History Awesome / ADanceWithDragons

** He later gets a veeeeeery subtle and gruesome one during [[spoiler: Ramsey Bolton's wedding. He's promised to provide food and wine for the guests, but on the way he conveniently "loses" Rhaegar, Jared and Symond Frey, who'd been living in his castle to ensure his loyalty, to outlaws. Later, he serves three giant pork pies to the guests, which includes many Freys, eats two slices from each and then calls for a song about the [[ImAHumanitarian Rat Cook, a legendary monster who served an unknowing enemy his own cooked children at a dinner]]]]. Also qualifies as a CMOF, if you [[BlackComedy find that sort of thing funny]].

* Ser Barristan [[spoiler: trying to direct Drogon's attention away from Dany.]]

* Arya Stark isn't the only PluckyGirl in the North. We have ten year old Lyanna Mormont sending a message to King Stannis that her family will only bend their knee to a Stark and Wylla Manderly being the only member of her house to stand up and say what everyone's thinking about the Freys and Ramsey Bolton. And Alys Karstark [[spoiler:escaping from a forced marriage to her EvilUncle by riding an exhausted horse to the Wall, and then calmly agreeing to marry a wildling lord who's more scared of her than she is of him.]]

* TheReveal that [[spoiler: the Manderlys and their allies have been conspiring against the Boltons, Freys, and Lannisters and plot to restore the Starks to power]].
-->''"My son [[spoiler: Wendel]] came to the the Twins a guest. He ate Lord Walder's bread and salt, and hung his sword upon the wall to feast with friends. And they murdered him. Murdered, I say, and may the Freys choke upon their fables. I drink with Jared, jape with Symond, promise Rhaegar the hand of my own beloved granddaughter ... but never think that means I have forgotten. The north remembers, Lord [[spoiler: Davos]]. The north remembers, and the mummer’s farce is almost done. My son is home."''
--> '''Lord [[spoiler: Wyman Manderly''']]
* It might also show her blood thirsty nature but Nymeria Sand's speech to Ellaria Sand about how she wants to utterly destory House Lannister is its own dark SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome
-->'''Nymeria Sand:''' '' It ends in blood, as it began. It ends when Casterly Rock is cracked open, so the sun can shine on the maggots and the worms within. It ends with the utter ruin of Tywin Lannister and all of his works.''

* Tyrion Lannister saving the life of [[spoiler:(F)Aegon Targaryen VI]] by bodily ramming a Stone Man off their boat.
** In the next chapter he convinces [[spoiler:(F)Aegon]] to abandon the plan he's been coached in for his entire life, pointing out that it clearly hasn't been working. And that is after he discovers [[spoiler:(F)Aegon]]'s true identity in the first place, wagering the reveal of the secret over a cyvasse game, with the implication that he'd deliberately lost several earlier games to get his opponent confident enough to accept that bet.
** And even better, when he hears that [[spoiler:(F)Aegon]] has actually taken his advice his inner reaction is along the lines of "Ha, the idiot actually fell for it." He not only convinced him to abandon his lifelong plan, he convinced him to abandon his lifelong plan ''for a worse plan'' -- and he did it while playing a cyvasse game with him that ended with [[spoiler:(F)Aegon]] losing ''because he took Tyrion's advice about how to play.''

'''Hugo Wull:''' I want to live forever in a land where summer lasts a thousand years. I want a castle in the clouds where I can look down over the world. I want to be six-and-twenty again. When I was six-and-twenty I could fight all day and fuck all night. What men want does not matter. Winter is almost upon us, boy. And winter is death. I would sooner my men die fighting for the Ned's little girl than alone and hungry in the snow, weeping tears that freeze upon their cheeks. No one sings songs of men who die like that. As for me, I am old. This will be my last winter. Let me bathe in Bolton blood before I die. I want to feel it spatter across my face when my axe bites deep into a Bolton skull. I want to lick it off my lips and die with the taste of it on my tongue.

* It might also show her blood thirsty nature but Nymeria Sand's speech to Ellaria Sand about how she wants to utterly destory House Lannister is it's own dark {{Crowning Moment Of Awesome}}

--> '''Lord [[spoiler: Wyman Manderly''']]

** And even better, when he hears that [[spoiler:(F)Aegon]] has actually taken his advice his inner reaction is along the lines of "Ha, the idiot actually fell for it." He not only convinced him to abandon his lifelong plan, he convinced him to abandon his lifelong plan FOR A WORSE PLAN -- and he did it while playing a cyvasse game with him that ended with [[spoiler:(F)Aegon]] losing BECAUSE HE TOOK TYRION'S ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO PLAY.

** Jon Connington in general. He [[spoiler: has Greyscale]] but all he wants is for the boy he believes is his dead [[HoYay best friend and idol's]] son [[spoiler: to assume his rightful place on the throne.]] That requires devotion.
** And because it's [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments what you do for a surrogate son]].

** Jon Connington in general. He [[spoiler: has Greyscale]] but all he wants is for his dead [[HoYay best friend and idol's]] son [[spoiler: to assume his rightful place on the throne.]] That requires devotion.

* Varys finally being proactive about his plots and [[spoiler: killing Kevan Lannister and Grand Maester Pycelle]] because they were threatening to stabilize the realm too much, and thoroughly regretting its necessity the entire time.
** [[spoiler:He was able to save the life of Aegon Targaryen VI, and arranged for him to get a thorough education in everything he would need to be the kind of leader the Seven Kingdoms need when he comes of age and returns to take the Iron Throne. Fans had been waiting five books and fifteen years to learn what Varys has really been up to, and it fully lives up to that buildup.]]

* Tyrion Lannister saving the life of [[spoiler:Aegon Targaryen VI]] by bodily ramming a Stone Man off their boat.
** In the next chapter he convinces [[spoiler:Aegon]] to abandon the plan he's been coached in for his entire life, pointing out that it clearly hasn't been working. And that is after he discovers [[spoiler:Aegon]]'s true identity in the first place, wagering the reveal of the secret over a cyvasse game, with the implication that he'd deliberately lost several earlier games to get his opponent confident enough to accept that bet.
** And even better, when he hears that [[spoiler:Aegon]] has actually taken his advice his inner reaction is along the lines of "Ha, the idiot actually fell for it." He not only convinced him to abandon his lifelong plan, he convinced him to abandon his lifelong plan FOR A WORSE PLAN -- and he did it while playing a cyvasse game with him that ended with [[spoiler:Aegon]] losing BECAUSE HE TOOK TYRION'S ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO PLAY.

** The assist he gets from [[SpiritedYoungLady Wylla Manderly]] is pretty great too, boldly reminding her family of the debt they owe the Starks. [[spoiler: Made even more impressive since, unlike her older sister, [[EnforcedMethodActing she doesn't know about her grandfather's plans.]]]]

* The prologue character Thistle deserves one for [[spoiler:stopping an evil skinchanger from using her body by biting off her tongue and clawing her eyes out when she feels him taking over. And then she comes after him as a wight.]]

** Ser Barristan's moment in the Pit is only highlighted when one realizes what he was truly doing. [[spoiler: He jumped down a ten foot wall; no easy feat for a man his age, and called out to a '''dragon''' for its attention, against Dany's, and he had no way of knowing Drogon wouldn't kill him, but did so nonetheless, just to defend the one he swore his sword to.]] He is a [[KnightInShiningArmor True Knight]]. Laying down his life for the one he has sworn to protect without a second of hesitation. Ser Barristan the Bold indeed.
*** [[spoiler: And considering that he is one of the few who has seen Drogon at work, and that he's heard stories of the Black Dread's power since he was a child shows you that he's not like Harghaz the 'Hero'; he genuinely knew just what he was going up against, and still did his best to defend Daenerys, not through madness or some misconception of glory, but because he truly is the Bold.]]

** [[spoiler: YMMV, while there ''could'' be an element of idealism, a desire to create the 'perfect prince' five gets you ten power is the true goal - and that the kid hasn't a drop of royal blood in his veins.]]

-->''"My son [[spoiler: Wendel]] came to the the Twins a guest. He ate Lord Walder's bread and salt, and hung his sword upon the wall to feast with friends. And they murdered him. Murdered, I say, and may the Freys choke upon their fables. I drink with Jared, jape with Symond, promise Rhaegar the hand of my own beloved granddaughter ... but never think that means I have forgotten. The north remembers, Lord [[spoiler: Davos]]. The north remembers, and the mummer’s farce is almost done. My son is home."''
--> '''Lord [[spoiler: Wyman Manderly''']]

--> '''Lord [[spoiler: Wyman Manderly''']]

** Ser Barristan and [[spoiler:Drogon]] both have numerous ones throughout, not just in their scene together. [[spoiler: Drogon is the first wild Dragon in years, making his lair in the Dothraki sea and leaving wide scars across the landscape. And Ser Barristan defeats a pit fighter not half his age as though it were nothing, takes Hizdahr prisoner, then becomes acting Hand until Dany returns. Granted, he doesn't want to rule and his city is under siege, but he tries.]]

** And because it's [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming what you do for a surrogate son]].

** [[spoiler: YMMV, while they ''could'' be an element of idealism, a desire to create the 'perfect prince' five gets you ten power is the true goal - and that the kid hasn't a drop of royal blood in his veins.]]

** [[Spoiler: YMMV, while they ''could'' be an element of idealism, a desire to create the 'perfect prince' five gets you ten power is the true goal - and that the kid hasn't a drop of royal blood in his veins.]]

* Arya Stark isn't the only PluckyGirl in the North. We have ten year old Lyanna Mormont sending a message to King Stannis that her family will only bend their knee to a Stark and Wylla Manderly being the only member of her house to stand up and say what everyone's thinking about the Freys and Ramsey Bolton. And let's not forget Alys Karstark [[spoiler:escaping from a forced marriage to her EvilUncle by riding an exhausted horse to the Wall, and then calmly agreeing to marry a wildling lord who's more scared of her than she is of him.]]

* Varys finally being proactive about his plots and [[spoiler: killing Kevan Lannister and Grand Maester Pycelle]] because they were threatening to stabilize the realm too much.
** And thoroughly regretting its necessity the entire time.
** Let's not forget that earlier in the same book we learn [[spoiler:he was able to save the life of Aegon Targaryen VI, and arranged for him to get a thorough education in everything he would need to be the kind of leader the Seven Kingdoms need when he comes of age and returns to take the Iron Throne. Fans had been waiting five books and fifteen years to learn what Varys has really been up to, and it fully lives up to that buildup.]]
* Let's give Rhaegal his/her/their due. Everybody in-universe usually focuses on big, bad Drogon when it comes to bringing cold sweats in the middle of the night -- simply because of being bigger and stronger. But, one CeilingCling, WallCrawl and [[StealthHiBye pop up from a forgotten pit]] later to [[spoiler: incinerate poor, hapless Quentyn Martell]] while he was focused on trying to bully the smaller, dimmer Viserion [[spoiler: (the numbskull just stood there like a lemon and tried easily read attacks without even effectively bringing the flame on: may's well ''use'' the idiot sibling as a distraction and meat-shield when you're a natural Rogue)]]? Who's giving you the nightmares, now, eh? That's a pretty awesome feat of situational awareness, tactical planning and outright ninjaing. No wonder Ser Barristan is one of the few who ''doesn't'' sell Rhaegal short. Note: Drogon vs a group of guys with weapons? Would have wound up a bit dead without an open sky and human backup. Rhaegal didn't even need the open sky to make short work of the problem: psychological intimidation with physical dexterity added to a bit of timed nous, and freedom (and ''almost'' a meal) can be found for you and yours.

'''Corliss Penny: Do you want to die, Wull?\\

--> Hugo Wull: Lord Pea Pod. If you were a man, I would kill you for that, but my sword is made of too fine a steel to besmirch with craven’s blood. Aye, men are dying. More will die before we see Winterfell. What of it? This is war. Men die in war. That is as it should be. As it has always been.

--> Corliss Penny: Do you want to die, Wull?

--> Hugo Wull: I want to live forever in a land where summer lasts a thousand years. I want a castle in the clouds where I can look down over the world. I want to be six-and-twenty again. When I was six-and-twenty I could fight all day and fuck all night. What men want does not matter. Winter is almost upon us, boy. And winter is death. I would sooner my men die fighting for the Ned's little girl than alone and hungry in the snow, weeping tears that freeze upon their cheeks. No one sings songs of men who die like that. As for me, I am old. This will be my last winter. Let me bathe in Bolton blood before I die. I want to feel it spatter across my face when my axe bites deep into a Bolton skull. I want to lick it off my lips and die with the taste of it on my tongue.

--> [[spoiler: Khrazz]] Old man. I will eat your heart.