History TearJerker / ASongOfIceAndFire

* It's hard not to feel sorry for Princess Rhaenyra. Her stepmother, stepmother's father and half-brothers conspire to steal the crown that should have been hers. Her daughter is stillborn. Her three eldest sons die tragic deaths in the span of a few months. Two of the men she had raised from the dirt to the level of knights and dragon riders betray her cause. Her growing fear and paranoia from all these tragedies cause her to turn against those who do stay loyal to her. Her dragon is killed. Finally, she is eaten alive by her half-brother's dragon.

** The [[spoiler:death]] of Aegon "Jinglebell" Frey is also pretty sad. He's a grandson of Walder Frey who seems to be disabled and is made the Fool of the Crossing and mocked by his relatives. [[spoiler:When the Red Wedding happens, Aegon doesn't even seem to know what's going on and is held hostage by Catelyn in an attempt to bargain for her son's life. Walder Frey's reaction is basically that Aegon Frey isn't useful and thus expendable, meaning when Robb is murdered, Aegon is likewise murdered, even though he is not at all responsible for the Red Wedding. It shows that despite Walder Frey's talk of caring for his family, he doesn't really care for them as people and just sees them as pawns to further the power of House Frey.]]

** In the preview chapter from ''The Winds of Winter'' Arya is working as an actress as part of her apprenticeship under the Faceless Men. As an actress, she is given mostly small, unsavory roles in unsavory plays and is sexually harassed offstage -- while earning so little, she can't afford decent shoes, new stockings or even nightwear. In addition, the damage to her personality is increasing, as Arya has trouble distinguishing between herself, her wolf Nymeria (she dreams about her), her fake Mercy persona she was given for this assignment, '''and''' the roles "Mercy" plays.

** [[spoiler: Even worse, Arya lures Raff back to her room with the promise of sex. She is eleven or twelve years old at and is already resorting to this measure, lying to him that she's gotten her period. Even worse? He agrees and is excited by the prospect. He's a pedophile.]]

* A minor one, but in ''A Feast For Crows'', when Jaime offers to let the Blackfish take the Black in exchange for surrendering, the Blackfish refuses. Not only because it's [[TheOathBreaker The Kingslayer]] offering it, but because he doesn't trust the new Lord Commander of the Night's Watch [[HeroicBastard Jon Snow]] because his niece Catelyn didn't. It's sad when you consider that Jon is one of the most heroic, moral and compassionate characters in the series and does not at all deserve the mistrust he receives from the Blackfish and Catelyn due to his being an illegitimate child as Jon loves his family and is loyal to them. This is especially made apparent when Jon refuses Stannis' offer of lordship of Winterfell, something he thought was always beyond his reach, because it would take away his sister Sansa's claim and the only thing she has left.

* Daenerys's feelings of loneliness throughout the series. No matter how much Dany acheives, survives, or goals she meets, she yearns for that house with the red door -- the closest thing to home she and Viserys had known growing up -- and is haunted by Mirri's promise that she will never bear a living child, believes her House will die with her, and remembers her son being murdered in her womb while her husband died. Remembering how happy she'd been with Khal Drogo, carrying their unborn sun, and living among their khalasar, Dany reflects:

* Daenerys's feelings of loneliness throughout the series. No matter how much Dany acheives, survives, or goals she meets, she yearns for that house with the red door -- the closest thing to home she and Viserys had known growing up -- and is haunted by Mirri's promise that she will never bear a living child, believes her House will die with her, and remembers her son being murdered in her womb while her husband died. Remembering how happy she'd been with Khal Drogo, carrying their unborn sun, and living among their khalasar, Dany reflects:
-->Not since those half-remembered days in Braavos when she lived in the house with the red door had she been as happy. But in the Red Waste, all her joy had turned to ashes.

** Robb telling Bran that when he's up and about again, the two of them will take a trip up to the wall to visit Jon. HarsherInHindsight.

* After [[spoiler:Ned's death]], Bran dreams his father talked to him in the crypt, and so has Maester Luwin and Osha take him down, where they find Shaggydog and Rickon. Rickon reveals he had the same dream in the most heartbreaking way possible:

* Jorah telling Dany the story of his old wife, Lynesse. [[spoiler:The two were genuinely in love for all of a week -- afterwards, Lynesse realized that Jorah really wasn't a splendidly rich tourney champion. He was just a simple knight from Bear Island, a drab, boring place that was nothing like the flashy home she was used to. She left him to become a merchant prince's concubine. Afterwards, when asked, Jorah tells Dany that Lynesse looked a lot like her. This is where Dany realizes that Jorah loves her romantically, and imagines being with him... and fails. Jorah is hopelessly in love with Dany, but emphasis on 'hopeless' -- Dany does not return his affections, especially when she is still grieving the death of her husband, Khal Drogo.]]

* Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Jon's reactions to the news of [[spoiler:each of their family members]] dying...

** Aemon's advice to Jon: ''"Kill the boy and let the man be born"'' being the same advice he once gave his own beloved brother all those years ago before he sailed to the Wall. Now, as he's about to go on another sea voyage, Maester Aemon is giving this same advice to another he cares for and who might also unknowingly be [[spoiler:his own great-great nephew, one of the last of his family]]. After Jon sends his best friend and Maester Aemon away to Oldtown, both of whom he misses deeply throughout the fifth book, Maester Aemon's last words to Jon have a heartbreaking effect:

* All of Reek's chapters. What he's been through certainly makes him a TearJerker, but particularly heart-wrenching [[spoiler:is when he breaks down in the godswood, wishing only that he could die as Theon]].

* The vicious rape of the Riverlands. Westeros is altogether a much harsher place than the world we know (mostly), but the sheer amount of destruction and carnage the Lannisters (and to a much lesser extent, the Starks) inflict upon the Riverlands is horrifying even in context of Westerosi history.

-->'''Catelyn's thoughts:''' She found herself thinking of Jon’s mother, that shadowy secret love her husband would never speak of. Does she grieve for Ned as I do? Or did she hate him for leaving her bed for mine? Does she pray for her son as I have prayed for mine?

-->"I keep remembering the Stark words. Winter has come, Father. For me. Robb must fight the Greyjoys now as well as the Lannisters, and for what? For a gold hat and an iron chair? Surely the land has bled enough. I want my girls back, I want Robb to lay down his sword and pick some homely daughter of Walder Frey to make him happy and give him sons. I want [[spoiler:Bran and Rickon back]], I want... I ''want''..."

** The bride is someone who has dreamed of nothing but her wedding for her whole life and sees it as the only thing she was really born for. Now, it's happening, and she's marrying a man she doesn't love and who doesn't love her. Her father isn't there to give her away, so the man who killed him does so instead. Neither of her big brothers aren't there to tell the groom that he'll kick his ass if he hurts her. Her mother isn't there. Her siblings aren't there -- because they've either been murdered (she believes), are missing, fighting a war against the family she's marrying into, or serving in the Night's Watch. All she wants is to go home, but once she marries her husband, she'll never be allowed to get away from his family. That's not even getting into the sexual issues.

-->Three times the gods saw fit to test my vows. Once when I was a boy, once in the fullness of my manhood, and once when I had grown old. By then my strength was fled, my eyes grown dim, yet that last choice was as cruel as the first. My ravens would bring the news from the south, words darker than their wings, the ruin of my House, the death of my kin, disgrace and desolation. What could I have done, old, blind, frail? I was helpless as a suckling babe, yet still it grieved me to sit forgotten as they cut down my brother’s poor grandson, and his son, and even the little children...”

* [[spoiler:The Red Wedding. Outside the castle, Robb Stark's loyal men, victors, and survivors of so many battles die horrific deaths, gutted by their former drinking mates, burned alive, or hunted down like mad dogs by Frey heavy cavalry. Inside the castle, their lords, and commanders desperately try to put up a resistance against almost inevitable death with cutlery, crockery or (in the case of the Greatjon) their own teeth. George RR Martin just ''loves'' to kill off nice characters, doesn't he?]]

--->[[spoiler:"''No, don't, don't cut my hair, Ned loves my hair...'' Then the steel was at her throat, and its bite was red and cold."]]

* Maester Aemon's arc. A wise, humble, and empathic man, he studied to become a maester and served at Dragonstone until his older brother, Prince Daeron, dies of sickness and afterward, Aemon goes to the Citadel. Aemon is OfferedTheCrown but he cedes in favour of his younger brother, Aegon. To avoid being used against his brother, Aemon joins the Night's Watch but when destruction comes to his family, Aemon finds himself bound by its rules not to get involved in the wars of the realm and though he spent his life serving and giving council, Aemon grows blind and is now forgotten by most of the Seven Kingdoms with his family having fallen into ruin.

** It's even worse if you keep faith to the possibility [[spoiler: that Jon, the boy who he's been telling this story, is actually his great-grand nephew and neither of them knows it. Aemon is denied the consolation of having a member of his family safe and sound (Jon) when he believes them to be all slaughtered. He only learns his grand-niece Daenerys is alive shortly before his death.]]
** Aemon's advice to Jon: ''"Kill the boy and let the man be born"'' being the same advice he once gave his own beloved brother all those years ago and now, as he's about to go on another sea voyage again, he's giving this same advice to another he cares for and who might also unknowingly be [[spoiler:his own great-great nephew, one of the last of his family]]. After Jon sends his best friend and Maester Aemon away to Oldtown, both of whom he misses deeply throughout the fifth book, Maester Aemon's last words to Jon have a heartbreaking effect:
--->Jon was tired. ''I need sleep.'' He had been up half the night poring over maps, writing letters, and making plans with Maester Aemon. Even after stumbling into his narrow bed, rest had not come easily. He knew what he would face today, and found himself tossing restlessly as he brooded on Maester Aemon’s final words. "Allow me to give my lord one last piece of counsel,” the old man had said, "the same counsel that I once gave my brother when we parted for the last time. He was three-and-thirty when the Great Council chose him to mount the Iron Throne. A man grown with sons of his own, yet in some ways still a boy. Egg had an innocence to him, a sweetness we all loved. Kill the boy within you, I told him the day I took ship for the Wall. It takes a man to rule. An Aegon, not an Egg. Kill the boy and let the man be born." The old man felt Jon’s face. "You are half the age that Egg was, and your own burden is a crueler one, I fear. You will have little joy of your command, but I think you have the strength in you to do the things that must be done. Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Winter is almost upon us. Kill the boy and let the man be born."

* Pretty much any mention of the house with the red door. As a young girl, Daenerys and Viserys were both taken care of by a Targaryen loyalist, Willem Darry, who was possibly the closest thing Dany had to a father and his house was one of the only places she could truly call home. Eventually Darry died of old age and his servants kicked the two out, leaving the house with the red door behind forever.

* One of Davos's last thoughts before [[spoiler:most of Stannis's men burn to death on the Blackwater]] ''[[AdultFear My sons...]]'' [[spoiler:And he loses all of them that were in the fighting!]]

* The tale of Bael the Bard, which Ygritte tells Jon is quite sad. For a feud with Lord Brandon Stark, the Wildling hero Bael the Bard sneaks in Winterfell and decides to [[AbductionIsLove steal Lord Stark's daughter]], leaving a [[FlowerMotif blue winter rose]] in her place. Lord Brandon spent years searching for her and almost died of despair nearly ending House Stark. Turns out Bael and Lady Stark were hiding in Winterfell all this time and the girl had bore Bael [[HeirClubForMen a son, who becomes the next Lord of Winterfell]]. However, when they meet on the battlefield Bael refuses to kill his son and is [[{{Patricide}} slain by him]]. When Lord Stark's mother finds out he unknowingly killed his father, [[DrivenToSuicide she throws herself to her death]]. It takes a whole new level of sadness with the personal meaning it could have to [[spoiler: a clueless Jon Snow]].

* Catelyn has NotSoDifferent thoughts about [[MysteriousParent Jon Snow's mother]] despite the harsh words she told him in AGOT and the resentment she has always harbored for a woman she thinks Ned could have loved more than her:

* Maester Aemon's arch. A wise, humble, and empathic man, he studied to become a maester and served at Dragonstone until his older brother, Prince Daeron, dies of sickness and afterward, Aemon goes to the Citadel. Aemon is OfferedTheCrown but he cedes in favour of his younger brother, Aegon. To avoid being used against his brother, Aemon joins the Night's Watch but when destruction comes to his family, Aemon finds himself bound by its rules not to get involved in the wars of the realm and though he spent his life serving and giving council, Aemon grows blind and is now forgotten by most of the Seven Kingdoms with his family having fallen into ruin.

** Aemon's advice to Jon: ''"Kill the boy and let the man be born"'' being the same advice he once gave his own beloved brother all those years ago and now, as he's about to board a ship again, he's giving this same advice to another he cares for and who might also unknowingly be [[spoiler:his own great-great nephew, one of the last of his family]]. After Jon sends his best friend and Maester Aemon away to Oldtown, both of whom he misses deeply throughout the fifth book, Maester Aemon's last words have a heartbreaking effect:

* Late in AGOT, Catelyn falls into a depression because of [[spoiler: her husband and youngest sons' deaths, her eldest son going to war, and her daughters being hostages]], which lasts all the way until [[spoiler: her death]].

* At the start of the book, Bran has "[[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident fallen]]" from the tower and is left crippled. An anguished Catelyn treats her husband's 14-year old [[HeroicBastard illegitimate son]] Jon exceedingly poorly, even though he is grieving and is trying to say goodbye to his brother Bran for what may well be the last time in his life. Just as he turns to leave, she calls him back, addressing him by his name for the first time and...

** Not only that, but the very description of what he used to be before he became king show how his power was slowly swept away by the weasels who picked up on his slack. He is effectively a mighty wall-of-a-man reduced to an amorphous blob of fat.

-->"Jon did not remember standing or leaving the solar. The next he knew, he was descending the tower steps, thinking, ''This is my father, my sisters, how can it be none of my concern.''"

* After the two of them make love on the ''Cinnamon Wind'' [[spoiler:Sam]] having to tell [[spoiler:Gilly]] that they can't be together even though he loves her [[spoiler:because of the vow he swore to the Night's Watch]]:

** [[spoiler: The reveal that Gilly was depressed because Jon [[SwitchedAtBirth forced her to leave her baby behind]] and take Mance's son with her instead as part of Jon's efforts to save a kid from being sacrificed for his king's blood and to give both babies a chance to live (revealed in A Dance With Dragons). In ''Dance'', before she leaves, Jon promises Gilly that her son will be safe because he has no king's blood as Stannis would not burn an without cause, and that her son will be provided for, educated, and raised under (Jon's) protection. Gilly holds Jon to his promise that he'll ensure her son will grow up strong and makes him vow that he won't name her child until he reaches two years for the sake of her child's well-being.]][[note]]Because of the harsh environment beyond the Wall, infant mortality for wildling babies is higher. Because of this, the free folk believe it is bad luck to name a child before they reach two years old and give the child a milk name in the interim. As Gilly tells Jon before she departs, "Don’t you name him. Don’t you do that, till he's past two years. It's ill luck to name them when they’re still on the breast. You crows may not know that, but it's true."[[/note]] [[spoiler:Still, though Gilly loves Mance's son as her own, she can't help being ''absolutely miserable'' over the separation from her own son.]]

* Davos [[spoiler: right before he thinks he's about to be executed. One of the most honorable yet humble characters in the book this side of Ned Stark, he has striven to do right for the good of Stannis and the realm, something which has earned him nothing but the death of four of his sons and the continued scorn of other nobles who disparage his humble origins. In his final moments, he uses his new literacy skills to write letters to his two youngest sons and wife, telling them to go across the Narrow Sea, while writing Devan (who is back at the Wall with Stannis as his squire) to tell him how proud he is of him. This last thought pretty much sums him up]]

* Daenerys' fever dream about her late brother Viserys, highlighting their strained and complicated relationship.

* The opening chapter starts with Theon in chains yet again, [[spoiler:possibly about to be executed by Stannis in spite of the fact that he saved Fake!Arya, as it's necessary for Stannis to pacify the North]]. Theon's sister, Asha -- the sister who loves Theon and one of Theon's only relatives who genuinely loves him back -- desperately seems to try and ransom him [[spoiler:but Stannis seemingly remains unmoved. Now, without other options, the most Asha can hope for Theon is supposedly a quick, merciful death, which is why she pleads that he be executed near a heart tree]]. She's already deeply saddened after having seen what Ramsay has done to her brother. Furthermore, shortly after she and Theon are reunited, she may be separated from him again -- perhaps permanently.

* In ''A Game Of Thrones'', when we learn of the old Maester Aemon's Targaryen lineage and family tragedy as he counsels Jon Snow about going through the '''exact same situation''' he did himself. Jon is devastated to learn of his [[spoiler:father's arrest, worries about his father and sisters in King's Landing, and wants to help his brother Robb]]. We learn most of Aemon's family is dead or believed dead, which eventually becomes [[spoiler:Jon's own tragic family situation as his family is likewise thought to be dead or mostly dead. Like Aemon, Jon can do exactly zilch about it all -- and they're both devastated by this]] -- "''Seven Hells.''"

* Every single [[FlashbackNightmare nightmare]] Ned has about his sister Lyanna's death. The [[MadnessMantra mantra]] "''Promise me!''" pops up every time there's something that reminds him of keeping that promise, a burden he has carried on by himself for fourteen years, which has shaped his the man he has become. And if [[EpilepticTrees the most popular fan theory]] is true... [[note]]''Game of Thrones'' showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff got Martin's approval to make the show in the first place by correctly guessing the identity of Jon's mother and, in the Season 6 finale, it is revealed Lyanna is Jon's mother.[[/note]][[spoiler: Ned promised to raise his nephew, Jon Snow, the son of his sister and Prince Rhaegar, and protect him by hiding his true origins. Made especially dramatic considering Ned had just fought alongside Robert in a war against the Targaryens and ended up being the one trusted with Rhaegar's son, the only child of Ned’s deceased sister. Robert had vowed to destroy anyone with Targaryen blood so Ned spends the rest of his life protecting his sister’s child, passing his nephew off as his illegitimate son to keep Jon safe from Robert's wrath. This would be a constant string to his relationship with his wife, not to mention that for keeping this secret he must lie to his best friend. However he brought Jon home with him, raised and loved the boy as his own, and took the greatest secret in Westeros to the grave, allowing the world to think he had broken his marriage vows -- all to save his sister's only son. Also, Ned was the only one who could reveal to Jon his Targaryen heritage... but Joffrey put an end to it by having Ned's head chopped off.]] Not to mention that war was started to rescue this girl, Lyanna... and when Ned reached her she was dying, and he couldn't do nothing but hearing her last pleading.

** And when Sansa awakens from nightmares in which she sees her father's beheading all over again, this 11-year old girl -- who months before, dreamed of fairy tales, songs, and happily ever-afters -- doesn't think her ''own'' death would be so terrible now. She even goes "so far as to cross the bedchamber and throw open the shutters... but then her courage left her, and she ran back to her bed, sobbing."

* Despite his obsessive hatred for Rhaegar, we get an insight into Robert's loneliness and disillusionment as he seems to know deep down that Lyanna may have choose him over Robert himself:

* The tale of Bael the Bard, which Ygritte tells Jon is quite sad. For a feud with Lord Brandon Stark, the Wildling hero Bael the Bard sneaks in Winterfell and decides to [[AbductionIsLove steal Lord Stark's daughter]], leaving a [[FlowerMotif blue winter rose]] in her place. Lord Brandon spent an years searching for her and almost died of despair nearly ending House Stark. Turns out Bael and Lady Stark were hiding in Winterfell all this time and the girl had bore Bael [[HeirClubForMen a son, who becomes the next Lord of Winterfell]]. However when they meet on the battlefield Bael refuses to kill his son and is [[{{Patricide}} slain by him]]. When Lord Stark's mother finds out he unknowingly killed his father, [[DrivenToSuicide she throws herself to her death]]. It takes a whole new level of sadness with the personal meaning it could have to [[spoiler: a clueless Jon Snow]].

* [[spoiler:The Red Wedding. Outside the castle, Robb Stark's loyal men, victors & survivors of so many battles die horrific deaths, gutted by their former drinking mates, burned alive, or hunted down like mad dogs by Frey heavy cavalry. Inside the castle, their lords & commanders desperately try to put up a resistance against almost inevitable death with cutlery, crockery or (in the case of the Greatjon) their own teeth. George RR Martin just ''loves'' to kill off nice characters, doesn't he?]]

** The bride is someone who has dreamed of nothing but her wedding for her whole life and sees it as the only thing she was really born for. Now, it's happening, and she's marrying a man she doesn't love and who doesn't love her. Her father isn't there to give her away, so the man who killed him does so instead. Neither of her big brothers are there to tell the groom that he'll kick his ass if he hurts her. Her mother isn't there. Her siblings aren't there -- because they've either been murdered (she believes), are missing, fighting a war against the family she's marrying into, or serving in the Night's Watch. All she wants is to go home, but once she marries her husband, she'll never be allowed to get away from his family. That's not even getting into the sexual issues.

* The epilogue, in which [[spoiler:it is revealed that Catelyn was resurrected by Beric Dondarrion but since it had been so long since her death, she bears very little resemblance to the woman that she was in life - and she cannot even rest in peace.]]

* The Damphair preview chapter read out at Balticon is a nightmarish blend of twisted drug-induced prophetic dreams and even more twisted reality. But among all the moments of horror & despair, the interactions of Aeron & Falia Flowers (last seen as Euron's concubine) are real tearjerkers. Aeron, whom we have always seen as yet another religious fanatic, obsessed with spreading the Drowned God's dominion over the mainland. But in this chapter, he reveals another side of his character, when he desperately tries to convince Falia to flee before Euron hurts her. But Falia refuses, believing Euron's promises of making her his salt wife. She even appears positively thrilled about Dany becoming his rock wife -- believing the two of them would be like sisters. Of course, Euron being Euron, he has Falia's tongue removed and has her tied to the prow of his flagship along with Aeron on the eve of his battle against the Redwynes. Even then, Aeron (even though he's in no great shape himself) comforts Falia and tells her to be brave, promising her of a place of honor in the Drowned God's Halls. Basically, for the first time in his life, Aeron is not using religion to harangue or to incite violence, but to comfort a fellow human being in pain.

* Though Sansa didn't have a particularly close relationship with her half-brother Jon Snow while their family was together at Winterfell, when she thinks of him, it is with fondness (such as in ''A Game Of Thrones'' and ''A Clash of Kings''). When she is a glorified hostage of the Lannisters, Sansa realizes how Jon is all the family she has left in the world and how much she misses him (''A Feast for Crows''), thinking how "so sweet" it would be to see Jon again.

* All of Reek's chapters. What he's been through makes certainly makes him a TearJerker, but particularly heart-wrenching [[spoiler:is when he breaks down in the godswood, wishing only that he could die as Theon]].
** The scene where he [[spoiler:[[IJustWantToBeLoved says that he wanted to be a Stark]]]] is a particularly wrenching one as well. Maybe sadder because only in Robb's memories, would Theon have been regarded as family... but we never see Robb's thoughts as he's not a POV character like Sansa, Bran, Arya, and Jon -- none of whom had a warm relationship with Theon like Robb.

* Kind of a tearjerker in retrospect, but Jon's continual rejection of [[spoiler: Stannis Baratheon's offer to make him the Lord of Winterfell because of his vows and because he doesn't want to disinherit his sister Sansa]] is tough to take in light of Robb's plan to legitimize him as a Stark and make him the heir to the North -- which Jon knows nothing about. First you have Jon, still thinking that he's not fully a Stark and never knowing that his brother and best friend was going to recognize him as such. Then you have the fact that Robb was completely right - Jon would ''never'', in fact, do anything to hurt the 'legitimate' Stark heir.

* When Hoster Tully is dying, he feverishly begs to see his youngest daughter Lysa, clearly wanting her forgiveness for something. Letters are repeatedly sent to the Eyrie, but Lysa never shows up - understandable, considering there's a civil war currently going on, but worse than that, she never even ''replies.''

* The death of Laena Velaryon is gut wrenching. Laena was an adventurous young woman & loved flying on her dragon Vhagar. She died from complications resulting from giving birth to a stillborn child.But what is supremely sad is that Laena wanted to ride on Vhagar one last time. But she never made it to her beloved dragon, collapsing on the stairs....

* Before his battle with Lucas Longinch on ''The Sworn Sword'', [[spoiler: Dunk pleads to Lady Rohanne Webber to forgive Eustace Osgrey for his misgivings a last time; he proceeds to cut through own his cheek to assert just how serious he is about the whole ordeal. Lady Webber refuses, but laments that given the opportunity, she would not hesitate to marry Dunk right then and there for his greatness as a man of honor, but as the highest authority in the Coldmoat, she must see justice served against Osgrey]].

* More quiet than other cases, but Septon Meribald's description of 'broken men' and all the horrors of warfare for the common folk -- even those serving in the armies -- hits hard, reminding the reader yet again that this is now the reality for so many peasants in Westeros because of the arrogance, pride and ruthlessness of the Five Kings and the lords they commanded. And what makes it worse is that Meribald is ''still'' affected by his own experiences and loss of friends and kin, after nearly forty years.\\
The quiet stretched and stretched, until finally [Brienne] said, "How old were you when they marched you off to war?"\\

* [[spoiler:Maester Aemon dying aboard the Cinnamon Wind on the journey to Oldtown. Maester Aemon and Jon realize he must leave Castle Black when Aemon learns Melisandre is seeking king's blood and Jon sends him to Oldtown to save him from Stannis and Melisandre, but the voyage on the Blackbird takes its toll and a man of 102 years old simply couldn't make the journey. Aemon asks Sam to bring him on deck, where he prefers to spend his time -- even in the rain -- and is lost in memory. And when he dies, Maester Aemon doesn't go quickly, either. He spends his last days slipping in and out of his wits, more senile by the day, mistaking Sam for his long-deceased brother Egg (Aegon V), too weak to eat and barely moves. Perhaps most tragic is how lackluster of an end this is for the old man -- he was a Targaryen, and could have been king, but gave it up, and spent the last years of his life counseling the Lord Commanders of the Night's Watch. Sam is the only one aboard the Cinnamon Wind who fully grasps just how great Maester Aemon was, and he barely makes it through his eulogy before breaking into tears.]]

** And then things go FromBadToWorse after [[spoiler: Arya recognizes Raff the Sweetling among viewers and kills him, which will undoubtedly provoke harsh response from the Faceless Men.]]

* Sansa and Jon's reactions to the news of [[spoiler:each of their family members]] dying...

* All of Reek's chapters. What he's been through makes him a mine of [[TearJerker Tear Jerkers]], but particularly heart-wrenching [[spoiler:is when he breaks down in the godswood, wishing only that he could die as Theon]].
** The scene where he [[spoiler:[[IJustWantToBeLoved says that he wanted to be a Stark]]]] is a particularly wrenching one as well.

* Every single [[FlashbackNightmare nightmare]] Ned has about his sister Lyanna's death. The [[MadnessMantra mantra]] "''Promise me!''" pops up every time there's something that reminds him of keeping that promise, a burden he has carried on by himself for fourteen years, which has shaped his the man he has become. And if [[EpilepticTrees the most popular fan theory]] is true... [[note]]The runners of the tvshow got the approval of Martin to make the show in the first place by correctly guessing the identity of Jon's mother and they wrote the following into the show so there might be something to it.[[/note]][[spoiler: Ned promised to raise his nephew, Jon Snow, the son of his sister and Prince Rhaegar, and protect him by hiding his true origins. Made especially dramatic considering Ned had just fought alongside Robert in a war against the Targaryens and ended up being the one trusted with Rhaegar's son, the only child of Ned’s deceased sister. Robert had vowed to destroy anyone with Targaryen blood so Ned spends the rest of his life protecting his sister’s child, passing his nephew off as his illegitimate son to keep Jon safe from Robert's wrath. This would be a constant string to his relationship with his wife, not to mention that for keeping this secret he must lie to his best friend. However he brought Jon home with him, raised and loved the boy as his own, and took the greatest secret in Westeros to the grave, allowing the world to think he had broken his marriage vows -- all to save his sister's only son. Also, Ned was the only one who could reveal to Jon his Targaryen heritage... but Joffrey put an end to it by having Ned's head chopped off.]] Not to mention that war was started to rescue this girl, Lyanna... and when Ned reached her she was dying, and he couldn't do nothing but hearing her last pleading.
* Robert's last speech (to Ned): "''The girl. Daenerys. Only a child, you were right''". Robert has spent his life hating the Targaryens because of his hatred for Rhaegar and, only when he's dying, can he get rid of it and perhaps forgive.
** ''"I will give Lyanna your love, Ned. Take care of my children for me."'' He's thinking of his [[TheLostLenore lost love]] even in [[TogetherInDeath near death]]. Made even more heartbreaking by the fact that it's hinted that Lyanna didn't love him back. He has been LovingAShadow for years.

* When Jaime reveals [[spoiler:the truth about Tysha to Tyrion: she wasn't a whore and she truly loved him. Tyrion feels that the only person he thought he could trust betrayed him too, and their deep bond is forever shattered. When Jaime asks him whether he killed Joffrey, Tyrion lies that he did, just to hurt him. "I am the monster they all say I am. Yes, I killed your vile son."]]

* Cersei's POV chapters don't do much to show her in a sympathetic light, with one exception: during [[spoiler: Tommen's wedding to Margaery, when he drinks his wine too quickly and starts choking on it. Cersei, who's already had one son choke to death on his wedding day right in front of her, becomes so overwhelmed with terror and panic that she ends up knocking a server down in her haste to reach him. Of course, it's a false alarm, but even so, she can't keep herself from bursting into tears and has to rush out of the room to prevent people from seeing her like this. It really hammers home the fact that, bitch though she may be, she's still a mother who's already lost one child, and now lives in constant fear (not entirely without reason) that the other two may be next.]] In that one moment, it's pretty hard not to feel sorry for her.

** [[spoiler: The reveal that Gilly was depressed because Jon [[SwitchedAtBirth forced her to leave her baby behind]] and take Mance's son with her instead as part of Jon's plan to protect both babies (revealed in ADWD). In ADWD, before she leaves, Jon promises Gilly that her son will be safe, provided for, educated, and raised under (Jon's) protection. Though Gilly loves Mance's son as her own, she can't help being absolutely miserable over the separation from her own son.]]

** Even ''worse''? It's very likely [[ChildByRape Daenerys was conceived during one of these rapes.]]

-->Jon flexed the fingers of his sword hand. The Night's Watch takes no part. He closed his fist and opened it again. What you propose is nothing less than treason. He thought of Robb, with snowflakes melting in his hair. ''[[SurvivalMantra Kill the boy and let the man be born]]''. He thought of Bran, clambering up a tower wall, agile as a monkey. Of Rickon's breathless laughter. Of Sansa, brushing out Lady's coat and singing to herself. ''You know nothing, Jon Snow''. He thought of Arya, her hair as tangled as a bird's nest. I made him a warm cloak from the skins of the six whores who came with him to Winterfell... I want my bride back... I want my bride back... I want my bride back...\\

[[folder: Through the series]]

** In ''A Game Of Thrones'', when we learn of the old Maester's Targaryen lineage and family tragedy as he counsels Jon Snow about going through the '''exact same situation''' he did himself. Jon is devastated to learn of his [[spoiler:father's arrest, worries about his father and sisters in King's Landing, and wants to help his brother Robb]]. We learn most of Aemon's family is dead or believed dead, which eventually becomes [[spoiler:Jon's own tragic family situation as his family is likewise thought to be dead or mostly dead. Like Aemon, Jon can do exactly zilch about it all -- and they're both devastated by this]] -- "''Seven Hells.''"

** [[spoiler: "Sister. See. This time I knew you."This also doubles as a [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]]. ]]

* More quiet than other cases, but Septon Meribald's description of 'broken men' and all the horrors of warfare for the common folk - even those serving in the armies - hits hard, reminding the reader yet again that this is now the reality for so many peasants in Westeros because of the arrogance, pride and ruthlessness of the Five Kings and the lords they commanded. And what makes it worse is that Meribald is ''still'' affected by his own experiences and loss of friends and kin, after nearly forty years.\\

* Arya begins her training-slash-apprenticeship in the House of Black and White, where she is told that she has to give up her identity. This means throwing away any keepsakes and trinkets she has, which, though she is mildly disappointed, she does. She dumps it all in the river, until she gets to Needle. [[spoiler:Arya decides that she just can't do it. She can give up being Arya Stark, but she can't get rid of the memories that come with her. And one of the things that Needle reminds her of is Jon Snow's smile.]]
* [[spoiler:Maester Aemon dying on the journey to Oldtown. Jon sent him out to save him from Stannis, but a man his age simply couldn't make the journey. And Maester Aemon doesn't go quickly, either. He spends his last days slipping in and out of his wits, more senile by the day, too weak to eat or barely move. Perhaps most tragic is how lackluster of an end this is for the old man--he was a Targeryen, and could have been king, but gave it up, and spent the last years of his life counseling the Commanders of the Night's Watch. Sam is the only one around who fully grasps just how great Maester Aemon was, and he barely makes it through his eulogy before breaking into tears.]]
-->'''Aemon:''' [[spoiler:Egg? I dreamed that I was old.]]

-->The cold trickles on [Sam's] face reminded Jon of the day he’d bid farewell to Robb at Winterfell, never knowing that it was for the last time. "And pull your hood up. The snowflakes are melting in your hair."

And Robb. Robb who had been more a brother to Theon than any son born of Balon Greyjoy’s loins. Murdered at the Red Wedding, butchered by the Freys. I should have been with him. Where was I? I should have died with him.

-->Jon flexed the fingers of his sword hand. The Night’s Watch takes no part. He closed his fist and opened it again. What you propose is nothing less than treason. He thought of Robb, with snowflakes melting in his hair. ''[[SurvivalMantra Kill the boy and let the man be born]]''. He thought of Bran, clambering up a tower wall, agile as a monkey. Of Rickon’s breathless laughter. Of Sansa, brushing out Lady’s coat and singing to herself. ''You know nothing, Jon Snow''. He thought of Arya, her hair as tangled as a bird’s nest. I made him a warm cloak from the skins of the six whores who came with him to Winterfell...I want my bride back...I want my bride back...I want my bride back...\\

* Aemon's blind white eyes came open. "Egg?" he said, as the rain streamed down his cheeks. "Egg, I dreamed that I was old."
** To say nothing of Sam's eulogy for the wise old man when he passes away of old age:
--->"He was a good man... No. He was a great man. A maester of the Citadel, chained and sworn, and Sworn Brother of the Night's Watch, ever faithful. When he was born they named him for a hero who had died too young, but though he lived a long long time, his own life was no less heroic. No man was wiser, or gentler, or kinder. At the Wall, a dozen lords commander came and went during his years of service, but he was always there to counsel them. He counseled kings as well. He could have been a king himself, but when they offered him the crown he told them they should give it to his younger brother. How many men would do that? He was the blood of the dragon, but now his fire has gone out. He was Aemon Targaryen. And now his watch is ended."
** Aemon cursing and lamenting the fact that he will never meet his grandniece and counsel her. He learned about her existence only shortly before dying.

* Arya begins her training-slash-apprenticeship in the House of Black and White, where she is told that she has to give up her identity. This means throwing away any keepsakes and trinkets she has, which, though she is mildly disappointed, she does. She dumps it all in the river, until she gets to Needle. [[spoiler:Arya decides that she just can't do it. She can give up being Arya Stark, but she can't get rid of the memories that come with her. And one of the things that Needle reminds her of is Jon Snow's smile."

--> '''Catelyn''': Jon...\\
'''Jon''': Yes?\\
'''Catelyn''': [[KickTheDog It should]] [[YouShouldHaveDiedInstead have been you]].
* In a subtly tearjerking moment, Robert says to Ned-

--> '''Sansa''': He doesn't mean Lady, does he? No. No, not Lady, Lady didn't bite anyone, she's good... Stop them, don't let them do it, please, please, it wasn't Lady, it was Nymeria, Arya did it, you can't, it wasn't Lady, don't let them hurt Lady, I'll make her be good, I promise, I promise...

* Jon's reaction to learning about his [[spoiler:father's execution]]. Distraught over [[spoiler:his father's death,]] Jon desperately attempts to get to the battlefield where he [[spoiler: can do something, anything, to avenge his father]]. He knows it's dangerous, knows that desertion from the Watch means death, is not even sure that his brother Robb -- though they are very close as brothers -- will be able to let him join the war since Jon, having joined the Watch, is bound to its laws, but...
-->[[spoiler:'''Jon''': They murdered my father. It's war, my brother Robb is fighting in the riverlands—]]

--> '''Rickon''': He's coming home now, like he promised. He's coming home.

-->'''Stannis''': I did love him, Davos. I know that now. I swear, I will go to my grave thinking of my brother's peach.

* Jorah telling Dany the story of his old wife, Lynesse. [[spoiler:The two were genuinely in love for all of a week--afterwards, Lynesse realized that Jorah really wasn't a splendidly rich tourney champion. He was just a simple knight from Bear Island, a drab, boring place that was nothing like the flashy home she was used to. She left him to become a merchant prince's concubine. Afterwards, when asked, Jorah tells Dany that Lynesse looked a lot like her. This is where Dany realizes that Jorah loves her romantically, and imagines being with him... and fails. Jorah is hopelessly in love with Dany, but emphasis on 'hopeless' -- Dany does not return his affections, especially when she is still grieving the death of her husband, Khal Drogo.]]

-->'''Sansa''': It is not me she wants her son to marry, it is my claim. No one will ever marry me for love.

--->'''Rhaegar''': I left my wife and children in your hands.\\
'''Jaime''': [[MyGreatestFailure I never thought he'd [Tywin] hurt them]].

-->'''Beric''': Can I dwell on what I scarce remember? I held a castle on the Marches once, and there was a woman I was pledged to marry, but I could not find that castle today, nor tell you the color of that woman's hair. Who knighted me, old friend? What were my favorite foods? It all fades. Sometimes I think I was born on the bloody grass in that grove of ash, with the taste of fire in my mouth and a hole in my chest. Are you my mother, Thoros?

--> “I was the oldest,” the Prince said, “and yet I am the last. After Mors and Olyvar died in their cradles, I gave up hope of brothers. I was nine when Elia came, a squire in service at Salt Shore. When the raven arrived with word that my mother had been brought to bed a month too soon, I was old enough to understand that meant the child would not live. Even when Lord Gargalen told me that I had a sister, I assured him that she must shortly die. Yet she lived, by the Mother’s mercy. And a year later Oberyn arrived, squalling and kicking. I was a man grown when they were playing in these pools. Yet here I sit, and they are gone.”

* More quiet than other cases, but Septon Meribald's description of 'broken men' and all the horrors of warfare for the common folk - even those serving in the armies - hits hard, reminding the reader yet again that this is now the reality for so many peasants in Westeros because of the arrogance, pride and ruthlessness of the Five Kings and the lords they commanded. And what makes it worse is that Meribald is ''still'' affected by his own experiences and loss of friends and kin, after nearly forty years.
-->The quiet stretched and stretched, until finally [Brienne] said, "How old were you when they marched you off to war?"\\

--->'''Jaime''': [[OnlySaneMan We are sworn to protect her as well.]]\\
'''Jonothor''': We are, [[MyMasterRightOrWrong but not from him.]]

-->[[spoiler:'''Margaery''':]] ''Dying is not dead!''

* When Jon Snow learns that [[spoiler: [[BigBrotherInstinct his little sister Arya]] has seemingly been [[AFateWorseThanDeath forcibly married]] to Ramsay Bolton, the most sadistic and despicable monster in the setting]], it's impossible not to feel for the guy.

* Young Griff is treated as none other than [[spoiler: Aegon VI Targaryen, the last son of Prince Rhaegar and Elia Martell]]; all is going according to plan until Jon Connington and Tyrion Lannister notice [[spoiler: streaks of the Targaryen madness]] in him. This coupled with the fact that he is referred to by Quaithe as [[spoiler: "The Mummer's Dragon"]] implies that he might be, at the worst possible result, [[spoiler: a Blackfyre pretender]], which does not bode well for ''anyone''.

--->'''Lord Peasebury''': More dying everyday, and for what? Some girl?\\
'''Morgan Liddle''': ''Ned's'' girl.

-->'''Viserys' ghost''': You never mourned me, sister. It is hard to die unmourned.\\
'''Daenerys''': I loved you once.\\
'''Viserys' ghost''': Once. You were supposed to be my wife, to bear me children with silver hair and purple eyes, to keep the blood of the dragon pure. I took care of you. I taught you who you were. I fed you. I sold our mother's crown to keep you fed.\\
'''Daenerys''': You hurt me. You frightened me.\\
'''Viserys' ghost''': Only when you woke the dragon. I loved you.

--> Mercy, I'm Mercy, and tonight I'll be raped and murdered.

-->Sansa: That was when [[spoiler: Lord Renly]] died, wasn't it? How terrible for your poor sister.\\

-->"He was a good man... No. He was a great man. A maester of the Citadel, chained and sworn, and Sworn Brother of the Night's Watch, ever faithful. When he was born they named him for a hero who had died too young, but though he lived a long long time, his own life was no less heroic. No man was wiser, or gentler, or kinder. At the Wall, a dozen lords commander came and went during his years of service, but he was always there to counsel them. He counseled kings as well. He could have been a king himself, but when they offered him the crown he told them they should give it to his younger brother. How many men would do that? He was the blood of the dragon, but now his fire has gone out. He was Aemon Targaryen. And now his watch is ended."

* Every single [[FlashbackNightmare nightmare]] Ned has about his sister Lyanna's death. The [[MadnessMantra mantra]] "''Promise me!''" pops up every time there's something that reminds him of keeping that promise, a burden he has carried on by himself for fourteen years, which has shaped his the man he has become. And if [[EpilepticTrees the most popular fan theory]] is true...[[spoiler: Ned promised to raise his nephew, Jon Snow, the son of his sister and Prince Rhaegar, and protect him by hiding his true origins. Made especially dramatic considering Ned had just fought alongside Robert in a war against the Targaryens and ended up being the one trusted with Rhaegar's son, the only child of Ned’s deceased sister. Robert had vowed to destroy anyone with Targaryen blood so Ned spends the rest of his life protecting his sister’s child, passing his nephew off as his illegitimate son to keep Jon safe from Robert's wrath. This would be a constant string to his relationship with his wife, not to mention that for keeping this secret he must lie to his best friend. However he brought Jon home with him, raised and loved the boy as his own, and took the greatest secret in Westeros to the grave, allowing the world to think he had broken his marriage vows -- all to save his sister's only son. Also, Ned was the only one who could reveal to Jon his Targaryen heritage... but Joffrey put an end to it by having Ned's head chopped off.]] Not to mention that war was started to rescue this girl, Lyanna... and when Ned reached her she was dying, and he couldn't do nothing but hearing her last pleading.

*** On the other hand, [[spoiler:unaware that Sansa was used by Littlefinger and Olenna Tyrell, he believes that she was a willing conspirator in the plot to kill Joffrey and frame him for it. He thinks she murdered Joffrey then ran away and abandoned him to his death- the same way every other woman has ever used him and cast him off. And even then, when he's on trial, he stands by his oaths to her to protect her and refuses to attempt to blame her for Joffrey's death, because he's her husband.]] His internal paradox is heart-wrenching.

** Arianne's horrible guilt about her role in it. Despite being a scheming seductress, she's also a decent person who didn't want any innocent people get hurt. Now, because of her recklessness, [[spoiler: Arys, a man so in love that he broke his vows for her, lost his head and Myrcella, a child under her protection, got slashed in the face and disfigured]]. [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone And she's gonna have to live with that for the rest of her life]].

* When Jon Snow learns that [[spoiler: [[BigBrotherInstinct his little sister]] has seemingly been [[AFateWorseThanDeath forcibly married]] to Ramsay Bolton, the most sadistic and despicable monster in the setting]], it's impossible not to feel for the guy.

* Though Sansa didn't have a particularly close relationship with her half-brother Jon Snow, she thinks of him with fondness when he enters her thoughts after their family is separated (such as in ''A Game Of Thrones'' and ''A Clash of Kings''). When she is a glorified hostage of the Lannisters, Sansa realizes how Jon is all the family she has left in the world and how much she misses him (''A Feast for Crows''), thinking how "so sweet" it would be to see Jon again.

** [[spoiler:Cressen spends much of the prologue grieving that now, he's old and dying, with a bad hip making it hard for him to move. Stannis already has another maester ready for when Cressen dies -- adding this to the fact that Cressen all but raised Stannis, that has to ''hurt''. Stannis no longer seeks his council, and doesn't invite him to an important feast with the lord bannermen... but ''not'' because Stannis was tossing Cressen aside. As he tells Davos later, Stannis ''did'' care for the old man, and he didn't mean to ignore him -- he wanted Cressen to live the rest of his years in peace. He genuinely wanted him to get some rest instead of coming to the feast where he died.]]

* The prologue with Maester Cressen. As a long-time maester of House Baratheon, Cressen helped to raise Robert, Stannis, and Renly after their parents died. When [[spoiler: he sees that Melisandre is giving Stannis the notion of murdering Renly, he tries to kill her to stop her from pursuing that goal. He dies trying to stop Melisandre, and Stannis later goes through with assassinating Renly. Cressen tries to stop the assassination because he loved all three of the Baratheons like sons, and was heartbroken at the prospect of them killing each other. The fact that he ultimately fails makes this prologue even more tragic in hindsight.]]
** [[spoiler:Cressen spends much of the prologue grieving the fact that he's old and dying now, with a bad hip that makes it hard to move. Stannis already has another maester ready for when Cressen dies--adding this to the fact that Cressen all but raised Stannis, that has to ''hurt''. Stannis no longer seeks his council, and doesn't invite him to an important feast with the lords bannermen...but not because he was tossing Cressen aside. As he tells Davos later, Stannis ''did'' care for the old man, and he didn't mean to ignore him--he wanted him to live the rest of his years in peace. He genuinely wanted him to get some rest instead of coming to the feast where he died.]]

* The death of Jon Arryn becomes a MAJOR tearjerker when you realize that his death is really the spark that started the War in the first place. Had he survived, Robert would never have had to come to Winterfell and Ned wouldn't have had to leave to be the Hand, which would have prevented most of the bull that everyone has been going through.

* Jorah telling Dany the story of his old wife, Lynesse. [[spoiler:The two were genuinely in love for all of a week--afterwards, Lynesse realized that Jorah really wasn't a splendidly rich tourney champion. He was just a simple knight from Bear Island, a drab, boring place that was nothing like the flashy home she was used to. She left him to become a merchant prince's concubine. Afterwards, when asked, Jorah tells Dany that Lynesse looked a lot like her. This is where Dany realizes that Jorah loves her romantically, and imagines being with him...and fails. Jorah is hoplelessly in love with Dany, but emphasis on 'hopeless'--Dany simple does not return his affections, especially when still grieving over her husband's death.]]

* Though Sansa didn't have a particularly close relationship with her half-brother, Jon Snow, she thinks of Jon fondly throughout the series after their family is separated (such as in ''A Game Of Thrones'' and ''A Clash of Kings''). When she is a glorified hostage of the Lannisters, Sansa realizes how Jon is all the family she has left in the world and how much she misses him (''A Feast for Crows''), thinking how "so sweet" it would be to see Jon again.
** Likewise, Jon thinks of Sansa throughout the series with fondness and misses her too along with his other siblings, constantly worries about Sansa, Arya and his father when [[spoiler:he is devastated to learn about of his father's arrest]] in ''A Game of Thrones''; and how he loves all his siblings -- Sansa included -- and is deeply grieved to believe his whole family has been lost in ''A Storm of Swords'' as he has been repeatedly pummeled by news of his family's deaths throughout the books. [[spoiler: Jon's regard for his sister Sansa is especially shown when he would not become the Lord of Winterfell for the sake of Sansa's claim on it.]]

** It gets worse for Roslin. [[spoiler: The wedding night left Roslin pregnant with Edmure's child, meaning that if she gives birth to a son, the Freys will no longer need to keep Edmure alive to maintain their hold on the Riverlands.]] It's mentioned that [[spoiler: Roslin is frantically praying for a daughter so that her family won't have a excuse to murder her husband.]]

* The death of Jon Arryn becomes a MAJOR tearjerker when you realize that his death is really the spark that started the War in the first place. Had he survived, Robert would never have had to come to Winterfell and Ned wouldn't have had to leave to be the Hand, which would have prevented most of the bull that everyone has been going through. /folder]]

[[/folder]]

** When Lady's bones are brought back to Winterfell, her brothers began to howl before the carrier had even entered the castle and for days afterwards, they roamed around her grave "like restless shadows". Also in a gesture both tearjerking and heartwarming, Lady was buried not in some dingy corner of the great castle but in the graveyard where the Kings of Winter laid their most faithful servants to rest.

** Not only that, but the very description of what he used to be before he became king show how his power was slowly swept away by the weasels that picked up on his slack; effectively a mighty wall-of-a-man reduced to an amorphous blob of fat.

** Even George RR Martin apparently hated writing that scene, calling it the hardest thing he ever wrote.

* When StarCrossedLovers Jon and his {{First Love}} Ygritte go down into the cave to make love. ''"Let's never go back up."'' Especially when you're rereading this passage, and know what's in store for them.

* When Sansa learns from her aunt Lysa that she is planning to marry her off to her sickly son, Sansa has lost every hope of finding someone good for her. It's rather sad since, like every girl of her age, she used to dream for a PrincelyYoungMan to fall in love with and marry, and she has being cruelly denied -- once and for all this time -- by people who want to exploit her highborn heritage.

* Pretty much everything Jaime goes through after [[spoiler: losing his hand]] is pretty gutting, but something that really stands out are all of those moments when he's tied to a saddle with Brienne afterwards, feverish, in pain and half-conscious, and finds himself just leaning on her shoulder and taking a little bit of comfort in the fact that she's so warm.

* Despite being respectively a little shit and a very unlikable woman, [[spoiler: Joffrey dies in the arms of his helpless, grief-stricken mother Cersei, every mother's [[AdultFear worst nightmare]]. Even Tyrion, who Joffrey was making fun of shortly before, pities him]].

* Stannis reveals that, deep down, he really wanted for him and Renly to be BashBrothers, to crush Lord Tywin and avenge all the people that he and King Joffrey had wronged.

* Jon finding the bodies of Donal Noye and Mag the Mighty in the tunnel beneath The Wall.

--> Sansa, Shae, all my women … '''Tysha was the only one who ever loved me'''. [[ArcWords Where do whores go?]]

* The North remembers. Thousands of Northmen heading for war change direction and march through blizzards worse than most people could conceive of not for glory, not to destroy an enemy, but to save the daughter of a friend who died several years ago. Why? Because said friend was [[PillarsOfMoralCharacter Ned freaking Stark]], that's why, and they loved him as much as we, the readers, did.

* Tyrion's final chapter in ''A Storm of Swords'', when the two brothers, who had been among the closest of characters in the books, have their falling out when [[spoiler: Jaime tells him the truth about Tysha.]] It's hard to know who to feel more sorry for, but the line "Jaime turned without a word, and walked away," is heart-wrenching. For that matter, so is the entire story about Tysha.

* Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey's relationship... even after [[spoiler: House Frey basically slaughters the Northmen's hosts and kills everyone save a handful of survivors, and even when they basically become glorified hostages]], the right thing should be for Edmure to hate her; still, they love each other after all that.
** Poor Roslin really has a rough time. It's implied that she would have been perfectly happy to be married off to Edmure, yet she still sobbed throughout the wedding feast. [[spoiler: She knew what was about to happen to her new husband's family and was forced to go along with it. Then the poor girl had to go have her wedding night while knowing about the massacre that was taking place downstairs.]] Ouch.

** He held out against the... uh... family quirks he inherited under some truly stupendous stresses starting from that age of eight: yes, he turned into a SmugSnake of epic proportions. But, he wasn't in his father's [[AxCrazy league]] by a long chalk, with arguably far more stress than The Mad King ever got in his whole life (including Duskendale). And Viserys didn't even hit 30. He must have had ''something'' worthwhile to him, before it got horribly twisted with bitterness. Of course, had he ever managed to get any power, he might well have managed to beat his dad, but, well... Heck, Joffrey turned into a far worse version of RoyalBrat with a lot fewer in the way of excuses.

* Sansa's disillusionment over the course of the books. She comes to honestly believe that everyone is untrustworthy, that nobody cares about her as a person, that they only want to use her as a pawn, and that she has to give up her morals just to survive -- a far cry from the cheerful, innocent WideEyedIdealist that she used to be.

* Jon Snow's situation in general. First, though he is loved by his family, whom Jon loves dearly, and was raised by his father alongside his trueborn siblings in Winterfell, he's lived with the societal stigma of illegitimacy his whole life, never had a mother to love him, and never knew who his actual mother was. Then, when he joins the Night's Watch to earn his own honour, he's an outsider there too due to him being a highborn bastard son of a lord with a noble upbringing. Ygritte, the girl he loves [[spoiler: (who dies in his arms)]], and some of his Night's Watch brothers, doubt his loyalty because he dared to show compassion to the Wildlings. All the while, Jon is devastated by news that his family members have perished, which he is told at various points in the series, pummeling him even further. Later, Jon is forced to take command [[AChildShallLeadThem at a very young age]] during an unprecedented time of war, facing down the [[GreaterScopeVillain greatest threat]] [[ZombieApocalypse encroaching on Westeros]] with limited resources, and is trying to save everyone. Even when Jon does his very best, things still turn out horribly for him. At one point, he's actually ''relieved'' his beloved father isn't able to witness how badly things were going for him.
--> Tyrion Lannister had claimed that most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it, but Jon was done with denials. He was who he was; Jon Snow, bastard and oathbreaker, motherless, friendless, and damned. For the rest of his life –- however long that might be -– he would be condemned to be an outsider, the silent man standing in the shadows who dares not speak his true name.
* Tyrion's witty comebacks, whoring and love of wine are hilarious on the first read -- until you learn that they're all coping methods for a lifetime of abuse, being shunned, called a monster, getting [[MaternalDeathBlameTheChild blamed for his mother's death]], never feeling loved or accepted, and erroneously thinking [[spoiler: the only girl to show him love was faking it for money]]. Over time the mask starts to fall off and his score of emotional issues take the stage. By the fifth book, he hits rock bottom -- ''hard'' -- in a very harsh, unglamorous depiction of depression, misanthropy, and self-hatred.

* Dorne's unification with the Seven Kingdoms. King Daeron II and Prince Maron Martell went to the Great Sept of Baelor and placed a golden wreath before the statue of King Baelor the Blessed stating... "Baelor, your work is done".