Are they dead?

[Ser Spidey]

Sandor - Alive, probably gravedigger

Yeah, pretty certain.

However, I'd hate if Sandor became yet another religious fool, like Lancel.

And being a gravedigger, he has no future. It's just not him, not his fate. His purpose is to kick ass and chew bubble gum, to be cool.

[Dimadick]

Ashara's death seem so contrived. There is something missing in her death. Yeah, Arthur Dayne died, but it was her brother. As much as she migth have loved her brother, I doubt it should push her over the edge to commit suicide.

Actually what is missing is any particular motivation for her suicide. Unless Jaime Lannister was not the only Kingsguard member of his time carrying an affair with his sister, that "broken heart" story sounds out of place.

She lost a loved one in Robert's Rebellion. Well, so did the majority of the population of Westeros and they still lived to tell the tale.

The Danes were on the defeated side of the war along with their overlords the Martells and the Tyrells. Yet other than a loss of influence at court neither house suffered particularly dire repercussions throughtout the reign of Robert I. So she can't have despared over her fate under the new regime and chosen death ther than facing it.

I can not really imagine her desparing over Eddard Stark leaving her to marry another woman. The two of them had met during the Great Harrenhal tourney and flirted a bit. Then for all we know they returned to Dorne and the Vale respectively. Only meeting again in the closing days of the Rebellion. Pining over a shy wolf for a couple of years? Why?

Either we are missing some key information to understand her motives or we do not have a suicide but a fabricated tale. Covering murder perhaps.

[Dimadick]

Benjen - Alive. He was not in Theon's dream of all the dead or soon to be dead Starks

Tyrek - No idea.

Even if Benjen was present in the feast of the dead, would he have really stood out to Theon? Benjen Stark was the one member of the House who Theon was probably the least familiar with. Only visiting from time to time.

Tyrek vanished while the royal escort of Joffrey was attacked by a mob from all sides. Preston Greenfield was a trained fighter and still did not survive. What chance did a cub like Tyrek really have?

[Dimadick]

No one mentioned Marillion?

I think he might not be dead. His skycell was empty, but that doesn't automatically mean he's dead or has jumped or fallen.

He had outlived his usefulness to Petyr Baelish. Which seems to be the only reason to kill that Petyr ever needs.

[Jon Targaryen]

The Marilliion we saw in AFFC may not be the real Marillion but the real Marillion is almost certainly dead. Why keep him alive, from LF's perspective?

[Zoë Sumra]

Even if Benjen was present in the feast of the dead, would he have really stood out to Theon? Benjen Stark was the one member of the House who Theon was probably the least familiar with. Only visiting from time to time.

Tyrek vanished while the royal escort of Joffrey was attacked by a mob from all sides. Preston Greenfield was a trained fighter and still did not survive. What chance did a cub like Tyrek really have?

On your first point, Theon worked out the identities of some of the people he saw at the feast of the dead who he'd never seen before, e.g. Lyanna. He had actually met Benjen; I feel he would have mentioned him if he'd been there - though the fact that he wasn't there doesn't necessarily say anything one way or the other about whether he's dead or alive.

I maintain that LF started the King's Landing riot (via the Kettleblacks) and nabbed Tyrek partway through, possibly "for his own safety", as a hidden card for the future - on the grounds that a tame lion is always useful, at least until it claws you. This is just a crack theory that I feel will be proven true or false in a future book; its main relevance is in connection with the LF-planned-everything-from-the-Rebellion-to-the-current-war theory.

[Jon Targaryen]

Even if Benjen was present in the feast of the dead, would he have really stood out to Theon? Benjen Stark was the one member of the House who Theon was probably the least familiar with. Only visiting from time to time.

Theon would have noticed him. They walked together to the feast when Robert visited Winterfell. He was not in the dream. Hence, not dead.

[Leofric]

Actually what is missing is any particular motivation for her suicide. Unless Jaime Lannister was not the only Kingsguard member of his time carrying an affair with his sister, that "broken heart" story sounds out of place.

She lost a loved one in Robert's Rebellion. Well, so did the majority of the population of Westeros and they still lived to tell the tale.

The Danes were on the defeated side of the war along with their overlords the Martells and the Tyrells. Yet other than a loss of influence at court neither house suffered particularly dire repercussions throughtout the reign of Robert I. So she can't have despared over her fate under the new regime and chosen death ther than facing it.

I can not really imagine her desparing over Eddard Stark leaving her to marry another woman. The two of them had met during the Great Harrenhal tourney and flirted a bit. Then for all we know they returned to Dorne and the Vale respectively. Only meeting again in the closing days of the Rebellion. Pining over a shy wolf for a couple of years? Why?

Either we are missing some key information to understand her motives or we do not have a suicide but a fabricated tale. Covering murder perhaps.

Assuming Ned and Ashara did fall in love in Harrenhal, and corresponded since, and possibly had hopes or even plans of having a future together, then Ned showing up at her door step after the Tower of Joy would have dealt 3 pretty nasty blows to Ashara.

First, obviously, Ned shows up, hands her Dawn and says "Sorry, I had to kill your brother"

Second, Ned tells her that he 's has married another woman because his family honor required him to marry his dead brother's fiancee, so they can't be together.

Finally, Ned shows up carrying a baby, says it's his bastard son by a third mystery woman and asks if she has a wet nurse he can borrow.

So the man she loved, killed her brother, married another woman and got her pregnant, and cheated on both Ashara and his new wife with a third woman and had a baby with her. Getting all that news at once makes for one very bad day.

[Arianne]

I really hope Davos is alive. I like him, but that's not the reason.

I hope he is alive, because Martin obviosly neds to kill some povs. And I really wish he would dare to kill someone of the main characters and someone more important than Davos, and really shock and surprise us, like he always does.

[Sweetmartin]

its no matter if the character(s) is/are dead,they will live forever,in the books.

i think we readers are more important as the characters in the book.

Hope we all are alive to dicuss about the end(if is will be released ever)

[Bellis]

Assuming Ned and Ashara did fall in love in Harrenhal, and corresponded since, and possibly had hopes or even plans of having a future together, then Ned showing up at her door step after the Tower of Joy would have dealt 3 pretty nasty blows to Ashara.

First, obviously, Ned shows up, hands her Dawn and says "Sorry, I had to kill your brother"

Second, Ned tells her that he 's has married another woman because his family honor required him to marry his dead brother's fiancee, so they can't be together.

Finally, Ned shows up carrying a baby, says it's his bastard son by a third mystery woman and asks if she has a wet nurse he can borrow.

So the man she loved, killed her brother, married another woman and got her pregnant, and cheated on both Ashara and his new wife with a third woman and had a baby with her. Getting all that news at once makes for one very bad day.

Maybe. But I'm willing to bet that Ned told her the truth.

And knowing Ned, it wasn't that he had a third woman on the side*.

I just don't see driving Ashara to her death one of those little lies that Ned had to tell to keep his secret. I think there's more to this mystery than that, though I'm not sure what it is.

*Ned /= philanderer is independent of R+L=J

[Skyrazer]

Maybe. But I'm willing to bet that Ned told her the truth.

And knowing Ned, it wasn't that he had a third woman on the side*.

I'm willing to bet he would lie to Ashara to be certain the secret stays secret. Ned didn't tell Caitlyn or any of his kids or even Jon himself of his parentage, why would he tell Ashara?

[Mezeh]

Her love to Ned Stark could be a sufficient motive for her suicide but the problem here is that we don’t know if they really were in love with each other. Their affair is only a rumor he heard from two unreliable sources ( servants in Winterfell and Sersei). We know only about two meeting between Ned and Ashara. First Ned danced with her in Harenhall and second he went to Starfall to return his brother sword. Clearly not enough.

Now if they were not in love then we lack motive for her suicide and her body never was found. We also know of another character who faked his death intentionally. Ashara was close to princess Elia and to her brother so she may be aware of some secrets. This could provide possible motivation for her disappearance. So we could not be sure that she is really dead she may be alive as well.

[UNIT81]

it's been a while since a re-read for me....can someone fill me in on connington? it rings a bell but thats about it.

[Ser Spidey]

it's been a while since a re-read for me....can someone fill me in on connington? it rings a bell but thats about it.

Aerys' hand, but fired and expelled after his defeat in the battle of bells. went to free cities and it is said he drank his way to the grave.

However, if alive, he could have some useful info... not sure about what, though.

[Jon Targaryen]

I think Davos will die in the next book because the purpose of his creation has been served and is done. He was invented by GRRM to give us a look at Stannis. Jon and

SPOILER: ADWD

Asha and maybe Theon

will now give us that look. Davos is now treating with various northern lords and not viewing Stannis. I think he will die, but I hope he doesn't go out getting his head and hands chopped off by Lord Manderly. I would be disappointed in Lord Manderly.

[Mezeh]

it's been a while since a re-read for me....can someone fill me in on connington? it rings a bell but thats about it.

Connington mentioned several times in different books by different characters including Miera Reed story to Bran about Harenhall tourney.

By Selmy’s words he was “dear friend†of prince Rhaegar. Selmy also calls him a known knight. During the War or Usurper after lord Merryweather failed to contain rebellion Aerys appointed Connington for his Hand. Jaime calls this the best thing Aerys could do in Rhaegar’s absence.

Connington apparently gave rebels hard times and nearly defeated and captured Robert but finally was defeated in the Battle of Bells though he killed Jon Arryn heir and badly wounded Hoster Tally in the process. He managed to retreat from defeat but unsatisfied Aerys stripped Connington of all his lands and titles and sent him into exile to Free Cities where Connington supposedly drunk himself to death within one year.

O yes Jaime sees exiling of Connington as another mad action of Mad King.

So we have a portrait of Connington. Close friend of Rhaegar and the only one who is not certainly dead. Able fighter and able general who was clearly unfairly disgraced by Aerys. GRRM mentioned that Connington’s friendship to Rhaegar was the reason that Robert didn’t pardoned him like lord Merryweather and left him in exile.

The rest is from spoilers.

[Mezeh]

However, if alive, he could have some useful info... not sure about what, though.

IMO this is clear. Selmy mentioned all who was close to Rhaegar and all of them but Connington are surely long time dead. We know that Rhaegar communicated with maester Aemon but he is also dead by now. And Selmy himself never was too close to Rhaegar. So Connington is a prime candidate to reveal to us Rhaegar’s secrets. What exactly secrets he knows? We should read the book but I bet that some of them connected to “three dragon headsâ€.

[Jon Targaryen]

it's been a while since a re-read for me....can someone fill me in on connington? it rings a bell but thats about it.

This SSM talks about Connington. Note: When GRRM says "details are made clear in AFFC" this mail was sent before the split. So it is probably Barristan that relays this information to Dany.

SPOILER: ADWD

Or perhaps Illyrio to Tyrion.

[Mezeh]

He was invented by GRRM to give us a look at Stannis.

I'm pretty sure that Davos will survive Stannis.