[TWOW Spoilers] March 2014 Chapter Part III

[The Weirwoods Eyes]

Arya having a Key may mean she can go cast a vote? Maybe the FM want to influence who becomes the next sea lord? do Key Holders vote on that perhaps?

Was her Mission alongside just learning Mummery the art of disguise and acting. To steal a Key holders Key, is she supposed to leave the Gate tonight anyway (the and murder, no one but Mercy mentions murder) Seeing raff on her last night at the Gate was a gift... The disappearance of a Lannister Guard will cause trouble for the envoy and the sealord it is said, sorry not Izembaro. Trouble for the Envoy as he will be thinking wtf? where did Raff go I doubt Cersei gives two shits about some random (to her) former bloody Mummer. So why would Harys be hugely concerned about it? The Sealord, how? does she think the envoy might kick up a fuss? I don't think anyone will think much of it tbh. He went off with a girl she's missing her room full of blood, his colegue knows he was a bloody Mummer its hardly a stretch for the Lannister crew to assume Raff killed the girl panicked he might get arrested and ran.

[ARYa_Nym]

I think Arya will never truly become 'No One' but she has learned much from the FM and has gained many of their skills. I think also the Alchemist taking Pate's appearance in Oldtown shows us that FM can take the face of anyone they want and are not reliant on the gallery of faces in the HoBaW.. This means to me, if Arya leaves the FM she can still use this ability wherever she goes possibly.

I think she was given a face like the ugly girl. It's supposed to take years to learn what the FM do. Glamor comes next after mummer and then after that the FM art.

“Mummers change their faces with (1) artifice . . . and sorcerers use (2) glamors, weaving light and shadow and desire to make illusions that trick the eye. These arts you shall learn, but what we do goes deeper. Wise men can see through artifice, and glamors dissolve before sharp eyes, (3) but the face you are to don will be as true and solid as that face you were born with” (842-843).

[The Lord of the Waters]

Arya having a Key may mean she can go cast a vote? Maybe the FM want to influence who becomes the next sea lord? do Key Holders vote on that perhaps?

Was her Mission alongside just learning Mummery the art of disguise and acting. To steal a Key holders Key, is she supposed to leave the Gate tonight anyway (the and murder, no one but Mercy mentions murder) Seeing raff on her last night at the Gate was a gift... The disappearance of a Lannister Guard will cause trouble for the envoy and the sealord it is said, sorry not Izembaro. Trouble for the Envoy as he will be thinking wtf? where did Raff go I doubt Cersei gives two shits about some random (to her) former bloody Mummer. So why would Harys be hugely concerned about it? The Sealord, how? does she think the envoy might kick up a fuss? I don't think anyone will think much of it tbh. He went off with a girl she's missing her room full of blood, his colegue knows he was a bloody Mummer its hardly a stretch for the Lannister crew to assume Raff killed the girl panicked he might get arrested and ran.

Yes, I think She was going to throw him in the canal, no doubt it would be a while before he was found (if ever).

I think also it wouldn't cause too much trouble.. the other guards know he went off with a "whore", if he was murdered and then robbed by her, then more fool him. The only trouble would be that the guard of an envoy was killed in the city which might cause some tension between the Sealord and the envoy; But with the story as said above I doubt it will go anywhere far.

I am still not sure about the key Arya has, whether or not it is 'A Key' alike the ones the Keyholders have, or whether it is a substitute or replica, for switching. I also don't know if the keys are actual keys for actual locks, or if they are just a status symbol. I don't know whether this key has anything to do with 'the next sealord' because the phrase in the chapter about "the knives coming out" seems to imply that it is basically and fight for the right to be Sealord amongst supporters of would-be candidates, thats assuming the 'knives coming out' is literal.

[The Lord of the Waters]

I think she was given a face like the ugly girl. It's supposed to take years to learn what the FM do. Glamor comes next after mummer and then after that the FM art.

Yes, this makes sense. I don't think she has learned the art yet, but I think once she does it means she can leave the FM/HoBaW and still use these skills she learns.

I wonder, do you think to master the art of the FM, She HAS TO become "No One" to lose her identity as Arya Stark, completely and forever?

[ShadowCat Rivers]

I like the connection between the names of the characters, and Arya's storyline is linked to the concept of revenge.

Do you think that Arya will devise an elaborate revenge plan like Monte Cristo did?

Hmm, still not clear where the story will take her (or how many of her enemies will still be standing), but she has this quote in the "Blind Girl" chapter:

That is the night wolf’s prayer. Someday she will find them, hunt them, smell their fear, taste their blood. Someday.

This kill was a lot like this. She didn't find him, that was chance, but she did hunt him and smelled his fear before a very bloody kill.

Trouble for the Envoy as he will be thinking wtf? where did Raff go I doubt Cersei gives two shits about some random (to her) former bloody Mummer. So why would Harys be hugely concerned about it? The Sealord, how? does she think the envoy might kick up a fuss? I don't think anyone will think much of it tbh. He went off with a girl she's missing her room full of blood, his colegue knows he was a bloody Mummer its hardly a stretch for the Lannister crew to assume Raff killed the girl panicked he might get arrested and ran.

It's certainly a faux pas to murder a native when you're in a foreign country as a member (even as low as Raff) of a formal diplomatic mission (or vice-versa). I believe it will cause some quite serious trouble.

[ARYa_Nym]

I wonder, do you think to master the art of the FM, She HAS TO become "No One" to lose her identity as Arya Stark, completely and forever?

This is the last step according to the KM:

“Before you drink from the cold cup, you must offer up all you are to Him of Many Faces. Your body. Your soul. Yourself. If you cannot bring yourself to do that, you must leave this place.”

[The Lord of the Waters]

Hmm, still not clear where the story will take her (or how many of her enemies will still be standing), but she has this quote in the "Blind Girl" chapter:

That is the night wolf’s prayer. Someday she will find them, hunt them, smell their fear, taste their blood. Someday.

This kill was a lot like this. She didn't find him, that was chance, but she did hunt him and smelled his fear before a very bloody kill.

It's certainly a faux pas to murder a native when you're in a foreign country as a member (even as low as Raff) of a formal diplomatic mission (or vice-versa). I believe it will cause some quite serious trouble.

Do you think Arya will discover her warging skill into Nymeria and possibly even use the wolf to kill some people from her list?

You make a good point about the diplomacy thing, but I don't know because the guard was apparently killed by some random whore/killed a random whore, depending on what is discovered. If the Envoy thinks his guard has been murdered, what will he do about it?

And if the Sealord thinks one of the Envoy's guards murdered a whore, will he really make a big fuss about that?

[Ser Greg of House House]

The older guard saw Raff leace with Mercy and she was claiming to be under Izembaro orders. Lannisters may be fooled, but the FM will know what happened. It will be trouble for Arya. I think she's leaving.

[Lady Fevre Dream]

I've just read this comment by Martin on the last post about Mercy on his blog:

Is it tongue-in-cheek? He first compares an unfinished book with two published ones but then qualifies what he said by pointing out "it is not done yet". A man can dream...

Or is he just saying he's not even close to finishing? :bawl:

ODL, I hope it's just that he's a troll of the first order.

[The Weirwoods Eyes]

hmm, I think the level of chaos going on at KL will prevent anyone being too concerned with Raff's whereabouts. In times of peace I totally see it causing a stir, but the IT is wobbling and who even knows how long Cersei can hang on to power. It seems to me that one insignificant guard, known for his bloodthirsty escapades with the notorious bloody mummers, disappearing after taking a lowborn girl of questionable age for a quicky won't warrant deep investigation. especially given said girls room is covered in blood and she too is gone.

[The Lord of the Waters]

This is the last step according to the KM:

“Before you drink from the cold cup, you must offer up all you are to Him of Many Faces. Your body. Your soul. Yourself. If you cannot bring yourself to do that, you must leave this place.”

Is that not about the drink from the fountain that causes you to die when you drink it? That people come to the temple (HoBaW) to receive the 'gift' and die in the HoBaW. Do you think Arya has to drink it and die before she can truly become a FM? Are they dead then?

Have I missed something about this?

[The Weirwoods Eyes]

I looked up the bravos wiki, it says Officials of bravos called Keyholders & justiciars... make of that what you will. I think The sealord definitely the ruler though. so if he rules do the key holders deal with day to day officaldom? Justiciars sounds an awefull lot like Judges to me. Justice and all. you know.

[boojam]

Can not tell if this is a whole chapter or part of one.

It's the best excerpt from Winter I have read.

Some weird things here.

Just how much time has elapsed since we last saw Arya?... she seems , one, two, three years older?

That's ok with me.

She is more 'worldly' than the last time we had her story.

There seem to have been some preceding Arya chapters in Winter before this narrative.

From the mentions, I have no clue as to who they are speaking of back in Westeros.

Between the lines, seems KL would like to know were Tyrion went , but have no idea.

A puzzle, could not figure out the mention of the name Clegane and what that means.

This killing of Raff seems redundant since even in the books she has killed Polliver and recovered Needle. It seems a matter of revenge which is ok, but below her current status.

Is she full blown FM now, or is this more training, or she has flown the FM coop, I don't think so.

Seems we are going to spend more time with Arya in Braavos than I expected.

I don't think this sequence will be on the show as written.

[McCloskey]

Not bad. I think the chapter taking place after a five year gap as originally intended would have worked better. It seemed to me that Arya had gone from novice to master assasain far to quickly. The way everything worked out, Raff just happening to be the guard, felt a little too convenient as well.

And now the chapter naming changes have officially become a pet peeve of mine. I really wish GRRM would just stick with the character's actual names instead of changing them for each "persona" they undergo. It doesn't add anything to the experience and it seems overused now. Its not like we don't know who Arya is!

[ARYa_Nym]

“Before you drink from the cold cup, you must offer up all you are to Him of Many Faces. Your body. Your soul. Yourself. If you cannot bring yourself to do that, you must leave this place.”

Is that not about the drink from the fountain that causes you to die when you drink it? That people come to the temple (HoBaW) to receive the 'gift' and die in the HoBaW. Do you think Arya has to drink it and die before she can truly become a FM? Are they dead then?

Have I missed something about this?

That's the black pool. This was in a separate discussion when they were talking about paying the price. I don't think they're literally dead.

[Cas Stark]

Not bad. I think the chapter taking place after a five year gap as originally intended would have worked better. It seemed to me that Arya had gone from novice to master assasain far to quickly. The way everything worked out, Raff just happening to be the guard, felt a little too convenient as well.

And now the chapter naming changes have officially become a pet peeve of mine. I really wish GRRM would just stick with the character's actual names instead of changing them for each "persona" they undergo. It doesn't add anything to the experience and it seems overused now. Its not like we don't know who Arya is!

Count me in for that, another writer's tick that his editors should have talked him out of. It's not a big deal but one of several not that great trends.

I liked that the chapter was short, but it was a little abrupt

[Lady Fevre Dream]

I looked up the bravos wiki, it says Officials of bravos called Keyholders & justiciars... make of that what you will. I think The sealord definitely the ruler though. so if he rules do the key holders deal with day to day officaldom? Justiciars sounds an awefull lot like Judges to me. Justice and all. you know.

I wonder if the Keyholders are the same as the Masters of this and that in the Seven Kingdoms? Whispers, Justice, Ships, etc.? Maybe Braavosi just names them Keyholders, although......we had Cersei say that her official titles came from the Free Cities, so maybe not? Yup, might have talked myself out of that, although, it could be other Free Cities that Cersei meant. And, I'm trusting Cersei to KNOW what she's talking about, that's a bit crazy.

ETA: I'm so tired I can't think what title change Cersei instituted.

[ShadowCat Rivers]

Do you think Arya will discover her warging skill into Nymeria and possibly even use the wolf to kill some people from her list?

The significant change in this kill is that she now cares that they know why exactly they are killed for. She could have killed Raff quickly and unnoticed, but she took great risks in making sure that he knew it was for Lommy. With that in mind, the Freys are the only ones that would make sense to kill as Nymeria IMO.

You make a good point about the diplomacy thing, but I don't know because the guard was apparently killed by some random whore/killed a random whore, depending on what is discovered. If the Envoy thinks his guard has been murdered, what will he do about it?

And if the Sealord thinks one of the Envoy's guards murdered a whore, will he really make a big fuss about that?

Have you read the Sworn Sword (Dunc & Egg story)? There, it is explained why such things are important ("the pissing contest"). Whore or no, she's a 'citizen' of Braavos. The Westerosi come to ask for a loan, and start killing the locals? They can't let it go just like that, I'd think.

Also, the Sealord is dying and soon there will be elections (unless it has already happened off screen?). Such events can be used in the 'game', to affect the public image of the rival candidates.

[Chebyshov]

"Bravos dress in flambouyant colors, contrary to wealthy Braavosi, who "dressed in charcoal grey and purple, blues that were almost black and blacks as dark as a moonless night".Officials of Braavos, called keyholders and justiciars, wear drab coats of brown and grey."

(Taken from the Wiki). This is from the Cat of the Canals chapter in AFFC.

[DrunkSister]

Two actors (or actresses?) are claiming that the constant mention of 'her rape' by Mercy is actually an accurate portrayal of theatre culture.

Thought you might want to know.

The significant change in this kill is that she now cares that they know why exactly they are killed for. She could have killed Raff quickly and unnoticed, but she took great risks in making sure that he knew it was for Lommy. With that in mind, the Freys are the only ones that would make sense to kill as Nymeria IMO.

Have you read the Sworn Sword (Dunc & Egg story)? There, it is explained why such things are important ("the pissing contest"). Whore or no, she's a 'citizen' of Braavos. The Westerosi come to ask for a loan, and start killing the locals? They can't let it go just like that, I'd think.

Also, the Sealord is dying and soon there will be elections (unless it has already happened off screen?). Such events can be used in the 'game', to affect the public image of the rival candidates.

Which might tie in to the whole 'gods have given me a gift' if FM have instructed No-one to make trouble and if Mercy dying that night is part of it.

IMO GRRM has written it so that we can't really know for sure if Arya is going off script (apart from killing out of self interest, that is).