Possibilities in Bran chapters in TWOW

[Snow Dragon]

Howland Reed is the last living person who witnessed the events at the Tower of Joy. Considering how many theories could be answered by what he saw there, I'd say that he knows a great deal. He isn't just some bumpkin that squats in a swamp.

This. So true. I don't think we should underestimate Howland Reed - however I do wonder why the series chose to kill him off. I know I'm probably opening a different debate here, but does that suggest his role in the future asoiaf is limited?

[JonBranRickon]

The series killed off Jojen Reed his son. Howland has yet to appear.

[Hodor!!!]

Hodor could die-and leave Bran stranded in the cave for a time.

What?! You take that back, now! Hodor can never die! If he does, I'm gonna seriously hodor the hodor out of some motherhodoring hodors!!!

[sabrecmc]

Someone theorized that Bran would go back and see Lyanna and would be the laughter that gives the Laughing Tree its name. I think that would be kind of neat. Didn't Theon hear his name or something? Seems there is some indication that communication can be done through the trees.

[Snow Dragon]

The series killed off Jojen Reed his son. Howland has yet to appear.

My bad - moment of association.

Just a side Q, what do people think about the series killing off Jojen, does it mean he has essentially reached his worth in terms of the story?

[HodoringHodor]

My bad - moment of association.

Just a side Q, what do people think about the series killing off Jojen, does it mean he has essentially reached his worth in terms of the story?

I figured so before the series. Same for Hodor, they were means for Bran to get where he was going to and provide some background. Meera will most likely stay relevant to the story since they won't do away with everyone involved with Bran and because Bran's story also borrows heavily from Norse myths in which only two people, a man and a woman, survive the great winter by hiding under a magical tree in a forest in north.

[Different Roads]

P

[Lady of Butterflies]

I figured so before the series. Same for Hodor, they were means for Bran to get where he was going to and provide some background. Meera will most likely stay relevant to the story since they won't do away with everyone involved with Bran and because Bran's story also borrows heavily from Norse myths in which only two people, a man and a woman, survive the great winter by hiding under a magical tree in a forest in north.

Are you talking about the Lif and Lifthrasir's Norse myth? I had never connected these two stories, but are there similarities.

I just don't want Hodor to die.

[Seeker in the Crypts]

I agree bran will be back at the wall by the end of the books and so will Benjen Stark. Benjen will hook up with Bran through the sink hole entrance to Bran's cave and they will travel through the cave network back to the Nightsfort with the help of the COTF. Benjen can get them into the Nightfort through reciting his oath before the Black Gate as a member of the Nights Watch. This gets a Stark representative at the wall. Bran through his visions will travel to Winterfell's crypts via Gornes tunnels where a Stark can open the gate, either white or iron, (my belief, no proof) into winterfell by speaking the words. WINTER IS COMING. Now a Stark is also in Winterfell as required.

Bran has his gods wood and heart tree in Winterfell as well as the ravens for continued communication with Bloodraven and others throughout the realm.

[Iceaxe]

Bran could become the puppet of Bloodraven and Bloodraven Brynden might be the "Great Other"s himself. Remember him saying Bran "Never fear the darkness, Bran. The strongest trees are rooted in the dark places of the earth. Darkness will be your cloak, your shield, your mother’s milk. Darkness will make you strong." It's kinda creepy don't you think? If Bran will be on his side, Bran and Jon could face each other as enemies, not Brothers. That'd be something i'd like to see!

I like to think that the Great Other is Martin himself :D

[HodoringHodor]

Are you talking about the Lif and Lifthrasir's Norse myth? I had never connected these two stories, but are there similarities.

I just don't want Hodor to die.

Yes, the Lif and Lifthrasir one. There are also similiarities between Bloodraven and Odin which would make the weirwood Yggdrasil, which is the tree Lif and Lifthrasir hide under.

[Iceaxe]

Nicely spotted! I think the similarities are beyond coincidence. Odin gains power from a master-tree, sacrifices an eye (gaining insight into past and future), has raven as familiar animals, wargs/shapeshifts etc etc

[Lady of Butterflies]

Yes, the Lif and Lifthrasir one. There are also similiarities between Bloodraven and Odin which would make the weirwood Yggdrasil, which is the tree Lif and Lifthrasir hide under.

Oh, yes. It's true.

[Isobel Harper]

Are you talking about the Lif and Lifthrasir's Norse myth? I had never connected these two stories, but are there similarities.

I just don't want Hodor to die.

At the end of Ragnarok, "The gods Höðr and Baldr return from Hel and live happily together," with Hothr and Baldr typically being personified as Hodor and Bran, respectively, in the Ragnarok=ASoIaF theory. You might get your wish!

On another hand, I wonder if the tale of Lif and Lifthasir represent a reemergence of the Children of the Forest? We have already met one "child" named Leaf, which I assume rhymes with Lif, in Bran's POV.

[Watermelon Knight]

Yes, I think Bran will be a guest at this event and many others. He'll also be in contact with other characters as he has been with Theon. I expect that all the remaining Stark children will be in communication with Bran and know that the pack survives. I expect that this will cause a change in more than one story arc...

I bet Arya's is the first. Bran is already watching her in Nymeria - in a rather obvious foreshadowing by Martin's standards.

BTW, coolest avatar ever.

[Mehmet Eren]

I forget where G.R.R.M mention Bran warg into Nymeria any clue ?

[Watermelon Knight]

I forget where G.R.R.M mention Bran warg into Nymeria any clue ?

I don't know if Bran warged Nymeria - or if such remote warging is even possible. But he definitely contacted Arya while she was warging Nymeria. From the Mercy chapter from TWOW:

Her true name was Mercedene, but Mercy was all anyone ever called her…

Except in dreams. She took a breath to quiet the howling in her heart, trying to remember more of what she’d dreamt, but most of it had gone already. There had been blood in it, though, and a full moon overhead, and a tree that watched her as she ran.

Not only is the Weirwood watching her, she notes that she's known only by Mercy except in her dreams. She doesn't explicitly say what or who called her by another name in her dreams, but I'd bet good money she heard Bran tweet the name "Arya" via Weirnet. (obviously there is a character limit on the messages Bran can send via Weirnet)

Edit: On further thought, I may need to put away my Jump to Conclusions Mat. It could be that Arya simply dreams of past times when she was known as Arya. Still, it seems the passage is at least a foreshadowing...

[sagewich]

Yes, the Lif and Lifthrasir one. There are also similiarities between Bloodraven and Odin which would make the weirwood Yggdrasil, which is the tree Lif and Lifthrasir hide under.

Yes. Bran still needs help from Bloodraven if he is to look into the heart of winter and tell Jon what to do. He should soon be warging into heart trees, raven, wolves...and dragons?

I really do not want that little boy forever entombed in the Mountain. I hope Martin sends him back to Winterfell and he can be Bran the Builder, too.