her flames. Danger to her own person was the first thing she had learned to see, back when she was still half a child, a slave girl bound for life to the great red temple. It was still the first thing she looked for whenever she gazed into a fire. “It is their eyes that should concern you, not their knives,” she warned him.

Now we have a very good foreshadowing. Mel reflects on how she can see the danger to her person and warns Mance about about the eyes of the NW. It must be her who should pay attention to the eyes of BR. In fact, she saw this danger in her visions and could not decipher it.

Vhagar-Aemond parallel with BR is very profound. Sunfyre-Aegon II is not that obvious. Arya already killed with a golden dragon.

The kindly man was waiting for her at the House of Black and White, seated on the edge of the temple pool. The ugly girl sat next to him and put a coin on the lip of the pool between them. It was gold, with a dragon on one face and a king on the other.

“The golden dragon of Westeros,” said the kindly man. “And how did you come by this? We are no thieves.”

“It wasn’t stealing. I took one of his, but I left him one of ours.”

Mel proved to be immune to strangler. We should also remember that both Aegon II and Sunfyre were seriously wounded after this fight. TV show included Mel on Arya’s death list. Can we take this as a hint? There is also the boots of Dareon, which can be used to work a proper glamor. Arya may learn the glamors from Izembaro. Will Arya return to the Wall disguised as Dareon?

Mel’s fall can be similar to LF’s fall. I think as LF is descending from Eyrie (the highest position he obtained), his fall started.

I think burning of Gerrick Kingsblood will be the catalyst of Mel’s fall, similar to burning of Rickard doomed Aerys.

As for the dangerous allies, I wonder how Tyrion will advise Dany about Volantis. As seen below, he noted the danger with the Red Temple. OTOH, he noted the willingness of the Widow of Waterfront.

“The priest is calling on the Volantenes to go to war,” the Halfmaester told him, “but on the side of right, as soldiers of the Lord of Light, R’hllor who made the sun and stars and fights eternally against the darkness. Nyessos and Malaquo have turned away from the light, he says, their hearts darkened by the yellow harpies from the east. He says …”

“Dragons. I understood that word. He said dragons.”

“Aye. The dragons have come to carry her to glory.”

“Her. Daenerys?”

Haldon nodded. “Benerro has sent forth the word from Volantis. Her coming is the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. From smoke and salt was she born to make the world anew. She is Azor Ahai returned … and her triumph over darkness will bring a summer that will never end … death itself will bend its knee, and all those who die fighting in her cause shall be reborn …”

“In Volantis, thousands of slaves and freedmen crowd the temple plaza every night to hear Benerro shriek of bleeding stars and a sword of fire that will cleanse the world. He has been preaching that Volantis will surely burn if the triarchs take up arms against the silver queen.”

Benerro jabbed a finger at the moon, made a fist, spread his hands wide. When his voice rose in a crescendo, flames leapt from his fingers with a sudden whoosh and made the crowd gasp. The priest could trace fiery letters in the air as well. Valyrian glyphs. Tyrion recognized perhaps two in ten; one was Doom, the other Darkness.

Shouts erupted from the crowd. Women were weeping and men were shaking their fists. I have a bad feeling about this. The dwarf was reminded of the day Myrcella sailed for Dorne and the riot that boiled up as they made their way back to the Red Keep.

Haldon Halfmaester had spoken of using the red priest to Young Griff’s advantage, Tyrion recalled. Now that he had seen and heard the man himself, that struck him as a very bad idea. He hoped that Griff had better sense. Some allies are more dangerous than enemies. But Lord Connington will need to puzzle that one out for himself. I am like to be a head on a spike.

The hairs on the back of Tyrion’s neck began to prickle. Prince Aegon will find no friend here. The red priest spoke of ancient prophecy, a prophecy that foretold the coming of a hero to deliver the world from darkness. One hero. Not two. Daenerys has dragons, Aegon does not. The dwarf did not need to be a prophet himself to foresee how Benerro and his followers might react to a second Targaryen. Griff will see that too, surely, he thought, surprised to find how much he cared.

However, I think Dany’s dragonriders and their dragons seem to have similar minds and attitudes. There are some parallels between Victarion-Hugh Hammer and Tyrion-Ulf the White. Ulf’s death scene (poisoned wine) and the scene of Tyrion and Illyrio with the poisoned mushrooms seem related. I think we can have such a scene again. This time, Tyrion may drink the poisoned wine first to kill whoever he is drinking with.

“I have given you my home and heart, do they mean nothing to you? I have given you perfume and pomegranates, tumbling monkeys and spitting snakes, scrolls from lost Valyria, an idol’s head and a serpent’s foot. I have given you this palanquin of ebony and gold, and a matched set of bullocks to bear it, one white as ivory and one black as jet, with horns inlaid with jewels.”

“Yes,” Dany said. “But it was ships and soldiers I wanted.”

“Did I not give you an army, sweetest of women? A thousand knights, each in shining armor.”

The armor had been made of silver and gold, the knights of jade and beryl and onyx and tourmaline, of amber and opal and amethyst, each as tall as her little finger. “A thousand lovely knights,” she said, “but not the sort my enemies need fear. And my bullocks cannot carry me across the water, I—why are we stopping?”

I think Victarion will ride Rhaegal. He was called a bull/bullock several times. Dany needs a bullock with ships and soldiers to carry her back to home.

“I’m not hungry,” Dany said sadly. She was suddenly very tired. “Share the food among yourselves, and send some to Ser Jorah, if you would.” After a moment she added, “Please, bring me one of the dragon’s eggs.”

Irri fetched the egg with the deep green shell, bronze flecks shining amid its scales as she turned it in her small hands. Dany curled up on her side, pulling the sandsilk cloak across her and cradling the egg in the hollow between her swollen belly and small, tender breasts. She liked to hold them. They were so beautiful, and sometimes just being close to them made her feel stronger, braver, as if somehow she were drawing strength from the stone dragons locked inside.

She was lying there, holding the egg, when she felt the child move within her… as if he were reaching out, brother to brother, blood to blood. “You are the dragon,” Dany whispered to him, “the true dragon. I know it. I know it.” And she smiled, and went to sleep dreaming of home.

Dany dreams of home while holding Rhaegal’s egg. Previously, her elder brother Viserys was abusing her and she hit him in the face. Victarion was abused by his elder brother Euron.

I still have a few things to add. I will edit to add them.

[LordToo-Fat-to-Sit-a-Horse]

tze amazing.

[Ser Pollo Loco]

Muddy black dragon = Dany's name being dragged through the mud by the faith/Martell?

Dany also wonders if Daario has fallen in love with a princess of the Lazeereen

Jon is falling in love with "princess" Val, when Jon hears about Dany her delay in Meereen will = the black dragon being presented looking "muddy" to Jon

[Mithras]

Queen Helaena watched her son be murdered in front of her, and Myrcella saw her personal guard Ser Arys being butchered. At the same time she was attacked and disfigured. Queen Helaena's dragon was Dreamfyre, whom she never rode during the Dance. Myrcella used her dragon to beat Trystane bloody in the game of cyvasse. This is not a real dragon riding as well. Queen Helaena "spent her days in darkness". I think Myrcella will cover most of her face to hide her scars and will avoid making public appearance. She will see Tommen being poisoned too. She will guess/learn the twincest. All these will drive her to madness and I think she will throw herself to her death. It is also possible that Dany may be accused from her death just like Rhaenyra.

I think Cersei – Myrcella makes a better parallel with Alicent – Helaena. The whole point of murdering Kevan and Pycelle was to make Cersei queen in charge again.

“There’s a song,” he [Robb] remembered. “‘Jenny of Oldstones, with the flowers in her hair.’”

“We’re all just songs in the end. If we are lucky.” She [Cat] had played at being Jenny that day, had even wound flowers in her hair. And Petyr had pretended to be her Prince of Dragonflies. Catelyn could not have been more than twelve, Petyr just a boy.

Prince Duncan fell in love with a woman known as Jenny of Oldstones and loved her so much he gave up his crown for her and married her against his father's wishes. It was possible that after this he became known as the Prince of Dragonflies.

The Prince of Dragonflies gave up his crown to marry the lowborn girl. I think this time the story is reversed a bit. Petyr (the lowborn man) wants to marry the Princess (Sansa) to take the crown.

The whole dialogue of Robb and Cat was about succession and heirs. Robb wanted to disinherit Sansa because of her husband. Stannis later said he would not suffer the imp perching on Ned’s seat. I think Petyr as a mocking bird desiring to perch on Ned’s seat is the real danger. I think LF wants to be king. This explains most of his actions very neatly.

[Lost Melnibonean]

Bronn snorted. "You have a bold tongue, little man. One day someone is like to cut it out and make you eat it."

"Everyone tells me that." Tyrion glanced up at the sellsword.

Who do you think will cut out Tyrion's tongue?

[Dead Wolf]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that is reaching IMO. Nothing suggests Dany will lose at SE, against Aegon or the Lannisters. How is Euron going to get to SE when is focused on Oldtown? That is a long trek, and he wouldn't be able to take SE by siege or storm. There is also nothing to suggest he practices dark arts.

.

You think the guy trying to conquer Westeros won't eventually get to SE, one of the most valuable castles in Westeros? If Connington thinks he can take it with half the GC, Euron should be able to come up with a plan to do so, but since he is "the storm" he will fail. And I think the fact that he is drinking shade of the evening, most likely having claimed Dragonbinder with Cragorn's blood, and the fact that he gets his name Crow's Eye from his all black eye, stinks of sorcery. If any castles could stand against Dany and her dragons, they are SE and the Eyrie. Her being named Stormborn should be somehow significant or why include it at all?

[Fire Eater]

I [Euron] am the storm, my lord. The first storm, and the last.

The Last Storm was the battle where Argilac the Arrogant, the last Storm King, was killed and his House went extinct. I think this foreshadows Euron, the last Iron King, dying in battle with House Greyjoy going extinct.

Steff and Stany too if they're old enough. We'll see these dragons, and all the wonders of the world.

Davos has this thought when people in the inn are talking about Dany. I think this foreshadows Davos and Stany's namesake, Stannis, bumping into Dany.

You think the guy trying to conquer Westeros won't eventually get to SE, one of the most valuable castles in Westeros? If Connington thinks he can take it with half the GC, Euron should be able to come up with a plan to do so, but since he is "the storm" he will fail. And I think the fact that he is drinking shade of the evening, most likely having claimed Dragonbinder with Cragorn's blood, and the fact that he gets his name Crow's Eye from his all black eye, stinks of sorcery. If any castles could stand against Dany and her dragons, they are SE and the Eyrie. Her being named Stormborn should be somehow significant or why include it at all?

You mean if he gets to SE, which is unlikely IMO. There is Shipbreaker Bay to deal with, and no way in that isn't closed. Connington had an opportunity Euron didn't have with SE being besieged (he attacked the Tyrell force and deceived the defenders into thinking Connington had aided them), and the men holing SE will likely be more wary and not besieged. How does "crows's eye" stink of sorcery? Dany drank shade of the evening as well, but that didn't make her a sorcerer. Victarion is using the dragonhorn as well, and he isn't a sorcerer, likely no more than Tyrion if tries to use it. Aegon I wasn't a sorcerer either.

The Eyrie can't stand against dragons as Visenya proved, and even Argilac knew SE couldn't stand against dragons after what happened at Harrenhal. Dany's name being Sotrmborn fits "child of storm", she creates a storm or chaos wherever she goes.

[ARYa_Nym]

I always thought this was an error but why does Ned make the same error twice?

“You,” Ned said, kissing her lightly on the brow, “will marry a king and rule his castle, and your sons will be knights and princes and lords and, yes, perhaps even a High Septon.”

^There was no king for her to marry.

Arya says no that's Sansa in response to Ned and Sansa was the only one engaged to someone who was going to be king.

Gendry was the closest thing to a man grown, but it was Willow shouting all the orders, as if she were a queen in her castle and the other children were no more than servants. If she were highborn, command would come naturally to her, and deference to them.Brienne wondered whether Willow might be more than she appeared. The girl was too young and too plain to be Sansa Stark, but she was of the right age to be the younger sister, and even Lady Catelyn had said that Arya lacked her sister’s beauty.

Willow who Brienne mistakes for Arya is ruling over Gendry and is likened to a queen but GRRM must be using this loosely. This line might be irrelevant though since she's wrong about the identity kind of like how it's someone else who is married to Lord Ramsay.

Anyways, this is what I was referring to as the second mistake:

“Gods, Catelyn, Sansa is only eleven,” Ned said. “And Joffrey… Joffrey is…”

She finished for him. “crown prince, and heir to the Iron Throne. And I was only twelve when my father promised me to your brother Brandon.”That brought a bitter twist to Ned’s mouth. “Brandon. Yes. Brandon would know what to do. He always did. It was all meant for Brandon. You, Winterfell, everything. He was born to be a King’s Hand and a father to queens. I never asked for this cup to pass to me.”

Why does he say father to queens (plural form) ? This isn't Narnia.

I noticed that the show changed the line to lord which makes more sense and he later tells Sansa:

“Sweet one,” her father said gently, “listen to me. When you’re old enough, I will make you a match with a high lord who’s worthy of you, someone brave and gentle and strong. This match with Joffrey was a terrible mistake.”

She wouldn't be queen then though.

[tf13]

Bronn snorted. "You have a bold tongue, little man. One day someone is like to cut it out and make you eat it."

"Everyone tells me that." Tyrion glanced up at the sellsword.

Who do you think will cut out Tyrion's tongue?

I always thought it was less about Tyrion's tongue being cut out and more about his contraction of greyscale from swallowing the water during the Stone Men portion of his travels. Either way, he'll lose his ability to speak.

[Ghost's Shadow]

Daenerys I, Storm:

“How big will he grow?” Dany asked curiously. “Do you know?”

“In the Seven Kingdoms, there are tales of dragons who grew so huge that they could pluck giant krakens from the seas.”

Dany laughed. “That would be a wondrous sight to see.”

Let's hope Drogon or his brothers can lift Victarion by the time it's needed. Maybe the horn will annoy them and this is the outcome.

*starts to pray*

(Rereading Dany's part of Storm so I can follow with her storyline in Dance.)

[Mithras]

Let's hope Drogon or his brothers can lift Victarion by the time it's needed. Maybe the horn will annoy them and this is the outcome.

*starts to pray*

(Rereading Dany's part of Storm so I can follow with her storyline in Dance.)

“Now as it happened the winter roses had only then come into bloom, and no flower is so rare nor precious. So the Stark sent to his glass gardens and commanded that the most beautiful o’ the winter roses be plucked for the singer’s payment. And so it was done. But when morning come, the singer had vanished… and so had Lord Brandon’s maiden daughter. Her bed they found empty, but for the pale blue rose that Bael had left on the pillow where her head had lain.”

“Be that as it may, what’s certain is that Bael left the child in payment for the rose he’d plucked unasked, and that the boy grew to be the next Lord Stark.”

Sorry to disappoint you :P but given that Bael and the winter rose he plucked ended up as lovers and had a child, I think Victarion will ride a dragon (Rhaegal). I think Dany might even marry her and have a child with him.

“Please, bring me one of the dragon’s eggs.”

Irri fetched the egg with the deep green shell, bronze flecks shining amid its scales as she turned it in her small hands. Dany curled up on her side, pulling the sandsilk cloak across her and cradling the egg in the hollow between her swollen belly and small, tender breasts. She liked to hold them. They were so beautiful, and sometimes just being close to them made her feel stronger, braver, as if somehow she were drawing strength from the stone dragons locked inside.

She was lying there, holding the egg, when she felt the child move within her… as if he were reaching out, brother to brother, blood to blood. “You are the dragon,” Dany whispered to him, “the true dragon. I know it. I know it.” And she smiled, and went to sleep dreaming of home.

How Rhaego reacted to Rhaegal's egg brings me the image of MMD's prophecy being fulfilled and Dany's womb quickening to bear a living child from Rhaegal's rider Victarion.

[Ser Pollo Loco]

My take was a Freudian slip cause he's thinking about Lyanna

[Ser Pollo Loco]

Just cause he rides a dragon doesn't mean he's going to for very long, Boroqo (sp?) says Euron is already or basically about to be on his way, no way Vic out does him