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A Game of Thrones (summary)
By: George R.R. Martin
Summary by: Vincent Briscuso
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Prologue (Point-of-View: Will)
Introduced: Gared* (ranger of the Night’s Watch; beheaded by Lord Eddard Stark for desertion);
Ser Waymar Royce* (youngest son of Bronze Yohn Royce, ranger of the Night’s Watch; slain by the Others);
Will* (a tracker of the Night’s Watch; killed by the corpse of Ser Waymar Royce).
Ser Waymar Royce is adamant about discovering whether the Wildlings in the village are truly dead. Will and Gared, long members of the Night’s Watch are against this, feeling something is awry in the woods north of the Wall. When they discover the Wildlings’ bodies missing, Will senses something wrong, but Ser Waymar wants to investigate. The Others surround Ser Waymar, bringing an intense cold with them. Their armor seemed to change color, and no human metal went into forging their blue-shimmering blades. Ser Waymar is killed and the Others depart, but when Will comes down from the tree, Waymar’s corpse rises and slays Will. Ser Waymar’s eyes burned blue.
Bran (I) pg 11/13 Return to Top
Introduced: Lord Eddard Stark* (Ned, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North, later Hand of the King, once a ward of Lord Jon Arryn, owned the Valyrian greatsword ‘Ice’; beheaded for treason by Ser Ilyn Payne at the command of King Joffrey Baratheon, despite the protests of Queen Cersei and Lord Varys);
Brandon Stark (Bran, middle son of Lord Eddard; a warg with the ability to enter the minds of beasts, currently beyond the Wall with Meera and Jojen Reed, Hodor and Summer seeking the children of the forest);
Robb Stark* (the Young Wolf, heir to Winterfell, later Lord of Winterfell, later The King in the North; shot full of crossbow bolts and then run through by a Bolton soldier during the Red Wedding);
Jon Snow (bastard son of Lord Eddard [?], mocked as "Lord Snow", later a steward and squire of Lord Commander Mormont with the Night’s Watch, later possesses the Valyrian bastard sword ‘Longclaw’, later still Lord Commander of the Night's Watch);
Theon Greyjoy (only surviving son of Balon Greyjoy, ward of Lord
Eddard, later Prince of the Iron Islands and self-styled Prince of Winterfell; currently a
captive of Ramsay Snow; referred to now as Theon Turncloak; younger
brother of Asha, nephew of Euron Crow's Eye, Victarion, Aeron Damphair,
and Lord Rodrik Harlaw);
Jory Cassel* (Captain of Winterfell’s Guard, nephew of Ser Rodrik Cassel; killed by Ser Jaime Lannister's men in the streets of King's Landing);
Hullen* (Master of Horse at Winterfell);
Harwin (Hullen’s son, guardsman of Winterfell, later member of the Lightning Lord's brotherhood without banners);
Desmond* (a guard, later part of the Hand’s household guard; killed when Lord Eddard is taken into custody for treason);
Grey Wind* (Robb’s direwolf; killed by the Freys during the Red Wedding);
Ghost (Jon’s direwolf);
Lady* (Sansa’s direwolf; slain by Lord Eddard Stark to appease Queen Cersei);
Nymeria (Arya’s direwolf, missing);
Summer (Bran’s direwolf);
Shaggydog (Rickon’s direwolf).
Lord Eddard Stark takes his 3 eldest sons (Bran, Robb, and his bastard Jon Snow) to witness the execution of a deserter of the Night’s Watch. Ned executes Gared with his greatsword, Ice, in the name of the King. Robb mentions that the deserter died bravely, but Jon points out that it wasn’t courage, the man was already dead of fear. Robb and Jon find a dead female direwolf and her litter of 5 direwolf pups (3 male and 2 female). The direwolf mother was killed by the antlers of a stag. When the others join them, the symbolism is not missed by the adults (the direwolf, sigil of House Stark, killed by a stag, sigil of House Baratheon). Theon points out that a direwolf has not been sighted south of the Wall in 200 years. Jory and the other guards want to kill the pups, but Robb and Bran protest. Jon convinces Ned by stating, "Your children were meant to have these pups, my lord." Ned consents, but warns his children, "And the gods help you if you neglect them, or brutalize them." As they are about to depart for Winterfell, Jon finds a sixth direwolf pup, this one an albino and ostracized by the rest of the litter, and keeps the pup for himself.
Catelyn (I) pg 18/22 Return to Top
Introduced: Lady Catelyn Stark** (of House Tully, wife of Eddard, mother of Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon; sister of Lysa and Edmure; murdered during the Red Wedding, her throat slit by Black Walder Frey; later restored to life by Lord Beric Dondarrion and referred to as Lady Stoneheart, and also Mother Mercy, The Silent Sister, and The Hangwoman, now the nominal leader of the fragmented Brotherhood without Banners).
First Mentioned: Lord Jon Arryn* (former Lord of the Eyrie, Hand of the King, Warden of the East, murdered by his wife and Littlefinger; former Keeper of the Gates of the Moon while his father was Lord of the Eyrie; brother of Ser Ronnel and Lady Alys);
King Aerys II Targaryen* (last of the Targaryen Kings, the Mad King, King Scab, killed by Ser Jaime Lannister; son of Jaehaerys II, grandson of Aegon V; father of Rhaegar, Viserys and Daenerys; husband and brother of Queen Rhaella, he was approximately 16 years old when Rhaegar was born).
Legends: Brandon the Builder (ancient King of Winter/King in the North, constructed Winterfell and some say the Wall with the help of the children of the forest).
Catelyn finds her husband atoning in the godswood of Winterfell after executing Gared. She considers the stories told her about the Starks of Winterfell: the blood of the First Men flows in the veins of the Starks, and they worship the nameless gods they shared with the vanished Children of the Forest; the Children carved the faces of the old gods in weirwood trees, also called Heart Trees, in the dawn centuries before the coming of the First Men across the narrow sea. All the weirwoods in the south were cut down a thousand years ago except on the Isle of Faces where the green men watch over them. She also notes the greatsword Ice was forged in ancient Valyria, before the Doom had come to the old Freehold. Catelyn brings Ned the news of Lord Jon Arryn’s death, and Ned remembers how when King Aerys Targaryen demanded his and his fellow ward Robert Baratheon’s head, Jon Arryn had raised his banners in revolt, beginning the war. Catelyn also informs Ned that the King is on his way to Winterfell.
Daenerys (I) pg 23/28 Return to Top
Introduced: Princess Daenerys Targaryen (Called Dany, and later Daenerys Stormborn, the Unburnt; daughter of King Aerys II Targaryen, later wife of Khal Drogo, later Khaleesi of the Dothraki, and "Mother of Dragons");
Prince Viserys Targaryen* (the Beggar King, second son of Aerys Targaryen, brother of Rhaegar and Daenerys; dies from having molten gold poured over his head by the command of Khal Drogo);
Magister Illyrio Mopatis (magister of Pentos, a wealthy merchant);
Ser Jorah Mormont (former Lord of Bear Island, a knight exiled from the Seven Kingdoms, son of Jeor Mormont, later Commander of Daenerys' Queensguard, later still exiled by Dany);
Khal Drogo* (Khal of the Dothraki, later husband of Daenerys; dies from an infected wound);
Khal Moro (another Khal);
Rhogoro (Khal Moro’s son).
First mentioned: Prince Rhaegar Targaryen* (eldest son of King Aerys II Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone, brother of Daenerys and Viserys; born right after the Tragedy at Summerhall in the year 259 A.L., the event that claimed the lives of his great-grandfather, Aegon V, and his great-uncle Prince Duncan; killed at the Trident by Lord Robert Baratheon);
Princess Elia Targaryen* (of House Martell, wife of Rhaegar, killed by Ser Gregor Clegane during the sack of King’s Landing; sister of Prince Doran Martell and Prince Oberyn);
Ser Willem Darry* (knight who rescued Dany and Viserys from Dragonstone and brought them to Braavos, former master-at-arms of King's Landing);
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen* (daughter of Rhaegar and Elia, slain by Ser Amory Lorch during the sack of King’s Landing);
Prince Aegon Targaryen* (infant son of Rhaegar and Elia, slain by Ser Gregor at his mother’s breast ).
<NOTE: neither Rhaenys nor Aegon are mentioned by name until Daenerys’ fifth chapter in ACOK>.
Dany is getting ready for her arranged introduction
to Khal Drogo before becoming his bride. Viserys wants nothing more than Khal Drogo’s
thousands of men to invade the Seven Kingdoms. Magister Illyrio has arranged
this betrothal. Dany wonders why Illyrio helps them at all, having
heard rumors that he had friends throughout the 9 Free Cities and all the way
to Vaes Dothrak and the fabled lands of the
Dany was born on Dragonstone nine months after they fled King’s Landing. Her mother died in childbirth, her father killed 9 months before by Ser Jaime Lannister, a Kingsguard sworn to protect him. The garrison at Dragonstone had been prepared to sell her and Viserys to the Usurper, but Ser Willem Darry took them to Braavos to escape certain death. They lived poor after Darry’s death, begging for a living, until Illyrio took them in. As they approach Khal Drogo’s manse, Viserys calculates that all he’ll need is ten thousand men, since the Tyrells, Redwynes, Darrys and Greyjoys will all help him when he lands. At the party, Illyrio points out Ser Jorah Mormont, a knight exiled 5 years ago for selling poachers to a Tyroshi slaver rather than giving them over to the Night’s Watch. Khal Drogo’s braid has never been cut, which among the Dothraki means he has never lost a battle. Illyrio brings Khal Drogo over to meet Dany.
Eddard (I) pg 32/39 Return to Top
Introduced: Ser Jaime Lannister (the Kingslayer, knight of the Kingsguard and later Lord Commander, knighted by Ser Arthur Dayne; Kingsguard during the reigns of Aerys II, Robert, Joffrey and Tommen; twin of Cersei and brother of Tyrion, son of Lord Tywin);
Sandor Clegane (The Hound, sworn shield of Prince Joffrey, brother of Ser Gregor, later Kingsguard; then presumed dead near the town of Saltpans, however he is most likely the grave digger we see on the island);
Tyrion Lannister (the Imp, Tyrion Halfman, younger dwarf brother of Cersei and Jaime, later Hand of the King, then convicted of the murder of his nephew King Joffrey; escaped from King's Landing with the help of his brother and Varys);
King Robert Baratheon* (King of the Seven Kingdoms, The Usurper, former Lord of Storm’s End, former ward with Ned Stark of Lord Jon Arryn; fathered several bastards, but no true-born children; his paternal grandmother was a Targaryen Princess [specifically Rhaelle Targaryen, King Aegon V's daughter]; killed by a boar while drunk on wine he was served at the behest of his wife Cersei);
Queen Cersei Lannister (Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, wife of King Robert, sister of Tyrion and twin of Jaime, mother of Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen; later Queen Regent to Joffrey and Tommen, until she is taken into custody by the High Septon for incest and other crimes; Lady of Casterly Rock by default as Jaime is a sworn brother of the Kingsguard and Tyrion is wanted for regicide).
First Mentioned: Lord Howland
Reed (a crannogman, Lord of Greywater Watch, bannerman to Lord Eddard, the only
survivor [except for Ned] at the
Brandon Stark* (older brother of Eddard, betrothed to Catelyn Tully, strangled to death by command of King Aerys Targaryen);
Lyanna Stark* (younger sister of Brandon and Eddard, loved by Robert Baratheon, supposedly raped by Prince Rhaegar, died at the Tower of Joy in the mountains of Dorne);
Lord Rickard Stark* (former Lord of Winterfell, father of Brandon, Eddard, Lyanna and Benjen, burned alive by command of King Aerys Targaryen after watching his son Brandon die).
Ned watches as the King’s party enters Winterfell. He notes the weight Robert Baratheon has put on, having not seen him in nine years since Balon Greyjoy’s rebellion. Robert asks to be taken to the crypts to pay his respects, even though the Queen protests. Ned realizes that besides the weight gain, drinking and wenching were taking their toll on the King. In the crypts, they pass the ancient Kings of the North and approach the stone likenesses of Lord Rickard, Brandon and Lyanna. Robert loved Lyanna, and seeing her statue, he is bothered that she was not buried in a beautiful place. Eddard states that she was a Stark of Winterfell and belongs in the crypt. Ned tells Robert that her dying wish had been to be returned home. Ned remembers her plea "Promise me, Ned", while she lay dying in a bed of blood and roses, and how the fear had left her face when he gave his word.
He recalls how Howland Reed found him holding Lyanna in his arms, full of grief. Robert tells Ned of Jon Arryn’s death, how he had been healthy at the Tourney on Joffrey’s name day, but was dead 2 weeks later. Robert talks of Lysa Arryn fleeing King’s Landing with her sickly son, and how he had intended to foster the boy with Lord Tywin Lannister. King Robert also mentions that young Robert Arryn will not be Warden of the East. Robert then asks Eddard to be Hand of the King, something Ned wanted nothing to do with. He tells Robert he needs time to consider it. The King also wants to marry Sansa and Joffrey, to unite the great houses of Baratheon and Stark. As they are about to leave the Crypts, Ned is filled with a sense of foreboding.
Jon (I) pg 41/49 Return to Top
Introduced: Rickon Stark (youngest child of Ned and Catelyn; fled south with Osha and Shaggydog after the burning of Winterfell);
Sansa Stark (eldest daughter of Ned and Catelyn, later wife of Tyrion; later incognito as Alayne Stone, the natural daughter of Lord Petyr Baelish);
Arya Stark (daughter of Ned and Catelyn, later a.k.a. Arry then
Weasel then
Princess Myrcella (daughter of Cersei and Jaime, later sent to Dorne as ward of Prince Doran Martell, betrothed to Prince Trystane Martell; wounded by Darkstar during Arianne's attempt to have her crowned Queen);
Prince Joffrey* (Joff, heir to the Iron Throne, eldest child of Cersei, later King; died by ingesting wine poisoned by the machinations of the Queen of Thorns and Littlefinger);
Prince Tommen (youngest son of Cersei and Jaime, later succeeds his brother as King);
Benjen Stark (Ben, youngest brother of Brandon, Ned and Lyanna; First Ranger of the Night’s Watch, later lost beyond the Wall).
Legends: King Daeron I Targaryen (Targaryen King, the first of his name, called the Young Dragon and the Boy King, conquered Dorne while losing 10,000 men, lost another 50,000 trying to hold it, and died at the age of 18 failing to hold Dorne; elder son of King Aegon III, older brother of King Baelor the Blessed and Daena the Defiant; cousin of King Aegon IV and Prince Aemon the Dragonknight).
Jon Snow watches the procession in the Great Hall of Winterfell, given a place far from the honor table by Catelyn since he is a bastard. Jon was drinking heavily and feeding Ghost under the table, when his uncle Benjen approaches. Benjen tells Jon how they could use boys like him on the Wall. Jon states that he wants to join the Night’s Watch, despite Ben’s insistence that the Wall is a hard place for a boy, and how Jon has no idea what he must give up to become a member. They start to argue and Jon flees the Great Hall in tears. Outside the castle, he meets Tyrion Lannister who vaults down from a wall like an acrobat. The dwarf advises Jon about being a bastard, "Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength". As Tyrion leaves Jon and reenters the castle, his shadow is cast across the yard, and for a moment, Tyrion Lannister stood as tall as a king.
Catelyn (II) pg 49/58 Return to Top
Introduced: Maester Luwin* (Winterfell’s maester, delivered all of Catelyn’s children; died during Ramsay Snow's invasion of Winterfell).
First Mentioned: Ser Arthur Dayne* (The Sword of the Morning, deadliest of King Aerys’ seven Kingsguard, slain by Eddard Stark at the Tower of Joy, possessed the greatsword ‘Dawn’ [supposedly forged from a fallen star]; uncle of Edric Dayne);
Lady Ashara Dayne* (sister of Edric Stark's father, Ser Arthur Dayne, and Lady Allyria Dayne; aunt of Edric Dayne; supposedly killed herself by leaping off the battlements of Starfall).
Ned and Catelyn are in bed together discussing his appointment as Hand of the King. Catelyn insists that Ned take the position, as it might be seen as opposition by the King. Ned swears that Robert would never harm him or any of his family, but Catelyn insists that Ned knew the man, but did not know the King. Plus, she thought it was a high honor for the King to request Sansa’s hand in marriage to his son Joffrey. A knock at the door brings Maester Luwin, who shows them a box left on his table which contained a lens from Myr, but also had a false bottom. Inside was a sealed message for Catelyn’s eyes only. The letter was written in code by Lysa Arryn, and contained a warning concerning Lysa’s conviction that Jon Arryn was murdered by the Lannisters and the Queen. She burns the letter. Catelyn tells Ned that now even more, he must take the appointment as Hand and learn the truth. Ned notes the parallel of how his father went south to answer the summons of a king, and never returned.
Ned states that he would take Bran, Sansa and Arya south with him. Catelyn doesn’t want him to take Bran. Ned had been 8 when his father sent him to foster at the Eyrie, near the same age as Bran, and thus settles the argument. When Jon Snow’s name is mentioned, Catelyn wants him gone from Winterfell. She could understand Ned fathering a bastard during the war, and even him seeing to the child’s needs, but to take Jon with him to Winterfell and name him "son" rankled Cat like nothing else. She remembers the rumors that the mother was Lady Ashara Dayne, whom Ned met when he returned her brother Ser Arthur Dayne’s sword ‘Dawn’ to her. When Cat confronted him, he frightened her for the only time, telling her, "Never ask me about Jon. He is my blood, and that is all you need to know". Maester Luwin prevents a heated argument, by telling Ned that his brother Benjen wishes to take Jon as a member of the Night’s Watch. There is great honor in serving on the Wall, and even a bastard may rise high in the Night’s Watch. Ned agrees that Jon should join the black brothers.
Arya (I) pg 57/68 Return to Top
Introduced: Septa Mordane* (tutor to Sansa and Arya; killed when Lord Eddard was arrested for treason);
Ser Rodrik Cassel* (Master-at-Arms of Winterfell, later Castellan of Winterfell, uncle of Jory Cassel; slain by the Bastard of Bolton);
Beth Cassel (Ser Rodrik’s young daughter, currently a captive at the Dreadfort);
Jeyne Poole (daughter of Lord Vayon Poole, possibly posing as Arya Stark and betrothed to Ramsay Bolton);
Lew*, Donnis* (Winterfell men-at-arms [?]).
Arya’s needlework is terrible, and embarrasses both Septa Mordane and Sansa in front of Princess Myrcella. Arya runs away in anger, and finds Jon on a parapet watching the sparring in the yard. Jon and Arya resemble Lord Eddard, while the other children all have the hair and coloring of the Tullys. Bran and Prince Tommen finish sparring, and then Prince Joffrey challenges Robb to a fight with real steel swords. Ser Rodrik will not permit it, drawing criticism from the Hound, whose face was terribly burned in a fire. Joff mocks Robb, and Theon has to hold Robb back from going after Joff.
Bran (II) pg 64/76 Return to Top
First mentioned: Ser Gerold Hightower* (The White Bull, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard during the reign of King Jaehaerys II and King Aerys II, slain at the Tower of Joy).
Legends: Serwyn of the Mirror Shield (heroic Kingsguard of yore, saved a Targaryen princess from Giants);
Prince Aemon Targaryen (Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, kingsguard as well as Lord Commander over 100 years ago, younger son of King Viserys II, brother of King Aegon IV Targaryen, champion and brother of Queen Naerys, possible father of King Daeron II, bore the Valyrian sword ‘Dark Sister’ which once belonged to Aegon the Dragon’s sister/wife Visenya; cousin of King Daeron I and King Baelor I; died defending his brother Aegon IV from an assassination attempt by Ser Terrence Toyne's brothers);
Queen Naerys Targaryen (wife of King Aegon IV Targaryen, sister of both her husband and Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, some say lover of Prince Aemon, mother of King Daeron II);
Ser Ryam Redwyne (another legendary Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, also Hand of the King);
Ser Arryk and Ser Erryk (twin Kingsguard who died on each others’ swords during the war known as the "Dance of the Dragons", when Princess Rhaenyra contested her brother Aegon II Targaryen’s claim to the Iron Throne some 200 years ago).
Bran dreams of being a Kingsguard one day, after being left behind when his father and older brothers accompanied the King’s party on a hunt. Bran loved to climb the walls of the castle, especially the older First Keep and feed the crows that nested there. He decided to climb the wall, but his direwolf, as yet unnamed, kept howling at him. Finally Bran was able to climb away. He came upon a conversation while climbing near the broken tower of the First Keep. We find out it is Jaime and Cersei. Cersei is saying that Jaime should be the Hand of the King. She fears Eddard Stark because Robert will listen to him, and that puts the Lannisters in danger, according to Cersei. Jaime makes light of the conversation, jesting that Robert could have named Littlefinger Hand, but says "Give me honorable enemies rather than ambitious ones, and I’ll sleep easier at night". Cersei fears Ned intends to move against them, that’s why he accepted the position. Cersei seems to state that if Robert Arryn had been taken to foster at Casterly Rock, his life would be hostage to Lysa Arryn’s silence. Jaime claims that Lysa has no proof. Cersei fears what Eddard might do if Joffrey takes the throne, although she thinks they’ll all be safer when that comes to pass. Bran finally gets a peek in the room, and sees Jaime and his sister Queen Cersei having sex. He slips and is clinging to the window for dear life when Cersei discovers him. Jaime shoves him off the window, saying, "The things I do for love."
Tyrion (I) pg 72/86 Return to Top
Introduced: Septon Chayle* (priest and librarian of Winterfell; killed when Theon Greyjoy overthrows Winterfell).
Tyrion is reading as dawn approaches. He hears Bran’s direwolf howling as the boy lies dying. Tyrion meets Sandor Clegane and Prince Joffrey in the yard. He tells Joff that he should go pay his respects to Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn, and that his absence has been noted. Joff laughs at this, and Tyrion slaps his nephew twice across the face and forces him to present himself to Bran’s parents. Tyrion joins Cersei and Jaime at breakfast. Prince Tommen is hopeful Bran will live, and Tyrion notes his younger nephew’s difference in disposition to his older brother Joff (Myrcella as well is noted as sweet like Tommen, where Joff is a monster). Tyrion mentions that Maester Luwin believes Bran will live, and he catches a glance between Cersei and Jaime at this news. Tyrion states his wish to go with Benjen Stark and see the Wall. After Cersei leaves, Tyrion remarks that he hopes Bran wakes, because he would be most interested in hearing what the boy has to say. Jaime asks him whose side he’s on, and Tyrion says with a smile, "You know how much I love my family."
Jon (II) pg 77/93 Return to Top
Jon goes to visit Bran on his sickbed, but Catelyn orders him to leave. Cat’s hatred for Jon is immense, but Jon stays long enough to pray for Bran and cry. As he is leaving, Catelyn tells him that it should have been he who fell. Jon then says his goodbyes to Robb, and then visits Arya. He gives Arya the sword Needle that he had Mikken forge for her. He then leaves to meet his uncle Benjen on the way to the Wall.
Daenerys (II) pg 82/99 Return to Top
Introduced: Haggo*, Cohollo*, Qotho* (Khal Drogo’s bloodriders; slain by Dany's bloodriders and Ser Jorah Mormont when they try to prevent her from entering Mirri Maz Duur's tent);
Irri, Jhiqui (Dothraki slaves, Dany’s handmaidens);
Doreah* (Lysene slave, also one of Dany’s handmaidens; dies from exposure during the Khalasar's trek through the red lands).
Just before Dany’s wedding to Khal Drogo, she dreams of Viserys turning into a dragon. During the wedding, she receives a great many gifts, the most important the 3 dragon eggs given to her by Magister Illyrio. One egg was deep green with bronze flecks, another was cream colored with gold streaks, and the last black with scarlet ripples. Drogo gives her a beautiful white mare, which Dany rides. After the wedding, Drogo treats her gently and Dany’s fear eases and she allows him to touch her.
Eddard (II) pg 91/109 Return to Top
Introduced: Alyn* (guardsman at Winterfell, later one of the Hand’s household guard, later part of Lord Beric Dondarrion’s party; killed when Ser Gregor Clegane's men spring their trap on Dondarrion's group);
Ser Boros Blount (Kingsguard, divested of his white cloak and later restored to the Kingsguard);
Ser Meryn Trant (Kingsguard of King Robert, then King Joffrey and then King Tommen).
First Mentioned: Wylla (woman named by Eddard as the mother of Jon Snow, and confirmed by Edric Dayne; wet nurse to both Jon and Edric).
Legends: Baelor the Blessed (Baelor the Beloved, King Baelor I Targaryen, septon and king; younger brother of King Daeron I, son of King Aegon III; prayed for the return of dragons, saved his cousin Prince Aemon from the snake pit in Dorne; once betrothed to his sister Daena Targaryen before ascending to the Iron Throne, after which he annulled the marriage prior to consummating it, and had all his sisters kept “under comfortable confinement” in the Maidenvault; possibly killed by his uncle Viserys II who was Hand at the time, or died from prolonged fasting);
Ned is woken early and told that Robert requested he join him in riding. They are at the Neck, and Ned and Robert pass barrows of the First Men. Robert starts asking Ned about the woman who bore him Jon Snow, having forgotten (or never known?) her name. Ned tells him the woman’s name was Wylla, but leaves it at that. The King then shows Ned a letter from Lord Varys that reveals Dany’s wedding to Khal Drogo. The source was Ser Jorah Mormont. Robert wants to send men to kill Dany, however Ned says that the slaughter of innocents is not honorable; but the King’s hatred of Targaryens was legendary, and he retorts by asking Ned, "how many times did Rhaegar rape Lyanna?"
The discussion turns to the naming of a new Warden of the East, and Ned surmises that Jaime Lannister was promised the position. He cautions that that would give one family half the armies of the Kingdom, as the Wardens of both East and West would be Lannisters. Ned remembers the events after the Trident, when he came to King’s Landing to find Jaime Lannister sitting upon the Iron Throne. He recalls how Mad King Aerys’ last mistake was to let Tywin Lannister’s army of 12,000 enter King’s Landing professing loyalty (the Lannisters bidded their time and remained neutral during the war until after the Trident was won). Robert is unmoved.
Tyrion (II) pg 99/118 Return to Top
Introduced: Yoren* (wandering crow [recruiter] of the Night’s Watch; killed by Ser Amory Lorch's men);
Morrec* (one of Tyrion’s retainers, a cook and groom).
Legends: Aegon the Dragon (Aegon the Conqueror, first of the Targaryen DragonKings, wed both his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys; conquered the Seven Kingdoms [except Dorne] and united them; came overseas from the ancient Freehold of Valyria, bore the legendary Valyrian sword ‘Blackfyre’ which was passed on to all the Targaryen Kings until Aegon IV gave the blade to his bastard son Daemon Blackfyre; father of King Aenys I with Rhaenys, and Maegor I with Visenya);
Balerion (the Black Dread, the largest of Aegon’s three Dragons);
Meraxes and Vhaghar (the other two dragons of Aegon ridden by his sisters, all three dragons named for ancient Valyrian gods);
King Loren of the Rock (ancestor of the Lannisters, last King of Casterly Rock, bent the knee to Aegon the Dragon);
King Mern of the Reach (King of the Reach, King Mern IX, last king of House Gardener, killed on the battlefield known as ‘The Field of Fire’ against Aegon the Dragon).
Tyrion travels north with Benjen and Jon to visit the Wall. They are joined by Yoren with 2 rapers he had procured for the Night’s Watch. Tyrion is reading a book about dragons, and thinking of the history of Aegon conquering the Seven Kingdoms. King Loren and King Mern had 55,000 men in their army against maybe a fifth that number in Aegon’s army, most freeriders of questionable allegiance. Aegon’s army crumbled against the greater numbers, but, for the only time, Aegon unleashed all three of his great Dragons creating the Field of Fire which decimated the enemy, killing King Mern. Jon comes over to talk to Tyrion, and the dwarf explains why he reads so often. Tyrion also tells the truth about what the Night’s Watch has become, with most members societal discards like rapers, poachers, thieves and bastards. Jon takes offense, and when Tyrion feels sorry for what he said and reaches out to touch Jon on the shoulder, Ghost smashes the dwarf to the ground. Jon calls the direwolf off. Jon then begins to realize that what Tyrion said of the Night’s Watch is true, and Tyrion tells him "Most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it". Tyrion Lannister is not one such man, and neither is Jon Snow.
Catelyn (III) pg 107/128 Return to Top
Introduced: Hallis Mollen (former guardsman at Winterfell, later Captain of the Guard, later with Robb’s army and then sent to return Ned's bones);
Old
Maester Luwin tries to persuade Cat to leave Bran’s bedside and go over treasury counts, and name new men to posts vacated when Ned went south. Robb comes into the room and tells Luwin that he will make those decisions. Robb tells his mother that Rickon needs her, and that he needs her help running Winterfell. Outside, the direwolves are howling and Robb notices a fire has started in the library. As Robb runs off with the guards to fight the blaze, an assassin enters the room. He is filthy and appears ragged. Catelyn tries to prevent him from killing Bran, but has her palms sliced open by the cutthroat’s dagger. Bran’s direwolf saves both Cat and Bran, killing the assassin. Catelyn sleeps for four days after Maester Luwin bandages her hands, and she is a changed woman when she awakens, a woman with a purpose. She knows that someone sent the assassin to kill Bran because they feared what he might say if he awoke. Ser Rodrik points out that the dagger was expensive, made of Valyrian steel, and should not have been in the hands of such a pitiful assassin. Cat tells Robb, Theon, Ser Rodrik and Maester Luwin her suspicion that Bran was pushed from that tower. She then informs them that she must go to King’s Landing to learn the truth of who sent the assassin. Ser Rodrik is to accompany her.
Sansa (I) pg 116/139 Return to Top
Introduced: Mycah* (a butcher’s son and friend of Arya; murdered by the Hound);
Ser Barristan Selmy (Barristan the Bold, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard during the reign of King Robert, formerly a Kingsguard to King Jaehaerys II and King Aerys II Targaryen; knighted by King Aegon V Targaryen; single-handedly saved King Aerys when he was taken hostage during the Defiance of Duskendale; literally a living legend; pardoned by King Robert, later a.k.a. Arstan Whitebeard and enters Dany's service);
Lord Renly Baratheon* (Lord of Storm’s End, younger brother of King Robert and Lord Stannis Baratheon, Master of Laws during the reign of King Robert, later proclaimed King; soon after killed in his pavilion by the dark, shadow-binding arts of Melisandre);
Ser Ilyn Payne (the King’s Justice, his house sworn to the Lannisters, once Captain of the household guard when Lord Tywin was Hand of King Aerys II; had his tongue removed by command of Aerys for the slanderous remark that Lord Tywin really ruled the realm; also Chief Gaoler of the dungeons below the Red Keep, part of his duties as the King's Justice).
Legends: Princess Daeryssa (Targaryen [?] Princess saved by Serwyn of the Mirror Shield from the giants);
Ser Morgil (evil slanderer of Queen Naerys who met Prince Aemon the Dragonknight in combat).
Sansa is getting ready to spend the afternoon with the Queen and Princess Myrcella, and goes in search of her sister. Arya wants no part of being with the Queen, so Sansa goes off on her own. When she arrives at the Queen’s wheelhouse, she sees a commotion. She is frightened terribly by Ser Ilyn Payne, and Lady even growls at him. She learns Ser Ilyn is mute, because King Aerys Targaryen had his tongue ripped out. She meets and names Ser Barristan and Lord Renly, and then Joffrey takes her for a horseback ride in the forest. Joff drinks too much at a farmstead, and while riding, they come upon Arya and Mycah practicing swordfighting. Joff challenges Mycah in a rage, but is attacked by Arya. Before he can hurt her, Nymeria smashes Joff to the ground and mangles his arm. Arya throws Joff’s sword in the river, and runs off with Nymeria. Sansa is horrified by how the day turned from dreamy to a nightmare. Joffrey yells at her in loathing when she tries to comfort him.
Eddard (III) pg 128/153 Return to Top
Introduced: Vayon Poole* (Steward of Winterfell and later for the Hand; killed when Eddard Stark is taken into custody for treason);
Ser Raymun Darry* (bannerman to the Tullys, fought for the Targaryens during the war and lost 3 brothers at the Trident; slain by Ser Gregor Clegane).
Arya is found by Jory, to Ned’s relief, because had the Lannisters’ men found her she would surely have been killed. She is taken before the King and Queen, and tells her side of the events. Joffrey then tells his side, lying the whole time. Sansa pretends not to remember what happened, leaving it Joff’s word against Arya’s. The King indicates that it is settled, but the Queen won’t quit so easily. She calls for the hide of a direwolf, and Robert is disgusted, but does nothing to stop her. Since Nymeria has not been found, Cersei decrees that Lady be killed. Ned pleads with Robert, and finally tells him that he should at least have the courage to carry out the sentence himself, but the King just walks off. Ned kills Lady himself. Afterwards, the Hound rides back with Mycah’s dead body on his horse.
Bran (III) pg 134/160 Return to Top
Bran, in a coma, is dreaming that he is falling from a great height. A crow flying next to him keeps telling Bran to fly. Bran is afraid at first to look down, but when he does, he sees a great many strange images. He sees his father and sisters, and they were surrounded by shadows. One had the terrible face of a hound, another armored in gold and beautiful, and "over them loomed a giant in armor made of stone, but when he opened his visor, there was nothing inside but darkness and thick black blood". Bran also saw the Wall, and looked north. He looked "deep into the heart of winter" and was terrified by what he saw. The crow tells him that is why he must live. Bran finally begins to fly, and then the crow suddenly has three eyes, and starts pecking at Bran’s forehead. Bran awakens, and a serving girl runs screaming for Robb. When Robb arrives, overjoyed that his brother is awake, Bran names his direwolf "Summer".
Catelyn (IV) pg 139/165 Return to Top
Introduced: Moreo Tumitis (Tyroshi sailor, Captain of the Storm Dancer);
Lord Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger, the King’s master of coin, once a ward of Lord Hoster Tully, later granted Harrenhal and named Lord Paramount of the Trident; later still marries Lysa Arryn and is named Lord Protector of the Vale of Arryn);
Lord Varys (the Spider, a eunuch, the King’s master of whisperers, pardoned by King Robert along with Ser Barristan and Grand Maester Pycelle for remaining loyal to the Targaryens during the war; currently missing and presumed to be with Tyrion);
Ser Aron Santagar* (Dornish Master-at-Arms of King's Landing; murdered in the streets of King's Landing during the riots).
Legends: King Maegor I Targaryen (Maegor the Cruel, 3rd of the Targaryen Kings, son of Aegon the Dragon and his sister Visenya, completed the Red Keep and its fortified inner keep later called Maegor’s Holdfast; left no issue; husband of Jeyne Westerling; earned the title "the Cruel" due to his brutal subjugation of the Faith Militant; served as Hand to his half-brother Aenys I);
Visenya Targaryen (sister of Aegon the Conqueror and Rhaenys, mother of Maegor the Cruel [the marriage of her and Aegon did not foster the Targaryen line, as Visenya’s son Maegor died without issue], bore the Valyrian blade ‘Dark Sister’);
Rhaenys Targaryen (sister of Aegon and Visenya, mother of King Aenys from whom the entire Targaryen line of Kings descended).
Catelyn and Ser Rodrik arrive at King’s
Landing and pay the captain of the ship which brought them from
Catelyn is awoken from sleep by knocking at her door. The City Watchmen at the door bear a paper with Littlefinger’s seal on it. Catelyn thinks that Captain Moreo must have given away her location. As she approaches the Red Keep, Cat remembers the stories of how its construction was commanded by Aegon the Conqueror, but it was Maegor the Cruel who finished the great keep and had all the builders put to death so that only the Targaryens would know its secrets. She is brought before Littlefinger, and learns that she was found by Lord Varys. Littlefinger wants to know why she is in King’s Landing, and offers his help. Varys arrives and unbelievably knows of the dagger Cat is carrying. Cat shows them the dagger, and Littlefinger tells her it was his, although he had lost it betting on Ser Jaime Lannister in the tourney on Prince Joffrey’s name day, when Ser Loras Tyrell won the joust. He tells Cat he lost it to Tyrion Lannister.
Jon (III) pg 148/176 Return to Top
Introduced: Ser Alliser Thorne (Master-at-Arms of Castle Black, later Master-at-Arms of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea);
Grenn (Night’s Watch recruit, later Ranger);
Jeren (recruit);
Todder (Toad, a recruit, later Ranger);
Dareon* (recruit, former singer, later steward at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, then named a recruiter; slain by Arya Stark in Braavos);
Pypar (Pyp, recruit, later Ranger);
Halder (recruit, later member of the Builders);
Donal Noye* (armorer at Castle Black, once master armorer at Storm’s End; killed by Mag the Mighty fighting to hold the gate beneath the Wall);
Lord Jeor Mormont* (Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, the Old Bear, former Lord of Bear Island, father of Ser Jorah Mormont, brother of Lady Maege; murdered by Ollo Lophand in Craster's Keep following the events at the Fist of the First Men).
Jon is training under Ser Alliser Thorne at Castle Black, but keeps beating the other recruits, often injuring them. Ser Alliser mercilessly berates them, calling each by derogatory names. Jon injures Grenn’s hand during a spar. Later that day, Grenn, Toad and the two rapers attack Jon in his cell. Jon fights them off until Donal Noye intervenes. Donal Noye had been blacksmith to Lord Stannis, and some say he forged King Robert’s warhammer. He lost an arm at the seige of Storm’s End, and subsequently took the black. Noye explains to Jon that the other recruits had little to no formal training in swordfighting, whereas Jon was trained by an annointed knight. Jon realizes that what he was doing was wrong. Afterward, he meets Tyrion who calls him Lord Snow like the others. When Jon objects to the title, Tyrion tells him, "If they want to give you a name, take it, make it your own. Then they can’t hurt you with it anymore". They go to the mess hall together, and Tyrion mentions that Benjen Stark, who went in search of Ser Waymar Royce, is too long away. Ser Alliser tells Jon that the Lord Commander wants to see him. A message from Winterfell reveals that Bran had awoken. Jon is overjoyed, and when he sees Grenn, he tells him that he’ll help him learn how to fight better.
Eddard (IV) pg 160/190 Return to Top
Introduced: Grand Maester Pycelle (maester of the Citadel, member of the King’s small council, pardoned by King Robert; served six kings: Aegon V, Jaeherys II, Aerys II, Robert Baratheon, Joffrey and then Tommen).
Ned has just arrived at King’s Landing, and is told that the small council is having an urgent meeting. Ned looks at the members of the small council, and remembers Robert saying how he is surrounded by flatterers and fools, and sees the truth in the statement. A letter sent ahead by the King proclaims that a tourney and feast would be held in honor of Ned’s appointment as Hand. Ned wants nothing of it, but has no say. He learns that over the last 14 years, the King and his council have beggared the realm, with the crown in debt some 6 million gold, most of it owed to the Lannisters. Ned cannot believe that Jon Arryn allowed this to happen, but Littlefinger claims it was Robert’s extravagance. Ned leaves to return to the Tower of the Hand, but is intercepted by Littlefinger, who takes him on a long journey through the castle and into the city in an effort to mislead anyone who might be watching them.
He takes Ned to a brothel that he owns, where Catelyn and Ser
Rodrik await. Ned nearly kills Littlefinger in disbelief until Ser Rodrik
appears. Cat tells Ned everything that has transpired, and Ned feels that
he should take his case, and the dagger, to the King.
Littlefinger tells him there is no proof, and advises that he
should throw away the dagger and forget it ever existed. Ned tells him he is as
big a fool now as when he took up a sword against
Tyrion (III) pg 171/203 Return to Top
Introduced: Bowen Marsh (Lord Steward of Castle Black);
Ser Jaremy Rykker* (senior ranger of the Night’s Watch; slain by the wights when the corpses of Jafer Flowers and Othor rise);
Maester Aemon* (ancient maester of the Night’s Watch, once Aemon Targaryen, older brother of Egg [Aegon V Targaryen], younger brother of Daeron and Aerion Brightflame, son of King Maekar I and grandson of King Daeron II, uncle of Prince Duncan the Small and King Jaehaerys II; dies during the long journey from Eastwatch-by-the-Sea to Oldtown at the age of 102).
Tyrion mocks Ser Alliser during dinner at the Lord Commander’s table. We learn that both Ser Alliser and Ser Jaremy were forced to take the black by Lord Tywin Lannister when he took over King’s Landing (both fought for the Targaryens on the walls of King’s Landing). After Thorne leaves in disgust, blind Maester Aemon declares that Tyrion "is a giant come among us, here at the end of the world". It leaves Tyrion speechless for once in his life. Later, Lord Commander Mormont beseeches Tyrion to speak to the King and his lord father about the condition of the Watch. He tells Tyrion that the Watch now totals under a thousand men, and that he has but 3 men to guard each mile of the Wall. Tyrion promises he would: And he would. Tyrion Lannister was as good as his word. When Tyrion leaves Mormont’s chambers, he is taken with a whim to see the Wall one last time. He takes a winch up to the top, and meets Jon. Jon asks Tyrion to help Bran, as Tyrion had helped him. Tyrion promises that he would, and Jon calls him ‘friend’.
Arya (II) pg 181/215 Return to Top
Introduced: Jacks (guardsman of the Hand, later under Hallis Mollen with Robb’s army [could there be two Jacks?]);
Tomard* (Fat Tom, another guardsman of the Hand; slain when Lord Eddard is arrested for treason);
Syrio Forel* (a master Water Dancer, once First Sword of the Sealord of Braavos, trains Arya, unknown if he is dead).
Arya leaves the table of the Hand in anger- she wants nothing to do with tourneys and hates being in King’s Landing. She runs to her room and bolts herself in, despite Septa Mordane’s pleas. Ned comes to her, and discovers Needle. She won’t tell him that Jon gave it to her. Her father pleads with her to stop quarreling with her sister. Ned tells her she resembles Lyanna, although Arya doesn’t believe him because she had heard her aunt was beautiful. He tells her Lyanna would have carried a sword, if his lord father had permitted it. Lyanna had the ‘wolf-blood’, like Arya. We learn that Arya and Jory had to drive Nymeria off by throwing rocks at her. Ned feels that Arya should be trained in the use of a sword. The next day, Syrio Forel begins to train Arya in the ways of being a Water Dancer, the fighting style of the First Sword of Braavos.
Daenerys (III) pg 190/226 Return to Top
Introduced: Jhogo (warrior of the Khaleesi’s khas, the Whip, later bloodrider).
The khalasar is entering the
Bran (IV) pg 200/237 Return to Top
Introduced: Hodor (a simpleminded stableboy who only says the word ‘Hodor’; real name is Walder, related to Old Nan).
Bran is watching Rickon play with the wolves from
his window. Old
But Old Nan’s story is interrupted by Maester Luwin. Bran’s presence is needed in the Great Hall to greet Tyrion Lannister, down from the Wall. Robb is hostile to Tyrion, but the dwarf has drawn up plans for a saddle for Bran, true to his word to Jon. While they are examining the sketch, the boys’ three direwolves enter and start growling at Tyrion. Theon says "The wolves do not like your smell, Lannister". The wolves assault Tyrion, but are called off in time by the boys. Tyrion declines Robb and Maester Luwin’s invitation to stay at Winterfell. That evening, Robb and Bran host Yoren for dinner, and the black brother brings dire tidings of Benjen Stark. He says that Benjen is probably dead. Bran believes that Uncle Benjen will be saved by the children of the forest. Maester Luwin tells him the children are dead for thousands of years, but Yoren disagrees, saying that in the north, beyond the Wall, who’s to say what lives?
Eddard (V) pg 210/250 Return to Top
Ned is speaking with Grand Maester Pycelle in the
maester’s solar. We learn that Pycelle was a young man forging his maester’s
chain during the reign of King Maekar, and he mentions the foretold Great
Summer, a fabled summer that never ends. Ned discovers that Jon Arryn was
melancholy but healthy, and then suddenly became ill. Pycelle sent away Lord
Arryn’s maester because he felt Maester Colemon didn’t understand
the older body as well as Pycelle. On his deathbed, Jon Arryn called out Robert’s
name several times and said "The seed is strong". The only ones in
the room were Pycelle, Lysa Arryn and King Robert. When Ned asks Pycelle if
poison had killed Jon Arryn, the Grand Maester rebuffs him, asking who would do
such a thing? Ned replies that he heard poison was a woman’s weapon. Pycelle
says poison is the preferred weapon of women, cravens and eunuchs. He
tells Ned that Varys was born a slave in
Jon (IV) pg 218/259 Return to Top
Introduced: Samwell Tarly (Sam, later teased as Sam the Slayer, once heir to Horn Hill, son of Lord Randyll Tarly but disowned and sent to the Wall, later steward to Maester Aemon, then sent to the Citadel to begin training as a maester);
Rast* (Rat, recruit of the Night’s Watch, once a raper);
Albett (Pimple, recruit, later member of the builders).
First Mentioned: Dickon Tarly (younger brother of Samwell, now heir to Horn Hill, betrothed to Lord William Mooton's daughter Eleanor). <