The second season Atlantic TV Game of Thrones is concerned with the second book of George R Martin’s the Ice and Fire series, A Clash of Kings, which in turn concerns the attempt of a number of individuals to become King of the Seven Kingdoms or the Iron Throne as the Kingdom is also known, as previously covered in 2273 (1175) 2274(1174) 2275(1175).
In these three writings I attempted to follow the book, grouping action according to the central characters and taking account of the way the story is presented in the television series. The second TV season has impressed me even more than the first noting that in addition to the excellent acting and visual brilliance there is a maturity about the script which while reflecting the language and approach of the author avoids shocking for shock sake, action for action sake and achieves an integration which leads me argue it is the best produced on Sky since its inception.
However I am finding it increasingly difficult to appreciate the differences between the ten episodes of the TV series of which number six has been reached, just over half way in the season of ten episodes. Part of the problem is that while the overall title is a Clash of Kings much of the book concerns the role of other characters. In order to grasp and appreciate much of what happens in the TV series it is essential to have knowledge of the geography of the territories and the complex interaction of the aristocratic families who take or adopt wards as hostages and who marry off and give power as soon as both sexes become adolescents. As previously mentioned the TV series adds several years to several of the young main characters to get over the problems in relation sex and violence in relation to their youth and has older actors playing them. This only undermines some of the impact of the books in the TV series from that portrayed in the books
What I plan in this writing is to over view cover the first six episodes of the TV series from the perspective of the Title the Clash of the Kings and then go into some of the detail of the book later.
I begin first with Joffrey, the crowned boy king of the Seven previous Kingdoms where his mother’s husband was known for unifying the land through force of arms but had then settled for eating, drinking and wenching, have known to have fathered eight illegitimate children, most of whom have now been put to the sword with the exception of one brought up as a blacksmith and who was a member of the party being taken to join the Night Watch guardians at the Great Wall which separates the Kingdoms from the wild lands to the greater North of the territories. It has become general knowledge, mainly because of a letter sent to all the lords that Joffrey and his younger brother and sister are not the children of the murdered King, but of the relationship between his mother and her twin brother.
Joffrey is a coward and a vicious bully with no redeeming qualities. My understanding is that he remains unaware of his true parentage, and since gaining official power appears to have all the traits of demonic psychopath. He is controlled to some extent by his mother Queen Cersei and his uncle Tyrion Lannister. His mother is ambitious for herself, believes she is successfully using her son and remains sexually unscrupulous, taking a young boy Lord into her bed now that her partner has become a prisoner of the son of the former adviser to her father, Lord Stark, who Joffrey had executed in public despite the warnings that by doing so he was storing trouble and making negotiations for the release of uncle (and father) more difficult.
Queen Cersei adopted the role of head of the Small Great council of State, preparing for the defence if the City until the arrival of her other brother Tyrion.
Since he was appointed in effect chief Minister/Steward by his father, Lord Lannister senior, played by Charles Dance, he has by passed the Queen on several issues and held her in check as well as sidelining the King and controlling some of the boy’s worst aspects.
When in the most recent episode the mob turns on the King and his retinue and the King orders the execution of everyone in sight Tyrion tells him not be stupid and manages to get the boy to safety before they are all destroyed.
Queen Cersei has no redeeming qualities and was behind the murder of the previous adviser to the King leading to the appointment of Lord Stark because the man had close to providing her children was not those of the King. She was also responsible for the imprisonment of Lord Stark when he refused to accept the new order. Like her brother she had intended to use him as a bargaining counter for the release of her other brother and lover. Before the arrival of her brother she has organised the City defence by arranging for 8000 containers of an explosive incendiary substance to be manufacture which alarms her brother because in the wrong hand it is just as likely to burn down the city as save it. She assumed her father would come back to defend the city instead of regrouping and recouping at the previously derelict fortress of Harrenthal
The brother Tyrion whose performance brought him awards for the first season has become the power behind the throne in order to avoid the loss of his life as now that he has found a former prostitute to love him he would like nothing more to eat, drink and be merry, The mention of prostitutes reminds to record that one ploy to contain Joffrey was to get him sexually involved and occupied by sending two young ladies to entertain him. He responded by ordering one of the girls to badly beat the other. Tyrion having gone to view the store of Wildfire created by sister and seeing what a potentially useful weapon they could be, ordered the availability of several thousands of the pots of the city gate keepers to practice with paint and with substances which would do no harm if mishandled.
He has also slowly removed those who opposed or threatened his position or reported to the Queen with his own people. His first act had been to remove the head of the city guard and pack him of to the Wall via ship to become the successor to the present commander, placing someone loyal to him in place. He then imprisons a member of the small Council for revealing to the Queen his plan to betroth her daughter to the family of a potential allay, before she was signed sealed and delivered as a ward hostage until she and the young man were of age(14 years). He proceeds with the plan despite the protestations of Cersei and in the most recent episode we see the reluctant daughter taking ship for her new home. Tyrion points out she will be safer where she is going than in the city, given what is likely to befall them. His concerns for her and for their hostage, the young Sansa, eldest of Lord and Lady Stark, who was keen to become betrothed of Joffrey and becoming his Queen, siding with him against her sister and family has swung of her feelings since witnesses the beheading of her father, and Joffrey’s violence towards encouraging others in his retinue to abuse her. Tyron sends a trusted Lord to rescue Sansa when she is in peril of gang rape and death when the mob turns on the King,
Then the Queen and Tyrion have a stroke of good fortune in that the two main rivals for the throne, the brothers of the former King, Lord Stannis and Lord Renly cannot agree to a joint venture against the Lannister or joining forces with the son of Lord Stark, who has been proclaimed and crowned King of the North.
First instead of going straight to Kings Landing the ships of Lord Stannis have headed to the land camp of his brother, Queen Cersei and Tyrion had feared that the city would be squeezed between a land and sea assault. Their father, Lord Lannister and King Robb of the North had curtailed their warring confrontations because of this development. Lord Renly is presented as a nice young man who is gay and has a relationship with his wife’s brother. She aware of the relationship insists that her husband gets her with child to secure his claims on the throne and quieten talk, suggesting that her brother helps him with the task if that is what it will take.
Lord Stannis has an unattractive wife by all accounts where their relationship is also limited. He is influenced by a sinister priestess of the dark arts always dressed in red and with red eyes. Lord Stannis has upgraded as his chief gofer a former pirate, Davos, who he charges with taking the priest to a cove and cave in secret. There she suddenly comes in the last stage of pregnancy and gives birth to a black smoke fiend (now where have we experienced that idea before?).
This shape shifting demon then kills Lord Renly in the presence of the wife of Lord Stark, Catelyn and his newly appointed personal guard, the Lady Brienne who won his favour by beating all the men at the recent tournament, Lady Stark had been sent by her son after winning the fourth encounter with Lord Lannister and his men. She had hoped to return to see her youngest children back at her home castle of Winterfell after carrying out her son’s wishes that appeared to want to govern without his mother’s presence any more. It is Catelyn Stark who suggests Brienne leaves with her as the young woman will not be forgiven for the death of Renly despite her devotion to him. She then offers to become the right hand protector of Lady Stark which is warmly accepted.
Back at her son’s camp he has asked for her advice about which of the daughters of Lord Frey (he with eight wives as part of the deal which enabled him to use the quick crossing when going south to engage the forces of Lord Lannister) he should marry when the war is over. Asking her to visit Lord Fry to ensure his continuing support he suggests she checks out the daughters. However back at the camp he is attracted to a young woman who assists a wounded soldier, Talisa, and works out that she is noble birth. She urges him to stop the blood shedding, something which his natural instincts are in favour. The implication is that this relationship will develop and have significance.
I previously reported on the detailed peace terms which he sent to Joffrey, intercepted by Tyrion and firmly rejected by him, in consultation with the Queen before and during a meeting of Small Counsel. He sends the emissary back with his terms for peace which he knows will also be unacceptable to King Robb. They are both buying time. He does make on immediate concession which is to arrange for Lord Baleish, former suitor and present chief Treasurer for the Seven Kingdoms to return the remains of Lord Stark and his men to her Ladyship. He also sends Lord Baleish to see Lord Stannish where he meets up with Catelyn Stark and then goes to see his Lord Lannister senior with news of the latest developments.
This leaves Lord Stannish with his dark red eyed assistant to continue as the sole challenger and with a joining of forces with his brothers now disorganised forces. Davos is able to persuade Stannish not to bring the Red Priestess with him as they make plans to attack Kings Landing. Renly’s wife and now widow and potential Queen has a different idea, correctly convinced Lord Stannish was behind the death of her husband she has not given up on the destiny her husband promised.
I have also mentioned that Theon Greyjoy the only son of Lord Greyjoy. Lord Greyjoy senior is played by the established actor Patrick Malahide. The son has returned home after spending his childhood as the ward Lord Stark with a message from King Robb seeking the support or neutrality of his father. The young man appears more interested in women and in wearing fine clothes and ornaments, seducing the daughter of the ship’s captain and then attempting to seduce the young woman who offers to return him to his father‘s house from the harbour. In fairness while he attempts to take liberties during their ride on the one horse she also, albeit mischievously, plays him back. She is in fact his younger sister who has taken his place and the fighting warrior after the death of the elder brothers and the departure of Theon. Lord Greyjoy persuades his son to join him in a separate assault on the mainland to achieve his own claims to the Kingship which the former King took from him with the help of Lord Stark.
However while his father gives command of his fleet to his daughter he only gives one ship to his son to undertake some hit and run raids on communities in the north. Theon the advice and support of a leading crew member decides on another course which is to attack and take the now poorly defended castle home of Robb Stark Winterfell where the disabled brother Brandon and the youngest brother still reside. The disabled son Bran has one of his dreams in which he foresees the castle being taken by water and his chief guard laying dead with his head severed. When Bran hears of the landings he sends all his forces to try and prevent those invading doing great damage and when the castle is taken he agrees to surrender on the understanding that no harm will come to his people.
This is agreed except that Theon is then forced to personally execute Bran’s most loyal champion because of his insults and refusal to accept his authority. Despite warning that no good will come of his actions he listens to those urging him to a show of force. Theon also appears to command the respect of the wildling Bran prevented his men from slaying when she was discovered with a party of rogues when in the forests. It is she that has become an interpreter of the dream, hallucinations, visions which Bran is now experiencing with increasing regularity. Bran is horrified by what he believes is a betrayal when she appears to put her personal survival before their friendship. He should have more faith because her behaviour is part of a successful ploy to get Bran and his brother away from the Castle.
The books have also concentrated on John Snow, the illegitimate child of Lord Stark who was brought up within the family but has now become a member of Night Watch guarding the great Wall which separates the seven Kingdoms from the far North of the land which even during the long summer periods which lasts years, is a bitterly cold snow and ice covered land. They have set off to find out what is happening north of the wall with tales of the rising of the undead, silent almost invisible figures suggesting a link with the creature born from the Red eyes Priestess adviser to Lord Stannis. They also want to know what happened to the brother of Lord Stark, senior member of the Watch who recruited John Snow and failed to return from an expedition three years previously.
The TV series appears not to cover aspects of the narrative and concentrates on a small expedition from the main party who go on a scouting mission and encounter some of the wildings who they kill with the exception of a young woman. Jon is left to execute the prisoner but cannot do so and when she runs off he chases and recaptures her but loses contact with the others so that they are forced to lie close together at night to avoid freezing. She makes sexual advances towards him which he rejects trying to keep to the vow of celibacy.
Jon’s favourite among his half brothers and sisters is Ayra who has escaped from the Lannisters and was being taken to Winterfell as part of the chief Crow (recruiting officer) along with the eldest of the known illegitimate children of Lord Stark. They have been taken prisoner by a ruthless gang of cutthroats and torturers acting for Lord Lannister senior and taken to work as servants with Ayra now dressed again as a girl after successfully posing as young boy for the journey north assigned to work for Lannister senior.
She has already secured the death of one of the tortures having released three of the Night Watch prisoners so they would be burnt in the fire storm when the village was set alight and where one of the number has said she can claim three lives. When serving at the table she overhears Lannister berate one of his followers for misdirecting a letter containing his campaign plans and dispositions which fortunately ended in friendly hands. Ayra manages to gets hold of the paper and proposes to try and break out with the invaluable information to help the cause of her brother and his family. When she is detected heading for the armoury and questioned she is able to arrange the second return favour just in time to prevent her actions coming to the attention of Lord Lannister.
She is living dangerously because a visitor to his Lordship is none other than Lord Baeilish who knows Ayra but does not appear to recognise her, in part because she is skilful in not showing her face to him while serving wine and clearing the table after the earlier gathering.
Although occurring away from the mainland the trials and tribulations of Daenerys Targaryen seeking to gain the throne of her family who once controlled the Dragonland appears to become more closely related to the main story. In the TV series she reaches and enters the famous seaboard city of Qarth, famed for his security against land invaders, for its wealth and commercial success, by a different means from that in the book. Martin tells us (310-317) that three tall and thick decorated walls surround the city. The outer of red sandstone thirty feet high and decorated with animals, snakes, fish and birds. The middle wall is forty feet tall in grey granite with scenes of war, the clashing of spears and swords including that of babes being butchered. It is not these scenes which led Daenerys to avert her eyes but the inner wall some fifty feet in height and made of black marble with carvings of men and women in naked enjoyment of each other’s bodies. She is after all still only a young girl given to a war lord who fortunately proved loving and tender. After his death she emerged from the intense heat of his funeral pyre unscathed with the last dragons eggs from her homeland hatched and who she now guards and gives priority to their development as the key to regaining the crown and lands of her forefathers( Young Merlin episode in which the last dragons eggs is also hatched). Her path into the city is strewn with flowers by children in gold sandals and with body paint but no other clothing.
Her greeting by the thirteen who led the city was also very different from that portrayed in the TV series although the difference between Xaro who spoke offering a crown of black Jade and fire opals for her and the blue lipped Pyat Pree of the House of the Undying suggested the conflict which was to emerge. As with the creature born of the Red Priestess and reports of the undead on the other side of the wall the Undying appear to be shape shifters and illusionists. Both Xaro, the wealthiest man in the city from his merchant adventuring who wants her to marry him and Pyat Pree who also offers her a home are after her Dragons as appear to the other leading citizens who flock to the banquet which Xaro lays on to mark her arrival in the city.
She explains that the only Palace she wants is that at Kings Landing to which a member of the accompanying entourage declared that she was wise beyond her years and some in the city said that the house of a warlock (The Udying) was built on bones and lies. Her adviser Ser Jorah who had put on the chain and mail of Westeros warns her in their home language not to have dealings with either man although she responded in the hope more than belief that both would help her to attain her goal. He urged that they did not stay long as he detects a nasty smell which she suggested was the came; but he would not be placated saying that the sweet smell of the people sometimes hid what was foul.
She has been allocated a wing of a palace with her own gardens and bathing pool together with servants by her. She was realistic in understanding their interest is the dragons and she is warned by a mysterious person in a red mask that the dragons would be coveted because of their potential power when developed.
Having settled in the city Daenerys concentrates on preparing her case to the city leaders to provide her with the ships and men to help regain the crown of her forefathers. They point out that she had no experience of ruling there or having any support but in truth she realises that they never had any intention of helping her or assisting her in leaving as they individually and collectively only have interest in her dragons. This was also true of her host who offers her marriage again but with no interest in waging war or being associated with such conflicts despite his possession of great wealth and ships for trading. He says she will find no support from other individuals or groups for the venture and that even if she persuaded some to provide the ships these would be of no use without the men committed to her cause even if she had the money to pay them (420-429) The only possibility open to her was to accept that invitation of the Undying which everyone around her, friend, foe and neural counselled against. This leads to the finale of episode six in which following an attack on the quarters where she is staying she finds the Dragons missing and we see the back of someone hurrying towards the tall monolith of the House of the Undying. I have not come across this aspect in the book so far although she does go to the House on own accord with some dramatic consequences.
In these three writings I attempted to follow the book, grouping action according to the central characters and taking account of the way the story is presented in the television series. The second TV season has impressed me even more than the first noting that in addition to the excellent acting and visual brilliance there is a maturity about the script which while reflecting the language and approach of the author avoids shocking for shock sake, action for action sake and achieves an integration which leads me argue it is the best produced on Sky since its inception.
However I am finding it increasingly difficult to appreciate the differences between the ten episodes of the TV series of which number six has been reached, just over half way in the season of ten episodes. Part of the problem is that while the overall title is a Clash of Kings much of the book concerns the role of other characters. In order to grasp and appreciate much of what happens in the TV series it is essential to have knowledge of the geography of the territories and the complex interaction of the aristocratic families who take or adopt wards as hostages and who marry off and give power as soon as both sexes become adolescents. As previously mentioned the TV series adds several years to several of the young main characters to get over the problems in relation sex and violence in relation to their youth and has older actors playing them. This only undermines some of the impact of the books in the TV series from that portrayed in the books
What I plan in this writing is to over view cover the first six episodes of the TV series from the perspective of the Title the Clash of the Kings and then go into some of the detail of the book later.
I begin first with Joffrey, the crowned boy king of the Seven previous Kingdoms where his mother’s husband was known for unifying the land through force of arms but had then settled for eating, drinking and wenching, have known to have fathered eight illegitimate children, most of whom have now been put to the sword with the exception of one brought up as a blacksmith and who was a member of the party being taken to join the Night Watch guardians at the Great Wall which separates the Kingdoms from the wild lands to the greater North of the territories. It has become general knowledge, mainly because of a letter sent to all the lords that Joffrey and his younger brother and sister are not the children of the murdered King, but of the relationship between his mother and her twin brother.
Joffrey is a coward and a vicious bully with no redeeming qualities. My understanding is that he remains unaware of his true parentage, and since gaining official power appears to have all the traits of demonic psychopath. He is controlled to some extent by his mother Queen Cersei and his uncle Tyrion Lannister. His mother is ambitious for herself, believes she is successfully using her son and remains sexually unscrupulous, taking a young boy Lord into her bed now that her partner has become a prisoner of the son of the former adviser to her father, Lord Stark, who Joffrey had executed in public despite the warnings that by doing so he was storing trouble and making negotiations for the release of uncle (and father) more difficult.
Queen Cersei adopted the role of head of the Small Great council of State, preparing for the defence if the City until the arrival of her other brother Tyrion.
Since he was appointed in effect chief Minister/Steward by his father, Lord Lannister senior, played by Charles Dance, he has by passed the Queen on several issues and held her in check as well as sidelining the King and controlling some of the boy’s worst aspects.
When in the most recent episode the mob turns on the King and his retinue and the King orders the execution of everyone in sight Tyrion tells him not be stupid and manages to get the boy to safety before they are all destroyed.
Queen Cersei has no redeeming qualities and was behind the murder of the previous adviser to the King leading to the appointment of Lord Stark because the man had close to providing her children was not those of the King. She was also responsible for the imprisonment of Lord Stark when he refused to accept the new order. Like her brother she had intended to use him as a bargaining counter for the release of her other brother and lover. Before the arrival of her brother she has organised the City defence by arranging for 8000 containers of an explosive incendiary substance to be manufacture which alarms her brother because in the wrong hand it is just as likely to burn down the city as save it. She assumed her father would come back to defend the city instead of regrouping and recouping at the previously derelict fortress of Harrenthal
The brother Tyrion whose performance brought him awards for the first season has become the power behind the throne in order to avoid the loss of his life as now that he has found a former prostitute to love him he would like nothing more to eat, drink and be merry, The mention of prostitutes reminds to record that one ploy to contain Joffrey was to get him sexually involved and occupied by sending two young ladies to entertain him. He responded by ordering one of the girls to badly beat the other. Tyrion having gone to view the store of Wildfire created by sister and seeing what a potentially useful weapon they could be, ordered the availability of several thousands of the pots of the city gate keepers to practice with paint and with substances which would do no harm if mishandled.
He has also slowly removed those who opposed or threatened his position or reported to the Queen with his own people. His first act had been to remove the head of the city guard and pack him of to the Wall via ship to become the successor to the present commander, placing someone loyal to him in place. He then imprisons a member of the small Council for revealing to the Queen his plan to betroth her daughter to the family of a potential allay, before she was signed sealed and delivered as a ward hostage until she and the young man were of age(14 years). He proceeds with the plan despite the protestations of Cersei and in the most recent episode we see the reluctant daughter taking ship for her new home. Tyrion points out she will be safer where she is going than in the city, given what is likely to befall them. His concerns for her and for their hostage, the young Sansa, eldest of Lord and Lady Stark, who was keen to become betrothed of Joffrey and becoming his Queen, siding with him against her sister and family has swung of her feelings since witnesses the beheading of her father, and Joffrey’s violence towards encouraging others in his retinue to abuse her. Tyron sends a trusted Lord to rescue Sansa when she is in peril of gang rape and death when the mob turns on the King,
Then the Queen and Tyrion have a stroke of good fortune in that the two main rivals for the throne, the brothers of the former King, Lord Stannis and Lord Renly cannot agree to a joint venture against the Lannister or joining forces with the son of Lord Stark, who has been proclaimed and crowned King of the North.
First instead of going straight to Kings Landing the ships of Lord Stannis have headed to the land camp of his brother, Queen Cersei and Tyrion had feared that the city would be squeezed between a land and sea assault. Their father, Lord Lannister and King Robb of the North had curtailed their warring confrontations because of this development. Lord Renly is presented as a nice young man who is gay and has a relationship with his wife’s brother. She aware of the relationship insists that her husband gets her with child to secure his claims on the throne and quieten talk, suggesting that her brother helps him with the task if that is what it will take.
Lord Stannis has an unattractive wife by all accounts where their relationship is also limited. He is influenced by a sinister priestess of the dark arts always dressed in red and with red eyes. Lord Stannis has upgraded as his chief gofer a former pirate, Davos, who he charges with taking the priest to a cove and cave in secret. There she suddenly comes in the last stage of pregnancy and gives birth to a black smoke fiend (now where have we experienced that idea before?).
This shape shifting demon then kills Lord Renly in the presence of the wife of Lord Stark, Catelyn and his newly appointed personal guard, the Lady Brienne who won his favour by beating all the men at the recent tournament, Lady Stark had been sent by her son after winning the fourth encounter with Lord Lannister and his men. She had hoped to return to see her youngest children back at her home castle of Winterfell after carrying out her son’s wishes that appeared to want to govern without his mother’s presence any more. It is Catelyn Stark who suggests Brienne leaves with her as the young woman will not be forgiven for the death of Renly despite her devotion to him. She then offers to become the right hand protector of Lady Stark which is warmly accepted.
Back at her son’s camp he has asked for her advice about which of the daughters of Lord Frey (he with eight wives as part of the deal which enabled him to use the quick crossing when going south to engage the forces of Lord Lannister) he should marry when the war is over. Asking her to visit Lord Fry to ensure his continuing support he suggests she checks out the daughters. However back at the camp he is attracted to a young woman who assists a wounded soldier, Talisa, and works out that she is noble birth. She urges him to stop the blood shedding, something which his natural instincts are in favour. The implication is that this relationship will develop and have significance.
I previously reported on the detailed peace terms which he sent to Joffrey, intercepted by Tyrion and firmly rejected by him, in consultation with the Queen before and during a meeting of Small Counsel. He sends the emissary back with his terms for peace which he knows will also be unacceptable to King Robb. They are both buying time. He does make on immediate concession which is to arrange for Lord Baleish, former suitor and present chief Treasurer for the Seven Kingdoms to return the remains of Lord Stark and his men to her Ladyship. He also sends Lord Baleish to see Lord Stannish where he meets up with Catelyn Stark and then goes to see his Lord Lannister senior with news of the latest developments.
This leaves Lord Stannish with his dark red eyed assistant to continue as the sole challenger and with a joining of forces with his brothers now disorganised forces. Davos is able to persuade Stannish not to bring the Red Priestess with him as they make plans to attack Kings Landing. Renly’s wife and now widow and potential Queen has a different idea, correctly convinced Lord Stannish was behind the death of her husband she has not given up on the destiny her husband promised.
I have also mentioned that Theon Greyjoy the only son of Lord Greyjoy. Lord Greyjoy senior is played by the established actor Patrick Malahide. The son has returned home after spending his childhood as the ward Lord Stark with a message from King Robb seeking the support or neutrality of his father. The young man appears more interested in women and in wearing fine clothes and ornaments, seducing the daughter of the ship’s captain and then attempting to seduce the young woman who offers to return him to his father‘s house from the harbour. In fairness while he attempts to take liberties during their ride on the one horse she also, albeit mischievously, plays him back. She is in fact his younger sister who has taken his place and the fighting warrior after the death of the elder brothers and the departure of Theon. Lord Greyjoy persuades his son to join him in a separate assault on the mainland to achieve his own claims to the Kingship which the former King took from him with the help of Lord Stark.
However while his father gives command of his fleet to his daughter he only gives one ship to his son to undertake some hit and run raids on communities in the north. Theon the advice and support of a leading crew member decides on another course which is to attack and take the now poorly defended castle home of Robb Stark Winterfell where the disabled brother Brandon and the youngest brother still reside. The disabled son Bran has one of his dreams in which he foresees the castle being taken by water and his chief guard laying dead with his head severed. When Bran hears of the landings he sends all his forces to try and prevent those invading doing great damage and when the castle is taken he agrees to surrender on the understanding that no harm will come to his people.
This is agreed except that Theon is then forced to personally execute Bran’s most loyal champion because of his insults and refusal to accept his authority. Despite warning that no good will come of his actions he listens to those urging him to a show of force. Theon also appears to command the respect of the wildling Bran prevented his men from slaying when she was discovered with a party of rogues when in the forests. It is she that has become an interpreter of the dream, hallucinations, visions which Bran is now experiencing with increasing regularity. Bran is horrified by what he believes is a betrayal when she appears to put her personal survival before their friendship. He should have more faith because her behaviour is part of a successful ploy to get Bran and his brother away from the Castle.
The books have also concentrated on John Snow, the illegitimate child of Lord Stark who was brought up within the family but has now become a member of Night Watch guarding the great Wall which separates the seven Kingdoms from the far North of the land which even during the long summer periods which lasts years, is a bitterly cold snow and ice covered land. They have set off to find out what is happening north of the wall with tales of the rising of the undead, silent almost invisible figures suggesting a link with the creature born from the Red eyes Priestess adviser to Lord Stannis. They also want to know what happened to the brother of Lord Stark, senior member of the Watch who recruited John Snow and failed to return from an expedition three years previously.
The TV series appears not to cover aspects of the narrative and concentrates on a small expedition from the main party who go on a scouting mission and encounter some of the wildings who they kill with the exception of a young woman. Jon is left to execute the prisoner but cannot do so and when she runs off he chases and recaptures her but loses contact with the others so that they are forced to lie close together at night to avoid freezing. She makes sexual advances towards him which he rejects trying to keep to the vow of celibacy.
Jon’s favourite among his half brothers and sisters is Ayra who has escaped from the Lannisters and was being taken to Winterfell as part of the chief Crow (recruiting officer) along with the eldest of the known illegitimate children of Lord Stark. They have been taken prisoner by a ruthless gang of cutthroats and torturers acting for Lord Lannister senior and taken to work as servants with Ayra now dressed again as a girl after successfully posing as young boy for the journey north assigned to work for Lannister senior.
She has already secured the death of one of the tortures having released three of the Night Watch prisoners so they would be burnt in the fire storm when the village was set alight and where one of the number has said she can claim three lives. When serving at the table she overhears Lannister berate one of his followers for misdirecting a letter containing his campaign plans and dispositions which fortunately ended in friendly hands. Ayra manages to gets hold of the paper and proposes to try and break out with the invaluable information to help the cause of her brother and his family. When she is detected heading for the armoury and questioned she is able to arrange the second return favour just in time to prevent her actions coming to the attention of Lord Lannister.
She is living dangerously because a visitor to his Lordship is none other than Lord Baeilish who knows Ayra but does not appear to recognise her, in part because she is skilful in not showing her face to him while serving wine and clearing the table after the earlier gathering.
Although occurring away from the mainland the trials and tribulations of Daenerys Targaryen seeking to gain the throne of her family who once controlled the Dragonland appears to become more closely related to the main story. In the TV series she reaches and enters the famous seaboard city of Qarth, famed for his security against land invaders, for its wealth and commercial success, by a different means from that in the book. Martin tells us (310-317) that three tall and thick decorated walls surround the city. The outer of red sandstone thirty feet high and decorated with animals, snakes, fish and birds. The middle wall is forty feet tall in grey granite with scenes of war, the clashing of spears and swords including that of babes being butchered. It is not these scenes which led Daenerys to avert her eyes but the inner wall some fifty feet in height and made of black marble with carvings of men and women in naked enjoyment of each other’s bodies. She is after all still only a young girl given to a war lord who fortunately proved loving and tender. After his death she emerged from the intense heat of his funeral pyre unscathed with the last dragons eggs from her homeland hatched and who she now guards and gives priority to their development as the key to regaining the crown and lands of her forefathers( Young Merlin episode in which the last dragons eggs is also hatched). Her path into the city is strewn with flowers by children in gold sandals and with body paint but no other clothing.
Her greeting by the thirteen who led the city was also very different from that portrayed in the TV series although the difference between Xaro who spoke offering a crown of black Jade and fire opals for her and the blue lipped Pyat Pree of the House of the Undying suggested the conflict which was to emerge. As with the creature born of the Red Priestess and reports of the undead on the other side of the wall the Undying appear to be shape shifters and illusionists. Both Xaro, the wealthiest man in the city from his merchant adventuring who wants her to marry him and Pyat Pree who also offers her a home are after her Dragons as appear to the other leading citizens who flock to the banquet which Xaro lays on to mark her arrival in the city.
She explains that the only Palace she wants is that at Kings Landing to which a member of the accompanying entourage declared that she was wise beyond her years and some in the city said that the house of a warlock (The Udying) was built on bones and lies. Her adviser Ser Jorah who had put on the chain and mail of Westeros warns her in their home language not to have dealings with either man although she responded in the hope more than belief that both would help her to attain her goal. He urged that they did not stay long as he detects a nasty smell which she suggested was the came; but he would not be placated saying that the sweet smell of the people sometimes hid what was foul.
She has been allocated a wing of a palace with her own gardens and bathing pool together with servants by her. She was realistic in understanding their interest is the dragons and she is warned by a mysterious person in a red mask that the dragons would be coveted because of their potential power when developed.
Having settled in the city Daenerys concentrates on preparing her case to the city leaders to provide her with the ships and men to help regain the crown of her forefathers. They point out that she had no experience of ruling there or having any support but in truth she realises that they never had any intention of helping her or assisting her in leaving as they individually and collectively only have interest in her dragons. This was also true of her host who offers her marriage again but with no interest in waging war or being associated with such conflicts despite his possession of great wealth and ships for trading. He says she will find no support from other individuals or groups for the venture and that even if she persuaded some to provide the ships these would be of no use without the men committed to her cause even if she had the money to pay them (420-429) The only possibility open to her was to accept that invitation of the Undying which everyone around her, friend, foe and neural counselled against. This leads to the finale of episode six in which following an attack on the quarters where she is staying she finds the Dragons missing and we see the back of someone hurrying towards the tall monolith of the House of the Undying. I have not come across this aspect in the book so far although she does go to the House on own accord with some dramatic consequences.
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