[TWoW Spoilers] Theon I

[Tini]

I hope that Lord Manderly got a written note from Davos explaining that he is not dead, and has just gone off to collect Rickon. Otherwise Manderly will have a tough time when he meets Stannis. Stannis may be willing to accept help from Manderlys's fleet and host but would insist on punishing the man who mounted Davos head and hands on his walls regardless. And I don't know if Manderly's word alone would carry enough weight to dissuade Stannis from punishing him harshly.

I wonder if Stannis caught on to Karstark's treachery on his own. After all they interviewed Karstark's maester first, and Stannis already knew of the connection between the maester and his enemies. Even if the letter he received was a warning from the Wall, did anybody at the Wall know about the Maester's involvement?

I love the confirmation, though, that the Maester's are not neutral and cannot be trusted. And that it is not necessarily the Citadel they are serving.

[gmavridis]

(The chronology, as usual, is tricky. This chapter will be found eventually at the beginning of WINDS, but as you will be able to tell from context, it actually takes place before some of the chapters at the end of DANCE).

This is what GRRM wrote in his blog about timeline. He also wrote that in the paperback edition of ADWD there will be another new chapter of TWOW. I can’t wait for July.

[kissdbyfire]

I need the Bastard to die horribly- it's extremely important to me personally. I hope Manderly eats him.

Yes, but à la Hannibal Lecter, when he chops bits of the guy's brain while the guy is still alive.

[Tini]

And the idea of sending Alysanne Mormont with "Lady Arya" as a suitable matron companion is hysterical. It's like Brienne being Cersei's lady-in-waiting.

It is not at all the same. Cersei would have made sure that Brienne knows who is the boss - Cersei, of course. I cannot see "Arya" giving Alysanne Mormont orders. She'll take orders from Alysanne Mormont, and she'll be grateful for the protection that Alysanne might offer her. Maybe Alysanne might even help Jeyne to grow a backbone, though I doubt it.

[Stannis the Great]

Some stray observations:

• Words are wind. Not again! I'm surprised Stannis didn't say to Massey that he was as useful as nipples on a breastplate when it came to his put down of Massey's martial abilities.
  
• Stannis' declaration that Cressen was like a father to him was very good to read.
  
• Stannis remains the king of deadpan in Westeros beating Dolorous Eeyore.
  
• Another Frey bites the dust. One less for Stoneheart to take care of.
  

[mashiara]

I told my husband I wasn't going to read this chapter, but who was I kidding? I couldn't resist. Excellent taste of what's to come, I really loved it.

[Daena the Defiant]

It is not at all the same. Cersei would have made sure that Brienne knows who is the boss - Cersei, of course. I cannot see "Arya" giving Alysanne Mormont orders. She'll take orders from Alysanne Mormont, and she'll be grateful for the protection that Alysanne might offer her. Maybe Alysanne might even help Jeyne to grow a backbone, though I doubt it.

That's sorta not my point - Stannis is sending Alysanne with "Arya" for the sake of propriety. It was be socially unacceptable for a high noblewoman to travel alone in a party of men (which is one of the reasons Catelyn was badass - she did not travel with a suitable retinue and she didn't care about convention), so Stannis wants "Arya" to have a lady-in-waiting essentially.

That the person he picked is the rough and ready, ursine woman warrior with a bastard already Alysanne Mormont is a little funny :)

(although I also suspect that he just wants to be rid of her also - I can't see Stannis relating to unconventional women like the Mormont broads)

[Daena the Defiant]

Some stray observations:

• Words are wind. Not again! I'm surprised Stannis didn't say to Massey that he was as useful as nipples on a breastplate when it came to his put down of Massey's martial abilities.
  
• Stannis' declaration that Cressen was like a father to him was very good to read.
  
• Stannis remains the king of deadpan in Westeros beating Dolorous Eeyore.
  
• Another Frey bites the dust. One less for Stoneheart to take care of.
  

Also, the niello is back!

[Stannis the Great]

I also just realised that despite being a despicable human being, Ser Clayon Suggs has one of the best sigils in Westeros.

[Daena the Defiant]

I also just realised that despite being a despicable human being, Ser Clayon Suggs has one of the best sigils in Westeros.

I missed it - what is it?

[Stannis the Great]

I missed it - what is it?

A winged pig.

[LordBloodraven]

A winged pig.

It fits him well, I think

[Ser Ilyn's Tongue]

So much to love in this chapter I don't know where to start. Highlights? Theon being Theon (but slightly gollum), Stannis being a dude, Asha being cool, dead Freys, Blackfyres....

I could go on, but just wanted to say that if the rest of the book is this good, then twow will be a real treat. Can't wait.

And here's hoping for some actual winged pigs in the next chapters

[Michael Jon Snow]

Great chapter! Awesome character development for both Theon and Stannis.

I think this chapter proves that Stannis did NOT write the pink letter.

While Stannis does learn the knowledge to write the letter (Theon told Asha who Able was) this chapter shows that the letter would completely contradict his own motivations.

When Stannis sends Massey off to Bravos he makes it very clear that the wall needed to be defended, no matter what. Even Stannis' own survival was second to the wall. There is no way Stannis would deplete the wall's defences. And if Stannis needed help he would have asked, (who am I kidding) he would have demanded it straight up. Deceit is not something Stannis is capable of.

As to the tactics, yes there is foreshadowing of a cavalry charge across the lake that falls thru the ice. "We hold the ground." And the whole discussion that the Bolton forces will be mounted and his will be afoot. Stannis' forces still have horses, he sends 12 with Massey. The only reason not to use every last horse in battle is if the horses create a disadvantage.

And the islet with the wierwood. Is "Bran lives" too complicated for a raven? Would a chorus of ravens crying out be enough to stop Stannis? I think we will see that Bran's power exceeds Blooraven's and Bran will speak from the Tree. And I hope that we see that scene from Bran's POV.

[Tini]

That's sorta not my point - Stannis is sending Alysanne with "Arya" for the sake of propriety. It was be socially unacceptable for a high noblewoman to travel alone in a party of men (which is one of the reasons Catelyn was badass - she did not travel with a suitable retinue and she didn't care about convention), so Stannis wants "Arya" to have a lady-in-waiting essentially.

That the person he picked is the rough and ready, ursine woman warrior with a bastard already Alysanne Mormont is a little funny :)

(although I also suspect that he just wants to be rid of her also - I can't see Stannis relating to unconventional women like the Mormont broads)

Okay, thanks for clarifying your point.

But who else could he have sent with Arya? There aren't any women more suitable for this task currently traveling with his army. He cannot send her on with one of the camp followers, so it has to be one of the Mormonts. Their reputation may not be spotless but they are of noble birth.

And I can even understand his desire to send a woman with Arya. As you say, noblewomen don't travel without companions. And, unless everyone in his camp is blind, people will know that Arya has been raped and abused. If he sends her on without a female companion, people will blame her escort, will blame him.

And it seems that Umber is suspicious of "Arya". If Stannis harbors any suspicion towards the girl, he'll want her under surveillance at all times. Alysanne Mormont can do that, as Arya cannot simply send her away like a serving woman. Alysanne can also stay with her when the girl takes a bath, or a piss, and she can even sleep in the same bed with her. Men couldn't do that. And if the girl tries some mischief, Alysanne can deal with that as well.

[Revan Baratheon]

"They know my name." Geekasm.

Reekasm more like?

[Revan Baratheon]

So much to love in this chapter I don't know where to start. Highlights? Theon being Theon (but slightly gollum), Stannis being a dude

yea he's all fucked up again,he was improving again towards the end of ADWD,but now he's back to good old Gollum Reek personality.

[Paurush]

How does Crowfood know Theon on the first glance when as Reek his own sister cant ??

Sounds Fishy !

Has Crowfood ever seen Theon earlier ??

I really dont seem to remember !

And Theon while talking to himself also calls Mance Abel !

So he is out of question in writing the letter !

While the pink letter has to be from Ramsay it can also be from the Karstarks who were missing a crow from the cage and have all the reasons to drive Jon out as he has his son captured !

And they have been receiving orders from Boltons to know about Mance !

[Michael Jon Snow]

yea he's all fucked up again,he was improving again towards the end of ADWD,but now he's back to good old Gollum Reek personality.

He is bound and hanging from a wall. A little regression is expected.

[Lord Varys]

I guess it's quite sure now, that the Pink Letter is all Ramsay's doing. I think it was written after Stannis won the coming battle, which is going to send Ramsay back to Winterfell with his tail between his legs. Roose now is too wary for open warfare. He has no longer the numbers to vanquish Stannis in the field, especially if the Manderlys successfully defect to Stannis and deliver the heads of the remaining Freys to him.

It's a known Bolton-routine to declare people dead to wreak some havoc, and I guess Roose's plan is not only to cause chaos at the Wall (and he succeeded there), but to gain hostages. I guess Roose did not only have Ramsay write this letter, I think he also dispatched Steelshanks Walton and a contingent of Dreadfort men to Castle Black to collect Selyse, Melisandre, and Shireen. Either by force, or mere intimidation - if whoever is in charge of the NW believes Stannis dead, they might actually deliver him the women. And they would make fine hostages indeed... I doubt that this is going to happen, though, Melisandre should see them coming in her flames and would act accordingly.