Foreshadowing in ADWD: Others may skip Eastwatch?

[Sandy Clegg]

Some thoughts on the Selhorys chapter in ADWD (Tyrion VI). Selhorys lies at a fairly vulnerable Eastern position on the Rhone. It is not a very valued prize for an attacking Dothraki army, however, according to Tyrion. He also thinks that if he were a Khal he would skip the town and go for a more valuable target: Volantis:

Quote

 "... We passed warships as well, Volantene river galleys crammed with slave soldiers. The triarchs fear an attack upon Selhorys, plainly.”

Tyrion understood that quick enough. Alone amongst the major river towns, Selhorys stood upon the eastern bank of the Rhoyne, making it much more vulnerable to the horselords than its sister towns across the river. Even so, it is a small prize. If I were khal, I would feint at Selhorys, let the Volantenes rush to defend it, then swing south and ride hard for Volantis itself.

I'm just wondering whether George is using the layout of the geography here to lay some foreshadowing of the prospective attack by the Others. Hardhome looks to be their next target, judging by the reports of 'dead things in the water'. Or, perhaps, Eastwatch-by-the-Sea itself. Both lie on the east coast of Westeros, as Selhorys lies on the east bank of the Rhoyne.

Could Tyrion's tactical musing actually be George hinting to us of the shape of the battles to come in TWOW? Will the Others also 'feint', rounding the east completely and somehow heading straight for a larger city? Can they move underwater? It would be a big twist to see events speed up south of the Wall.

[Craving Peaches]

I think it's more likely foreshadowing for Daenerys taking Volantis, if anything.

[LongRider]

If the Wall falls/fails with the mutiny, which may or may not kill Jon Snow, then the Others may not need to go to Eastwatch.  Somewhere, GRRM has said the Others can ride the winds.  If Wall falls and the magic wards fall, and if there are magic wards across the top of the Wall to prevent the Others from coming over on the wind, these wards may be broken.   Also, the wards that secure the Black Gate may fail and the Others may slip through there.  

There may be many ways for the Others to cross the Wall.

[Maegor_the_Cool]

58 minutes ago, LongRider said:

If the Wall falls/fails with the mutiny, which may or may not kill Jon Snow, then the Others may not need to go to Eastwatch.  Somewhere, GRRM has said the Others can ride the winds.  If Wall falls and the magic wards fall, and if there are magic wards across the top of the Wall to prevent the Others from coming over on the wind, these wards may be broken.   Also, the wards that secure the Black Gate may fail and the Others may slip through there.  

There may be many ways for the Others to cross the Wall.

Haven’t you read the Stark anti’s?

Jon intentionally let himself die so he could join the Others, he plans on making himself their leader and leading them through the tunnels to the other side of the Wall