History Recap / AFeastForCrows

-->"No one ever looked for a girl ... It was a [[TheChosenOne prince that was promised]], not a princess. [[RedHerring Rhaegar]], I thought ... the smoke was from the fire that devoured Summerhall on the day of his birth, the salt from the tears shed for those who died. He shared my belief when he was young, but later he became persuaded that it was his own son who fulfilled the prophecy, for a comet had been seen above King’s Landing on the night Aegon was conceived, and Rhaegar was certain the bleeding star had to be a comet. ... What fools we were, who thought ourselves so wise! The error [[LostInTranslation crept in from the translation]]. Dragons are neither male nor female, Barth saw the truth of that, but [[OtherworldlyAndSexuallyAmbiguous now one and now the other]], as changeable as flame. The language misled us all for a thousand years. [[ProphecyTwist Daenerys is the one]], born amidst salt[[note]]She was born on the island of Dragonstone -- and, for that matter, amidst the tears shed for her mother, who experienced DeathByChildbirth. Not to mention the massive gale that wrecked her father's fleet, and gave her the epithet "Daenerys Stormborn."[[/note]] and smoke[[note]]She was ''re''-born on Khal Drogo's funeral pyre, a source of smoke if ever there was one. And this rebirth occurred beneath a comet.[[/note]]. The dragons prove it."

[[TheirFirstTime Afterwards]], Sam avoids her, feeling guilty and miserable over breaking his vows. Kojja Mo, the captain's daughter and leader of their archers (and Baby Aemon's babysitter), corners him and tells him he must either face his demons or be thrown overboard. SexForSolace is considered holy in the Summer Isles, a way of honoring death by celebrating life.

-->--Creator/GeorgeRRMartin, ''Literature/AFeastForCrows'', pg.79 (paperback)

-->--Creator/GeorgeRRMartin, ''Literature/AFeastForCrows'', pg.163 (paperback)

-->--Creator/GeorgeRRMartin, ''Literature/AFeastForCrows'', pg.337 (paperback)

--->--Creator/GeorgeRRMartin, ''Literature/AFeastForCrows'', pg.489 (paperback)

--->--Creator/GeorgeRRMartin, ''Literature/AFeastForCrows'', pg.739 (paperback)

--->--Creator/GeorgeRRMartin, ''Literature/AFeastForCrows'', pg.(???) (paperback)

Aemon tells them the story of his sea trip to the Wall: he traveled with Lord Commander Duncan the Tall as his honor guard, along with Brynden Rivers, Lord Bloodraven himself, who was sent by "Egg" (Aegon V Targaryen, called "[[SpareToTheThrone The Unlikely]]") to serve out the remainder of his life in the Watch[[labelnote:From the Books]]After King Maekar I Targaryen was killed in battle, a SuccessionCrisis ensued over who should succeed him, given many of the potential heirs were felt to be InadequateInheritor. Aenys of House Blackfyre, TheRival family to House Targaryen, requested that he be allowed to attend the debate and peacefully put forward his own family's claim to the throne, in contrast to his siblings who'd tried to seize it by force. Bloodraven agreed, but when Aenys arrived in King's Landing, Bloodraven had him killed without trial [[MakeAnExampleOfThem as a warning to any Blackfyre supporters]]. After Aegon V was crowned, he had Bloodraven imprisoned, unwilling to sanction Bloodraven breaking SacredHospitality even to [[RemovingTheRival eliminate a rival claimant]] and gave him a choice between execution or exile to the Wall.[[/note]]

Though ''[=ASoIaF=]'' has always engaged in FourLinesAllWaiting, ''A Feast for Crows'' takes it to a new level by restricting the story by geography. Therefore, about half the characters are missing from this novel, replaced by a large swath of new narrators.

Areo Hotah stands guard at at the Water Gardens, House Martell's private retreat, where Prince Doran has lived for two years; the temperate climate agrees with his gout, and he gets to watch children at play.[[note]]Prince Maron Martell had the Water Gardens built as a gift for his new bride, Daenerys Targaryen, when they wed over a century ago in the ArrangedMarriage that, officially, brought Dorne under the jurisdiction of the Iron Throne. It was her idea to host children there, letting them splash in the pools; it is the only place on the continent where no distinction is drawn between high- and lowborn.[[/note]] Hotah stops Prince Doran by being interrupted by the [[InSeriesNickname Sand Snakes]], LiteralBastard daughters of the Red Viper. At the Water Gardens, and as they return to Sunspear, Hotah runs interference as Obara, and then Nymeria, and finally Tyene all approach Prince Doran to beg vengeance for their father.

To ensure this, he orders his daughter Arianne to have all the Sand Snakes arrested, including the youngest ones who will stay at the Water Gardens with their mother Ellaria. Hotah reminds him that all Dorne will howl, but Prince Doran merely sighs and hopes Tywin Lannister hears it: "so he might know what a loyal friend he has in Sunspear."

On the road to Dontos Hollard's hometown of Duskendale, Brienne asks everyone she meets if they have seen a highborn girl with reddish hair. She comes across two hedge knights[[note]]The story's term, possibly coined by GRRM, for a KnightErrant, or what the Japanese would call a {{ronin}}: a knight with the arms, armor and training of the position, but without a lord to serve and a fiefdom to live on. Westeros being the {{deconstruction}} that it is, the economic concerns are typically more important than just being a trained swordsman, and hedge knights are frowned upon.[[/note]], Ser Creighton Longbough and Ser Illifer the Penniless, who comment on the bad luck her shield represents -- Jaime took it from the Harrenhal armory when he left; it bears the sigil of House Lothston, who, like all masters of Harrenhal, have met a bad end [[note]]The last lady of House Lothston, Danelle Lothston, was an UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory {{Expy}} who apparently kidnapped, killed and bathed in the blood of children[[/note]] -- but also invite her to share their meal.

Sam finds the Lord Commander -- Jon Snow -- regarding a "paper shield": a letter to King Tommen promising that the Night's Watch is TrueNeutral in the struggle for the Iron Throne, despite Stannis's constant requests that they ally with him. After some debate, Sam and Jon agree that a paper shield is better than nothing. Sam brings up the results of his research, an InfoDump that we will elide to save time.[[note]]Sam has found records of at least four Lord Commanders who ascended to their post younger than Jon did -- all of whom who, like Jon, had Stark blood. As to the Others, the children of the forest used to give the Night's Watch a hundred dragonglass daggers every year during the Age of Heroes. The Others only come when it is cold and dark, or perhaps it becomes cold and dark when they come. They ride dead animals, and there is something about "ice spiders." Men they kill must be burned lest they rise again as their thralls. They are apparently only vulnerable to fire and obsidian, though Sam found one account that said the "last hero" slew Others with "dragonsteel." Jon asks if this means Valryian steel; Sam isn’t sure, but thinks so. (So does ''Series/GameOfThrones''. GRRM might have different ideas.)[[/note]]

Finally, she dines with the man she wants as Hand of the King: Uncle Kevan, widely perceived to be her late father's YesMan. Kevan accepts ... on the condition that Cersei name him regent, leave Tommen to his care, and return to Casterly Rock to take up her role as the Lady of House Lannister.

Cersei takes offense to this for some reason, so Kevan declines the office of Hand, suggesting she instead name Randyll Tarly or Mathis Rowan -- both known for their UndyingLoyalty to their lord paramount, Mace Tyrell, but both the type who would switch their allegiances if so honored. Cersei accuses him of abandoning his king, and throws her wine in his face, declaring that Tommen will never be helpless [[MamaBear so long as he has his mother]].

He also remembers investigating the gaols. The chief gaoler, Rennifer Longwaters, can tell him nothing about the now-missing Rugen, save that he is rarely at his post -- though, to be fair, his level has only been used thrice of late: Lord Eddard Stark, Grand Maester Pycelle (briefly), and then Tyrion.[[note]]You may recall, back from the first book, that Varys visited Ned in the guise of a gaoler. You may also recall that Varys is a MasterOfDisguise. So, the reason why Rugen went missing the same day Tyrion and Varys did: Rugen ''is'' Varys, in one of his false identities. WordOfGod has confirmed this.[[/note]] Jaime asked Longwaters to tell him everything he knew about the criminal who freed Tyrion -- feeling rather foolish as he did so, since Jaime ''is'' the criminal who freed Tyrion.

When Mace Tyrell approaches, Jaime helps broker peace between him and Cersei by arranging for them to dine that evening. Cersei is incensed, but Jaime suggests she get Mace to [[HistoricalInJoke go besiege Storm's End again]][[note]]He last did this during Robert's Rebellion; TheSiege was ineffective, but then sieges most often devolve into blockades that only work when the defenders -- in this case, Stannis Baratheon and his men -- are starved out. It almost worked, too, before a smuggler from Flea Bottom got in with some onions. (And that's why Ser Davos Seaworth's InSeriesNickname is "the Onion Knight.") Mace continued sitting around doing nothing until Ned Stark came by and announced that the king Mace had sided with, Aerys II, had died, at which point Mace packed up and went home.[[/note]], as this will make him feel important ''and'' get him out of her hair. If he refuses to leave before Tommen and Margaery (twice wed and twice widowed) are wed, then Cersei should get it over with -- the marriage can be annulled before it is consummated, which gives Cersei ''years'' to get plans in place. Besides, [[UriahGambit maybe Mace will get impatient and try to storm the gate]]. Cersei especially likes that part.

* [[HellIsThatNoise OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO]]

See ''Literature/ADanceWithDragons'' for the adventures of Jon, and all others in the North, and Daenerys, and all others beyond the Narrow Sea.

That night, Cersei has another CatapultNightmare, and when Lady Taena inquires about Her Grace's mental health, Cersei ends up spilling the whole prophecy -- particularly the part about "the ''valonqar''," which is a High Valyrian word meaning "younger brother" -- resulting in her FreudianExcuse hatred of Tyrion.[[note]]ProphecyTwist time! Tyrion is six years younger than Cersei ... And Jaime two ''minutes'' younger. Both of them qualify to be "the ''valonqar''".[[/note]] [[labelnote:There's more!]]Neither of them is known as ''the'' younger brother. Characters who are more known for being younger brothers include Sandor Clegane, Stannis Baratheon, and -- well, isn't this interesting -- Tommen Baratheon. (This does cause some timing conflict with "gold shall be their shrouds," but it should be noted that we have known -- from literally the first chapter of this series -- that wights like strangling things.[[/labelnote]] [[labelnote:And besides!...]]Remember what Maester Aemon said about how High Valyrian pronouns are gender-neutral? The ''valonqar'' could be a younger ''sister'' ... and Cersei's made a number of such women into enemies. Most obviously we have a girl, Arya Stark, who recently started attending a training temple ''for assassins''. There's also her older sister, Sansa, for whom Cersei is a [[ItsPersonal Personal Nemesis]], and who, like Arya, has an older sibling -- the late Robb Stark, King in the North. There's Margaery Tyrell, who has ''three'' older brothers; there's Myrcella Baratheon, who has one. And finally, does anyone remember if Viserys Targaryen, the Beggar King, had a younger sister? Some girl who may have hatched some goddamn dragons or something? "Daenerys," was it? (The latter three also have the added bonus of qualifying as the "younger and more beautiful" queen who is coming for Cersei's crown. If the TV show's arc for Sansa is ported into the novels, she does as well.)[[/labelnote]]

That night, Cersei has another CatapultNightmare, and when Lady Taena inquires about Her Grace's mental health, Cersei ends up spilling the whole prophecy -- particularly the part about "the ''valonqar''," which is a High Valyrian word meaning "younger brother" -- resulting in her FreudianExcuse hatred of Tyrion.[[labelnote:But wait!]]ProphecyTwist time! Tyrion is six years younger than Cersei ... And Jaime two ''minutes'' younger. Both of them qualify to be "the ''valonqar''".[[/labelnote]] [[labelnote:There's more!]]Neither of them is known as ''the'' younger brother. Characters who are more known for being younger brothers include Sandor Clegane, Stannis Baratheon, and -- well, isn't this interesting -- Tommen Baratheon. (This does cause some timing conflict with "gold shall be their shrouds," but it should be noted that we have known -- from literally the first chapter of this series -- that wights like strangling things.[[/labelnote]] [[labelnote:And besides!...]]Remember what Maester Aemon said about how High Valyrian pronouns are gender-neutral? The ''valonqar'' could be a younger ''sister'' ... and Cersei's made a number of such women into enemies. Most obviously we have a girl, Arya Stark, who recently started attending a training temple ''for assassins''. There's also her older sister, Sansa, for whom Cersei is a [[ItsPersonal Personal Nemesis]], and who, like Arya, has an older sibling -- the late Robb Stark, King in the North. There's Margaery Tyrell, who has ''three'' older brothers; there's Myrcella Baratheon, who has one. And finally, does anyone remember if Viserys Targaryen, the Beggar King, had a younger sister? Some girl who may have hatched some goddamn dragons or something? "Daenerys," was it? (The latter three also have the added bonus of qualifying as the "younger and more beautiful" queen who is coming for Cersei's crown. If the TV show's arc for Sansa is ported into the novels, she does as well.)[[/labelnote]]

When he arrives at the meeting-place, he plans to turn her down and reinforce his VowOfCelibacy ... but [[DiamondsInTheBuff all she's wearing is a snake bracelet]], with nothing to cover her RegalRinglets or [[BuxomIsBetter considerable charms]], and [[ImAManICantHelpIt lust overwhelms him]], leaving him sated, satisfied and knowing that if he died right now, he would die happy.

Lord Benfred Rykker of Dun Fort cannot meet with her as he is in the field with Lord Randyll Tarly, but his castellan, Ser Rufus Leek, tells her that they have seen no sign of Dontos Hollard since he was taken away after [[InfoDump the Defiance of Duskendale]].[[note]]In 277 AC, Lord Denys Darklyn of Duskendale refused to pay taxes to the Mad King Aerys on grounds of bankruptcy: Duskendale had once been an affluent port on Blackwater Bay, but King's Landing had eclipsed it, leading to an economic decline. Darklyn accompanied his rebellion with an invitation that Aerys come personally to hear their complaints. Lord Tywin Lannister, Hand of the King, told Aerys what a bad idea this was, but a rift was already growing between the two, and Aerys, seeking to demonstrate that he would be fine without his HypercompetentSidekick, went. Tywin was right: the king was held captive, and Ser Gwayne Gaunt of the Kingsguard killed by House Darklyn's retainers, House Hollard. Lord Tywin came and laid siege at once, but Lord Denys threatened to kill the king at the first sign of true hostility. A half-year-long MexicanStandoff finally came to an end when Ser Barristan the Bold offered to perform a StealthBasedMission and bring the king out. [[BadassNormal He succeeded.]] Thereafter Aerys had every Darklyn and Hollard [[KillEmAll put to death]]; the only survivor was the teenaged Dontos, whom Barristan interceded for personally. Still, [[NothingIsTheSameAnymore Nothing Was The Same Anymore]]; Aerys's delicate balance between paranoia and sanity was shattered, and his StartOfDarkness as "the Mad King" had occurred.[[/note]] Brienne runs into a boy with a sty on his eye she thinks she's seen before, back at Rosby, but he flees. At an inn, a dwarf septon mentions a man named "Nimble Dick," who claims he "fooled a fool" into taking ship; Brienne decides to pursue this lead.

Rodrik offers to name her his heir instead, so that she's not present when Euron wins and [[KillEmAll kills all his competitors]], but she declines. Lord Rodrik is not interested in attending the kingsmoot, because it will change nothing: "Archmaester Rigney once wrote that [[ShoutOut history is a wheel]], for the nature of man is [[HistoryRepeats fundamentally unchanging]]."[[note]]James Oliver Rigney is the real name of the man who wrote ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' under the NomDePlume "Robert Jordan." He and GRRM were friends and mutual admirers before the former's death in 2007.[[/note]]

When Edmure asks what the alternative is, Jaime replies that TheSiege will continue ... with Edmure in the castle, leading the defense. The river lords -- Edmure's (former) vassals and lifelong friends -- will be sent in first, followed by [[AssholeVictim the Freys]], and finally Ser Daven's westermen once the castle is weakened. [[KillEmAll All within the castle will be put to the sword]]. If Roslin gives birth before the fight is over, Jaime will even allow the child to return to Riverrun. [[WouldHurtAChild Via]] [[HumanCannonball trebuchet]].

After they get rid of Emmon, Genna has a number of choice words about [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Cersei's growing foolishness]]: her choice of [[YesMan councilors]], her re-founding of the [[ChurchMilitant Faith Militant]] after they gave the Targaryens years of strife[[labelnote:From the Books]]Aegon the Conqueror himself trod carefully with the Faith so they wouldn't oppose his conquest. Aegon's son Aenys managed to enrage the Faith by wedding his eldest son and daughter in Valyrian tradition, completely ignoring that the Faith considered such practices an abomination, after which the Faith started a revolt against the Targaryens, one in which a good portion of Westeros' population backed them. After Aenys died from the aftereffects of a nervous breakdown as a result of the strain, his brother Maegor seized power, outlawed the Faith Militant and tried to exterminate the Faith utterly, but his brutality only gave the Faith more supporters. It wasn't until Aegon's grandson Jaehaerys came to the throne and was able to negotiate a peace treaty with the Faith that the violence came to an end, though Jaehaerys refused to repeal his uncle's disbanding of the Faith Militant.[[/note]], and her passing-over of Kevan as Hand.

After they get rid of Emmon, Genna has a number of choice words about [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Cersei's growing foolishness]]: her choice of [[YesMan councilors]], her re-founding of the [[ChurchMilitant Faith Militant]] after they gave the Targaryens years of strife[[labelnote:From the Books]]Aegon the Conqueror himself trod carefully with the Faith so they wouldn't oppose his conquest. Aegon's son Aenys managed to enrage the Faith by wedding his eldest son and daughter in Valyrian tradition, completely ignoring that the Faith considered such practices an abomination, after which the Faith started a revolt against the Targaryens, one in which a good portion of Westeros' population backed them. After Aenys died from the aftereffects of a nervous breakdown as a result of the strain, his brother Maegor seized power, outlawed the Faith Militant and tried to exterminate the Faith utterly, but his brutality only gave the Faith more supporters. It wasn't until Aegon's grandson Jaehaerys came to the throne and was able to negotiate a peace treaty with the Faith that the violence came to an end, though Jaehaerys refused to repeal his uncle's disbanding of the Faith Militant.[[/labelnote]], and her passing-over of Kevan as Hand.

An ExtraordinarilyEmpoweredGirl in a camp full of men with TestosteronePoisoning, she expected to be dismissed ... but instead everyone, including Hyle, was nice to her, even nicer than her three fiancés had been as her father tried to broker a match for her ([[NoManWantsAnAmazon without success]]). She had just begun to frown over this SuspiciousVideoGameGenerosity when Lord Randyll had brought her in and told her what his son Dickon had learned: the knights had made [[TheBet a wager]] on who would take her virginity. Additionally, he told her, the whole thing was [[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming her fault]], for not [[StayInTheKitchen Staying In The Kitchen]].

Jaime arrives at Riverrun, where his cousin Ser Daven Lannister, the Warden of the West, is besieging the place in the name of the crown. The siege is a shambles: Ser Brynden Tully has the command within, sheltering not only the civilians but what remains of the Young Wolf's royal court, including ex-queen Jeyne Westerling and Lady Sybell Spicer. Meanwhile, Ser Daven is SurroundedByIdiots; Freys peck at night and day, as does Lord Gawen Westerling, who [[AdultFear fears for his wife and child]].

Aemon tells them the story of his sea trip to the Wall: he traveled with Lord Commander Duncan the Tall as his honor guard, along with Brynden Rivers, Lord Bloodraven himself, who was sent by "Egg" (Aegon V Targaryen, called "[[SpareToTheThrone The Unlikely]]") to serve out the remainder of his life in the Watch[[labelnote:From the Books]]After King Maekar I Targaryen was killed in battle, a SuccessionCrisis ensued over who should succeed him, given many of the potential heirs were felt to be InadequateInheritor. Aenys of House Blackfyre, TheRival family to House Targaryen, requested that he be allowed to attend the debate and peacefully put forward his own family's claim to the throne, in contrast to his siblings who'd tried to seize it by force. Bloodraven agreed, but when Aenys arrived in King's Landing, Bloodraven had him killed without trial [[MakeAnExampleOfThem as a warning to any Blackfyre supporters]]. After Aegon V was crowned, he had Bloodraven imprisoned, unwilling to sanction Bloodraven breaking SacredHospitality even to [[RemovingTheRival eliminate a rival claimant]] and gave him a choice between execution or exile to the Wall.[[/note]] Unfortunately, Maester Aemon's health deteriorates as the trip continues, and both the child and Gilly are miserable.

Aemon tells them the story of his sea trip to the Wall: he traveled with Lord Commander Duncan the Tall as his honor guard, along with Brynden Rivers, Lord Bloodraven himself, who was sent by "Egg" (Aegon V Targaryen, called "[[SpareToTheThrone The Unlikely]]") to serve out the remainder of his life in the Watch[[labelnote:From the Books]]After King Maekar I Targaryen was killed in battle, a SuccessionCrisis ensued over who should succeed him, given many of the potential heirs were felt to be InadequateInheritor. Aenys of House Blackfyre, TheRival family to House Targaryen, requested that he be allowed to attend the debate and peacefully put forward his own family's claim to the throne, in contrast to his siblings who'd tried to seize it by force. Bloodraven agreed, but when Aenys arrived in King's Landing, Bloodraven had him killed without trial [[MakeAnExampleOfThem as a warning to any Blackfyre supporters]]. After Aegon V was crowned, he had Bloodraven imprisoned, unwilling to sanction Bloodraven breaking SacredHospitality even to [[RemovingTheRival eliminate a rival claimant]] and gave him a choice between execution or exile to the Wall[[/note]]. Unfortunately, Maester Aemon's health deteriorates as the trip continues, and both the child and Gilly are miserable.

Aemon tells them the story of his sea trip to the Wall: he traveled with Lord Commander Duncan the Tall as his honor guard, along with Brynden Rivers, Lord Bloodraven himself, who was sent by "Egg" (Aegon V Targaryen, called "[[SpareToTheThrone The Unlikely]]") to serve out the remainder of his life in the Watch. Unfortunately, Maester Aemon's health deteriorates as the trip continues, and both the child and Gilly are miserable.

After passing a large group of poor fellows (or 'sparrows'), lowly holy men bound for King's Landing bearing the bones of septons killed around the Riverlands, they catch up to a merchant guarded by a couple of men and another hedge knight named Ser Shadrich, the Mad Mouse. Joining forces, Ser Shadrich tells Brienne in private that he knows that the maid she seeks is Sansa Stark, and that he seeks her as well, but for a purse of gold offered by Varys.

Within, the temple is quite dark with dozens of odd statues, and Arya notices several people in alcoves who are either dead or dying. One troubles her for a drink of water, saying "''Valar morghulis''," and she gives it to him, answering "''Valar dohaeris''." Thereafter he dies.

Soon, a robed man with a kind voice tells her that the House of Black and White is a place of peace. He asks her name, but despite Arya's use of nicknames, the man keeps asking until she admits that she is Arya Stark. When the man asks if she fears death, Arya answers no. The man removes his cowl to reveal a decaying, horrible visage, but she sees through the illusion and eats the worm dangling from his eye socket. It dissolves in her mouth, intangible. Impressed, the kindly man asks if she is hungry, to which Arya thinks: ''Yes, but not for food.''

Lady Stokeworth explains that when Lord Balman agreed to MakeItLookLikeAnAccident, his idea of an "accident" was to [[HonorBeforeReason challenge Bronn to a duel]]. Bronn, being a PrivateMilitaryContractor and CombatPragmatist, [[RealityEnsues failed to lose]] the resulting fight -- ''and'' got Balman [[TortureForFunAndInformation to admit]] who ordered him to engineer the "accident." Lady Falyse is now on the run from [[KlingonPromotion Lord Bronn Stokeworth]] and begs the queen for mercy.

Even worse, war may come: Ser Balon Swann has reached the borders of Dorne -- having finally reached the end of the journey the crown dispatched him on in "Cersei IV" of this volume -- and Prince Doran's bannermen can only stall him for so long. He tells Arianne he is disappointed in her, and warns her not to test his patience: what everyone else mistook for lassitude has actually been a long con, and -- like Oberyn -- Doran has been working on {{revenge}} against the Lannisters ever since Elia was killed.

The Queen Regent, stifling her anger, concedes to his concerns that the holy men and women on the roads need protection from rape and murder: Cersei agrees to have Tommen rearm the Faith, something King Maegor forbade almost 300 years ago. She promises to restore the [[ChurchMilitant Faith Militant]], for which the High Septon will acknowledge Tommen as king and forgive the Crown's debt to the Faith, which is over 1 million dragons. Internally, Cersei applauds herself for her bargain ... apparently having forgotten what happened [[HistoryRepeats the last time there was a Faith Militant]].

Afterwards, he heads to the sept, where Lancel receives him. He announces that he has been atoning for his sins -- primarily his hand in the HuntingAccident suffered by the late King Robert Baratheon, but also for [[KissingCousins fucking Cersei]]. (He claims that it was at least not treason, as he would always pull out: "It's not treason if you don't finish inside.") He then announces his intention to AbdicateTheThrone of House Darry and return to King's Landing to be sworn in as a member of the revived Faith Militant. Between the news that Cersei ''was'' unfaithful and that the ChurchMilitant has been revived, Jaime can't decide which is worse.

After they get rid of Emmon, Genna has a number of choice words about [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Cersei's growing foolishness]]: her choice of [[YesMan councilors]], her re-founding of the [[ChurchMilitant Faith Militant]] after they gave the Targaryens years of strife [[labelnote:From the Books]] Aegon the Conqueror himself trod carefully with the Faith so they wouldn't oppose his conquest. Aegon's son Aenys managed to enrage the Faith by wedding his eldest son and daughter in Valyrian tradition, completely ignoring that the Faith considered such practices an abomination, after which the Faith started a revolt against the Targaryens, one in which a good portion of Westeros' population backed them. After Aenys died from the aftereffects of a nervous breakdown as a result of the strain, his brother Maegor seized power, outlawed the Faith Militant and tried to exterminate the Faith utterly, but his brutality only gave the Faith more supporters. It wasn't until Aegon's grandson Jaehaerys came to the throne and was able to negotiate a peace treaty with the Faith that the violence came to an end, though Jaehaerys refused to repeal his uncle's disbanding of the Faith Militant.[[/labelnote]], and her passing-over of Kevan as Hand.

After they get rid of Emmon, Genna has a number of choice words about [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Cersei's growing foolishness]]: her choice of [[YesMan councilors]], her re-founding of the [[ChurchMilitant Faith Militant]] after they gave the Targaryens years of strife [[labelnote:From the Books]] Aegon the Conqueror himself trod carefully with the Faith so they wouldn't oppose his conquest. Aegon's son Aenys managed to enrage the Faith by wedding his eldest son and daughter in Valyrian tradition, completely ignoring that the Faith considered such practices an abomination, whereupon the Faith started a revolt against the Targaryens, one in which a good portion of Westeros' population backed them. After Aenys died from the aftereffects of a nervous breakdown as a result of the strain, his brother Maegor tried to deal with the Faith by outlawing the Faith Militant and trying to exterminate the Faith utterly, but his brutality only gave the Faith more supporters. It wasn't until Aegon's grandson Jaehaerys came to the throne and was able to negotiate a peace treaty with the Faith that the violence came to an end, though Jaehaerys refused to repeal his uncle's disbanding of the Faith Militant.[[/labelnote]], and her passing-over of Kevan as Hand.