A Thread for Small Questions IV

[DizoakiusMaximus]

Quick one: Ser Endrew Tarth, who Lord Commander Mormont secured as Castle Black's new Master-at-Arms after sending Alliser Thorne to King's Landing to beg Joff for troops: is he a relation of Brienne's?

[Ran]

Yes. Not sure how closely or distantly, however.

[CFdS]

Cersei isn't too bright. She's probably always shocked whenever she realizes that that guy Jaime looks exactly like her.

But wasn't she angry when she had seen his beard because he didn't look like her anymore? That sounds like beards are important to her...

[Hic Sunt Dracones]

She could ask Qyburn if she wants one herself. :smug:

[Rune Targaryen]

Well, similarities are often born out of influences, and anyway the low-magic approach and the narrative angle are definitely influences, since GRRM told us.

Anyway, the bittersweet ending of LOTR is elves and magic leaving the world, Frodo coming back, wounded beyond healing, to the Shire to find he changed and does not belong anymore, and the ultimate conclusion where it's all but said that the age of men is to be an age of mediocrity.

In essence:

I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved, but not for me. It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: some one has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them.

If you don't consider it bittersweet, no problem, but GRRM does.

Yes you are right, especially the magic leaving Middle earth stuff.

I do love JRRT but Frodo was always too gay, and his sadness didn't move me.

[Lady Winter Rose]

Cersei isn't too bright. She's probably always shocked whenever she realizes that that guy Jaime looks exactly like her.

I never truly believed that Cersei and Jaime are looking like almost identical twins do. They are opposite sex, so it is practically impossible to look like i.twins.

[Hic Sunt Dracones]

I never truly believed that Cersei and Jaime are looking like almost identical twins do. They are opposite sex, so it is practically impossible to look like i.twins.

They did when they were children, though. In AFFC Cersei remembers how she had been wearing Jaime's clothes and that even Lord Tywin didn't notice the difference (since he treated her so differently assuming she was a he).

[Mad Monkey]

Okay, it's called poetic license guys. I know Jaime's hair is probably a little bit shorter, and Cersei probably has many secondary sex characteristics that Jaime lacks (and vice-versa).

[Smurph]

Question: Why did Howland Reed send his kids North to swear fealty to Bran instead of going himself? And why did they go alone instead of taking a few armed men with them (they are his heirs after all)? Furthermore, why did he not come when Rob called his banners in the first book?

I think it might be too soon to assume that Howland Reed and Ned Stark were BFFs. I think they may have had a falling out after the events of the Tower of Joy. As far as we know, he didn't lift a finger to help Robb. He was supposed to guard the Neck against the Lannisters, but they never attacked. He was supposed to link up with some of Robb's men and attack Moat Cailin from the North, but that never happened. We don't even know what happened to Robb's men. The fact that his kids showed up without him or any escort, and elected not to return home afterward makes me believe they may have run away from home.

[Lady Winter Rose]

The fact that his kids showed up without him or any escort, and elected not to return home afterward makes me believe they may have run away from home.

Or Lord Howland was fed up with Jojen abnormal prophecy who don't tell clearly what we need to do or what will happen so conclude that Jojen needs lesson, so trow him off his home. Meera decided to go with him (she is big sister after all).

[Rune Targaryen]

Question: Why did Howland Reed send his kids North to swear fealty to Bran instead of going himself? And why did they go alone instead of taking a few armed men with them (they are his heirs after all)? Furthermore, why did he not come when Rob called his banners in the first book?

I think it might be too soon to assume that Howland Reed and Ned Stark were BFFs. I think they may have had a falling out after the events of the Tower of Joy. As far as we know, he didn't lift a finger to help Robb. He was supposed to guard the Neck against the Lannisters, but they never attacked. He was supposed to link up with some of Robb's men and attack Moat Cailin from the North, but that never happened. We don't even know what happened to Robb's men. The fact that his kids showed up without him or any escort, and elected not to return home afterward makes me believe they may have run away from home.

The kids go to winterfell because of the dream of Jojem, and Howland didn't answer the call because he didn't get the call, birds cant find him because his home moves.

And I'm sure that he will help the Starks when it's time.

He sounds like a very mysterious guy, so he will show up when most needed.

[The hairy bear]

We know that Robb called his troops in a hurry and that due to this fact, not all forces available were mustered. The Reeds are ones the Northern vassals who live more isolated, so it's understanable why they did not join Robb.

Besides, in Feast it is reported that the crannogmen are attacking the ironmen stationed at Moat Catelin.

[Ecclesiastes]

Why did Bran and the Reed's allow Osha to take Rickon?

It seems totally unbeleivable that they would let a little boy go off with someone who they only recently met, who had tried to kill Bran and had lived her life as a wilder. Letting Rickon go with with Osha alone seems like a formula for totally losing Rickon forever. I know they were told they should seperate the children for the safety of the Stark line but the way they did so seemed totally reckless.

[Ran]

Osha had shown her courage and loyalty at Winterfell, having risked her life to protect the boys when Theon took over the castle. She's been at Winterfell for months at this point, and had earned the trust of Maester Luwin and Ser Rodrik as well.

[Rune Targaryen]

And she have the opportunity to betray the Starks then and didn't took.

I believe that she starts t like been in winterfell and the little masters.

[Mad Monkey]

Plus, it's not like they had a large gallery of guardians to choose from. It was either Osha, Maester Luwin himself, or Count Olaf.

[KyleLitke]

Why did Bran and the Reed's allow Osha to take Rickon?

It seems totally unbeleivable that they would let a little boy go off with someone who they only recently met, who had tried to kill Bran and had lived her life as a wilder. Letting Rickon go with with Osha alone seems like a formula for totally losing Rickon forever. I know they were told they should seperate the children for the safety of the Stark line but the way they did so seemed totally reckless.

Well, #1 she had somewhat proven herself. But #2, they were extremely low on choices at that point. Rickon couldn't go on his own, so if you accept they should be seperated, well...it kind of had to be her.

[Hic Sunt Dracones]

Q: Did Ned take baby Jon to King's Landing on his way to Winterfell? We know he went to attend Robert's coronation before returning to Winterfell. I guess he didn't return to the south after that to collect a baby and then all the way north again.

If he did take the boy to King's Landing, Jon might have been right under Robert's nose?

[Lady Blackfish]

I'm not even sure we know that Jon arrived at Winterfell with Ned in the first place.

[Mad Monkey]

I know this isn't what you meant at all, Lady Blackfish, but your last comment made me visualize the baby Jon Snow hitchhiking his way from Dorne to Winterfell, earning his daily bread by working as a travelling badass-for-hire, like the A-Team for infants.