Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2268 (click to see context) from:
The duty of the man serving the watch ''... shall not end until my death.'' [[spoiler: Given the ending of A Dance with Dragons, Jon surviving, or even being revived after his stabbing, will release him from his oath.]]
to:
The duty of the man serving the watch ''... shall not end until my death.'' [[spoiler: Given the ending of A Dance with Dragons, Jon surviving, or even being revived after his stabbing, will release him from his oath.]]]]
[[WMG: GeorgeRRMartin is a Lannister.]]
Or at the very least a Lannister sympathizer. Why else are they extremely successful in canon, always getting what they want in the end despite having otherwise bumpy journeys and still remain powerful supporters of the Iron Throne when their enemies are either scattered, exiled, or defeated to the point where they present no significant threat? In less than a ''year'', no less? House Lannister is also the largest of any major house (with the exception of the Freys), and Casterly Rock is one of the few places in Westeros that hasn't been attacked during war. Tyrion probably isn't Martin's favorite character just because of his witty dialogue.
[[WMG: GeorgeRRMartin is a Lannister.]]
Or at the very least a Lannister sympathizer. Why else are they extremely successful in canon, always getting what they want in the end despite having otherwise bumpy journeys and still remain powerful supporters of the Iron Throne when their enemies are either scattered, exiled, or defeated to the point where they present no significant threat? In less than a ''year'', no less? House Lannister is also the largest of any major house (with the exception of the Freys), and Casterly Rock is one of the few places in Westeros that hasn't been attacked during war. Tyrion probably isn't Martin's favorite character just because of his witty dialogue.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2268 (click to see context) from:
The duty of the man serving the watch ''... shall not end until my death.'' [[spoiler: Given the ending of A Dance with Dragons, Jon surviving, or even being revived after his stabbing, will release him from his oath.]]
to:
The duty of the man serving the watch ''... shall not end until my death.'' [[spoiler: Given the ending of A Dance with Dragons, Jon surviving, or even being revived after his stabbing, will release him from his oath.]]]]
[[WMG: GeorgeRRMartin is a Lannister.]]
Or at the very least a Lannister sympathizer. Why else are the Lannisters extremely lucky in canon, getting what they want in the end and otherwise having bumpy, but successful journeys towards what they get? Casterly Rock is one of the few places in Westeros that hasn't been touched by war, they still remain powerful supporters of the Iron Throne, and are an extremely large family compared to everyone else (barring the Freys). Tyrion probably isn't Martin's favorite character because of his witty dialogue alone.
[[WMG: GeorgeRRMartin is a Lannister.]]
Or at the very least a Lannister sympathizer. Why else are the Lannisters extremely lucky in canon, getting what they want in the end and otherwise having bumpy, but successful journeys towards what they get? Casterly Rock is one of the few places in Westeros that hasn't been touched by war, they still remain powerful supporters of the Iron Throne, and are an extremely large family compared to everyone else (barring the Freys). Tyrion probably isn't Martin's favorite character because of his witty dialogue alone.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
**** On the other hand, the letter never refers to Arya/Jeyne as Jon's sister, only stating she is Ramsay's bride. The letter looks like a very rude "Give me what's mine and shush" request.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2268 (click to see context) from:
The duty of the man serving the watch ''... shall not end until my death.'' [[spoiler: Given the ending of A Dance with Dragons, Jon surviving, or even being revived after his stabbing, will release him from his oath.]]
to:
The duty of the man serving the watch ''... shall not end until my death.'' [[spoiler: Given the ending of A Dance with Dragons, Jon surviving, or even being revived after his stabbing, will release him from his oath.]]]]
* Release him from his oath to do what, exactly? The story needs him to defend the Wall against the Others, so unless he's planning to set up a ''separate'' Wall Defence Force...
* Release him from his oath to do what, exactly? The story needs him to defend the Wall against the Others, so unless he's planning to set up a ''separate'' Wall Defence Force...
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
**** On the other hand, the letter never refers to "Arya" as Jon's sister, but as Ramsay's bride. This very much looks like a "Give me my things back and shush" letter.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2268 (click to see context) from:
The duty of the man serving the watch ''... shall not end until my death.'' [[spoiler: Given the ending of A Dance with Dragons, Jon surviving, or even being revived after his stabbing, will release him from his oath.]]
to:
The duty of the man serving the watch ''... shall not end until my death.'' [[spoiler: Given the ending of A Dance with Dragons, Jon surviving, or even being revived after his stabbing, will release him from his oath.]]]]
[[WMG: Melisandre is dead.]]
She is part of a religion with techniques to raise the dead, she has foggy memories, doesn't eat or sleep, has eerie red eyes, pale skin and few emotions to speak of. It's been noted that she makes people uneasy just by being in the room. She's lived for hundreds of years, thanks to some fiery life force that keeps her engines running.
[[WMG: Melisandre is dead.]]
She is part of a religion with techniques to raise the dead, she has foggy memories, doesn't eat or sleep, has eerie red eyes, pale skin and few emotions to speak of. It's been noted that she makes people uneasy just by being in the room. She's lived for hundreds of years, thanks to some fiery life force that keeps her engines running.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1758 (click to see context) from:
to:
**Targaryen's have dragons, Starks the direwolves, the Greyjoys may well have the Kraken which leaves the Lannisters with nothing...except there was a poison that killed Gregor Clegane. Manticore poison. You know, the creature with a man's face and a lion's body, winged, poison laced and barbed. What does a manticore do? It hurls tail spikes. What do the Lannisters do? They arrange attacks behind enemy lines, such as the Red Wedding and Jaime's frequent, involuntary excursions.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
**** In most forms of primogeniture there is not only a single heir apparant (or possible heir presumptive), but also a well-defined line of succession (if someone in that line tries to mess wih it via political or military force is another matter). Rhaegar is heir apparent and first in line, and since he already has a son (Aegon), that son is second in line, while Viserys (as the younger brother) is third. The moment Rhaegar died his son moved up a spot and became heir to Aerys, not that it mattered at that point.
Added DiffLines:
*** Polygamy seems to mostly be shunned because it makes determining the line of succession a nightmare. However, by now we might have reached the point where this doesn't matter anymore. If Aegon can not sustain his claim (by, for example, being killed - HE has no heirs) then there is simply no male Targaryan left who is a contender for being Aerys rightful heir. And therefore a Targaryan loyalist might very well acknowledge that Rhaegar had a second wife and thereby a legitimate son (Jon or not), because this way you get around the problem of him being a bastard. And there is precedent for polygamy, so you might as well turn a blind eye if it means that Rhaegar has a trueborn heir.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2268 (click to see context) from:
The duty of the man serving the watch ''... shall not end until my death.'' [[spoiler: Given the ending of A Dance with Dragons, Jon surviving, or even being revived after his stabbing, will release him from his oath.]]
to:
The duty of the man serving the watch ''... shall not end until my death.'' [[spoiler: Given the ending of A Dance with Dragons, Jon surviving, or even being revived after his stabbing, will release him from his oath.]]]]
* To do what?
* To do what?
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2265 (click to see context) from:
Ramsay's letter is a lie. Stannis will crush the Boltons and the Freys with ease since most of their "vassals" hate them and will defect to Stannis at the first opportunity; the Tyrell-Lannister alliance will have enough trouble dealing with the Aegon-Martell alliance on the one hand and the Ironborn on the other to do anything about it. With Lysa out of the picture, Stannis might even get the support of the Vale if Littlefinger jumps ship or is taken care of in some way. Meanwhile, Aegon wins over the Tyrell-Lannisters and takes King's Landing, but his forces get so depleted in the process that when he immediately departs north to meet Stannis, Aegon is defeated and killed easily. By Stannis' own hand, of course.
to:
Ramsay's letter is a lie. Stannis will crush the Boltons and the Freys with ease since most of their "vassals" hate them and will defect to Stannis at the first opportunity; the Tyrell-Lannister alliance will have enough trouble dealing with the Aegon-Martell alliance on the one hand and the Ironborn on the other to do anything about it. With Lysa out of the picture, Stannis might even get the support of the Vale if Littlefinger jumps ship or is taken care of in some way. Meanwhile, Aegon wins over the Tyrell-Lannisters and takes King's Landing, but his forces get so depleted in the process that when he immediately departs north to meet Stannis, Aegon is defeated and killed easily. By Stannis' own hand, of course.course.
[[WMG: Jon Snow will be released of his oath as a member of the Night's Watch due to the ExactWords nature of the oath.]]
The duty of the man serving the watch ''... shall not end until my death.'' [[spoiler: Given the ending of A Dance with Dragons, Jon surviving, or even being revived after his stabbing, will release him from his oath.]]
[[WMG: Jon Snow will be released of his oath as a member of the Night's Watch due to the ExactWords nature of the oath.]]
The duty of the man serving the watch ''... shall not end until my death.'' [[spoiler: Given the ending of A Dance with Dragons, Jon surviving, or even being revived after his stabbing, will release him from his oath.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2262 (click to see context) from:
If this happens, then it is unlikely that Aegon will be able to unite the Seven Kingdoms again. Dany could, with her dragons. But even if Aegon takes King's Landing, he'll only have the Crownlands, the Stormlands, and Dorne.
to:
If this happens, then it is unlikely that Aegon will be able to unite the Seven Kingdoms again. Dany could, with her dragons. But even if Aegon takes King's Landing, he'll only have the Crownlands, the Stormlands, and Dorne.Dorne.
[[WMG:The war is heading into a repeat of the Battle of the Trident]]
Ramsay's letter is a lie. Stannis will crush the Boltons and the Freys with ease since most of their "vassals" hate them and will defect to Stannis at the first opportunity; the Tyrell-Lannister alliance will have enough trouble dealing with the Aegon-Martell alliance on the one hand and the Ironborn on the other to do anything about it. With Lysa out of the picture, Stannis might even get the support of the Vale if Littlefinger jumps ship or is taken care of in some way. Meanwhile, Aegon wins over the Tyrell-Lannisters and takes King's Landing, but his forces get so depleted in the process that when he immediately departs north to meet Stannis, Aegon is defeated and killed easily. By Stannis' own hand, of course.
[[WMG:The war is heading into a repeat of the Battle of the Trident]]
Ramsay's letter is a lie. Stannis will crush the Boltons and the Freys with ease since most of their "vassals" hate them and will defect to Stannis at the first opportunity; the Tyrell-Lannister alliance will have enough trouble dealing with the Aegon-Martell alliance on the one hand and the Ironborn on the other to do anything about it. With Lysa out of the picture, Stannis might even get the support of the Vale if Littlefinger jumps ship or is taken care of in some way. Meanwhile, Aegon wins over the Tyrell-Lannisters and takes King's Landing, but his forces get so depleted in the process that when he immediately departs north to meet Stannis, Aegon is defeated and killed easily. By Stannis' own hand, of course.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1248 (click to see context) from:
to:
** Jossed. Hodor.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 66 (click to see context) from:
to:
* Also, don't forget Gerion Lannister, Tywin's brother. He had plannd to sail to Old Valyria and disappeared. He was only mentioned once or twice in the entire series, but in ADWD Tyrion suddenly reflects about him and his journey quite a lot. So it's probably a given that either Gerion himself shows up, or that we at least find out what happened to him on the way to Valyria.
Added DiffLines:
** That would be quite a gamble. While it's very likely that Roose wants to get rid of Ramsay, it's not like the issue of the missing heir disappears just because his wife is pregnant. The child has to be born without complications, ideally has to be male, and has to survive infancy. If he keeps Ramsay ONLY around because he needs an heir, well, then he will have to keep him a bit longer. So if he really turned against his bastard it's less outliving his usefullness and more becoming a liability.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[WMG: The Seven Kingdoms will break up, at least temporarily]]
The High Septon will overthrow Cersei and Tommen, possibly by declaring that Tommen ''is'' a bastard. This will be a fatal mistake.
* '''The Iron Islands:''' The Iron Islands are still in open rebellion, and have no desire to bend the knee. The only one who could force them to do so is Daenerys Targaryen.
* '''The Westerlands:''' Without Tommen on the throne, Jaime will have no reason at all to be loyal to King's Landing. He will become the Lord of Casterly Rock, and will likely circle the wagons in hopes of survival. If Tommen and Cersei are dead, he may well declare himself King on the Rock.
* '''The North:''' The North is a powder keg already. Between Stannis, Melisandre, Lord Manderly, and the surviving Starks, the Boltons' hold on the North is doomed. And once the Boltons go, the Reeds will ensure that no one can send in reinforcements. The North probably won't get very involved in the southern war, due to a rather pressing need to fight the Others.
* '''The Vale:''' Petyr Baelish and Sansa Stark are poised to take control. And there really isn't an army left in Westeros that could take the Vale by force.
* '''The Riverlands:''' The Freys' control is so weak that the Riverlands will likely collapse into a series of independent lords. Especially if and when the Brotherhood takes out the Twins. The Tullys could eventually pull a comeback.
* '''The Reach:''' Euron will take Highgarden, and probably kill as many Tyrells as possible. If he manages to purge the house, the Reach will probably unite under the Hightowers (especially as we have Sam in Oldtown to serve as our POV).
* '''The Stormlands:''' Already falling to Aegon VI.
* '''Dorne:''' Will likely back Aegon.
If this happens, then it is unlikely that Aegon will be able to unite the Seven Kingdoms again. Dany could, with her dragons. But even if Aegon takes King's Landing, he'll only have the Crownlands, the Stormlands, and Dorne.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
*** More damningly, there's the fact that the Brotherhood without Banners brings this up to Merrett Frey who does not deny it.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2237 (click to see context) from:
* I'm not saying that's not so, but he needn't have physically bullied him to explain those words without sexual abuse; we ''know'' he bullied him emotionally (up to and including killing his pet fawn and making a jerkin out of its skin). And besides, I think it would be quite easy for Joffrey to have hit him and just frightened him into saying nothing - they were both being trained in combat, not to mention that little kids fall over and hurt themselves all the time just playing, so bruises could have easily been explained away. But that's an interesting theory. I certainly wouldn't put it past the little horror, and it would be quite nicely circular (though not as much as if it was Myrcella).
to:
* I'm not saying that's not so, but he needn't have physically bullied him to explain those words without sexual abuse; we ''know'' he bullied him emotionally (up to and including killing his pet fawn and making a jerkin out of its skin). And besides, I think it would be quite easy for Joffrey to have hit him and just frightened him into saying nothing - they were both being trained in combat, not to mention that little kids fall over and hurt themselves all the time just playing, so bruises could have easily been explained away. But that's an interesting theory. I certainly wouldn't put it past the little horror, and it would be quite nicely circular (though not as much as if it was Myrcella).Myrcella).
[[WMG: The wishes of the Stark children in A Song of Ice and Fire come true again, but in a much better outcome in the last book.]]
The Stark children have their wishes come true in the first book, [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor which was horribly rigged against them.]] Now, in the final book, they will actually get their wish. It makes sense from a BookEnd perspective.
** Bran gets to fly, by possessing or taming one of the dragons.
** Sansa gets to marry a prince, probably [[spoiler: Aegon, the Sixth of his name.]]
** Arya manages to get away from her noble privileges becoming some sort of master spy.
** Robb [[spoiler: is still super dead.]]
** Jon Snow will lead the Night Watch against a greater threat than the politics of the day, the White Walkers and their undead, and bring them glory.
[[WMG: The wishes of the Stark children in A Song of Ice and Fire come true again, but in a much better outcome in the last book.]]
The Stark children have their wishes come true in the first book, [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor which was horribly rigged against them.]] Now, in the final book, they will actually get their wish. It makes sense from a BookEnd perspective.
** Bran gets to fly, by possessing or taming one of the dragons.
** Sansa gets to marry a prince, probably [[spoiler: Aegon, the Sixth of his name.]]
** Arya manages to get away from her noble privileges becoming some sort of master spy.
** Robb [[spoiler: is still super dead.]]
** Jon Snow will lead the Night Watch against a greater threat than the politics of the day, the White Walkers and their undead, and bring them glory.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 523 (click to see context) from:
** And a large portion of the fanbase will cheer, although the death of [[Main/CompleteMonster Walder Frey]] would be the main attraction.
to:
** And a large portion of the fanbase will cheer, although the death of [[Main/CompleteMonster Walder Frey]] Frey would be the main attraction.
Changed line(s) 562 (click to see context) from:
** "Very little black"? This series has ''minor characters'' that are [[CompleteMonster worse]] than the [[BigBad primary antagonists]] of other HighFantasy series. They just happen to be distributed fairly equally among the different factions. That said, it's quite possible that we'll get some kind of backstory or fleshing out for the Others that reveals that they have some reason for slaughtering and re-animating living things other than [[ForTheEvulz shits and giggles]] and makes them somewhat more sympathetic or understandable - a la the Norns from Tad Williams' MemorySorrowAndThorn (the series that got GRRM interested in fantasy as a genre), which were also eerie, pale-skinned humanoids associated with deathly cold. So they may turn out to be somewhat sympathetic villains rather than the inscrutable monsters they are now.
to:
** "Very little black"? This series has ''minor characters'' that are [[CompleteMonster worse]] worse than the [[BigBad primary antagonists]] of other HighFantasy series. They just happen to be distributed fairly equally among the different factions. That said, it's quite possible that we'll get some kind of backstory or fleshing out for the Others that reveals that they have some reason for slaughtering and re-animating living things other than [[ForTheEvulz shits and giggles]] and makes them somewhat more sympathetic or understandable - a la the Norns from Tad Williams' MemorySorrowAndThorn (the series that got GRRM interested in fantasy as a genre), which were also eerie, pale-skinned humanoids associated with deathly cold. So they may turn out to be somewhat sympathetic villains rather than the inscrutable monsters they are now.
Changed line(s) 1107,1108 (click to see context) from:
* Ramsey Bolton. As cynical as the series is, when it comes to [[CompleteMonster Complete Monsters]], they usually DO get a messy KarmicDeath (Gregor Clegane, Joffrey, Vargo Hoat...). Currently Ramsey is the most evil (as in, pointlessly evil) character alive, so I think it's save to say that he will also die screaming. Maybe at the hands of Theon.
to:
* Ramsey Bolton. As cynical as the series is, when it comes to [[CompleteMonster Complete Monsters]], the worst villains, they usually DO get a messy KarmicDeath (Gregor Clegane, Joffrey, Vargo Hoat...). Currently Ramsey is the most evil (as in, pointlessly evil) character alive, so I think it's save to say that he will also die screaming. Maybe at the hands of Theon.
Changed line(s) 2084 (click to see context) from:
* She thought Joffery was the man of her dreams, but he turned out to be a [[CompleteMonster monster]].
to:
* She thought Joffery was the man of her dreams, but he turned out to be a [[CompleteMonster monster]].monster.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** Actually, no. If we assume Tyrion has the same type of dwarfism Peter Dinklage has (a reasonable assumption from his description) and that it works the same way in Westeros, Tyrion has achondroplasia -- the most common form of dwarfism, which is genetic, but in something like 80% of cases the result of a random mutation and not inherited.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1729 (click to see context) from:
to:
*** That's more-or-less confirmed by Stannis using the leeches in the brazier to try and off the pretender-kings. Melisandre warns him that doing it that way (i.e. not actually murdering the person whose blood is used in the spells, in that case Edric Storm) will "work and not work". Bloodraven (and likely Jojen himself) weren't about to induct Bran into super-warg-hood in such a half-assed kind of way.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 130 (click to see context) from:
to:
* Or better yet, it's not her ''valonqar'' that kills her, but '''the''' ''valonqar''... as in the little brother of a guy she brought back to life, which the little brother would have a big problem with.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 79 (click to see context) from:
to:
** Tyrion was a very young child at the time of the rebellion, so he would be highly unlikely to recognize Lyanna, especially not years later.
Changed line(s) 942 (click to see context) from:
to:
** OP here: I don't know about the whole second sun idea, or some of the rest, but I do like the idea of the Others or the Wights being the natural second stage of human life in this world. I don't buy it, but it sure would be interesting.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Clearing my head until GRRM blows me away with the actual book
Added DiffLines:
[[WMG: Winds of Winter Predictions]]
It's gonna be awhile before The Winds of Winter is published, so I figured I might as well guess what I think is going to happen. This is taken in part from a series of scrambled comments I made on a Youtube video about this particular subject. I think the book will mostly be about all of the scattered characters finally settling their conflicts and coming together as the real war approaches. I will start with the storylines taking place far south and work my way up to the ones taking place far north.
* Meereen: Drogon burns Khal Jhaqo when he tries to challenge Dany, convincing his khalasar to join her. She leads them back to Meereen where the war has begun. While Barristan does his best to repel The Sons of The Harpy and the forces of Yunkai, The Iron Fleet attacks, making the battle even more chaotic. Victarion will have his men sound the dragon horn, sending Viserion and Rhaegal into a frenzy, roasting all in their paths. The battle looks to be going completely in Victarion's favor. Then Drogon arrives and destroys his ship before he can blow the horn again. Dany leads Drogon and his freed brothers in decimating the Iron Fleet. Tyrion is able to convince Brown Ben Plumm to turn The Second Sons against the generals of Yunkai when it becomes clear who is going to win. With the dragons and her new khalasar, Dany is easily able to end the war within a half hour of her arriving, in epic fashion. The slaver forces who remain bow down and beg mercy, the ones who flee to fight another day are chased down, burned, and eaten by the dragons. When reuniting with Barristan and Grey Worm on the battlefield outside Meereen's walls, and also finding Tyrion and Jorah, she is attacked by Victarion in revenge for killing all of his men. The four men are able to save her, slaying the near superhuman Iron Captain together. Afterward, Dany executes Hizdahr for trying to kill her, but never knows whether or not she killed all of the Sons of the Harpy. She'll assume The Harpy Leader is Reznak and execute him because she was told to beware the perfumed seneschal, but I think it might actually be Galazza Galare. Dany is sympathetic toward Tyrion, Penny, and Jorah, knowing they have suffered the slavery she had tried to end; though, she still distrusts them, since Tyrion is of House Lannister and Jorah betrayed her. She would kill Brown Ben if his last minute intervention had not saved Barristan and many of her Unsullied. She is bereft, however, to find Meereen in ruins from when the dragons were controlled by Victarion. And she is heartbroken when she discovers Daario was one of the corpses catapulted against the walls. Having learned how not to rule and leaving her city in misery, Dany decides to set in motion her original goal of conquering Westeros. Tyrion is able to convince her that he and Jorah will be useful to her in this mission, as their ties to their respective houses could prove valuable, as well as their personal skill-sets. Dany agrees, but is more intrigued by Tyrion's encounter with her nephew, Aegon. Her feelings are mixed as she is overjoyed to know that she is not the last Targaryen while also fearful that her supposed destiny of sitting the Iron Throne might not be realized. They use the ships belonging to the Slavers and The Iron Fleet that survived the battle. They find Moqorro, who jumped overboard when the dragons appeared. He claims to have been held against his will by the Ironborn, earning Dany's sympathy, though Tyrion and Jorah are mistrustful of him, having seen Victarion's freaky arm. They in turn are mistrusted by Barristan. Tyrion takes a liking to the dragons and Strong Belwas, at least. Dany considers meeting Aegon, but decides to take back King's Landing and The Iron Throne first. Meereen descends back into slavery and pit fighting after Dany leaves.
** Ultimate irony: Victarion's winning streak throughout Slaver's Bay is brought to a sudden and brutal end when he loses control of the dragons and all of his men burn, defying his sure victory over Dany and the dragons and Moqorro's assertion of it.
** Deaths: Victarion Greyjoy and The Iron Fleet, Hizdahr, Reznak, Daario, Jhogo, Khal Jhaqo, Hero and many other Unsullied, many Sons of The Harpy and Yunkai fighters, and hundreds of Meereenese innocents.
* Braavos: Arya begins her training from Izembaro, a deadly Faceless Man. She becomes an increasingly efficient killer during her apprenticeship, while hearing bits and pieces of what has happened in Meereen and Westeros. She sleeps and wargs into Nymeria again, who attacks a caravan of soldiers with her army of wolves, rescuing a redheaded prisoner. Her training is interrupted only a few months in, as Izembaro visits the Iron Bank of Braavos, who contract him to assassinate Queen Cersei Lannister, who has ignored and refused to pay her debt to them. Izembaro and The Kindly Man tell Arya that she must stay and complete her training under another Faceless Man while he is away. She retrieves Needle and follows him anyway, wanting to kill Cersei herself. She sneaks onto the ship Izembaro boards to Westeros, traveling with Tycho Nestoris, Ser Justin Massey, and Stannis Baratheon's new army of sellswords.
** Ultimate irony: Cersei, a Lannister, has ignored one of her debts and will now pay for it with her life.
** Deaths: Arya will kill about five to ten more targets before returning to Westeros.
* Dorne: Areo Hotah joins Ser Balon Swann and Obara Sand in hunting down Darkstar. During the journey, Areo will be conflicted regarding one of Doran Martell's most recent orders while also gaining respect toward Swann. They find Darkstar, and the three together have difficulty killing the single man. When they finally do, Areo and Obara turn on Ser Balon. Already exhausted and wounded, Balon is quickly murdered, as is the Lannister entourage he arrived with back in Sunspear. Prince Doran has now secured Myrcella, planning to use her as leverage against Cersei in order to assist Aegon. He learns of the Targaryen war that has come to Westeros, lending his forces to their cause. He receives word that Arianne, who he sent as a representative of House Martell for King Aegon and Queen Daenerys, has been imprisoned by the Targaryens after lashing out from her discovery of Quentyn's horrific death. Doran is in anguish over losing Quentyn too, but realizes he now must save Arianne and preserve his alliance with The Targaryens. To show his loyalty, he has Myrcella executed, appeasing Aegon and haunting Dany. Areo watches sadly as some members of the family, including his son Trystane, come to despise Doran for his brutality, while some of the more bloodthirsty members praise him. Doran himself is severely disillusioned by the things he has done and all he has sacrificed to take revenge on House Lannister. Shortly after, Sunspear is raided by The Ironborn and Areo is killed while trying to prevent Doran's capture.
** Ultimate irony: Doran, who has been obsessed with getting revenge on Tywin Lannister for the murders of his brother, sister, and niece, has become just as ruthlessly deceptive and pragmatic as he was by murdering the innocent Myrcella and Ser Balon.
** Deaths: Ser Balon Swann, Myrcella Baratheon, several Lannister soldiers, several Martell soldiers, and Areo Hotah.
* Oldtown: Samwell is able to make Gilly happy, whilst he suffers from anxiety over his situation at the Citadel. He continues in making his maester's chain, while also trying to gain too much attention from the archmaesters, a few of whom are revealed to be increasingly corrupt. Alleras (or Sarella Sand) will be keeping Sam informed and protecting him. Sam happens to become involved in a little murder mystery as the archmaesters start dying under strange circumstances. He learns of his father's brutal murder in King's Landing, and briefly regrets that he won't be able to rule Horn Hill. While reading ad nauseum as Sam is wont to do, he discovers a scroll that was once read by Rhaegar Targaryen. The scroll might contain some ancient Valyrian writing, but it will most notably contain the meaning of The Song of Ice and Fire, of which Sam will find particularly interesting yet also confusing to him. Shortly after this discovery, Oldtown is raided by the Ironborn forces led by Euron Greyjoy. Sam, along with the remaining archmaesters and several other bystanders, including "Pate", are taken hostage. Sam is terrified, but tries to take comfort in the thought that Alleras will protect Gilly and baby Aemon Rayder. Euron finds the scroll in Sam's possession, and he finds it interesting too.
** Ultimate irony: Sam's constant love of reading has led to him uncovering the truth behind this book series' greatest mystery.
** Deaths: several maesters of the Citadel and soldiers protecting Oldtown. A few archmaesters by Pate/Alchemist/Jaqen. A few Ironborn by Alleras.
* Storm's End: Aegon leads his siege of Storm's End, successfully taking the castle but losing half of his men in the process. Jon Connington will not be pleased with these results, realizing his surrogate son's brash, prideful behavior. The two are pleased when Arianne Martell arrives to ensure the assistance of Dorne in the new war. Aegon is strongly enticed by Arianne's beauty and the idea of a Targaryen-Martell marriage like his parents had, but he is set on marrying Daenerys. Connington feels the same, mostly because he has discovered what Dany and her dragons did in Meereen. Aegon resents the fact that Dany did not meet him first when she returned to Westeros, instead immediately taking King's Landing. Connington worries despairingly whether or not Aegon is falling victim to the negative side of the Targaryen gene like The Mad King. And his greyscale becomes worse, making it more difficult to conceal. Aegon and Connington leave to meet with Dany at long last.
** Ultimate irony: Despite all the time and effort Connington, Varys, and Illyrio have invested in making him the perfect king for Westeros, Aegon still displays negative qualities that could lead to his undoing.
** Deaths: A hundred or more members of The Golden Company. All of Stannis' soldiers protecting Storm's End.
* King's Landing: Paranoia will spread throughout the Red Keep following the murders of Kevan Lannister and Grandmaester Pycelle. As Varys predicted, the small council suspects Cersei, and Cersei suspects them and Tyrion. Cersei is able to get her trial by combat thanks to Tommen, who she makes sure knows only Ser Robert Strong can save her. Garlan Tyrell arrives to champion his sister against Ser Robert. The fight begins and ends quickly as Ser Robert immediately proves too strong and too fast for Garlan, viciously killing him. Then the new Kingsguard proceeds to attack all those present. He kills Margeary, Mace Tyrell, Randyll Tarly, the whole small council, Lancel, many Tyrell and Tarly bannerman, city watchmen, and any civilians who happen to be in his path. Qyburn watches silently. Cersei urges Ser Robert on gleefully as he slaughters everyone... until she realizes he killed Tommen when the boy tried hopelessly to protect Margeary. Cersei becomes mad with grief, refusing to let go of her son's body. Through sheer insanity, Cersei is able to outdo Tywin's Red Wedding ten times over. The Red Keep is now literally red with blood, those who managed to escape are taken in by either the retreating Tyrell/Tarly forces or Bronn, the new Lord of House Stokeworth. The Red Keep is abandoned save for Cersei, Qyburn, Robert Strong, Ser Meryn, Ser Boros, a few gold cloaks, and the High Septon, who survived the wound Strong dealt him. Qyburn threatens to execute The High Septon to secure the release of The Kettleblack Brothers from The Faith Militant, then does so when the brothers have been released. The Kettleblacks flee the city to The Eyrie where Littlefinger and their father reside, through with Cersei. Cersei sits with her son's rotting corpse on the Iron Throne, wallowing in madness. Qyburn acts as the real power behind the Throne with the help of his creation Ser Robert and the corrupt fighters still at their command. Few attempts are made to retake The Throne, as each one is bloodily repelled by Ser Robert. Cersei comes to believe Jaime and Myrcella are dead as well, becoming even more morose and despondent. Months after the massacre, Cersei looks out on her balcony to see an army surrounding the Keep, a beautiful young queen flying over the city with three dragons, and, beside her, the valonqar, Tyrion. She collapses in tears, overwhelmed with grief and fear. She is then shocked to be faced with Arya Stark, who stabs her in the chest with Needle. She does not die immediately, and Arya is forced to violently strangle the hysterical Queen to death. Izembaro, who has already killed several gold cloaks, discovers her and chides her for her brazen, sloppy murder. He is then confronted and killed by Ser Robert, who chases Arya through the Throne Room. Barristan Selmy arrives with Grey Worm and several Unsullied, who dispatched Ser Meryn, Ser Boros, and the last of the gold cloaks. They take on Ser Robert, but they also are unable to kill him or match his strength. All die by Strong's hand save for Arya and Barristan, who is thrown into the Iron Throne, severely wounding him on the blades. When all looks lost, Drogon crashes through the windows and burns Ser Robert until he melts inside his armor. Qyburn tries to escape discretely but is killed by Varys before he drops his Rugen disguise, introduces himself to Dany, and assumes his role as Master of Whisperers once again. Tyrion finds Cersei and Tommen's bodies, and looks down on both sadly. He makes sure his nephew is buried, and that his sister is fed to the three dragons, along with Qyburn and the now dead Kingsguard "knights." Arya is unable to escape, shocked by the dragons. Dany at first darkly considers slaying her as was done to Princess Rhaenys, but wishes to know how she ended up infiltrating the Red Keep and killing the Mad Queen. Arya decides to tell her whole story thus far to Dany, because no one else really knows about it. Dany, horrified by what the little girl has been through and with new sympathy for The Starks, swears to help her get back home to Winterfell. Upon learning of her swift conquering of King's Landing and denouncement of House Lannister, many of the high lords immediately pledge fealty to her, among them Lord Willas Tyrell of Highgarden, Lord Doran Martell of Dorne, Bronn of House Stokeworth, and Lord Petyr Baelish of The Eyrie. When Littlefinger arrives to introduce himself, swear allegiance, and pose as the newly revealed Sansa Stark's savior, he is surprised to find Varys and Tyrion as part of her company. Varys and Tyrion relate to Dany their experiences with Littlefinger, insisting he is dangerous. She doesn't entirely believe either of the men, both of whom she already does not trust, until Sansa feels safe enough for the first time in three years and desperately reveals to Dany all she has learned of Littlefinger in their time together. Littlefinger tries in vain to weasel his way into Dany's good graces one last time before Tyrion shoots him in the chest with a crossbow in revenge for framing him for Joffrey's murder. Littlefinger will reach for Sansa as he dies, uttering "Cat..." The Stark sisters are reunited at last. Despite being vastly different people than the last time they saw each other, they embrace, breaking down into tears. Tyrion tells Sansa he is more than happy to forget their forced marriage, as most involved in its design are dead. King Aegon will arrive with Jon Connington, Arianne Martell, her Dornishmen, and The Golden Company. Dany is taken with her nephew, but is uncertain whether or not to marry him right away as he wishes. And she is also uncertain of his intentions in ruling Westeros. People such as Tyrion, Jorah, and Barristan (who can't believe Aegon wasn't killed years before) are apprehensive regarding another incestuous pairing to resurge the Targaryen dynasty, while others such as Varys and Connington assure her that she and Aegon will be unstoppable as Queen and King with the three dragons. Arianne reacts violently when Dany reveals how her brother died, forcing Dany to have Arianne and her people imprisoned. In order to assure she and Aegon of Dorne's allegiance, Prince Doran has Myrcella Baratheon killed. Dany is sickened as ever at having an innocent child murdered because of her, and even more unnerved by Aegon's vicious appreciation of the execution. Arianne and the Dornishmen are released, and she begrudgingly remains as a Martell representative, despite distrusting the new Targaryens. Dany marries Aegon out of duty, solidifying her dynasty and rule at long last, though she still remembers her mistake in marrying Hizdahr, and her love for Drogo and Daario. After finding out he has dreamed of dragons and been fascinated by fire in the past, noting how taken the dragons are with him, and remembering Barristan's story of her father's love for a Lannister woman, Dany begins to suspect Tyrion is her bastard brother. When she reveals this to Tyrion he is uncertain, but his father's last words "You are no son of mine" seems to make him believe. At first, distressed he begins liking the idea of being half Targaryen to some degree. Dany convinces Aegon to help quickly begin asserting their power throughout Westeros. They must do this by getting the last pretender kings, Stannis Baratheon and Euron Greyjoy, to bend the knee. The Targaryen campaign to completely reconquer Westeros begins.
** Ultimate irony: Cersei spent her entire life fearing and hating Tyrion for nothing, bringing about the prophesized destruction of her and her children all on her own and even unknowingly helping to create her actual murderer.
** Deaths: Cersei Lannister, Qyburn, Ser Robert/Ser Gregor, the majority of the crucial characters in The Red Keep, dozens of Tyrell/Tarly/Faith Militant/City Watch/Unsullied soldiers, Ser Meryn Trant, Ser Boros Blount, and Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish.
* Iron Islands: Aeron Greyjoy attempts to begin a rebellion against "Crow's Eye" in secret with his small army of followers. He tries to organize guerilla tactics to hinder Euron's activities for a short while until a few of his men are captured and tortured into revealing everything. Euron finds and captures Aeron, but slaughters all of his Drowned Men. Before pushing a bound and beaten Aeron into the sea, Euron tells him of how he had Balon murdered and sent Victarion and all those loyal to him off to their deaths, eliminating all possible claimants to The Seastone Chair in revenge for his banishment. He also tells him his true ambition is replacing The Seastone Chair with The Iron Throne. Having secured his rule over the Ironborn, Euron continues wreaking havoc all over Westeros. He also begins to accumulating hostages for his agenda, among being Prince Doran Martell, Lord Davos Seaworth, Rickon Stark, Ser Loras Tyrell, Samwell Tarly, Pate/Alchemist/Jaqen, several maesters, archmaesters, Night's Watchmen, women and children. His pillaging and raping attracts the attention of Daenerys, as he planned. He uses the hostages to get Dany to come meet him at Pyke with her army but not her dragons. Once Dany arrives, she and her forces are caught in a trap, ending up with Dany alone with Euron and his crew on The Silence while her Unsullied and Second Sons are left to face the Iron Men. Euron reveals his Crow's Eye to her when they meet. He also reveals what he discovered in the ruins of Valyria, most of which I'm uncertain of but among which is House Lannister's ancestral sword Brightroar and loads of dragonglass. Finally he threatens to execute his hostages one by one and destroy The Song of Ice and Fire without telling her its meaning unless she joins him with her dragons so that they can conquer Westeros together. Fearing for her life, the lives of the hostages, and the fate of The Song, Dany superficially agrees to the union, still regretting the hostages she failed to save in Meereen. Euron immediately takes the opportunity to try and rape Dany and claim her as his thrall, only to be easily killed by the escaped hostage known as "Pate." She loses many soldiers to Euron's attack, but the reinforcements of her large army is able to defeat the Iron Born, saving the hostages, and finally reading the scroll containing The Song of Ice and Fire. After, she will return to her army's new base of operations on Dragonstone. Though Aegon would have liked to have Euron and the Iron Born on his side, he is glad Dany was able to escape with her life.
** Ultimate Irony: Euron Greyjoy is killed by his own hostage, the disguised Jaqen H'ghar, a Faceless Man just like the one he hired to assassinate his older brother Balon.
** Deaths: Euron Greyjoy and his followers, Aeron Greyjoy and his Drowned Men, hundreds of residents and soldiers of Sunspear, Oldtown, Dragonstone,
* Riverlands: Brienne will confess to Jaime midway through their journey that she is leading him into an ambush by The Brotherhood Without Banners. Jaime signals Ilyn Payne, who has been following him since he left, to join them so they can regroup with The Lannister forces, only for the Brotherhood to descend on them anyway. Brienne, Jaime, and Ilyn try to fight back but are overwhelmed and captured. They are taken to a heart tree, where the majority of the Brotherhood and their followers have all gathered. The three prisoners are brought before Lady Stoneheart, who first has Ilyn Payne decapitated with Oathkeeper in front of his nephew, the same way he killed Ned Stark. Stoneheart then orders Brienne to kill Jaime, but she refuses and is dragged off to be hanged. Jaime, horrified at what's become of Lady Stark, tries to beg her to spare Brienne. Stoneheart then slits his throat with Oathkeeper. Heartbroken and enraged, Brienne breaks free and grabs a sword killing several members of the Brotherhood, giving Podrick and Ser Hyle Hunt the opportunity to do the same. They fight hard, but are outnumbered and facing death. Then Septon Meribald arrives with a living Sandor Clegane, who kills Lem/The Hound and helps Brienne defeat the last warriors of The Brotherhood present. Brienne will hold Jaime in her arms as he dies. She will tell him she loves him, to which he will probably smile and say something like "I know, wench" before dying. Stoneheart realizes how much more death she has brought and loses her resolve for revenge upon seeing this scene of affection between Brienne and Jaime, and the people who died for her cause. Brienne considers killing Catelyn for Jaime, but sees no point in it now that they each have lost so much. Sandor, Ser Hyle, Podrick, Gendry and the children he looks after all join Brienne as she decides to put aside her desire for revenge and join Stannis Baratheon's forces at Winterfell. Sandor joins out of his wish to make sure Arya Stark is at Winterfell and safe. Before leaving, Brienne buries Jaime by the heart tree. She sees Catelyn is following a short distance behind her group on their path. On their way, they join up with Brynden Blackfish and Tom O'Sevens who managed to spring Edmure Tully from imprisonment by drawing his Lannister-Frey caravan into the path of Nymeria's wolf army. Edmure and Blackfish are shocked at Catelyn's current state. Upon receiving word of dragons invading King's Landing and dethroning the Lannisters and Roose Bolton's defeat at Winterfell, The Late Lord Walder Frey finally dies of a heartache. As predicted, several of his offspring quickly begin plotting against and killing one another for the title of Lord of The Crossing. Those of House Frey who attempt to escape into obscurity are hunted down by Nymeria and her pack.
** Ultimate Irony: Ilyn Payne is killed by the same steel and in the same manner as Ned Stark, Sandor litterally slays his demon by killing the current Hound, and The Freys are eradicated by each other and a wolf of House Stark.
** Deaths: Jaime Lannister, Ilyn Payne, most of the other Brotherhood fighters including Lem, Jack Be Lucky, and The Mad Huntsman, Lord Frey and all but a few of his descendants, soldiers, and Lannister allies, Urswyck and Zollo, who Brienne's encounters on the road and Brienne slays as vengeance for Jaime and everyone else they maimed or murdered.
* The Eyrie: Before traveling to King's Landing and inadvertently getting himself killed, Littlefinger was still trying to secure his hold over The Eyrie and the Lords Declarant. Sansa suspects his plans to kill Sweetrobin Arryn, and convinces her friend Mya Stone and her betrothed Harold Hardying to help her save her cousin. Of course, Littlefinger finds out first and intercepts the rescue. After locking Sansa in her room and putting Mya and Harold in sky cells, Littlefinger is able to murder Sweetrobin using large doses of sweetsleep. Slightly drunk from his increasing love of wine, Littlefinger bitterly chides Sansa for going against him, accidentally mentioning his involvement with her family's destruction. Littlefinger will be slightly distressed at the Targaryen resurgence in Westeros. However, upon learning of the dragons taking back King's Landing from the Lannisters and the north men taking back Winterfell from the Boltons, Littlefinger decides it is time to reveal Sansa to the world and himself as her savior. The people of the north see him as a hero when words of this "deed" reaches across Westeros. Littlefinger departs with Sansa from the Eyrie, on his way to pledge fealty to Dany and her dragons. Sansa, however, plots to take revenge for her family against Littlefinger the moment she can.
** Ultimate irony: Just when he finally has all of Westeros eating out of his hand, and a promising new alliance down the road with the more powerful than ever Targaryens, Littlefinger cannot see the double cross building inside sweet Sansa Stark.
** Deaths: Robert Arryn, Ser Shadrich (who discovers and tries to rescue Sansa only for Littlefinger to find out and have him killed) and the entire Kettleblack family is sent through the Moon Door by Littlefinger to cover up their connection to him.
* Winterfell: Stannis will learn from Tycho Nestoris the Karstarks' deception, having them imprisoned and/or burned alive to warm his men. Asha convinces him to execute Theon at the godswood of Winterfell instead of burning him too. Stannis' host finds Ramsay Bolton's a day's ride from Winterfell. The two armies battle in the intense blizzard at night. It is a harsh and bloody fight. Stannis is nearly defeated and killed whilst fighting Ramsay, only to be saved by Asha when she cripples the Bastard of Bolton; this earns her his royal pardon later. Despite losing a large number of his soldiers, Stannis is able to use the assistance of The Mormonts and Manderlys as well as the revelation of House Karstark's treachery to his advantage in beating Ramsay. Ramsay himself is put in chains along side Theon, who finds himself amused that Master Ramsay is now crippled and broken like he is. Stannis then marches on Winterfell, using Theon's knowledge of the walls to have his men gain entry and open the gates. Stannis' forces overwhelm The Bolton and Frey soldiers. Mance Rayder arrives, having escaped Winterfell when half of his spearwives was killed and the other half tortured by Ramsay into revealing his identity. After learning of Ramsay's part in laying waste to Winterfell from Theon, and aware of Roose's betrayal and murder of Robb Stark, Stannis appeases the northerners by burning alive both Lord Bolton and his bastard. Theon watches, happy to finally be free of Ramsay and his Reek identity. He is still going to be executed by Stannis, however. In his last effort to save himself, Theon reveals to everyone that he never actually murdered Bran and Rickon and that Ramsay's bride is not Arya, but Jeyne Poole. No one can confirm whether or not it is true, until a sickly Jon Snow arrives shortly after. Jon sadly confirms that Arya is not his sister and then claims to have encountered Bran in the Haunted Forest, and Wyman Manderly reveals to he and Stannis of his hand in faking Davos Seaworth's death and sending him off to find Rickon on Skagos. Stannis also learns from Jenye how Theon rescued her. He decides to take only his fingers, as he'd done to punish and reward Davos, but upon seeing Theon's already mangled fingers, Stannis decides Theon has already paid dearly for his crimes, and leaves him to his fate. Jon tells Stannis of the troubles at The Wall before collapsing from his intense cold, fading. Winterfell receives it's first visitors in the last Tullys, Brienne of Tarth, Sandor Clegane, and what is left of The Brotherhood Without Banners. Stannis and Brienne, both honest warriors, manage to come to a form of peace after some time, and she is able to convince him of Sandor's reformation. Stannis also finds himself less able to dispose of potential fighters for his cause, and so takes them all in. Upon learning that her children are still alive somewhere, Catelyn gives the last of her life energy to Jon, fully reviving him in the hopes that he will be able to save their family (which she now sees him as after learning of his journey). With Jon recovered and Mance alive, Stannis prepares to leave Winterfell in the hands of his northern allies so that he can return to The Wall, consolidate his forces, and stop The Others. A few months later, Daenerys and Aegon Targaryen arrive with their host, returning Sansa and Arya Stark to their home where they will be protected. The Targaryens proceed ahead toward The Wall so that she can find Stannis, the last pretender to the Iron Throne that she must deal with.
** Ultimate irony: Roose and Ramsay are finally made equal to each other when they are burned alive side by side, Theon is alive and free but has nothing save his sister, and Catelyn sacrifices the life she has left to save her least favorite "son."
** Deaths: The Boltons, Freys, and Karstarks at Winterfell, half of Stannis' army, and Catelyn Stark for the second and last time.
* Skagos: Davos Seaworth uses his skills as a smuggler to silently infiltrate Skagos by night with Wex Pyke and a crew of Manderly warriors. A lot of cunning is displayed in order to bypass the cannibals that inhabit the island. Eventually they happen upon Osha, Rickon Stark, and a fully grown Shaggydog. All three have become quite feral in their time among the natives, fighting for survival. It takes some convincing from Davos to persuade six-year-old Rickon to return home to be Lord of Winterfell. He only does so when he learns of Robb and Catelyn's murders and his "sister's" capture by The Boltons. Making a harrowing escape from the cannibals (a la Raiders of the Lost Ark), Davos manages to sail away from Skagos, heading back toward White Harbor. We learn more about what Rickon has been through since his absence in the last three books. Rickon tells Davos that he can't be Lord of Winterfell because his brother Bran is still alive. After barely escaping a near fatal storm at sea, they reach White Harbor, only to find it is being raided by Euron Greyjoy's ships. Davos attempts to escape farther south, but his ship is caught. Osha and the Manderly men defend Rickon as best they can before being slain by The Ironmen. Davos manages to save his and Rickon's life by informing the iron men that he is Stannis Baratheon's King's Hand and Rickon is a Stark of Winterfell. When Euron hears of this, he decides they will make perfect hostages.
** Ultimate irony: Just when he finally completes his mission and thinks he has rescued Rickon with his amazing skills as a sailor, Davos ends up sailing right into the hands of The Ironborn.
** Deaths: many cannibals, Osha, the Manderly men sent with Davos, many innocents in White Harbor.
* The Wall: A small war breaks out at Castle Black between The Wildlings and Night's Watch upon the discovery of Jon Snow's stabbing. With the giant Wun Wun running rampant and the black brothers raining down fire arrows, The Wildlings are forced to flee to either side of the Wall. Many follow Tormund Giantsbane, who carries Jon through the tunnels to the other side. Upon seeing her vision of Jon being betrayed come true, Melisandre realizes what her vision of him becoming a ghost then a man again means. She releases Ghost from Jon's quarters and allows him to flee beyond The Wall. While The Night's Watch and Queen's Men are out securing the wall's defenses and hunting down Wildlings still inside Castle Black, Melisandre attempts to dissuade Queen Selyse from turning the Wildlings away. Selyse, stubborn and haughty as ever, finally rejects Melisandre's advice, confident in her Queen's Men and her new alliance with Bowen Marsh, a Lord Commander who knows how to bend the knee. In the Queen's moment of defenselessness during the chaos, Patchface murders Selyse. He tries to kill Melisandre and Shireen too as they escape, only managing to wound the red priestess before he is stopped and killed by Pyp, Grenn, and Dolourous Edd. Mel is able to convince Jon's guilt-ridden friends in the Watch to rebel against his betrayers and realign with the Wildlings before The Others she has seen in her fires arrive. Jon, unconscious from his fatal wounds, wargs in and out of Ghost in the weeks before he dies. One with Ghost now, Jon explores deep into The Haunted Forest. He spots Hodor looking for firewood, fights with Summer over a frozen body (though he can sense Bran inside the direwolf), and sees The Children of The Forest too. Going further into the woods, he finds a massive army of Others and wights heading from the direction of Hardhome with a blizzard at their backs; they are, of course, moving at a very slow pace. Jon/Ghost flees, running for several days back toward the wall before Jon is ripped back to life, awakening on funeral pyre surrounded by Melisandre and the Wildlings. After saving him from the fire, Tormund tells Jon that a rebellion instigated by Jon's friends within Castle Black allowed The Wildlings to defeat Bowen Marsh and the other black brothers who betrayed Jon and reclaim Castle Black. Melisandre revived Jon through the red priests' funeral ritual (the same one that resurrected Beric Dondarrion). She begins to believe that she may have been wrong about Stannis, and that Jon might possibly be the actual Azor Ahai. Jon himself is still determined to go to Winterfell and stop Ramsay Snow, but he makes sure that Tormund and The Night's Watchmen continue arming each of the The Wall's castles with men and supplies to defend the realm from the approaching horde. Jon leaves, putting Tormund and Melisandre in charge in an odd partnership, but he develops a worsening cold as his journey begins.Despite having some difficulty in completely bonding the free folk and black brothers together into a solid team, The Wall becomes seemingly adequately secure. The Wildlings who cannot fight are sent back to the two Gifts. Melisandre has more visions of Jon and vague things to come, visions of dragons at war (one red, one black, one with the face of a wolf, one with the face of a lion, one a wolf with wings), visions of the thousand eyes, visions of The White Walkers. She sees death, fire wrapped in ice. Before returning to the Wall with Stannis' army, Jon leads a group to Greywater Watch to collect supplies and recruit the northern host sent there by Robb. Jon meets Howland Reed who, in private, has the opportunity to reveal to him what happened the day he and Eddard found Lyanna. After killing the three Kingsguard knights and losing their friends in the process, Ned and Howland raced to the top of the Tower of Joy and found Lyanna dying in her bed, with a silent newborn baby in her arms. Ned took the boy, promising his sister he would raise him and protect him from Robert Baratheon and Tywin Lannister, who would kill him as they did the other children of Rhaegar Targaryen. The weight of this revelation shocks Jon initially, but he eventually decides not to let himself dwell on it since Rhaegar, Lyanna, and Ned are all dead and he still has work to do. Howland and his northern army join Jon on his return to The Wall, as Jon also tells Howland that Theon Greyjoy let his children escape along with his own two brothers and that they may be north of The Wall. At The Wall, things look to be going well for the first time since before Jon was first killed. Every post and port of The Wall is manned and prepared to fight. With the Wildlings, the northern armies, and the new sellswords, Jon and Stannis finally have a solid fighting chance against the coming onslaught (though both Jon and Melisandre know that even their great numbers are dwarfed by The Others and wights). After learning of his Targaryen lineage, Melisandre informs Jon of her belief that he is Azor Ahai, destined to defeat The Others. Jon is uncertain that he even truly wants the responsibility, though he's already taken the role of savior. Stannis, though again grim over being passed over, is eventually happy to not have the burden, though he insists he is still the rightful King of Westeros. This becomes a problem when three dragons arrive at Castle Black, carrying Queen Daenerys and King Aegon Targaryen, with an equally large army following them. Dany and Aegon have come determined to make Stannis bend the knee, unaware of The Others and what has transpired at The Wall throughout the series. Stannis, as we all know, is not one to bend easily, not even for dragons. Scouts have also just arrived to inform them all that the Others and their undead army are just days away. Jon and Melisandre realize they will have to tread lightly if they want to keep the Baratheon King's principles from getting them all destroyed by dragon fire, and instead using The Targaryens to their advantage in the battle. And they both know that Jon's blood will be used to achieve this goal.
** Ultimate irony: For the first time in hundreds of years, The Night's Watch, just recently a rag-tag militia of criminals, outcasts, and exiles, is once again the supreme fighting force defending the realms of men from evil, with more seasoned warriors outnumbering the green, inexperienced boys keeping it together thus far.
** Deaths: Queen Selyse Baratheon,Patchface, Bowen Marsh and the other men who betrayed Jon, Wun Wun, several Wildlings and Night's Watchmen, everyone at Hardhome.
* The Haunted Forest: There won't be as many Bran chapters in this book, more than last time but not as many as the other characters. Bran continues consuming the weirwood paste and learning the history of the Old Gods religion and The Others from Bloodraven and the Children. While what he learns is indeed magical and fascinating, much of it is also grim and disturbing, most notably human sacrifices both The Children and The First Men made to The Others in times of darkness, before The Warrior of Light and The Night's Watch beat them back thousands of years ago. They worshipped these creatures in pagan-esque religions that eventually evolved into the current northern religion. The Others might even actually be The Old Gods. Bran becomes, growing more comfortable in his surrounds, and growing more distant from his friends during his time honing his abilities with Bloodraven. Even Summer and Hodor become wary of him. The notion that he will soon become stronger than he ever imagined, and fly, makes him determined to help Bloodraven in his goal. To bring the Old Gods back, so that they can restore balance to the world. That's right. GRRM has built Bran up, made him one of the most sympathetic characters to root for through this entire journey, only to show us that his destiny is only a ruse by the three-eyed crow to help The Others return. Bran is supposed to become what is called The Winged Wolf. This is true, under the direction of Bloodraven, Bran will fulfill his role in the end of the world by warging into Dany's dragons if and when they come north of The Wall, turning them against the "bad guys" trying to keep the Old Gods trapped behind The Wall or some such craziness. Something must have happened to Bloodraven when he disappeared behind The Wall years ago. Perhaps he got lost, went mad, and discovered the Children of the Forest, only to find that they were worshipping The Others as they once did. Mad as he might be, or possibly put under whatever spell the Others might have up their sleeves, Bloodraven joined, committing to his status as Last Greenseer and becoming a sort of harbinger for The Others long awaited return. When he foresaw the return of dragons to the world in his green dreams, he searches for a powerful skinchanger and locates Bran. After leading him to his encounter with Jaime and Cersei Lannister and getting him crippled, Bloodraven began manipulating Bran to use his vulnerabilities against him, making him him lust for power and turn the dragons against each other and against the real good guys. This is also the source of Jojen Reed's depression. It's pretty diabolical, I think. Whether or not Bran is stable enough to decide who is good and who is evil at this point, is known. The book will end with him wondering what his father or brothers would do in his situation.
** Ultimate irony: The Winged Wolf, is the villain, not the hero.
** Deaths: Possibly Jojen Reed, not sure how, though.
So yeah, this might be nothing like whatever Martin has in store for us, but it's how I imagine he might do it. There is a little personal bias, of course, but oh well. All I can predict about A Dream of Spring is that the ending's definitely gonna be bittersweet and that it's probably gonna be the legend of Azor Ahai retold across a thousand-plus page book.
It's gonna be awhile before The Winds of Winter is published, so I figured I might as well guess what I think is going to happen. This is taken in part from a series of scrambled comments I made on a Youtube video about this particular subject. I think the book will mostly be about all of the scattered characters finally settling their conflicts and coming together as the real war approaches. I will start with the storylines taking place far south and work my way up to the ones taking place far north.
* Meereen: Drogon burns Khal Jhaqo when he tries to challenge Dany, convincing his khalasar to join her. She leads them back to Meereen where the war has begun. While Barristan does his best to repel The Sons of The Harpy and the forces of Yunkai, The Iron Fleet attacks, making the battle even more chaotic. Victarion will have his men sound the dragon horn, sending Viserion and Rhaegal into a frenzy, roasting all in their paths. The battle looks to be going completely in Victarion's favor. Then Drogon arrives and destroys his ship before he can blow the horn again. Dany leads Drogon and his freed brothers in decimating the Iron Fleet. Tyrion is able to convince Brown Ben Plumm to turn The Second Sons against the generals of Yunkai when it becomes clear who is going to win. With the dragons and her new khalasar, Dany is easily able to end the war within a half hour of her arriving, in epic fashion. The slaver forces who remain bow down and beg mercy, the ones who flee to fight another day are chased down, burned, and eaten by the dragons. When reuniting with Barristan and Grey Worm on the battlefield outside Meereen's walls, and also finding Tyrion and Jorah, she is attacked by Victarion in revenge for killing all of his men. The four men are able to save her, slaying the near superhuman Iron Captain together. Afterward, Dany executes Hizdahr for trying to kill her, but never knows whether or not she killed all of the Sons of the Harpy. She'll assume The Harpy Leader is Reznak and execute him because she was told to beware the perfumed seneschal, but I think it might actually be Galazza Galare. Dany is sympathetic toward Tyrion, Penny, and Jorah, knowing they have suffered the slavery she had tried to end; though, she still distrusts them, since Tyrion is of House Lannister and Jorah betrayed her. She would kill Brown Ben if his last minute intervention had not saved Barristan and many of her Unsullied. She is bereft, however, to find Meereen in ruins from when the dragons were controlled by Victarion. And she is heartbroken when she discovers Daario was one of the corpses catapulted against the walls. Having learned how not to rule and leaving her city in misery, Dany decides to set in motion her original goal of conquering Westeros. Tyrion is able to convince her that he and Jorah will be useful to her in this mission, as their ties to their respective houses could prove valuable, as well as their personal skill-sets. Dany agrees, but is more intrigued by Tyrion's encounter with her nephew, Aegon. Her feelings are mixed as she is overjoyed to know that she is not the last Targaryen while also fearful that her supposed destiny of sitting the Iron Throne might not be realized. They use the ships belonging to the Slavers and The Iron Fleet that survived the battle. They find Moqorro, who jumped overboard when the dragons appeared. He claims to have been held against his will by the Ironborn, earning Dany's sympathy, though Tyrion and Jorah are mistrustful of him, having seen Victarion's freaky arm. They in turn are mistrusted by Barristan. Tyrion takes a liking to the dragons and Strong Belwas, at least. Dany considers meeting Aegon, but decides to take back King's Landing and The Iron Throne first. Meereen descends back into slavery and pit fighting after Dany leaves.
** Ultimate irony: Victarion's winning streak throughout Slaver's Bay is brought to a sudden and brutal end when he loses control of the dragons and all of his men burn, defying his sure victory over Dany and the dragons and Moqorro's assertion of it.
** Deaths: Victarion Greyjoy and The Iron Fleet, Hizdahr, Reznak, Daario, Jhogo, Khal Jhaqo, Hero and many other Unsullied, many Sons of The Harpy and Yunkai fighters, and hundreds of Meereenese innocents.
* Braavos: Arya begins her training from Izembaro, a deadly Faceless Man. She becomes an increasingly efficient killer during her apprenticeship, while hearing bits and pieces of what has happened in Meereen and Westeros. She sleeps and wargs into Nymeria again, who attacks a caravan of soldiers with her army of wolves, rescuing a redheaded prisoner. Her training is interrupted only a few months in, as Izembaro visits the Iron Bank of Braavos, who contract him to assassinate Queen Cersei Lannister, who has ignored and refused to pay her debt to them. Izembaro and The Kindly Man tell Arya that she must stay and complete her training under another Faceless Man while he is away. She retrieves Needle and follows him anyway, wanting to kill Cersei herself. She sneaks onto the ship Izembaro boards to Westeros, traveling with Tycho Nestoris, Ser Justin Massey, and Stannis Baratheon's new army of sellswords.
** Ultimate irony: Cersei, a Lannister, has ignored one of her debts and will now pay for it with her life.
** Deaths: Arya will kill about five to ten more targets before returning to Westeros.
* Dorne: Areo Hotah joins Ser Balon Swann and Obara Sand in hunting down Darkstar. During the journey, Areo will be conflicted regarding one of Doran Martell's most recent orders while also gaining respect toward Swann. They find Darkstar, and the three together have difficulty killing the single man. When they finally do, Areo and Obara turn on Ser Balon. Already exhausted and wounded, Balon is quickly murdered, as is the Lannister entourage he arrived with back in Sunspear. Prince Doran has now secured Myrcella, planning to use her as leverage against Cersei in order to assist Aegon. He learns of the Targaryen war that has come to Westeros, lending his forces to their cause. He receives word that Arianne, who he sent as a representative of House Martell for King Aegon and Queen Daenerys, has been imprisoned by the Targaryens after lashing out from her discovery of Quentyn's horrific death. Doran is in anguish over losing Quentyn too, but realizes he now must save Arianne and preserve his alliance with The Targaryens. To show his loyalty, he has Myrcella executed, appeasing Aegon and haunting Dany. Areo watches sadly as some members of the family, including his son Trystane, come to despise Doran for his brutality, while some of the more bloodthirsty members praise him. Doran himself is severely disillusioned by the things he has done and all he has sacrificed to take revenge on House Lannister. Shortly after, Sunspear is raided by The Ironborn and Areo is killed while trying to prevent Doran's capture.
** Ultimate irony: Doran, who has been obsessed with getting revenge on Tywin Lannister for the murders of his brother, sister, and niece, has become just as ruthlessly deceptive and pragmatic as he was by murdering the innocent Myrcella and Ser Balon.
** Deaths: Ser Balon Swann, Myrcella Baratheon, several Lannister soldiers, several Martell soldiers, and Areo Hotah.
* Oldtown: Samwell is able to make Gilly happy, whilst he suffers from anxiety over his situation at the Citadel. He continues in making his maester's chain, while also trying to gain too much attention from the archmaesters, a few of whom are revealed to be increasingly corrupt. Alleras (or Sarella Sand) will be keeping Sam informed and protecting him. Sam happens to become involved in a little murder mystery as the archmaesters start dying under strange circumstances. He learns of his father's brutal murder in King's Landing, and briefly regrets that he won't be able to rule Horn Hill. While reading ad nauseum as Sam is wont to do, he discovers a scroll that was once read by Rhaegar Targaryen. The scroll might contain some ancient Valyrian writing, but it will most notably contain the meaning of The Song of Ice and Fire, of which Sam will find particularly interesting yet also confusing to him. Shortly after this discovery, Oldtown is raided by the Ironborn forces led by Euron Greyjoy. Sam, along with the remaining archmaesters and several other bystanders, including "Pate", are taken hostage. Sam is terrified, but tries to take comfort in the thought that Alleras will protect Gilly and baby Aemon Rayder. Euron finds the scroll in Sam's possession, and he finds it interesting too.
** Ultimate irony: Sam's constant love of reading has led to him uncovering the truth behind this book series' greatest mystery.
** Deaths: several maesters of the Citadel and soldiers protecting Oldtown. A few archmaesters by Pate/Alchemist/Jaqen. A few Ironborn by Alleras.
* Storm's End: Aegon leads his siege of Storm's End, successfully taking the castle but losing half of his men in the process. Jon Connington will not be pleased with these results, realizing his surrogate son's brash, prideful behavior. The two are pleased when Arianne Martell arrives to ensure the assistance of Dorne in the new war. Aegon is strongly enticed by Arianne's beauty and the idea of a Targaryen-Martell marriage like his parents had, but he is set on marrying Daenerys. Connington feels the same, mostly because he has discovered what Dany and her dragons did in Meereen. Aegon resents the fact that Dany did not meet him first when she returned to Westeros, instead immediately taking King's Landing. Connington worries despairingly whether or not Aegon is falling victim to the negative side of the Targaryen gene like The Mad King. And his greyscale becomes worse, making it more difficult to conceal. Aegon and Connington leave to meet with Dany at long last.
** Ultimate irony: Despite all the time and effort Connington, Varys, and Illyrio have invested in making him the perfect king for Westeros, Aegon still displays negative qualities that could lead to his undoing.
** Deaths: A hundred or more members of The Golden Company. All of Stannis' soldiers protecting Storm's End.
* King's Landing: Paranoia will spread throughout the Red Keep following the murders of Kevan Lannister and Grandmaester Pycelle. As Varys predicted, the small council suspects Cersei, and Cersei suspects them and Tyrion. Cersei is able to get her trial by combat thanks to Tommen, who she makes sure knows only Ser Robert Strong can save her. Garlan Tyrell arrives to champion his sister against Ser Robert. The fight begins and ends quickly as Ser Robert immediately proves too strong and too fast for Garlan, viciously killing him. Then the new Kingsguard proceeds to attack all those present. He kills Margeary, Mace Tyrell, Randyll Tarly, the whole small council, Lancel, many Tyrell and Tarly bannerman, city watchmen, and any civilians who happen to be in his path. Qyburn watches silently. Cersei urges Ser Robert on gleefully as he slaughters everyone... until she realizes he killed Tommen when the boy tried hopelessly to protect Margeary. Cersei becomes mad with grief, refusing to let go of her son's body. Through sheer insanity, Cersei is able to outdo Tywin's Red Wedding ten times over. The Red Keep is now literally red with blood, those who managed to escape are taken in by either the retreating Tyrell/Tarly forces or Bronn, the new Lord of House Stokeworth. The Red Keep is abandoned save for Cersei, Qyburn, Robert Strong, Ser Meryn, Ser Boros, a few gold cloaks, and the High Septon, who survived the wound Strong dealt him. Qyburn threatens to execute The High Septon to secure the release of The Kettleblack Brothers from The Faith Militant, then does so when the brothers have been released. The Kettleblacks flee the city to The Eyrie where Littlefinger and their father reside, through with Cersei. Cersei sits with her son's rotting corpse on the Iron Throne, wallowing in madness. Qyburn acts as the real power behind the Throne with the help of his creation Ser Robert and the corrupt fighters still at their command. Few attempts are made to retake The Throne, as each one is bloodily repelled by Ser Robert. Cersei comes to believe Jaime and Myrcella are dead as well, becoming even more morose and despondent. Months after the massacre, Cersei looks out on her balcony to see an army surrounding the Keep, a beautiful young queen flying over the city with three dragons, and, beside her, the valonqar, Tyrion. She collapses in tears, overwhelmed with grief and fear. She is then shocked to be faced with Arya Stark, who stabs her in the chest with Needle. She does not die immediately, and Arya is forced to violently strangle the hysterical Queen to death. Izembaro, who has already killed several gold cloaks, discovers her and chides her for her brazen, sloppy murder. He is then confronted and killed by Ser Robert, who chases Arya through the Throne Room. Barristan Selmy arrives with Grey Worm and several Unsullied, who dispatched Ser Meryn, Ser Boros, and the last of the gold cloaks. They take on Ser Robert, but they also are unable to kill him or match his strength. All die by Strong's hand save for Arya and Barristan, who is thrown into the Iron Throne, severely wounding him on the blades. When all looks lost, Drogon crashes through the windows and burns Ser Robert until he melts inside his armor. Qyburn tries to escape discretely but is killed by Varys before he drops his Rugen disguise, introduces himself to Dany, and assumes his role as Master of Whisperers once again. Tyrion finds Cersei and Tommen's bodies, and looks down on both sadly. He makes sure his nephew is buried, and that his sister is fed to the three dragons, along with Qyburn and the now dead Kingsguard "knights." Arya is unable to escape, shocked by the dragons. Dany at first darkly considers slaying her as was done to Princess Rhaenys, but wishes to know how she ended up infiltrating the Red Keep and killing the Mad Queen. Arya decides to tell her whole story thus far to Dany, because no one else really knows about it. Dany, horrified by what the little girl has been through and with new sympathy for The Starks, swears to help her get back home to Winterfell. Upon learning of her swift conquering of King's Landing and denouncement of House Lannister, many of the high lords immediately pledge fealty to her, among them Lord Willas Tyrell of Highgarden, Lord Doran Martell of Dorne, Bronn of House Stokeworth, and Lord Petyr Baelish of The Eyrie. When Littlefinger arrives to introduce himself, swear allegiance, and pose as the newly revealed Sansa Stark's savior, he is surprised to find Varys and Tyrion as part of her company. Varys and Tyrion relate to Dany their experiences with Littlefinger, insisting he is dangerous. She doesn't entirely believe either of the men, both of whom she already does not trust, until Sansa feels safe enough for the first time in three years and desperately reveals to Dany all she has learned of Littlefinger in their time together. Littlefinger tries in vain to weasel his way into Dany's good graces one last time before Tyrion shoots him in the chest with a crossbow in revenge for framing him for Joffrey's murder. Littlefinger will reach for Sansa as he dies, uttering "Cat..." The Stark sisters are reunited at last. Despite being vastly different people than the last time they saw each other, they embrace, breaking down into tears. Tyrion tells Sansa he is more than happy to forget their forced marriage, as most involved in its design are dead. King Aegon will arrive with Jon Connington, Arianne Martell, her Dornishmen, and The Golden Company. Dany is taken with her nephew, but is uncertain whether or not to marry him right away as he wishes. And she is also uncertain of his intentions in ruling Westeros. People such as Tyrion, Jorah, and Barristan (who can't believe Aegon wasn't killed years before) are apprehensive regarding another incestuous pairing to resurge the Targaryen dynasty, while others such as Varys and Connington assure her that she and Aegon will be unstoppable as Queen and King with the three dragons. Arianne reacts violently when Dany reveals how her brother died, forcing Dany to have Arianne and her people imprisoned. In order to assure she and Aegon of Dorne's allegiance, Prince Doran has Myrcella Baratheon killed. Dany is sickened as ever at having an innocent child murdered because of her, and even more unnerved by Aegon's vicious appreciation of the execution. Arianne and the Dornishmen are released, and she begrudgingly remains as a Martell representative, despite distrusting the new Targaryens. Dany marries Aegon out of duty, solidifying her dynasty and rule at long last, though she still remembers her mistake in marrying Hizdahr, and her love for Drogo and Daario. After finding out he has dreamed of dragons and been fascinated by fire in the past, noting how taken the dragons are with him, and remembering Barristan's story of her father's love for a Lannister woman, Dany begins to suspect Tyrion is her bastard brother. When she reveals this to Tyrion he is uncertain, but his father's last words "You are no son of mine" seems to make him believe. At first, distressed he begins liking the idea of being half Targaryen to some degree. Dany convinces Aegon to help quickly begin asserting their power throughout Westeros. They must do this by getting the last pretender kings, Stannis Baratheon and Euron Greyjoy, to bend the knee. The Targaryen campaign to completely reconquer Westeros begins.
** Ultimate irony: Cersei spent her entire life fearing and hating Tyrion for nothing, bringing about the prophesized destruction of her and her children all on her own and even unknowingly helping to create her actual murderer.
** Deaths: Cersei Lannister, Qyburn, Ser Robert/Ser Gregor, the majority of the crucial characters in The Red Keep, dozens of Tyrell/Tarly/Faith Militant/City Watch/Unsullied soldiers, Ser Meryn Trant, Ser Boros Blount, and Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish.
* Iron Islands: Aeron Greyjoy attempts to begin a rebellion against "Crow's Eye" in secret with his small army of followers. He tries to organize guerilla tactics to hinder Euron's activities for a short while until a few of his men are captured and tortured into revealing everything. Euron finds and captures Aeron, but slaughters all of his Drowned Men. Before pushing a bound and beaten Aeron into the sea, Euron tells him of how he had Balon murdered and sent Victarion and all those loyal to him off to their deaths, eliminating all possible claimants to The Seastone Chair in revenge for his banishment. He also tells him his true ambition is replacing The Seastone Chair with The Iron Throne. Having secured his rule over the Ironborn, Euron continues wreaking havoc all over Westeros. He also begins to accumulating hostages for his agenda, among being Prince Doran Martell, Lord Davos Seaworth, Rickon Stark, Ser Loras Tyrell, Samwell Tarly, Pate/Alchemist/Jaqen, several maesters, archmaesters, Night's Watchmen, women and children. His pillaging and raping attracts the attention of Daenerys, as he planned. He uses the hostages to get Dany to come meet him at Pyke with her army but not her dragons. Once Dany arrives, she and her forces are caught in a trap, ending up with Dany alone with Euron and his crew on The Silence while her Unsullied and Second Sons are left to face the Iron Men. Euron reveals his Crow's Eye to her when they meet. He also reveals what he discovered in the ruins of Valyria, most of which I'm uncertain of but among which is House Lannister's ancestral sword Brightroar and loads of dragonglass. Finally he threatens to execute his hostages one by one and destroy The Song of Ice and Fire without telling her its meaning unless she joins him with her dragons so that they can conquer Westeros together. Fearing for her life, the lives of the hostages, and the fate of The Song, Dany superficially agrees to the union, still regretting the hostages she failed to save in Meereen. Euron immediately takes the opportunity to try and rape Dany and claim her as his thrall, only to be easily killed by the escaped hostage known as "Pate." She loses many soldiers to Euron's attack, but the reinforcements of her large army is able to defeat the Iron Born, saving the hostages, and finally reading the scroll containing The Song of Ice and Fire. After, she will return to her army's new base of operations on Dragonstone. Though Aegon would have liked to have Euron and the Iron Born on his side, he is glad Dany was able to escape with her life.
** Ultimate Irony: Euron Greyjoy is killed by his own hostage, the disguised Jaqen H'ghar, a Faceless Man just like the one he hired to assassinate his older brother Balon.
** Deaths: Euron Greyjoy and his followers, Aeron Greyjoy and his Drowned Men, hundreds of residents and soldiers of Sunspear, Oldtown, Dragonstone,
* Riverlands: Brienne will confess to Jaime midway through their journey that she is leading him into an ambush by The Brotherhood Without Banners. Jaime signals Ilyn Payne, who has been following him since he left, to join them so they can regroup with The Lannister forces, only for the Brotherhood to descend on them anyway. Brienne, Jaime, and Ilyn try to fight back but are overwhelmed and captured. They are taken to a heart tree, where the majority of the Brotherhood and their followers have all gathered. The three prisoners are brought before Lady Stoneheart, who first has Ilyn Payne decapitated with Oathkeeper in front of his nephew, the same way he killed Ned Stark. Stoneheart then orders Brienne to kill Jaime, but she refuses and is dragged off to be hanged. Jaime, horrified at what's become of Lady Stark, tries to beg her to spare Brienne. Stoneheart then slits his throat with Oathkeeper. Heartbroken and enraged, Brienne breaks free and grabs a sword killing several members of the Brotherhood, giving Podrick and Ser Hyle Hunt the opportunity to do the same. They fight hard, but are outnumbered and facing death. Then Septon Meribald arrives with a living Sandor Clegane, who kills Lem/The Hound and helps Brienne defeat the last warriors of The Brotherhood present. Brienne will hold Jaime in her arms as he dies. She will tell him she loves him, to which he will probably smile and say something like "I know, wench" before dying. Stoneheart realizes how much more death she has brought and loses her resolve for revenge upon seeing this scene of affection between Brienne and Jaime, and the people who died for her cause. Brienne considers killing Catelyn for Jaime, but sees no point in it now that they each have lost so much. Sandor, Ser Hyle, Podrick, Gendry and the children he looks after all join Brienne as she decides to put aside her desire for revenge and join Stannis Baratheon's forces at Winterfell. Sandor joins out of his wish to make sure Arya Stark is at Winterfell and safe. Before leaving, Brienne buries Jaime by the heart tree. She sees Catelyn is following a short distance behind her group on their path. On their way, they join up with Brynden Blackfish and Tom O'Sevens who managed to spring Edmure Tully from imprisonment by drawing his Lannister-Frey caravan into the path of Nymeria's wolf army. Edmure and Blackfish are shocked at Catelyn's current state. Upon receiving word of dragons invading King's Landing and dethroning the Lannisters and Roose Bolton's defeat at Winterfell, The Late Lord Walder Frey finally dies of a heartache. As predicted, several of his offspring quickly begin plotting against and killing one another for the title of Lord of The Crossing. Those of House Frey who attempt to escape into obscurity are hunted down by Nymeria and her pack.
** Ultimate Irony: Ilyn Payne is killed by the same steel and in the same manner as Ned Stark, Sandor litterally slays his demon by killing the current Hound, and The Freys are eradicated by each other and a wolf of House Stark.
** Deaths: Jaime Lannister, Ilyn Payne, most of the other Brotherhood fighters including Lem, Jack Be Lucky, and The Mad Huntsman, Lord Frey and all but a few of his descendants, soldiers, and Lannister allies, Urswyck and Zollo, who Brienne's encounters on the road and Brienne slays as vengeance for Jaime and everyone else they maimed or murdered.
* The Eyrie: Before traveling to King's Landing and inadvertently getting himself killed, Littlefinger was still trying to secure his hold over The Eyrie and the Lords Declarant. Sansa suspects his plans to kill Sweetrobin Arryn, and convinces her friend Mya Stone and her betrothed Harold Hardying to help her save her cousin. Of course, Littlefinger finds out first and intercepts the rescue. After locking Sansa in her room and putting Mya and Harold in sky cells, Littlefinger is able to murder Sweetrobin using large doses of sweetsleep. Slightly drunk from his increasing love of wine, Littlefinger bitterly chides Sansa for going against him, accidentally mentioning his involvement with her family's destruction. Littlefinger will be slightly distressed at the Targaryen resurgence in Westeros. However, upon learning of the dragons taking back King's Landing from the Lannisters and the north men taking back Winterfell from the Boltons, Littlefinger decides it is time to reveal Sansa to the world and himself as her savior. The people of the north see him as a hero when words of this "deed" reaches across Westeros. Littlefinger departs with Sansa from the Eyrie, on his way to pledge fealty to Dany and her dragons. Sansa, however, plots to take revenge for her family against Littlefinger the moment she can.
** Ultimate irony: Just when he finally has all of Westeros eating out of his hand, and a promising new alliance down the road with the more powerful than ever Targaryens, Littlefinger cannot see the double cross building inside sweet Sansa Stark.
** Deaths: Robert Arryn, Ser Shadrich (who discovers and tries to rescue Sansa only for Littlefinger to find out and have him killed) and the entire Kettleblack family is sent through the Moon Door by Littlefinger to cover up their connection to him.
* Winterfell: Stannis will learn from Tycho Nestoris the Karstarks' deception, having them imprisoned and/or burned alive to warm his men. Asha convinces him to execute Theon at the godswood of Winterfell instead of burning him too. Stannis' host finds Ramsay Bolton's a day's ride from Winterfell. The two armies battle in the intense blizzard at night. It is a harsh and bloody fight. Stannis is nearly defeated and killed whilst fighting Ramsay, only to be saved by Asha when she cripples the Bastard of Bolton; this earns her his royal pardon later. Despite losing a large number of his soldiers, Stannis is able to use the assistance of The Mormonts and Manderlys as well as the revelation of House Karstark's treachery to his advantage in beating Ramsay. Ramsay himself is put in chains along side Theon, who finds himself amused that Master Ramsay is now crippled and broken like he is. Stannis then marches on Winterfell, using Theon's knowledge of the walls to have his men gain entry and open the gates. Stannis' forces overwhelm The Bolton and Frey soldiers. Mance Rayder arrives, having escaped Winterfell when half of his spearwives was killed and the other half tortured by Ramsay into revealing his identity. After learning of Ramsay's part in laying waste to Winterfell from Theon, and aware of Roose's betrayal and murder of Robb Stark, Stannis appeases the northerners by burning alive both Lord Bolton and his bastard. Theon watches, happy to finally be free of Ramsay and his Reek identity. He is still going to be executed by Stannis, however. In his last effort to save himself, Theon reveals to everyone that he never actually murdered Bran and Rickon and that Ramsay's bride is not Arya, but Jeyne Poole. No one can confirm whether or not it is true, until a sickly Jon Snow arrives shortly after. Jon sadly confirms that Arya is not his sister and then claims to have encountered Bran in the Haunted Forest, and Wyman Manderly reveals to he and Stannis of his hand in faking Davos Seaworth's death and sending him off to find Rickon on Skagos. Stannis also learns from Jenye how Theon rescued her. He decides to take only his fingers, as he'd done to punish and reward Davos, but upon seeing Theon's already mangled fingers, Stannis decides Theon has already paid dearly for his crimes, and leaves him to his fate. Jon tells Stannis of the troubles at The Wall before collapsing from his intense cold, fading. Winterfell receives it's first visitors in the last Tullys, Brienne of Tarth, Sandor Clegane, and what is left of The Brotherhood Without Banners. Stannis and Brienne, both honest warriors, manage to come to a form of peace after some time, and she is able to convince him of Sandor's reformation. Stannis also finds himself less able to dispose of potential fighters for his cause, and so takes them all in. Upon learning that her children are still alive somewhere, Catelyn gives the last of her life energy to Jon, fully reviving him in the hopes that he will be able to save their family (which she now sees him as after learning of his journey). With Jon recovered and Mance alive, Stannis prepares to leave Winterfell in the hands of his northern allies so that he can return to The Wall, consolidate his forces, and stop The Others. A few months later, Daenerys and Aegon Targaryen arrive with their host, returning Sansa and Arya Stark to their home where they will be protected. The Targaryens proceed ahead toward The Wall so that she can find Stannis, the last pretender to the Iron Throne that she must deal with.
** Ultimate irony: Roose and Ramsay are finally made equal to each other when they are burned alive side by side, Theon is alive and free but has nothing save his sister, and Catelyn sacrifices the life she has left to save her least favorite "son."
** Deaths: The Boltons, Freys, and Karstarks at Winterfell, half of Stannis' army, and Catelyn Stark for the second and last time.
* Skagos: Davos Seaworth uses his skills as a smuggler to silently infiltrate Skagos by night with Wex Pyke and a crew of Manderly warriors. A lot of cunning is displayed in order to bypass the cannibals that inhabit the island. Eventually they happen upon Osha, Rickon Stark, and a fully grown Shaggydog. All three have become quite feral in their time among the natives, fighting for survival. It takes some convincing from Davos to persuade six-year-old Rickon to return home to be Lord of Winterfell. He only does so when he learns of Robb and Catelyn's murders and his "sister's" capture by The Boltons. Making a harrowing escape from the cannibals (a la Raiders of the Lost Ark), Davos manages to sail away from Skagos, heading back toward White Harbor. We learn more about what Rickon has been through since his absence in the last three books. Rickon tells Davos that he can't be Lord of Winterfell because his brother Bran is still alive. After barely escaping a near fatal storm at sea, they reach White Harbor, only to find it is being raided by Euron Greyjoy's ships. Davos attempts to escape farther south, but his ship is caught. Osha and the Manderly men defend Rickon as best they can before being slain by The Ironmen. Davos manages to save his and Rickon's life by informing the iron men that he is Stannis Baratheon's King's Hand and Rickon is a Stark of Winterfell. When Euron hears of this, he decides they will make perfect hostages.
** Ultimate irony: Just when he finally completes his mission and thinks he has rescued Rickon with his amazing skills as a sailor, Davos ends up sailing right into the hands of The Ironborn.
** Deaths: many cannibals, Osha, the Manderly men sent with Davos, many innocents in White Harbor.
* The Wall: A small war breaks out at Castle Black between The Wildlings and Night's Watch upon the discovery of Jon Snow's stabbing. With the giant Wun Wun running rampant and the black brothers raining down fire arrows, The Wildlings are forced to flee to either side of the Wall. Many follow Tormund Giantsbane, who carries Jon through the tunnels to the other side. Upon seeing her vision of Jon being betrayed come true, Melisandre realizes what her vision of him becoming a ghost then a man again means. She releases Ghost from Jon's quarters and allows him to flee beyond The Wall. While The Night's Watch and Queen's Men are out securing the wall's defenses and hunting down Wildlings still inside Castle Black, Melisandre attempts to dissuade Queen Selyse from turning the Wildlings away. Selyse, stubborn and haughty as ever, finally rejects Melisandre's advice, confident in her Queen's Men and her new alliance with Bowen Marsh, a Lord Commander who knows how to bend the knee. In the Queen's moment of defenselessness during the chaos, Patchface murders Selyse. He tries to kill Melisandre and Shireen too as they escape, only managing to wound the red priestess before he is stopped and killed by Pyp, Grenn, and Dolourous Edd. Mel is able to convince Jon's guilt-ridden friends in the Watch to rebel against his betrayers and realign with the Wildlings before The Others she has seen in her fires arrive. Jon, unconscious from his fatal wounds, wargs in and out of Ghost in the weeks before he dies. One with Ghost now, Jon explores deep into The Haunted Forest. He spots Hodor looking for firewood, fights with Summer over a frozen body (though he can sense Bran inside the direwolf), and sees The Children of The Forest too. Going further into the woods, he finds a massive army of Others and wights heading from the direction of Hardhome with a blizzard at their backs; they are, of course, moving at a very slow pace. Jon/Ghost flees, running for several days back toward the wall before Jon is ripped back to life, awakening on funeral pyre surrounded by Melisandre and the Wildlings. After saving him from the fire, Tormund tells Jon that a rebellion instigated by Jon's friends within Castle Black allowed The Wildlings to defeat Bowen Marsh and the other black brothers who betrayed Jon and reclaim Castle Black. Melisandre revived Jon through the red priests' funeral ritual (the same one that resurrected Beric Dondarrion). She begins to believe that she may have been wrong about Stannis, and that Jon might possibly be the actual Azor Ahai. Jon himself is still determined to go to Winterfell and stop Ramsay Snow, but he makes sure that Tormund and The Night's Watchmen continue arming each of the The Wall's castles with men and supplies to defend the realm from the approaching horde. Jon leaves, putting Tormund and Melisandre in charge in an odd partnership, but he develops a worsening cold as his journey begins.Despite having some difficulty in completely bonding the free folk and black brothers together into a solid team, The Wall becomes seemingly adequately secure. The Wildlings who cannot fight are sent back to the two Gifts. Melisandre has more visions of Jon and vague things to come, visions of dragons at war (one red, one black, one with the face of a wolf, one with the face of a lion, one a wolf with wings), visions of the thousand eyes, visions of The White Walkers. She sees death, fire wrapped in ice. Before returning to the Wall with Stannis' army, Jon leads a group to Greywater Watch to collect supplies and recruit the northern host sent there by Robb. Jon meets Howland Reed who, in private, has the opportunity to reveal to him what happened the day he and Eddard found Lyanna. After killing the three Kingsguard knights and losing their friends in the process, Ned and Howland raced to the top of the Tower of Joy and found Lyanna dying in her bed, with a silent newborn baby in her arms. Ned took the boy, promising his sister he would raise him and protect him from Robert Baratheon and Tywin Lannister, who would kill him as they did the other children of Rhaegar Targaryen. The weight of this revelation shocks Jon initially, but he eventually decides not to let himself dwell on it since Rhaegar, Lyanna, and Ned are all dead and he still has work to do. Howland and his northern army join Jon on his return to The Wall, as Jon also tells Howland that Theon Greyjoy let his children escape along with his own two brothers and that they may be north of The Wall. At The Wall, things look to be going well for the first time since before Jon was first killed. Every post and port of The Wall is manned and prepared to fight. With the Wildlings, the northern armies, and the new sellswords, Jon and Stannis finally have a solid fighting chance against the coming onslaught (though both Jon and Melisandre know that even their great numbers are dwarfed by The Others and wights). After learning of his Targaryen lineage, Melisandre informs Jon of her belief that he is Azor Ahai, destined to defeat The Others. Jon is uncertain that he even truly wants the responsibility, though he's already taken the role of savior. Stannis, though again grim over being passed over, is eventually happy to not have the burden, though he insists he is still the rightful King of Westeros. This becomes a problem when three dragons arrive at Castle Black, carrying Queen Daenerys and King Aegon Targaryen, with an equally large army following them. Dany and Aegon have come determined to make Stannis bend the knee, unaware of The Others and what has transpired at The Wall throughout the series. Stannis, as we all know, is not one to bend easily, not even for dragons. Scouts have also just arrived to inform them all that the Others and their undead army are just days away. Jon and Melisandre realize they will have to tread lightly if they want to keep the Baratheon King's principles from getting them all destroyed by dragon fire, and instead using The Targaryens to their advantage in the battle. And they both know that Jon's blood will be used to achieve this goal.
** Ultimate irony: For the first time in hundreds of years, The Night's Watch, just recently a rag-tag militia of criminals, outcasts, and exiles, is once again the supreme fighting force defending the realms of men from evil, with more seasoned warriors outnumbering the green, inexperienced boys keeping it together thus far.
** Deaths: Queen Selyse Baratheon,Patchface, Bowen Marsh and the other men who betrayed Jon, Wun Wun, several Wildlings and Night's Watchmen, everyone at Hardhome.
* The Haunted Forest: There won't be as many Bran chapters in this book, more than last time but not as many as the other characters. Bran continues consuming the weirwood paste and learning the history of the Old Gods religion and The Others from Bloodraven and the Children. While what he learns is indeed magical and fascinating, much of it is also grim and disturbing, most notably human sacrifices both The Children and The First Men made to The Others in times of darkness, before The Warrior of Light and The Night's Watch beat them back thousands of years ago. They worshipped these creatures in pagan-esque religions that eventually evolved into the current northern religion. The Others might even actually be The Old Gods. Bran becomes, growing more comfortable in his surrounds, and growing more distant from his friends during his time honing his abilities with Bloodraven. Even Summer and Hodor become wary of him. The notion that he will soon become stronger than he ever imagined, and fly, makes him determined to help Bloodraven in his goal. To bring the Old Gods back, so that they can restore balance to the world. That's right. GRRM has built Bran up, made him one of the most sympathetic characters to root for through this entire journey, only to show us that his destiny is only a ruse by the three-eyed crow to help The Others return. Bran is supposed to become what is called The Winged Wolf. This is true, under the direction of Bloodraven, Bran will fulfill his role in the end of the world by warging into Dany's dragons if and when they come north of The Wall, turning them against the "bad guys" trying to keep the Old Gods trapped behind The Wall or some such craziness. Something must have happened to Bloodraven when he disappeared behind The Wall years ago. Perhaps he got lost, went mad, and discovered the Children of the Forest, only to find that they were worshipping The Others as they once did. Mad as he might be, or possibly put under whatever spell the Others might have up their sleeves, Bloodraven joined, committing to his status as Last Greenseer and becoming a sort of harbinger for The Others long awaited return. When he foresaw the return of dragons to the world in his green dreams, he searches for a powerful skinchanger and locates Bran. After leading him to his encounter with Jaime and Cersei Lannister and getting him crippled, Bloodraven began manipulating Bran to use his vulnerabilities against him, making him him lust for power and turn the dragons against each other and against the real good guys. This is also the source of Jojen Reed's depression. It's pretty diabolical, I think. Whether or not Bran is stable enough to decide who is good and who is evil at this point, is known. The book will end with him wondering what his father or brothers would do in his situation.
** Ultimate irony: The Winged Wolf, is the villain, not the hero.
** Deaths: Possibly Jojen Reed, not sure how, though.
So yeah, this might be nothing like whatever Martin has in store for us, but it's how I imagine he might do it. There is a little personal bias, of course, but oh well. All I can predict about A Dream of Spring is that the ending's definitely gonna be bittersweet and that it's probably gonna be the legend of Azor Ahai retold across a thousand-plus page book.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Clearing my head until GRRM blows me away with the actual book
Added DiffLines:
[[WMG: Winds of Winter Predictions]]
It's gonna be awhile before The Winds of Winter is published, so I figured I might as well guess what I think is going to happen. This is taken in part from a series of scrambled comments I made on a Youtube video about this particular subject. I think the book will mostly be about all of the scattered characters finally settling their conflicts and coming together as the real war approaches. I will start with the storylines taking place far south and work my way up to the ones taking place far north.
* Meereen: Drogon burns Khal Jhaqo when he tries to challenge Dany, convincing his khalasar to join her. She leads them back to Meereen where the war has begun. While Barristan does his best to repel The Sons of The Harpy and the forces of Yunkai, The Iron Fleet attacks, making the battle even more chaotic. Victarion will have his men sound the dragon horn, sending Viserion and Rhaegal into a frenzy, roasting all in their paths. The battle looks to be going completely in Victarion's favor. Then Drogon arrives and destroys his ship before he can blow the horn again. Dany leads Drogon and his freed brothers in decimating the Iron Fleet. Tyrion is able to convince Brown Ben Plumm to turn The Second Sons against the generals of Yunkai when it becomes clear who is going to win. With the dragons and her new khalasar, Dany is easily able to end the war within a half hour of her arriving, in epic fashion. The slaver forces who remain bow down and beg mercy, the ones who flee to fight another day are chased down, burned, and eaten by the dragons. When reuniting with Barristan and Grey Worm on the battlefield outside Meereen's walls, and also finding Tyrion and Jorah, she is attacked by Victarion in revenge for killing all of his men. The four men are able to save her, slaying the near superhuman Iron Captain together. Afterward, Dany executes Hizdahr for trying to kill her, but never knows whether or not she killed all of the Sons of the Harpy. She'll assume The Harpy Leader is Reznak and execute him because she was told to beware the perfumed seneschal, but I think it might actually be Galazza Galare. Dany is sympathetic toward Tyrion, Penny, and Jorah, knowing they have suffered the slavery she had tried to end; though, she still distrusts them, since Tyrion is of House Lannister and Jorah betrayed her. She would kill Brown Ben if his last minute intervention had not saved Barristan and many of her Unsullied. She is bereft, however, to find Meereen in ruins from when the dragons were controlled by Victarion. And she is heartbroken when she discovers Daario was one of the corpses catapulted against the walls. Having learned how not to rule and leaving her city in misery, Dany decides to set in motion her original goal of conquering Westeros. Tyrion is able to convince her that he and Jorah will be useful to her in this mission, as their ties to their respective houses could prove valuable, as well as their personal skill-sets. Dany agrees, but is more intrigued by Tyrion's encounter with her nephew, Aegon. Her feelings are mixed as she is overjoyed to know that she is not the last Targaryen while also fearful that her supposed destiny of sitting the Iron Throne might not be realized. They use the ships belonging to the Slavers and The Iron Fleet that survived the battle. They find Moqorro, who jumped overboard when the dragons appeared. He claims to have been held against his will by the Ironborn, earning Dany's sympathy, though Tyrion and Jorah are mistrustful of him, having seen Victarion's freaky arm. They in turn are mistrusted by Barristan. Tyrion takes a liking to the dragons and Strong Belwas, at least. Dany considers meeting Aegon, but decides to take back King's Landing and The Iron Throne first. Meereen descends back into slavery and pit fighting after Dany leaves.
** Ultimate irony: Victarion's winning streak throughout Slaver's Bay is brought to a sudden and brutal end when he loses control of the dragons and all of his men burn, defying his sure victory over Dany and the dragons and Moqorro's assertion of it.
** Deaths: Victarion Greyjoy and The Iron Fleet, Hizdahr, Reznak, Daario, Jhogo, Khal Jhaqo, Hero and many other Unsullied, many Sons of The Harpy and Yunkai fighters, and hundreds of Meereenese innocents.
* Braavos: Arya begins her training from Izembaro, a deadly Faceless Man. She becomes an increasingly efficient killer during her apprenticeship, while hearing bits and pieces of what has happened in Meereen and Westeros. She sleeps and wargs into Nymeria again, who attacks a caravan of soldiers with her army of wolves, rescuing a redheaded prisoner. Her training is interrupted only a few months in, as Izembaro visits the Iron Bank of Braavos, who contract him to assassinate Queen Cersei Lannister, who has ignored and refused to pay her debt to them. Izembaro and The Kindly Man tell Arya that she must stay and complete her training under another Faceless Man while he is away. She retrieves Needle and follows him anyway, wanting to kill Cersei herself. She sneaks onto the ship Izembaro boards to Westeros, traveling with Tycho Nestoris, Ser Justin Massey, and Stannis Baratheon's new army of sellswords.
** Ultimate irony: Cersei, a Lannister, has ignored one of her debts and will now pay for it with her life.
** Deaths: Arya will kill about five to ten more targets before returning to Westeros.
* Dorne: Areo Hotah joins Ser Balon Swann and Obara Sand in hunting down Darkstar. During the journey, Areo will be conflicted regarding one of Doran Martell's most recent orders while also gaining respect toward Swann. They find Darkstar, and the three together have difficulty killing the single man. When they finally do, Areo and Obara turn on Ser Balon. Already exhausted and wounded, Balon is quickly murdered, as is the Lannister entourage he arrived with back in Sunspear. Prince Doran has now secured Myrcella, planning to use her as leverage against Cersei in order to assist Aegon. He learns of the Targaryen war that has come to Westeros, lending his forces to their cause. He receives word that Arianne, who he sent as a representative of House Martell for King Aegon and Queen Daenerys, has been imprisoned by the Targaryens after lashing out from her discovery of Quentyn's horrific death. Doran is in anguish over losing Quentyn too, but realizes he now must save Arianne and preserve his alliance with The Targaryens. To show his loyalty, he has Myrcella executed, appeasing Aegon and haunting Dany. Areo watches sadly as some members of the family, including his son Trystane, come to despise Doran for his brutality, while some of the more bloodthirsty members praise him. Doran himself is severely disillusioned by the things he has done and all he has sacrificed to take revenge on House Lannister. Shortly after, Sunspear is raided by The Ironborn and Areo is killed while trying to prevent Doran's capture.
** Ultimate irony: Doran, who has been obsessed with getting revenge on Tywin Lannister for the murders of his brother, sister, and niece, has become just as ruthlessly deceptive and pragmatic as he was by murdering the innocent Myrcella and Ser Balon.
** Deaths: Ser Balon Swann, Myrcella Baratheon, several Lannister soldiers, several Martell soldiers, and Areo Hotah.
* Oldtown: Samwell is able to make Gilly happy, whilst he suffers from anxiety over his situation at the Citadel. He continues in making his maester's chain, while also trying to gain too much attention from the archmaesters, a few of whom are revealed to be increasingly corrupt. Alleras (or Sarella Sand) will be keeping Sam informed and protecting him. Sam happens to become involved in a little murder mystery as the archmaesters start dying under strange circumstances. He learns of his father's brutal murder in King's Landing, and briefly regrets that he won't be able to rule Horn Hill. While reading ad nauseum as Sam is wont to do, he discovers a scroll that was once read by Rhaegar Targaryen. The scroll might contain some ancient Valyrian writing, but it will most notably contain the meaning of The Song of Ice and Fire, of which Sam will find particularly interesting yet also confusing to him. Shortly after this discovery, Oldtown is raided by the Ironborn forces led by Euron Greyjoy. Sam, along with the remaining archmaesters and several other bystanders, including "Pate", are taken hostage. Sam is terrified, but tries to take comfort in the thought that Alleras will protect Gilly and baby Aemon Rayder. Euron finds the scroll in Sam's possession, and he finds it interesting too.
** Ultimate irony: Sam's constant love of reading has led to him uncovering the truth behind this book series' greatest mystery.
** Deaths: several maesters of the Citadel and soldiers protecting Oldtown. A few archmaesters by Pate/Alchemist/Jaqen. A few Ironborn by Alleras.
* Storm's End: Aegon leads his siege of Storm's End, successfully taking the castle but losing half of his men in the process. Jon Connington will not be pleased with these results, realizing his surrogate son's brash, prideful behavior. The two are pleased when Arianne Martell arrives to ensure the assistance of Dorne in the new war. Aegon is strongly enticed by Arianne's beauty and the idea of a Targaryen-Martell marriage like his parents had, but he is set on marrying Daenerys. Connington feels the same, mostly because he has discovered what Dany and her dragons did in Meereen. Aegon resents the fact that Dany did not meet him first when she returned to Westeros, instead immediately taking King's Landing. Connington worries despairingly whether or not Aegon is falling victim to the negative side of the Targaryen gene like The Mad King. And his greyscale becomes worse, making it more difficult to conceal. Aegon and Connington leave to meet with Dany at long last.
** Ultimate irony: Despite all the time and effort Connington, Varys, and Illyrio have invested in making him the perfect king for Westeros, Aegon still displays negative qualities that could lead to his undoing.
** Deaths: A hundred or more members of The Golden Company. All of Stannis' soldiers protecting Storm's End.
* King's Landing: Paranoia will spread throughout the Red Keep following the murders of Kevan Lannister and Grandmaester Pycelle. As Varys predicted, the small council suspects Cersei, and Cersei suspects them and Tyrion. Cersei is able to get her trial by combat thanks to Tommen, who she makes sure knows only Ser Robert Strong can save her. Garlan Tyrell arrives to champion his sister against Ser Robert. The fight begins and ends quickly as Ser Robert immediately proves too strong and too fast for Garlan, viciously killing him. Then the new Kingsguard proceeds to attack all those present. He kills Margeary, Mace Tyrell, Randyll Tarly, the whole small council, Lancel, many Tyrell and Tarly bannerman, city watchmen, and any civilians who happen to be in his path. Qyburn watches silently. Cersei urges Ser Robert on gleefully as he slaughters everyone... until she realizes he killed Tommen when the boy tried hopelessly to protect Margeary. Cersei becomes mad with grief, refusing to let go of her son's body. Through sheer insanity, Cersei is able to outdo Tywin's Red Wedding ten times over. The Red Keep is now literally red with blood, those who managed to escape are taken in by either the retreating Tyrell/Tarly forces or Bronn, the new Lord of House Stokeworth. The Red Keep is abandoned save for Cersei, Qyburn, Robert Strong, Ser Meryn, Ser Boros, a few gold cloaks, and the High Septon, who survived the wound Strong dealt him. Qyburn threatens to execute The High Septon to secure the release of The Kettleblack Brothers from The Faith Militant, then does so when the brothers have been released. The Kettleblacks flee the city to The Eyrie where Littlefinger and their father reside, through with Cersei. Cersei sits with her son's rotting corpse on the Iron Throne, wallowing in madness. Qyburn acts as the real power behind the Throne with the help of his creation Ser Robert and the corrupt fighters still at their command. Few attempts are made to retake The Throne, as each one is bloodily repelled by Ser Robert. Cersei comes to believe Jaime and Myrcella are dead as well, becoming even more morose and despondent. Months after the massacre, Cersei looks out on her balcony to see an army surrounding the Keep, a beautiful young queen flying over the city with three dragons, and, beside her, the valonqar, Tyrion. She collapses in tears, overwhelmed with grief and fear. She is then shocked to be faced with Arya Stark, who stabs her in the chest with Needle. She does not die immediately, and Arya is forced to violently strangle the hysterical Queen to death. Izembaro, who has already killed several gold cloaks, discovers her and chides her for her brazen, sloppy murder. He is then confronted and killed by Ser Robert, who chases Arya through the Throne Room. Barristan Selmy arrives with Grey Worm and several Unsullied, who dispatched Ser Meryn, Ser Boros, and the last of the gold cloaks. They take on Ser Robert, but they also are unable to kill him or match his strength. All die by Strong's hand save for Arya and Barristan, who is thrown into the Iron Throne, severely wounding him on the blades. When all looks lost, Drogon crashes through the windows and burns Ser Robert until he melts inside his armor. Qyburn tries to escape discretely but is killed by Varys before he drops his Rugen disguise, introduces himself to Dany, and assumes his role as Master of Whisperers once again. Tyrion finds Cersei and Tommen's bodies, and looks down on both sadly. He makes sure his nephew is buried, and that his sister is fed to the three dragons, along with Qyburn and the now dead Kingsguard "knights." Arya is unable to escape, shocked by the dragons. Dany at first darkly considers slaying her as was done to Princess Rhaenys, but wishes to know how she ended up infiltrating the Red Keep and killing the Mad Queen. Arya decides to tell her whole story thus far to Dany, because no one else really knows about it. Dany, horrified by what the little girl has been through and with new sympathy for The Starks, swears to help her get back home to Winterfell. Upon learning of her swift conquering of King's Landing and denouncement of House Lannister, many of the high lords immediately pledge fealty to her, among them Lord Willas Tyrell of Highgarden, Lord Doran Martell of Dorne, Bronn of House Stokeworth, and Lord Petyr Baelish of The Eyrie. When Littlefinger arrives to introduce himself, swear allegiance, and pose as the newly revealed Sansa Stark's savior, he is surprised to find Varys and Tyrion as part of her company. Varys and Tyrion relate to Dany their experiences with Littlefinger, insisting he is dangerous. She doesn't entirely believe either of the men, both of whom she already does not trust, until Sansa feels safe enough for the first time in three years and desperately reveals to Dany all she has learned of Littlefinger in their time together. Littlefinger tries in vain to weasel his way into Dany's good graces one last time before Tyrion shoots him in the chest with a crossbow in revenge for framing him for Joffrey's murder. Littlefinger will reach for Sansa as he dies, uttering "Cat..." The Stark sisters are reunited at last. Despite being vastly different people than the last time they saw each other, they embrace, breaking down into tears. Tyrion tells Sansa he is more than happy to forget their forced marriage, as most involved in its design are dead. King Aegon will arrive with Jon Connington, Arianne Martell, her Dornishmen, and The Golden Company. Dany is taken with her nephew, but is uncertain whether or not to marry him right away as he wishes. And she is also uncertain of his intentions in ruling Westeros. People such as Tyrion, Jorah, and Barristan (who can't believe Aegon wasn't killed years before) are apprehensive regarding another incestuous pairing to resurge the Targaryen dynasty, while others such as Varys and Connington assure her that she and Aegon will be unstoppable as Queen and King with the three dragons. Arianne reacts violently when Dany reveals how her brother died, forcing Dany to have Arianne and her people imprisoned. In order to assure she and Aegon of Dorne's allegiance, Prince Doran has Myrcella Baratheon killed. Dany is sickened as ever at having an innocent child murdered because of her, and even more unnerved by Aegon's vicious appreciation of the execution. Arianne and the Dornishmen are released, and she begrudgingly remains as a Martell representative, despite distrusting the new Targaryens. Dany marries Aegon out of duty, solidifying her dynasty and rule at long last, though she still remembers her mistake in marrying Hizdahr, and her love for Drogo and Daario. After finding out he has dreamed of dragons and been fascinated by fire in the past, noting how taken the dragons are with him, and remembering Barristan's story of her father's love for a Lannister woman, Dany begins to suspect Tyrion is her bastard brother. When she reveals this to Tyrion he is uncertain, but his father's last words "You are no son of mine" seems to make him believe. At first, distressed he begins liking the idea of being half Targaryen to some degree. Dany convinces Aegon to help quickly begin asserting their power throughout Westeros. They must do this by getting the last pretender kings, Stannis Baratheon and Euron Greyjoy, to bend the knee. The Targaryen campaign to completely reconquer Westeros begins.
** Ultimate irony: Cersei spent her entire life fearing and hating Tyrion for nothing, bringing about the prophesized destruction of her and her children all on her own and even unknowingly helping to create her actual murderer.
** Deaths: Cersei Lannister, Qyburn, Ser Robert/Ser Gregor, the majority of the crucial characters in The Red Keep, dozens of Tyrell/Tarly/Faith Militant/City Watch/Unsullied soldiers, Ser Meryn Trant, Ser Boros Blount, and Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish.
* Iron Islands: Aeron Greyjoy attempts to begin a rebellion against "Crow's Eye" in secret with his small army of followers. He tries to organize guerilla tactics to hinder Euron's activities for a short while until a few of his men are captured and tortured into revealing everything. Euron finds and captures Aeron, but slaughters all of his Drowned Men. Before pushing a bound and beaten Aeron into the sea, Euron tells him of how he had Balon murdered and sent Victarion and all those loyal to him off to their deaths, eliminating all possible claimants to The Seastone Chair in revenge for his banishment. He also tells him his true ambition is replacing The Seastone Chair with The Iron Throne. Having secured his rule over the Ironborn, Euron continues wreaking havoc all over Westeros. He also begins to accumulating hostages for his agenda, among being Prince Doran Martell, Lord Davos Seaworth, Rickon Stark, Ser Loras Tyrell, Samwell Tarly, Pate/Alchemist/Jaqen, several maesters, archmaesters, Night's Watchmen, women and children. His pillaging and raping attracts the attention of Daenerys, as he planned. He uses the hostages to get Dany to come meet him at Pyke with her army but not her dragons. Once Dany arrives, she and her forces are caught in a trap, ending up with Dany alone with Euron and his crew on The Silence while her Unsullied and Second Sons are left to face the Iron Men. Euron reveals his Crow's Eye to her when they meet. He also reveals what he discovered in the ruins of Valyria, most of which I'm uncertain of but among which is House Lannister's ancestral sword Brightroar and loads of dragonglass. Finally he threatens to execute his hostages one by one and destroy The Song of Ice and Fire without telling her its meaning unless she joins him with her dragons so that they can conquer Westeros together. Fearing for her life, the lives of the hostages, and the fate of The Song, Dany superficially agrees to the union, still regretting the hostages she failed to save in Meereen. Euron immediately takes the opportunity to try and rape Dany and claim her as his thrall, only to be easily killed by the escaped hostage known as "Pate." She loses many soldiers to Euron's attack, but the reinforcements of her large army is able to defeat the Iron Born, saving the hostages, and finally reading the scroll containing The Song of Ice and Fire. After, she will return to her army's new base of operations on Dragonstone. Though Aegon would have liked to have Euron and the Iron Born on his side, he is glad Dany was able to escape with her life.
** Ultimate Irony: Euron Greyjoy is killed by his own hostage, the disguised Jaqen H'ghar, a Faceless Man just like the one he hired to assassinate his older brother Balon.
** Deaths: Euron Greyjoy and his followers, Aeron Greyjoy and his Drowned Men, hundreds of residents and soldiers of Sunspear, Oldtown, Dragonstone,
* Riverlands: Brienne will confess to Jaime midway through their journey that she is leading him into an ambush by The Brotherhood Without Banners. Jaime signals Ilyn Payne, who has been following him since he left, to join them so they can regroup with The Lannister forces, only for the Brotherhood to descend on them anyway. Brienne, Jaime, and Ilyn try to fight back but are overwhelmed and captured. They are taken to a heart tree, where the majority of the Brotherhood and their followers have all gathered. The three prisoners are brought before Lady Stoneheart, who first has Ilyn Payne decapitated with Oathkeeper in front of his nephew, the same way he killed Ned Stark. Stoneheart then orders Brienne to kill Jaime, but she refuses and is dragged off to be hanged. Jaime, horrified at what's become of Lady Stark, tries to beg her to spare Brienne. Stoneheart then slits his throat with Oathkeeper. Heartbroken and enraged, Brienne breaks free and grabs a sword killing several members of the Brotherhood, giving Podrick and Ser Hyle Hunt the opportunity to do the same. They fight hard, but are outnumbered and facing death. Then Septon Meribald arrives with a living Sandor Clegane, who kills Lem/The Hound and helps Brienne defeat the last warriors of The Brotherhood present. Brienne will hold Jaime in her arms as he dies. She will tell him she loves him, to which he will probably smile and say something like "I know, wench" before dying. Stoneheart realizes how much more death she has brought and loses her resolve for revenge upon seeing this scene of affection between Brienne and Jaime, and the people who died for her cause. Brienne considers killing Catelyn for Jaime, but sees no point in it now that they each have lost so much. Sandor, Ser Hyle, Podrick, Gendry and the children he looks after all join Brienne as she decides to put aside her desire for revenge and join Stannis Baratheon's forces at Winterfell. Sandor joins out of his wish to make sure Arya Stark is at Winterfell and safe. Before leaving, Brienne buries Jaime by the heart tree. She sees Catelyn is following a short distance behind her group on their path. On their way, they join up with Brynden Blackfish and Tom O'Sevens who managed to spring Edmure Tully from imprisonment by drawing his Lannister-Frey caravan into the path of Nymeria's wolf army. Edmure and Blackfish are shocked at Catelyn's current state. Upon receiving word of dragons invading King's Landing and dethroning the Lannisters and Roose Bolton's defeat at Winterfell, The Late Lord Walder Frey finally dies of a heartache. As predicted, several of his offspring quickly begin plotting against and killing one another for the title of Lord of The Crossing. Those of House Frey who attempt to escape into obscurity are hunted down by Nymeria and her pack.
** Ultimate Irony: Ilyn Payne is killed by the same steel and in the same manner as Ned Stark, Sandor litterally slays his demon by killing the current Hound, and The Freys are eradicated by each other and a wolf of House Stark.
** Deaths: Jaime Lannister, Ilyn Payne, most of the other Brotherhood fighters including Lem, Jack Be Lucky, and The Mad Huntsman, Lord Frey and all but a few of his descendants, soldiers, and Lannister allies, Urswyck and Zollo, who Brienne's encounters on the road and Brienne slays as vengeance for Jaime and everyone else they maimed or murdered.
* The Eyrie: Before traveling to King's Landing and inadvertently getting himself killed, Littlefinger was still trying to secure his hold over The Eyrie and the Lords Declarant. Sansa suspects his plans to kill Sweetrobin Arryn, and convinces her friend Mya Stone and her betrothed Harold Hardying to help her save her cousin. Of course, Littlefinger finds out first and intercepts the rescue. After locking Sansa in her room and putting Mya and Harold in sky cells, Littlefinger is able to murder Sweetrobin using large doses of sweetsleep. Slightly drunk from his increasing love of wine, Littlefinger bitterly chides Sansa for going against him, accidentally mentioning his involvement with her family's destruction. Littlefinger will be slightly distressed at the Targaryen resurgence in Westeros. However, upon learning of the dragons taking back King's Landing from the Lannisters and the north men taking back Winterfell from the Boltons, Littlefinger decides it is time to reveal Sansa to the world and himself as her savior. The people of the north see him as a hero when words of this "deed" reaches across Westeros. Littlefinger departs with Sansa from the Eyrie, on his way to pledge fealty to Dany and her dragons. Sansa, however, plots to take revenge for her family against Littlefinger the moment she can.
** Ultimate irony: Just when he finally has all of Westeros eating out of his hand, and a promising new alliance down the road with the more powerful than ever Targaryens, Littlefinger cannot see the double cross building inside sweet Sansa Stark.
** Deaths: Robert Arryn, Ser Shadrich (who discovers and tries to rescue Sansa only for Littlefinger to find out and have him killed) and the entire Kettleblack family is sent through the Moon Door by Littlefinger to cover up their connection to him.
* Winterfell: Stannis will learn from Tycho Nestoris the Karstarks' deception, having them imprisoned and/or burned alive to warm his men. Asha convinces him to execute Theon at the godswood of Winterfell instead of burning him too. Stannis' host finds Ramsay Bolton's a day's ride from Winterfell. The two armies battle in the intense blizzard at night. It is a harsh and bloody fight. Stannis is nearly defeated and killed whilst fighting Ramsay, only to be saved by Asha when she cripples the Bastard of Bolton; this earns her his royal pardon later. Despite losing a large number of his soldiers, Stannis is able to use the assistance of The Mormonts and Manderlys as well as the revelation of House Karstark's treachery to his advantage in beating Ramsay. Ramsay himself is put in chains along side Theon, who finds himself amused that Master Ramsay is now crippled and broken like he is. Stannis then marches on Winterfell, using Theon's knowledge of the walls to have his men gain entry and open the gates. Stannis' forces overwhelm The Bolton and Frey soldiers. Mance Rayder arrives, having escaped Winterfell when half of his spearwives was killed and the other half tortured by Ramsay into revealing his identity. After learning of Ramsay's part in laying waste to Winterfell from Theon, and aware of Roose's betrayal and murder of Robb Stark, Stannis appeases the northerners by burning alive both Lord Bolton and his bastard. Theon watches, happy to finally be free of Ramsay and his Reek identity. He is still going to be executed by Stannis, however. In his last effort to save himself, Theon reveals to everyone that he never actually murdered Bran and Rickon and that Ramsay's bride is not Arya, but Jeyne Poole. No one can confirm whether or not it is true, until a sickly Jon Snow arrives shortly after. Jon sadly confirms that Arya is not his sister and then claims to have encountered Bran in the Haunted Forest, and Wyman Manderly reveals to he and Stannis of his hand in faking Davos Seaworth's death and sending him off to find Rickon on Skagos. Stannis also learns from Jenye how Theon rescued her. He decides to take only his fingers, as he'd done to punish and reward Davos, but upon seeing Theon's already mangled fingers, Stannis decides Theon has already paid dearly for his crimes, and leaves him to his fate. Jon tells Stannis of the troubles at The Wall before collapsing from his intense cold, fading. Winterfell receives it's first visitors in the last Tullys, Brienne of Tarth, Sandor Clegane, and what is left of The Brotherhood Without Banners. Stannis and Brienne, both honest warriors, manage to come to a form of peace after some time, and she is able to convince him of Sandor's reformation. Stannis also finds himself less able to dispose of potential fighters for his cause, and so takes them all in. Upon learning that her children are still alive somewhere, Catelyn gives the last of her life energy to Jon, fully reviving him in the hopes that he will be able to save their family (which she now sees him as after learning of his journey). With Jon recovered and Mance alive, Stannis prepares to leave Winterfell in the hands of his northern allies so that he can return to The Wall, consolidate his forces, and stop The Others. A few months later, Daenerys and Aegon Targaryen arrive with their host, returning Sansa and Arya Stark to their home where they will be protected. The Targaryens proceed ahead toward The Wall so that she can find Stannis, the last pretender to the Iron Throne that she must deal with.
** Ultimate irony: Roose and Ramsay are finally made equal to each other when they are burned alive side by side, Theon is alive and free but has nothing save his sister, and Catelyn sacrifices the life she has left to save her least favorite "son."
** Deaths: The Boltons, Freys, and Karstarks at Winterfell, half of Stannis' army, and Catelyn Stark for the second and last time.
* Skagos: Davos Seaworth uses his skills as a smuggler to silently infiltrate Skagos by night with Wex Pyke and a crew of Manderly warriors. A lot of cunning is displayed in order to bypass the cannibals that inhabit the island. Eventually they happen upon Osha, Rickon Stark, and a fully grown Shaggydog. All three have become quite feral in their time among the natives, fighting for survival. It takes some convincing from Davos to persuade six-year-old Rickon to return home to be Lord of Winterfell. He only does so when he learns of Robb and Catelyn's murders and his "sister's" capture by The Boltons. Making a harrowing escape from the cannibals (a la Raiders of the Lost Ark), Davos manages to sail away from Skagos, heading back toward White Harbor. We learn more about what Rickon has been through since his absence in the last three books. Rickon tells Davos that he can't be Lord of Winterfell because his brother Bran is still alive. After barely escaping a near fatal storm at sea, they reach White Harbor, only to find it is being raided by Euron Greyjoy's ships. Davos attempts to escape farther south, but his ship is caught. Osha and the Manderly men defend Rickon as best they can before being slain by The Ironmen. Davos manages to save his and Rickon's life by informing the iron men that he is Stannis Baratheon's King's Hand and Rickon is a Stark of Winterfell. When Euron hears of this, he decides they will make perfect hostages.
** Ultimate irony: Just when he finally completes his mission and thinks he has rescued Rickon with his amazing skills as a sailor, Davos ends up sailing right into the hands of The Ironborn.
** Deaths: many cannibals, Osha, the Manderly men sent with Davos, many innocents in White Harbor.
* The Wall: A small war breaks out at Castle Black between The Wildlings and Night's Watch upon the discovery of Jon Snow's stabbing. With the giant Wun Wun running rampant and the black brothers raining down fire arrows, The Wildlings are forced to flee to either side of the Wall. Many follow Tormund Giantsbane, who carries Jon through the tunnels to the other side. Upon seeing her vision of Jon being betrayed come true, Melisandre realizes what her vision of him becoming a ghost then a man again means. She releases Ghost from Jon's quarters and allows him to flee beyond The Wall. While The Night's Watch and Queen's Men are out securing the wall's defenses and hunting down Wildlings still inside Castle Black, Melisandre attempts to dissuade Queen Selyse from turning the Wildlings away. Selyse, stubborn and haughty as ever, finally rejects Melisandre's advice, confident in her Queen's Men and her new alliance with Bowen Marsh, a Lord Commander who knows how to bend the knee. In the Queen's moment of defenselessness during the chaos, Patchface murders Selyse. He tries to kill Melisandre and Shireen too as they escape, only managing to wound the red priestess before he is stopped and killed by Pyp, Grenn, and Dolourous Edd. Mel is able to convince Jon's guilt-ridden friends in the Watch to rebel against his betrayers and realign with the Wildlings before The Others she has seen in her fires arrive. Jon, unconscious from his fatal wounds, wargs in and out of Ghost in the weeks before he dies. One with Ghost now, Jon explores deep into The Haunted Forest. He spots Hodor looking for firewood, fights with Summer over a frozen body (though he can sense Bran inside the direwolf), and sees The Children of The Forest too. Going further into the woods, he finds a massive army of Others and wights heading from the direction of Hardhome with a blizzard at their backs; they are, of course, moving at a very slow pace. Jon/Ghost flees, running for several days back toward the wall before Jon is ripped back to life, awakening on funeral pyre surrounded by Melisandre and the Wildlings. After saving him from the fire, Tormund tells Jon that a rebellion instigated by Jon's friends within Castle Black allowed The Wildlings to defeat Bowen Marsh and the other black brothers who betrayed Jon and reclaim Castle Black. Melisandre revived Jon through the red priests' funeral ritual (the same one that resurrected Beric Dondarrion). She begins to believe that she may have been wrong about Stannis, and that Jon might possibly be the actual Azor Ahai. Jon himself is still determined to go to Winterfell and stop Ramsay Snow, but he makes sure that Tormund and The Night's Watchmen continue arming each of the The Wall's castles with men and supplies to defend the realm from the approaching horde. Jon leaves, putting Tormund and Melisandre in charge in an odd partnership, but he develops a worsening cold as his journey begins.Despite having some difficulty in completely bonding the free folk and black brothers together into a solid team, The Wall becomes seemingly adequately secure. The Wildlings who cannot fight are sent back to the two Gifts. Melisandre has more visions of Jon and vague things to come, visions of dragons at war (one red, one black, one with the face of a wolf, one with the face of a lion, one a wolf with wings), visions of the thousand eyes, visions of The White Walkers. She sees death, fire wrapped in ice. Before returning to the Wall with Stannis' army, Jon leads a group to Greywater Watch to collect supplies and recruit the northern host sent there by Robb. Jon meets Howland Reed who, in private, has the opportunity to reveal to him what happened the day he and Eddard found Lyanna. After killing the three Kingsguard knights and losing their friends in the process, Ned and Howland raced to the top of the Tower of Joy and found Lyanna dying in her bed, with a silent newborn baby in her arms. Ned took the boy, promising his sister he would raise him and protect him from Robert Baratheon and Tywin Lannister, who would kill him as they did the other children of Rhaegar Targaryen. The weight of this revelation shocks Jon initially, but he eventually decides not to let himself dwell on it since Rhaegar, Lyanna, and Ned are all dead and he still has work to do. Howland and his northern army join Jon on his return to The Wall, as Jon also tells Howland that Theon Greyjoy let his children escape along with his own two brothers and that they may be north of The Wall. At The Wall, things look to be going well for the first time since before Jon was first killed. Every post and port of The Wall is manned and prepared to fight. With the Wildlings, the northern armies, and the new sellswords, Jon and Stannis finally have a solid fighting chance against the coming onslaught (though both Jon and Melisandre know that even their great numbers are dwarfed by The Others and wights). After learning of his Targaryen lineage, Melisandre informs Jon of her belief that he is Azor Ahai, destined to defeat The Others. Jon is uncertain that he even truly wants the responsibility, though he's already taken the role of savior. Stannis, though again grim over being passed over, is eventually happy to not have the burden, though he insists he is still the rightful King of Westeros. This becomes a problem when three dragons arrive at Castle Black, carrying Queen Daenerys and King Aegon Targaryen, with an equally large army following them. Dany and Aegon have come determined to make Stannis bend the knee, unaware of The Others and what has transpired at The Wall throughout the series. Stannis, as we all know, is not one to bend easily, not even for dragons. Scouts have also just arrived to inform them all that the Others and their undead army are just days away. Jon and Melisandre realize they will have to tread lightly if they want to keep the Baratheon King's principles from getting them all destroyed by dragon fire, and instead using The Targaryens to their advantage in the battle. And they both know that Jon's blood will be used to achieve this goal.
** Ultimate irony: For the first time in hundreds of years, The Night's Watch, just recently a rag-tag militia of criminals, outcasts, and exiles, is once again the supreme fighting force defending the realms of men from evil, with more seasoned warriors outnumbering the green, inexperienced boys keeping it together thus far.
** Deaths: Queen Selyse Baratheon,Patchface, Bowen Marsh and the other men who betrayed Jon, Wun Wun, several Wildlings and Night's Watchmen, everyone at Hardhome.
* The Haunted Forest: There won't be as many Bran chapters in this book, more than last time but not as many as the other characters. Bran continues consuming the weirwood paste and learning the history of the Old Gods religion and The Others from Bloodraven and the Children. While what he learns is indeed magical and fascinating, much of it is also grim and disturbing, most notably human sacrifices both The Children and The First Men made to The Others in times of darkness, before The Warrior of Light and The Night's Watch beat them back thousands of years ago. They worshipped these creatures in pagan-esque religions that eventually evolved into the current northern religion. The Others might even actually be The Old Gods. Bran becomes, growing more comfortable in his surrounds, and growing more distant from his friends during his time honing his abilities with Bloodraven. Even Summer and Hodor become wary of him. The notion that he will soon become stronger than he ever imagined, and fly, makes him determined to help Bloodraven in his goal. To bring the Old Gods back, so that they can restore balance to the world. That's right. GRRM has built Bran up, made him one of the most sympathetic characters to root for through this entire journey, only to show us that his destiny is only a ruse by the three-eyed crow to help The Others return. Bran is supposed to become what is called The Winged Wolf. This is true, under the direction of Bloodraven, Bran will fulfill his role in the end of the world by warging into Dany's dragons if and when they come north of The Wall, turning them against the "bad guys" trying to keep the Old Gods trapped behind The Wall or some such craziness. Something must have happened to Bloodraven when he disappeared behind The Wall years ago. Perhaps he got lost, went mad, and discovered the Children of the Forest, only to find that they were worshipping The Others as they once did. Mad as he might be, or possibly put under whatever spell the Others might have up their sleeves, Bloodraven joined, committing to his status as Last Greenseer and becoming a sort of harbinger for The Others long awaited return. When he foresaw the return of dragons to the world in his green dreams, he searches for a powerful skinchanger and locates Bran. After leading him to his encounter with Jaime and Cersei Lannister and getting him crippled, Bloodraven began manipulating Bran to use his vulnerabilities against him, making him him lust for power and turn the dragons against each other and against the real good guys. This is also the source of Jojen Reed's depression. It's pretty diabolical, I think. Whether or not Bran is stable enough to decide who is good and who is evil at this point, is known. The book will end with him wondering what his father or brothers would do in his situation.
** Ultimate irony: The Winged Wolf, is the villain, not the hero.
** Deaths: Possibly Jojen Reed, not sure how, though.
So yeah, this might be nothing like whatever Martin has in store for us, but it's how I imagine he might do it. There is a little personal bias, of course, but oh well. All I can predict about A Dream of Spring is that the ending's definitely gonna be bittersweet and that it's probably gonna be the legend of Azor Ahai retold across a thousand-plus page book.
It's gonna be awhile before The Winds of Winter is published, so I figured I might as well guess what I think is going to happen. This is taken in part from a series of scrambled comments I made on a Youtube video about this particular subject. I think the book will mostly be about all of the scattered characters finally settling their conflicts and coming together as the real war approaches. I will start with the storylines taking place far south and work my way up to the ones taking place far north.
* Meereen: Drogon burns Khal Jhaqo when he tries to challenge Dany, convincing his khalasar to join her. She leads them back to Meereen where the war has begun. While Barristan does his best to repel The Sons of The Harpy and the forces of Yunkai, The Iron Fleet attacks, making the battle even more chaotic. Victarion will have his men sound the dragon horn, sending Viserion and Rhaegal into a frenzy, roasting all in their paths. The battle looks to be going completely in Victarion's favor. Then Drogon arrives and destroys his ship before he can blow the horn again. Dany leads Drogon and his freed brothers in decimating the Iron Fleet. Tyrion is able to convince Brown Ben Plumm to turn The Second Sons against the generals of Yunkai when it becomes clear who is going to win. With the dragons and her new khalasar, Dany is easily able to end the war within a half hour of her arriving, in epic fashion. The slaver forces who remain bow down and beg mercy, the ones who flee to fight another day are chased down, burned, and eaten by the dragons. When reuniting with Barristan and Grey Worm on the battlefield outside Meereen's walls, and also finding Tyrion and Jorah, she is attacked by Victarion in revenge for killing all of his men. The four men are able to save her, slaying the near superhuman Iron Captain together. Afterward, Dany executes Hizdahr for trying to kill her, but never knows whether or not she killed all of the Sons of the Harpy. She'll assume The Harpy Leader is Reznak and execute him because she was told to beware the perfumed seneschal, but I think it might actually be Galazza Galare. Dany is sympathetic toward Tyrion, Penny, and Jorah, knowing they have suffered the slavery she had tried to end; though, she still distrusts them, since Tyrion is of House Lannister and Jorah betrayed her. She would kill Brown Ben if his last minute intervention had not saved Barristan and many of her Unsullied. She is bereft, however, to find Meereen in ruins from when the dragons were controlled by Victarion. And she is heartbroken when she discovers Daario was one of the corpses catapulted against the walls. Having learned how not to rule and leaving her city in misery, Dany decides to set in motion her original goal of conquering Westeros. Tyrion is able to convince her that he and Jorah will be useful to her in this mission, as their ties to their respective houses could prove valuable, as well as their personal skill-sets. Dany agrees, but is more intrigued by Tyrion's encounter with her nephew, Aegon. Her feelings are mixed as she is overjoyed to know that she is not the last Targaryen while also fearful that her supposed destiny of sitting the Iron Throne might not be realized. They use the ships belonging to the Slavers and The Iron Fleet that survived the battle. They find Moqorro, who jumped overboard when the dragons appeared. He claims to have been held against his will by the Ironborn, earning Dany's sympathy, though Tyrion and Jorah are mistrustful of him, having seen Victarion's freaky arm. They in turn are mistrusted by Barristan. Tyrion takes a liking to the dragons and Strong Belwas, at least. Dany considers meeting Aegon, but decides to take back King's Landing and The Iron Throne first. Meereen descends back into slavery and pit fighting after Dany leaves.
** Ultimate irony: Victarion's winning streak throughout Slaver's Bay is brought to a sudden and brutal end when he loses control of the dragons and all of his men burn, defying his sure victory over Dany and the dragons and Moqorro's assertion of it.
** Deaths: Victarion Greyjoy and The Iron Fleet, Hizdahr, Reznak, Daario, Jhogo, Khal Jhaqo, Hero and many other Unsullied, many Sons of The Harpy and Yunkai fighters, and hundreds of Meereenese innocents.
* Braavos: Arya begins her training from Izembaro, a deadly Faceless Man. She becomes an increasingly efficient killer during her apprenticeship, while hearing bits and pieces of what has happened in Meereen and Westeros. She sleeps and wargs into Nymeria again, who attacks a caravan of soldiers with her army of wolves, rescuing a redheaded prisoner. Her training is interrupted only a few months in, as Izembaro visits the Iron Bank of Braavos, who contract him to assassinate Queen Cersei Lannister, who has ignored and refused to pay her debt to them. Izembaro and The Kindly Man tell Arya that she must stay and complete her training under another Faceless Man while he is away. She retrieves Needle and follows him anyway, wanting to kill Cersei herself. She sneaks onto the ship Izembaro boards to Westeros, traveling with Tycho Nestoris, Ser Justin Massey, and Stannis Baratheon's new army of sellswords.
** Ultimate irony: Cersei, a Lannister, has ignored one of her debts and will now pay for it with her life.
** Deaths: Arya will kill about five to ten more targets before returning to Westeros.
* Dorne: Areo Hotah joins Ser Balon Swann and Obara Sand in hunting down Darkstar. During the journey, Areo will be conflicted regarding one of Doran Martell's most recent orders while also gaining respect toward Swann. They find Darkstar, and the three together have difficulty killing the single man. When they finally do, Areo and Obara turn on Ser Balon. Already exhausted and wounded, Balon is quickly murdered, as is the Lannister entourage he arrived with back in Sunspear. Prince Doran has now secured Myrcella, planning to use her as leverage against Cersei in order to assist Aegon. He learns of the Targaryen war that has come to Westeros, lending his forces to their cause. He receives word that Arianne, who he sent as a representative of House Martell for King Aegon and Queen Daenerys, has been imprisoned by the Targaryens after lashing out from her discovery of Quentyn's horrific death. Doran is in anguish over losing Quentyn too, but realizes he now must save Arianne and preserve his alliance with The Targaryens. To show his loyalty, he has Myrcella executed, appeasing Aegon and haunting Dany. Areo watches sadly as some members of the family, including his son Trystane, come to despise Doran for his brutality, while some of the more bloodthirsty members praise him. Doran himself is severely disillusioned by the things he has done and all he has sacrificed to take revenge on House Lannister. Shortly after, Sunspear is raided by The Ironborn and Areo is killed while trying to prevent Doran's capture.
** Ultimate irony: Doran, who has been obsessed with getting revenge on Tywin Lannister for the murders of his brother, sister, and niece, has become just as ruthlessly deceptive and pragmatic as he was by murdering the innocent Myrcella and Ser Balon.
** Deaths: Ser Balon Swann, Myrcella Baratheon, several Lannister soldiers, several Martell soldiers, and Areo Hotah.
* Oldtown: Samwell is able to make Gilly happy, whilst he suffers from anxiety over his situation at the Citadel. He continues in making his maester's chain, while also trying to gain too much attention from the archmaesters, a few of whom are revealed to be increasingly corrupt. Alleras (or Sarella Sand) will be keeping Sam informed and protecting him. Sam happens to become involved in a little murder mystery as the archmaesters start dying under strange circumstances. He learns of his father's brutal murder in King's Landing, and briefly regrets that he won't be able to rule Horn Hill. While reading ad nauseum as Sam is wont to do, he discovers a scroll that was once read by Rhaegar Targaryen. The scroll might contain some ancient Valyrian writing, but it will most notably contain the meaning of The Song of Ice and Fire, of which Sam will find particularly interesting yet also confusing to him. Shortly after this discovery, Oldtown is raided by the Ironborn forces led by Euron Greyjoy. Sam, along with the remaining archmaesters and several other bystanders, including "Pate", are taken hostage. Sam is terrified, but tries to take comfort in the thought that Alleras will protect Gilly and baby Aemon Rayder. Euron finds the scroll in Sam's possession, and he finds it interesting too.
** Ultimate irony: Sam's constant love of reading has led to him uncovering the truth behind this book series' greatest mystery.
** Deaths: several maesters of the Citadel and soldiers protecting Oldtown. A few archmaesters by Pate/Alchemist/Jaqen. A few Ironborn by Alleras.
* Storm's End: Aegon leads his siege of Storm's End, successfully taking the castle but losing half of his men in the process. Jon Connington will not be pleased with these results, realizing his surrogate son's brash, prideful behavior. The two are pleased when Arianne Martell arrives to ensure the assistance of Dorne in the new war. Aegon is strongly enticed by Arianne's beauty and the idea of a Targaryen-Martell marriage like his parents had, but he is set on marrying Daenerys. Connington feels the same, mostly because he has discovered what Dany and her dragons did in Meereen. Aegon resents the fact that Dany did not meet him first when she returned to Westeros, instead immediately taking King's Landing. Connington worries despairingly whether or not Aegon is falling victim to the negative side of the Targaryen gene like The Mad King. And his greyscale becomes worse, making it more difficult to conceal. Aegon and Connington leave to meet with Dany at long last.
** Ultimate irony: Despite all the time and effort Connington, Varys, and Illyrio have invested in making him the perfect king for Westeros, Aegon still displays negative qualities that could lead to his undoing.
** Deaths: A hundred or more members of The Golden Company. All of Stannis' soldiers protecting Storm's End.
* King's Landing: Paranoia will spread throughout the Red Keep following the murders of Kevan Lannister and Grandmaester Pycelle. As Varys predicted, the small council suspects Cersei, and Cersei suspects them and Tyrion. Cersei is able to get her trial by combat thanks to Tommen, who she makes sure knows only Ser Robert Strong can save her. Garlan Tyrell arrives to champion his sister against Ser Robert. The fight begins and ends quickly as Ser Robert immediately proves too strong and too fast for Garlan, viciously killing him. Then the new Kingsguard proceeds to attack all those present. He kills Margeary, Mace Tyrell, Randyll Tarly, the whole small council, Lancel, many Tyrell and Tarly bannerman, city watchmen, and any civilians who happen to be in his path. Qyburn watches silently. Cersei urges Ser Robert on gleefully as he slaughters everyone... until she realizes he killed Tommen when the boy tried hopelessly to protect Margeary. Cersei becomes mad with grief, refusing to let go of her son's body. Through sheer insanity, Cersei is able to outdo Tywin's Red Wedding ten times over. The Red Keep is now literally red with blood, those who managed to escape are taken in by either the retreating Tyrell/Tarly forces or Bronn, the new Lord of House Stokeworth. The Red Keep is abandoned save for Cersei, Qyburn, Robert Strong, Ser Meryn, Ser Boros, a few gold cloaks, and the High Septon, who survived the wound Strong dealt him. Qyburn threatens to execute The High Septon to secure the release of The Kettleblack Brothers from The Faith Militant, then does so when the brothers have been released. The Kettleblacks flee the city to The Eyrie where Littlefinger and their father reside, through with Cersei. Cersei sits with her son's rotting corpse on the Iron Throne, wallowing in madness. Qyburn acts as the real power behind the Throne with the help of his creation Ser Robert and the corrupt fighters still at their command. Few attempts are made to retake The Throne, as each one is bloodily repelled by Ser Robert. Cersei comes to believe Jaime and Myrcella are dead as well, becoming even more morose and despondent. Months after the massacre, Cersei looks out on her balcony to see an army surrounding the Keep, a beautiful young queen flying over the city with three dragons, and, beside her, the valonqar, Tyrion. She collapses in tears, overwhelmed with grief and fear. She is then shocked to be faced with Arya Stark, who stabs her in the chest with Needle. She does not die immediately, and Arya is forced to violently strangle the hysterical Queen to death. Izembaro, who has already killed several gold cloaks, discovers her and chides her for her brazen, sloppy murder. He is then confronted and killed by Ser Robert, who chases Arya through the Throne Room. Barristan Selmy arrives with Grey Worm and several Unsullied, who dispatched Ser Meryn, Ser Boros, and the last of the gold cloaks. They take on Ser Robert, but they also are unable to kill him or match his strength. All die by Strong's hand save for Arya and Barristan, who is thrown into the Iron Throne, severely wounding him on the blades. When all looks lost, Drogon crashes through the windows and burns Ser Robert until he melts inside his armor. Qyburn tries to escape discretely but is killed by Varys before he drops his Rugen disguise, introduces himself to Dany, and assumes his role as Master of Whisperers once again. Tyrion finds Cersei and Tommen's bodies, and looks down on both sadly. He makes sure his nephew is buried, and that his sister is fed to the three dragons, along with Qyburn and the now dead Kingsguard "knights." Arya is unable to escape, shocked by the dragons. Dany at first darkly considers slaying her as was done to Princess Rhaenys, but wishes to know how she ended up infiltrating the Red Keep and killing the Mad Queen. Arya decides to tell her whole story thus far to Dany, because no one else really knows about it. Dany, horrified by what the little girl has been through and with new sympathy for The Starks, swears to help her get back home to Winterfell. Upon learning of her swift conquering of King's Landing and denouncement of House Lannister, many of the high lords immediately pledge fealty to her, among them Lord Willas Tyrell of Highgarden, Lord Doran Martell of Dorne, Bronn of House Stokeworth, and Lord Petyr Baelish of The Eyrie. When Littlefinger arrives to introduce himself, swear allegiance, and pose as the newly revealed Sansa Stark's savior, he is surprised to find Varys and Tyrion as part of her company. Varys and Tyrion relate to Dany their experiences with Littlefinger, insisting he is dangerous. She doesn't entirely believe either of the men, both of whom she already does not trust, until Sansa feels safe enough for the first time in three years and desperately reveals to Dany all she has learned of Littlefinger in their time together. Littlefinger tries in vain to weasel his way into Dany's good graces one last time before Tyrion shoots him in the chest with a crossbow in revenge for framing him for Joffrey's murder. Littlefinger will reach for Sansa as he dies, uttering "Cat..." The Stark sisters are reunited at last. Despite being vastly different people than the last time they saw each other, they embrace, breaking down into tears. Tyrion tells Sansa he is more than happy to forget their forced marriage, as most involved in its design are dead. King Aegon will arrive with Jon Connington, Arianne Martell, her Dornishmen, and The Golden Company. Dany is taken with her nephew, but is uncertain whether or not to marry him right away as he wishes. And she is also uncertain of his intentions in ruling Westeros. People such as Tyrion, Jorah, and Barristan (who can't believe Aegon wasn't killed years before) are apprehensive regarding another incestuous pairing to resurge the Targaryen dynasty, while others such as Varys and Connington assure her that she and Aegon will be unstoppable as Queen and King with the three dragons. Arianne reacts violently when Dany reveals how her brother died, forcing Dany to have Arianne and her people imprisoned. In order to assure she and Aegon of Dorne's allegiance, Prince Doran has Myrcella Baratheon killed. Dany is sickened as ever at having an innocent child murdered because of her, and even more unnerved by Aegon's vicious appreciation of the execution. Arianne and the Dornishmen are released, and she begrudgingly remains as a Martell representative, despite distrusting the new Targaryens. Dany marries Aegon out of duty, solidifying her dynasty and rule at long last, though she still remembers her mistake in marrying Hizdahr, and her love for Drogo and Daario. After finding out he has dreamed of dragons and been fascinated by fire in the past, noting how taken the dragons are with him, and remembering Barristan's story of her father's love for a Lannister woman, Dany begins to suspect Tyrion is her bastard brother. When she reveals this to Tyrion he is uncertain, but his father's last words "You are no son of mine" seems to make him believe. At first, distressed he begins liking the idea of being half Targaryen to some degree. Dany convinces Aegon to help quickly begin asserting their power throughout Westeros. They must do this by getting the last pretender kings, Stannis Baratheon and Euron Greyjoy, to bend the knee. The Targaryen campaign to completely reconquer Westeros begins.
** Ultimate irony: Cersei spent her entire life fearing and hating Tyrion for nothing, bringing about the prophesized destruction of her and her children all on her own and even unknowingly helping to create her actual murderer.
** Deaths: Cersei Lannister, Qyburn, Ser Robert/Ser Gregor, the majority of the crucial characters in The Red Keep, dozens of Tyrell/Tarly/Faith Militant/City Watch/Unsullied soldiers, Ser Meryn Trant, Ser Boros Blount, and Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish.
* Iron Islands: Aeron Greyjoy attempts to begin a rebellion against "Crow's Eye" in secret with his small army of followers. He tries to organize guerilla tactics to hinder Euron's activities for a short while until a few of his men are captured and tortured into revealing everything. Euron finds and captures Aeron, but slaughters all of his Drowned Men. Before pushing a bound and beaten Aeron into the sea, Euron tells him of how he had Balon murdered and sent Victarion and all those loyal to him off to their deaths, eliminating all possible claimants to The Seastone Chair in revenge for his banishment. He also tells him his true ambition is replacing The Seastone Chair with The Iron Throne. Having secured his rule over the Ironborn, Euron continues wreaking havoc all over Westeros. He also begins to accumulating hostages for his agenda, among being Prince Doran Martell, Lord Davos Seaworth, Rickon Stark, Ser Loras Tyrell, Samwell Tarly, Pate/Alchemist/Jaqen, several maesters, archmaesters, Night's Watchmen, women and children. His pillaging and raping attracts the attention of Daenerys, as he planned. He uses the hostages to get Dany to come meet him at Pyke with her army but not her dragons. Once Dany arrives, she and her forces are caught in a trap, ending up with Dany alone with Euron and his crew on The Silence while her Unsullied and Second Sons are left to face the Iron Men. Euron reveals his Crow's Eye to her when they meet. He also reveals what he discovered in the ruins of Valyria, most of which I'm uncertain of but among which is House Lannister's ancestral sword Brightroar and loads of dragonglass. Finally he threatens to execute his hostages one by one and destroy The Song of Ice and Fire without telling her its meaning unless she joins him with her dragons so that they can conquer Westeros together. Fearing for her life, the lives of the hostages, and the fate of The Song, Dany superficially agrees to the union, still regretting the hostages she failed to save in Meereen. Euron immediately takes the opportunity to try and rape Dany and claim her as his thrall, only to be easily killed by the escaped hostage known as "Pate." She loses many soldiers to Euron's attack, but the reinforcements of her large army is able to defeat the Iron Born, saving the hostages, and finally reading the scroll containing The Song of Ice and Fire. After, she will return to her army's new base of operations on Dragonstone. Though Aegon would have liked to have Euron and the Iron Born on his side, he is glad Dany was able to escape with her life.
** Ultimate Irony: Euron Greyjoy is killed by his own hostage, the disguised Jaqen H'ghar, a Faceless Man just like the one he hired to assassinate his older brother Balon.
** Deaths: Euron Greyjoy and his followers, Aeron Greyjoy and his Drowned Men, hundreds of residents and soldiers of Sunspear, Oldtown, Dragonstone,
* Riverlands: Brienne will confess to Jaime midway through their journey that she is leading him into an ambush by The Brotherhood Without Banners. Jaime signals Ilyn Payne, who has been following him since he left, to join them so they can regroup with The Lannister forces, only for the Brotherhood to descend on them anyway. Brienne, Jaime, and Ilyn try to fight back but are overwhelmed and captured. They are taken to a heart tree, where the majority of the Brotherhood and their followers have all gathered. The three prisoners are brought before Lady Stoneheart, who first has Ilyn Payne decapitated with Oathkeeper in front of his nephew, the same way he killed Ned Stark. Stoneheart then orders Brienne to kill Jaime, but she refuses and is dragged off to be hanged. Jaime, horrified at what's become of Lady Stark, tries to beg her to spare Brienne. Stoneheart then slits his throat with Oathkeeper. Heartbroken and enraged, Brienne breaks free and grabs a sword killing several members of the Brotherhood, giving Podrick and Ser Hyle Hunt the opportunity to do the same. They fight hard, but are outnumbered and facing death. Then Septon Meribald arrives with a living Sandor Clegane, who kills Lem/The Hound and helps Brienne defeat the last warriors of The Brotherhood present. Brienne will hold Jaime in her arms as he dies. She will tell him she loves him, to which he will probably smile and say something like "I know, wench" before dying. Stoneheart realizes how much more death she has brought and loses her resolve for revenge upon seeing this scene of affection between Brienne and Jaime, and the people who died for her cause. Brienne considers killing Catelyn for Jaime, but sees no point in it now that they each have lost so much. Sandor, Ser Hyle, Podrick, Gendry and the children he looks after all join Brienne as she decides to put aside her desire for revenge and join Stannis Baratheon's forces at Winterfell. Sandor joins out of his wish to make sure Arya Stark is at Winterfell and safe. Before leaving, Brienne buries Jaime by the heart tree. She sees Catelyn is following a short distance behind her group on their path. On their way, they join up with Brynden Blackfish and Tom O'Sevens who managed to spring Edmure Tully from imprisonment by drawing his Lannister-Frey caravan into the path of Nymeria's wolf army. Edmure and Blackfish are shocked at Catelyn's current state. Upon receiving word of dragons invading King's Landing and dethroning the Lannisters and Roose Bolton's defeat at Winterfell, The Late Lord Walder Frey finally dies of a heartache. As predicted, several of his offspring quickly begin plotting against and killing one another for the title of Lord of The Crossing. Those of House Frey who attempt to escape into obscurity are hunted down by Nymeria and her pack.
** Ultimate Irony: Ilyn Payne is killed by the same steel and in the same manner as Ned Stark, Sandor litterally slays his demon by killing the current Hound, and The Freys are eradicated by each other and a wolf of House Stark.
** Deaths: Jaime Lannister, Ilyn Payne, most of the other Brotherhood fighters including Lem, Jack Be Lucky, and The Mad Huntsman, Lord Frey and all but a few of his descendants, soldiers, and Lannister allies, Urswyck and Zollo, who Brienne's encounters on the road and Brienne slays as vengeance for Jaime and everyone else they maimed or murdered.
* The Eyrie: Before traveling to King's Landing and inadvertently getting himself killed, Littlefinger was still trying to secure his hold over The Eyrie and the Lords Declarant. Sansa suspects his plans to kill Sweetrobin Arryn, and convinces her friend Mya Stone and her betrothed Harold Hardying to help her save her cousin. Of course, Littlefinger finds out first and intercepts the rescue. After locking Sansa in her room and putting Mya and Harold in sky cells, Littlefinger is able to murder Sweetrobin using large doses of sweetsleep. Slightly drunk from his increasing love of wine, Littlefinger bitterly chides Sansa for going against him, accidentally mentioning his involvement with her family's destruction. Littlefinger will be slightly distressed at the Targaryen resurgence in Westeros. However, upon learning of the dragons taking back King's Landing from the Lannisters and the north men taking back Winterfell from the Boltons, Littlefinger decides it is time to reveal Sansa to the world and himself as her savior. The people of the north see him as a hero when words of this "deed" reaches across Westeros. Littlefinger departs with Sansa from the Eyrie, on his way to pledge fealty to Dany and her dragons. Sansa, however, plots to take revenge for her family against Littlefinger the moment she can.
** Ultimate irony: Just when he finally has all of Westeros eating out of his hand, and a promising new alliance down the road with the more powerful than ever Targaryens, Littlefinger cannot see the double cross building inside sweet Sansa Stark.
** Deaths: Robert Arryn, Ser Shadrich (who discovers and tries to rescue Sansa only for Littlefinger to find out and have him killed) and the entire Kettleblack family is sent through the Moon Door by Littlefinger to cover up their connection to him.
* Winterfell: Stannis will learn from Tycho Nestoris the Karstarks' deception, having them imprisoned and/or burned alive to warm his men. Asha convinces him to execute Theon at the godswood of Winterfell instead of burning him too. Stannis' host finds Ramsay Bolton's a day's ride from Winterfell. The two armies battle in the intense blizzard at night. It is a harsh and bloody fight. Stannis is nearly defeated and killed whilst fighting Ramsay, only to be saved by Asha when she cripples the Bastard of Bolton; this earns her his royal pardon later. Despite losing a large number of his soldiers, Stannis is able to use the assistance of The Mormonts and Manderlys as well as the revelation of House Karstark's treachery to his advantage in beating Ramsay. Ramsay himself is put in chains along side Theon, who finds himself amused that Master Ramsay is now crippled and broken like he is. Stannis then marches on Winterfell, using Theon's knowledge of the walls to have his men gain entry and open the gates. Stannis' forces overwhelm The Bolton and Frey soldiers. Mance Rayder arrives, having escaped Winterfell when half of his spearwives was killed and the other half tortured by Ramsay into revealing his identity. After learning of Ramsay's part in laying waste to Winterfell from Theon, and aware of Roose's betrayal and murder of Robb Stark, Stannis appeases the northerners by burning alive both Lord Bolton and his bastard. Theon watches, happy to finally be free of Ramsay and his Reek identity. He is still going to be executed by Stannis, however. In his last effort to save himself, Theon reveals to everyone that he never actually murdered Bran and Rickon and that Ramsay's bride is not Arya, but Jeyne Poole. No one can confirm whether or not it is true, until a sickly Jon Snow arrives shortly after. Jon sadly confirms that Arya is not his sister and then claims to have encountered Bran in the Haunted Forest, and Wyman Manderly reveals to he and Stannis of his hand in faking Davos Seaworth's death and sending him off to find Rickon on Skagos. Stannis also learns from Jenye how Theon rescued her. He decides to take only his fingers, as he'd done to punish and reward Davos, but upon seeing Theon's already mangled fingers, Stannis decides Theon has already paid dearly for his crimes, and leaves him to his fate. Jon tells Stannis of the troubles at The Wall before collapsing from his intense cold, fading. Winterfell receives it's first visitors in the last Tullys, Brienne of Tarth, Sandor Clegane, and what is left of The Brotherhood Without Banners. Stannis and Brienne, both honest warriors, manage to come to a form of peace after some time, and she is able to convince him of Sandor's reformation. Stannis also finds himself less able to dispose of potential fighters for his cause, and so takes them all in. Upon learning that her children are still alive somewhere, Catelyn gives the last of her life energy to Jon, fully reviving him in the hopes that he will be able to save their family (which she now sees him as after learning of his journey). With Jon recovered and Mance alive, Stannis prepares to leave Winterfell in the hands of his northern allies so that he can return to The Wall, consolidate his forces, and stop The Others. A few months later, Daenerys and Aegon Targaryen arrive with their host, returning Sansa and Arya Stark to their home where they will be protected. The Targaryens proceed ahead toward The Wall so that she can find Stannis, the last pretender to the Iron Throne that she must deal with.
** Ultimate irony: Roose and Ramsay are finally made equal to each other when they are burned alive side by side, Theon is alive and free but has nothing save his sister, and Catelyn sacrifices the life she has left to save her least favorite "son."
** Deaths: The Boltons, Freys, and Karstarks at Winterfell, half of Stannis' army, and Catelyn Stark for the second and last time.
* Skagos: Davos Seaworth uses his skills as a smuggler to silently infiltrate Skagos by night with Wex Pyke and a crew of Manderly warriors. A lot of cunning is displayed in order to bypass the cannibals that inhabit the island. Eventually they happen upon Osha, Rickon Stark, and a fully grown Shaggydog. All three have become quite feral in their time among the natives, fighting for survival. It takes some convincing from Davos to persuade six-year-old Rickon to return home to be Lord of Winterfell. He only does so when he learns of Robb and Catelyn's murders and his "sister's" capture by The Boltons. Making a harrowing escape from the cannibals (a la Raiders of the Lost Ark), Davos manages to sail away from Skagos, heading back toward White Harbor. We learn more about what Rickon has been through since his absence in the last three books. Rickon tells Davos that he can't be Lord of Winterfell because his brother Bran is still alive. After barely escaping a near fatal storm at sea, they reach White Harbor, only to find it is being raided by Euron Greyjoy's ships. Davos attempts to escape farther south, but his ship is caught. Osha and the Manderly men defend Rickon as best they can before being slain by The Ironmen. Davos manages to save his and Rickon's life by informing the iron men that he is Stannis Baratheon's King's Hand and Rickon is a Stark of Winterfell. When Euron hears of this, he decides they will make perfect hostages.
** Ultimate irony: Just when he finally completes his mission and thinks he has rescued Rickon with his amazing skills as a sailor, Davos ends up sailing right into the hands of The Ironborn.
** Deaths: many cannibals, Osha, the Manderly men sent with Davos, many innocents in White Harbor.
* The Wall: A small war breaks out at Castle Black between The Wildlings and Night's Watch upon the discovery of Jon Snow's stabbing. With the giant Wun Wun running rampant and the black brothers raining down fire arrows, The Wildlings are forced to flee to either side of the Wall. Many follow Tormund Giantsbane, who carries Jon through the tunnels to the other side. Upon seeing her vision of Jon being betrayed come true, Melisandre realizes what her vision of him becoming a ghost then a man again means. She releases Ghost from Jon's quarters and allows him to flee beyond The Wall. While The Night's Watch and Queen's Men are out securing the wall's defenses and hunting down Wildlings still inside Castle Black, Melisandre attempts to dissuade Queen Selyse from turning the Wildlings away. Selyse, stubborn and haughty as ever, finally rejects Melisandre's advice, confident in her Queen's Men and her new alliance with Bowen Marsh, a Lord Commander who knows how to bend the knee. In the Queen's moment of defenselessness during the chaos, Patchface murders Selyse. He tries to kill Melisandre and Shireen too as they escape, only managing to wound the red priestess before he is stopped and killed by Pyp, Grenn, and Dolourous Edd. Mel is able to convince Jon's guilt-ridden friends in the Watch to rebel against his betrayers and realign with the Wildlings before The Others she has seen in her fires arrive. Jon, unconscious from his fatal wounds, wargs in and out of Ghost in the weeks before he dies. One with Ghost now, Jon explores deep into The Haunted Forest. He spots Hodor looking for firewood, fights with Summer over a frozen body (though he can sense Bran inside the direwolf), and sees The Children of The Forest too. Going further into the woods, he finds a massive army of Others and wights heading from the direction of Hardhome with a blizzard at their backs; they are, of course, moving at a very slow pace. Jon/Ghost flees, running for several days back toward the wall before Jon is ripped back to life, awakening on funeral pyre surrounded by Melisandre and the Wildlings. After saving him from the fire, Tormund tells Jon that a rebellion instigated by Jon's friends within Castle Black allowed The Wildlings to defeat Bowen Marsh and the other black brothers who betrayed Jon and reclaim Castle Black. Melisandre revived Jon through the red priests' funeral ritual (the same one that resurrected Beric Dondarrion). She begins to believe that she may have been wrong about Stannis, and that Jon might possibly be the actual Azor Ahai. Jon himself is still determined to go to Winterfell and stop Ramsay Snow, but he makes sure that Tormund and The Night's Watchmen continue arming each of the The Wall's castles with men and supplies to defend the realm from the approaching horde. Jon leaves, putting Tormund and Melisandre in charge in an odd partnership, but he develops a worsening cold as his journey begins.Despite having some difficulty in completely bonding the free folk and black brothers together into a solid team, The Wall becomes seemingly adequately secure. The Wildlings who cannot fight are sent back to the two Gifts. Melisandre has more visions of Jon and vague things to come, visions of dragons at war (one red, one black, one with the face of a wolf, one with the face of a lion, one a wolf with wings), visions of the thousand eyes, visions of The White Walkers. She sees death, fire wrapped in ice. Before returning to the Wall with Stannis' army, Jon leads a group to Greywater Watch to collect supplies and recruit the northern host sent there by Robb. Jon meets Howland Reed who, in private, has the opportunity to reveal to him what happened the day he and Eddard found Lyanna. After killing the three Kingsguard knights and losing their friends in the process, Ned and Howland raced to the top of the Tower of Joy and found Lyanna dying in her bed, with a silent newborn baby in her arms. Ned took the boy, promising his sister he would raise him and protect him from Robert Baratheon and Tywin Lannister, who would kill him as they did the other children of Rhaegar Targaryen. The weight of this revelation shocks Jon initially, but he eventually decides not to let himself dwell on it since Rhaegar, Lyanna, and Ned are all dead and he still has work to do. Howland and his northern army join Jon on his return to The Wall, as Jon also tells Howland that Theon Greyjoy let his children escape along with his own two brothers and that they may be north of The Wall. At The Wall, things look to be going well for the first time since before Jon was first killed. Every post and port of The Wall is manned and prepared to fight. With the Wildlings, the northern armies, and the new sellswords, Jon and Stannis finally have a solid fighting chance against the coming onslaught (though both Jon and Melisandre know that even their great numbers are dwarfed by The Others and wights). After learning of his Targaryen lineage, Melisandre informs Jon of her belief that he is Azor Ahai, destined to defeat The Others. Jon is uncertain that he even truly wants the responsibility, though he's already taken the role of savior. Stannis, though again grim over being passed over, is eventually happy to not have the burden, though he insists he is still the rightful King of Westeros. This becomes a problem when three dragons arrive at Castle Black, carrying Queen Daenerys and King Aegon Targaryen, with an equally large army following them. Dany and Aegon have come determined to make Stannis bend the knee, unaware of The Others and what has transpired at The Wall throughout the series. Stannis, as we all know, is not one to bend easily, not even for dragons. Scouts have also just arrived to inform them all that the Others and their undead army are just days away. Jon and Melisandre realize they will have to tread lightly if they want to keep the Baratheon King's principles from getting them all destroyed by dragon fire, and instead using The Targaryens to their advantage in the battle. And they both know that Jon's blood will be used to achieve this goal.
** Ultimate irony: For the first time in hundreds of years, The Night's Watch, just recently a rag-tag militia of criminals, outcasts, and exiles, is once again the supreme fighting force defending the realms of men from evil, with more seasoned warriors outnumbering the green, inexperienced boys keeping it together thus far.
** Deaths: Queen Selyse Baratheon,Patchface, Bowen Marsh and the other men who betrayed Jon, Wun Wun, several Wildlings and Night's Watchmen, everyone at Hardhome.
* The Haunted Forest: There won't be as many Bran chapters in this book, more than last time but not as many as the other characters. Bran continues consuming the weirwood paste and learning the history of the Old Gods religion and The Others from Bloodraven and the Children. While what he learns is indeed magical and fascinating, much of it is also grim and disturbing, most notably human sacrifices both The Children and The First Men made to The Others in times of darkness, before The Warrior of Light and The Night's Watch beat them back thousands of years ago. They worshipped these creatures in pagan-esque religions that eventually evolved into the current northern religion. The Others might even actually be The Old Gods. Bran becomes, growing more comfortable in his surrounds, and growing more distant from his friends during his time honing his abilities with Bloodraven. Even Summer and Hodor become wary of him. The notion that he will soon become stronger than he ever imagined, and fly, makes him determined to help Bloodraven in his goal. To bring the Old Gods back, so that they can restore balance to the world. That's right. GRRM has built Bran up, made him one of the most sympathetic characters to root for through this entire journey, only to show us that his destiny is only a ruse by the three-eyed crow to help The Others return. Bran is supposed to become what is called The Winged Wolf. This is true, under the direction of Bloodraven, Bran will fulfill his role in the end of the world by warging into Dany's dragons if and when they come north of The Wall, turning them against the "bad guys" trying to keep the Old Gods trapped behind The Wall or some such craziness. Something must have happened to Bloodraven when he disappeared behind The Wall years ago. Perhaps he got lost, went mad, and discovered the Children of the Forest, only to find that they were worshipping The Others as they once did. Mad as he might be, or possibly put under whatever spell the Others might have up their sleeves, Bloodraven joined, committing to his status as Last Greenseer and becoming a sort of harbinger for The Others long awaited return. When he foresaw the return of dragons to the world in his green dreams, he searches for a powerful skinchanger and locates Bran. After leading him to his encounter with Jaime and Cersei Lannister and getting him crippled, Bloodraven began manipulating Bran to use his vulnerabilities against him, making him him lust for power and turn the dragons against each other and against the real good guys. This is also the source of Jojen Reed's depression. It's pretty diabolical, I think. Whether or not Bran is stable enough to decide who is good and who is evil at this point, is known. The book will end with him wondering what his father or brothers would do in his situation.
** Ultimate irony: The Winged Wolf, is the villain, not the hero.
** Deaths: Possibly Jojen Reed, not sure how, though.
So yeah, this might be nothing like whatever Martin has in store for us, but it's how I imagine he might do it. There is a little personal bias, of course, but oh well. All I can predict about A Dream of Spring is that the ending's definitely gonna be bittersweet and that it's probably gonna be the legend of Azor Ahai retold across a thousand-plus page book.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1725 (click to see context) from:
to:
*** Who knows how blood magic works? Maybe it needs to be the last drops of his life's blood for the magic to work. Maybe Bran needs to keep eating this stuff, and Jojen is going to keep providing it until he dies.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Nightmare Fuel cleanup; see thread for reference
Changed line(s) 961 (click to see context) from:
[[spoiler: Desecrated bodies that have been dead for quite a while can still be revived, as Cat proved. While the mention of Robb's body being subjected to such horrifying indignities even after his death seems to just be the final bullet in a ShootTheShaggyDog story, it will actually come back to haunt the conspirators when the Others break through the wall and winter comes; Robb will be revived as a Wight, but since Martin mentioned all the Stark children, including Robb, can Warg, the cruel act of sewing Grey Wind's head to Robb's body will result in the revived Robb coming back from the dead as an honest-to-god Werewolf instead of a latent skinchanger. This resulting monster will go on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge (or Howling Rampage, more accurately) that will involve Roose Bolton and Jeyne's family (along with any surviving Freys) meeting a rather gristly end before Jon, Bran, or Arya has to put the thing that used to be Robb out of its misery. The creature will either be the ''epitome'' of NightmareFuel, TragicMonster, or both, and seeing it will be a source of further trauma for the surviving Starks, so previous patterns suggest it could happen. Also calling an InSeriesNickname for the resulting creature as "The Crowned Wolf".]]
to:
[[spoiler: Desecrated bodies that have been dead for quite a while can still be revived, as Cat proved. While the mention of Robb's body being subjected to such horrifying indignities even after his death seems to just be the final bullet in a ShootTheShaggyDog story, it will actually come back to haunt the conspirators when the Others break through the wall and winter comes; Robb will be revived as a Wight, but since Martin mentioned all the Stark children, including Robb, can Warg, the cruel act of sewing Grey Wind's head to Robb's body will result in the revived Robb coming back from the dead as an honest-to-god Werewolf instead of a latent skinchanger. This resulting monster will go on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge (or Howling Rampage, more accurately) that will involve Roose Bolton and Jeyne's family (along with any surviving Freys) meeting a rather gristly end before Jon, Bran, or Arya has to put the thing that used to be Robb out of its misery. The creature will either be the ''epitome'' of NightmareFuel, horrifying, a TragicMonster, or both, and seeing it will be a source of further trauma for the surviving Starks, so previous patterns suggest it could happen. Also calling an InSeriesNickname for the resulting creature as "The Crowned Wolf".]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1724 (click to see context) from:
to:
** Where's the rest of his blood? If they only needed enough for the bowl of weirwood paste, why would Jojen have to die?
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
*I'm not saying that's not so, but he needn't have physically bullied him to explain those words without sexual abuse; we ''know'' he bullied him emotionally (up to and including killing his pet fawn and making a jerkin out of its skin). And besides, I think it would be quite easy for Joffrey to have hit him and just frightened him into saying nothing - they were both being trained in combat, not to mention that little kids fall over and hurt themselves all the time just playing, so bruises could have easily been explained away. But that's an interesting theory. I certainly wouldn't put it past the little horror, and it would be quite nicely circular (though not as much as if it was Myrcella).
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2225 (click to see context) from:
If Tyrion DOES run into him, it'll be an emotional reunion (Gerion was the man who most supported Tyrion while he was growing up) but things ''could'' get a bit awkward when Gerion asks the question "so how is your father, my eldest brother, doing?"
to:
If Tyrion DOES run into him, it'll be an emotional reunion (Gerion was the man who most supported Tyrion while he was growing up) but things ''could'' get a bit awkward when Gerion asks the question "so how is your father, my eldest brother, doing?"doing?"
[[WMG:Joffrey sexually abused Tommen.]]
In ASOS when Jaime thinks Brienne is about to be raped he tells her to let them have her and just "go away inside". Tommen says to him later that he "went away inside when Joffy..." and then he never finishes, but the wording is unsettlingly similar. It also seems unlikely that Joffrey physically abused his brother, at least any place it would show, as people would notice. And Joffrey's certainly enough of a monster to do it.
[[WMG:Joffrey sexually abused Tommen.]]
In ASOS when Jaime thinks Brienne is about to be raped he tells her to let them have her and just "go away inside". Tommen says to him later that he "went away inside when Joffy..." and then he never finishes, but the wording is unsettlingly similar. It also seems unlikely that Joffrey physically abused his brother, at least any place it would show, as people would notice. And Joffrey's certainly enough of a monster to do it.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 261 (click to see context) from:
to:
*** However, a Faceless Man would be able to impersonate Eddard's brother or father, both killed in King's Landing by the last Aerys, relying on family resemblance to get away with the imitation. Differences in appearance between the Eddard and his brother or father could account for Sansa's thoughts when shown the severed head.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2205 (click to see context) from:
to:
** There weren't any active Targ loyalists at that time. They had all surrendered at the Trident or after the fall of King's Landing. So Ned wouldn't have needed to do that. Plus, Rhaegar wanted to complete the rebirth of the original Targ trio of conquerors: Aegon, Rhaenys, and Visenya. That was the whole point of needing a third head for the dragon and using a young teenage girl as the baby maker. He would have been expecting a girl, named Visenya, not a boy without a Targaryen name.
