A Thread for Small Questions for ADWD III

[Lady Octarina]

Why was Benjen Stark so familiar with Jon Snow when they meet at the beginning of A Game of Thrones? Surely they haven't met that often as Benjen isn't meant to have family.

He isn't meant to get married and have children, but he certainly visited Winterfell once in a while, since it's so close to the Wall and the LC at the time, Mormont, wouldn't have stopped him. Also, we don't know when Benjen joined the Watch, do we? So he might have had a few years to "bond" with Jon when the latter was a kid.

[Northern]

Why was Benjen Stark so familiar with Jon Snow when they meet at the beginning of A Game of Thrones? Surely they haven't met that often as Benjen isn't meant to have family.

I would imagine that Benjen, besides sons of Moletown, has the closest living relatives of any NW members. Add in that Benjen’s relatives are the most powerful family in the north & the biggest supporters of the NW of all the lords of the Seven Kingdoms and it’s no wonder that Benjen has such close contact with his brother & his family. From early in GOT, it’s obvious that Ned & Benjen are still close when Ned states to Cat that “Ben writes that the strength of the Night’s Watch is down below a thousand. It’s not only desertions. They are losing men on rangings as well.” In that same conversation when it comes to the news that King Robert is riding north to Winterfell, Cat even says that “We should send word to your brother on the Wall.”, to which Ned replies that “Yes, of course…Ben will want to be here. I shall tell Maester Luwin to send his swiftest bird.” All of that supports that Ned and his brother are still close even though Benjen is a member of the NW, that they have frequent direct communications.

I think it would work to the Lord Commander’s benefit to use Benjen as a go between for the NW & Winterfell too, increasing the contact Benjen would have with Ned’s family over the years. Even as a point of recruiting new members by visiting various northern locals, Benjen as Stark would be a very good representative to send out....much better than all the criminals from the south ;)

In ASOS, Mance tells of going to Winterfell while a member of the NW as an escort of then Lord Commander Qorgyle and meeting Jon Snow for the first time. For all we know, Benjen could have been part of the dozen NW members that made up Qorgyle's guard. At least it shows there is precedence for members of the NW to visit Winterfell.

[Walder_Frey]

Haven't read all the posts on the preceding 15 pages, so hope this hasn't already been asked, but has anyone picked up any clues as to what will happen to Sam, and his future involvement in the story. Seems we got a glimpse of him at the Citadel, but were pretty much left in the dark beyond that. I especially wonder about this since he is the only one who really knows about Bran going beyond the wall. Has anyone picked up clues as to whether or not they will intersect at some point in the future?

The thoughts I've had on Sam's future:

-He'll have to confront his father, one way or another. Maybe it's to drop off Mance's child (under the auspices of the child being Sam's bastard), or maybe it's to pick up the Valyrian Steel blade from his family, to help fight off the Others.

-Sam will die being a courageous man

-Sam is going to learn something at The Citadel that will allow him to restore Jon Snow in his body.

[Walder_Frey]

Double post, sorry.

But here's a question of my own: Does Crow's Eye just have a dead eye, or does he actually have a blackened eyeball that is still functional?

Sometimes it seems like his covered up eye is magical, but still able to serve some utility, other times, it just seems like it's a diseased vestigal organ.

[Rune Targaryen]

Double post, sorry.

But here's a question of my own: Does Crow's Eye just have a dead eye, or does he actually have a blackened eyeball that is still functional?

Sometimes it seems like his covered up eye is magical, but still able to serve some utility, other times, it just seems like it's a diseased vestigal organ.

In the sample chapter of TWOW, Theon says that he have a black eye, for my understanding is a functional one.

[Ghost714]

I have a question.

In ACoK, during one of Catelyn's POV chapters, Rivers is telling Cat and her honor guard(after coming back from treating with Renely) about the victories that Robb had beating Ser Stafford Lannister. Rivers then goes on to talk about how the Greatjon has seized the gold mines at Castamore, Nunsdeep, and Pendric Hills(please excuse the spelling of those places)

Anyway my question is, what happened to all that gold stolen from Lannister mines???

[Lady Octarina]

I have a question.

In ACoK, during one of Catelyn's POV chapters, Rivers is telling Cat and her honor guard(after coming back from treating with Renely) about the victories that Robb had beating Ser Stafford Lannister. Rivers then goes on to talk about how the Greatjon has seized the gold mines at Castamore, Nunsdeep, and Pendric Hills(please excuse the spelling of those places)

Anyway my question is, what happened to all that gold stolen from Lannister mines???

Well, they certainly didn't use it to get mercenaries in the war. I don't think they had the time or means to get all that gold, but, if Robb was smart, he would have sent it with Maege Mormont and his other bannerman to Greywater Watch.

[Ghost714]

Well, they certainly didn't use it to get mercenaries in the war. I don't think they had the time or means to get all that gold, but, if Robb was smart, he would have sent it with Maege Mormont and his other bannerman to Greywater Watch.

Well Robb was smart enough to have the Greatjon take the gold mines(something the Lannisters probably guard well), and Robb's plan was smart enough to work. So surely they did something with the mines. Im not saying they mined out every nugget of gold or anything, but atleast some of it. Also I dont think it matters if they had the means to mine the gold, because the mines probably already had workers and equipment. The Greatjon could have forced them to keep working, then after Robb and everyone was done doing there part of the battle, the Greatjon takes as much gold as he can, and they regroup. I imagine the gold could have been sent to Greywater Watch like you said, or maybe White harbor?

I hope it wasn't sent to Winterfell, or left at Riverrun. Ha ha that would be awesome if the Blackfish escaped with a sack of gold.(despite the gold making his swimming escape that much harder....that would prove how bad ass Blackfish is lol)

[Ghost714]

Do you guys believe that it was Roose Bolton who killed Robb, after saying "Jaime Lannister Sends his regards". I ask because a lot of people seem to think so, but I do not.

I believe it was Steelshanks Walton, and I will tell you why.

Steelshanks was incharge of taking Jaime Kinglanding, from Harrenhall. When Steelshanks leaves Kinglanding, Jaime says "give Robb Stark my regards". So it makes sense that Steelshanks would say this as he is killing Robb. I think it makes more sense if it was Steelshanks, unless you believe Steelshanks told Roose what Jaime said, and Roose said it to Robb. I personally believe that saying something like that would be completely out of character for Roose Bolton. Roose Bolton would have said something pertaining to the Boltons, if he said anything at all. Why would Roose want them to hear Jaime's regards, that kind of makes it seem like it was Jaime's plan and doing(thus Lady Stoneheart blaming Jaime after she is resurrected). I just feel that it would be out of character for Roose, and had it been him there he wouldn't have said something that imply's credit to someone else. Again if Roose would say anything at all. I don't think it would have been that, what do you guys think?

[The Dornishman's Wife]

When Steelshanks leaves Kinglanding, Jaime says "give Robb Stark my regards". So it makes sense that Steelshanks would say this as he is killing Robb. I think it makes more sense if it was Steelshanks, unless you believe Steelshanks told Roose what Jaime said.

I don't have ASoS with me at the moment, so I can't look it up myself, but are you really sure that Jaime says that line to Steelshanks when leaving King's Landing, and not to Bolton when leaving Harranhal? Cause I'd have been positive that it was the latter.

[Dragonfish]

I don't have ASoS with me at the moment, so I can't look it up myself, but are you really sure that Jaime says that line to Steelshanks when leaving King's Landing, and not to Bolton when leaving Harranhal? Cause I'd have been positive that it was the latter.

He does say it to Roose Bolton, and Bolton is most certainly Robb's murderer.

[Ghost714]

He does say it to Roose Bolton, and Bolton is most certainly Robb's murderer.

Does anyone have a quote?

[Dragonfish]

Does anyone have a quote?

Here it is:

Both parties left Harrenhal the same morning, beneath a cold grey sky that promised rain. Ser Aenys Frey had marched three days before, striking northeast for the Kingsroad. Bolton meant to follow him. "The Trident is in flood," he told Jaime. "Even at the ruby ford, the crossing will be difficult. You will give my warm regards to your father?"

"So long as you give mine to Robb Stark."

"That I shall."

[Starky Smurf]

I have a question.

In ACoK, during one of Catelyn's POV chapters, Rivers is telling Cat and her honor guard(after coming back from treating with Renely) about the victories that Robb had beating Ser Stafford Lannister. Rivers then goes on to talk about how the Greatjon has seized the gold mines at Castamore, Nunsdeep, and Pendric Hills(please excuse the spelling of those places)

Anyway my question is, what happened to all that gold stolen from Lannister mines???

'Seizing' the mines doesn't necessarily mean 'mining' the mines. What's the current understanding as to how long the mines were seized? I'm guessing not long enough to mine all that much ore in the first place.

[Lady Octarina]

I personally believe that saying something like that would be completely out of character for Roose Bolton. Roose Bolton would have said something pertaining to the Boltons, if he said anything at all. Why would Roose want them to hear Jaime's regards, that kind of makes it seem like it was Jaime's plan and doing(thus Lady Stoneheart blaming Jaime after she is resurrected). I just feel that it would be out of character for Roose, and had it been him there he wouldn't have said something that imply's credit to someone else. Again if Roose would say anything at all. I don't think it would have been that, what do you guys think?

It wouldn't be so out of character. Roose has a dry sense of humor; he probably thought it was ironic and slightly funny that those would be the last words Robb would hear.

[Rune Targaryen]

It wouldn't be so out of character. Roose has a dry sense of humor; he probably thought it was ironic and slightly funny that those would be the last words Robb would hear.

I also thought that was something like this.

One last provocation to let Rob know why he should not have messed with the "big boys".

If he only have listened to Grey Wind...

[7V3N]

In the Cersei chapter (I have ebook, about 84% through ADWD)--where she is leaving the custody of the High Septon, where she has to walk to the Red Keep naked--there is a part that could be either interesting, or a typo.

They [the commoners] were looking at her, all the hungrey eyes. But what were they seeing? I am beautiful, she reminded himself. How many times had Jaime told her that? Even Robert had given her that much, when he came to her bed in his cups to pay her drunken homage with his cock.

Himself? That must be a typo, right?

[Rune Targaryen]

I really think it´s a typo...

But... maybe this is why Robert drank so much, his wife was a man! lol :eek:

[7V3N]

I really think it´s a typo...

But... maybe this is why Robert drank so much, his wife was a man! lol :eek:

I thought it might be her thinking she was a mighty lord like Tywin (she often thinks of herself that way) but since it was only once, I think it must be a typo.

[lostinwesteros]

There were so many things at the end of ADWD - I have question after question whirling around and wanted to hear feedback/speculations as to what has or what will happen.

• What happens after Jon is stabbed? Wun Wun is already on a rampage to dismember Ser Patrek and beat him to a pulp, so at this point does he move on from there to the rest of the NW and the Queen's men?
  
• If so, what happens to Bowen Marsh and the other traitors with Wun Wun 'on the loose'? And what are the rest of the wildlings doing at this point?
  
• It was mentioned that Mel and the queens men had also exited the gathering before it ended. Why? Did they know what was coming (Jon's stabbing), were they headed out to implement the 'capture Val' movement?

  
  

What conjectures do others have?