Foreshadowing/The Weirwood Queen
- The author foretells the revelation in Chapter 96 that Elia Martell's children did in fact survive the infamous sack of Kings Landing through the Ghost of High Heart.
“I dreamt of a maid chained to a mountain beneath the shadow of a dragon's wings. The dragon bathed the maid in fire, and the mountain crumbled but the chains remained.”
Olyvar's eyes also foreshadow their survival. It is not just the color itself, but Jaime Lannister also experiences disquiet upon seeing them. Fitting, considering the actions of Jaime's father.
Olyvar's inner voice before this scene also arguably hints at their escape. Not once does he actually refer to Elia's children by their names. Additionally, he only thinks of them as "the babes", never as "her babes".
It's not until Chapter 112 that we learn the true identities of these unfortunate children: Jonquil, the daughter of one of Elia's maids, and Gawaen, Ashara Dayne's bastard son.
- In Chapter 146 it is revealed that Arya suffers from a medical condition that makes it impossible for her to menstruate. Her infertility is the cause of her broken betrothal to the heir of Last Hearth, as Hoarfrost Umber needs to sire sons.
According to the author, they foreshadowed this plot point by referencing the existence of other barren women, such as Pretty Pia.
"Sorry," Sister Pia shrugged when the sister turned to her. "I never got my blood." She frowned, then dug in her pockets. "Would a kerchief work?"
In hindsight, Daenerys' own situation could also be viewed as foreshadowing. Haldon Halfmaester gently explains that her inability to safely carry a babe to term often happens when a girl is brought to the birthing bed too young. Daenerys finally accepts this, after years of blaming Mirri for cursing her womb.
Similarly, Arya believes that her offerings are the reason for the delay in her flowering. In reality, it's because she was born with a missing womb, as revealed by Maester Luwin after he examines her.
- According to the author, the death of Jeyne Westerling was intended from the beginning of the fic.
Catelyn's final POV foreshadows Jeyne's fate.
Catelyn wondered if Robb still remembered the hysterical tantrum he had thrown, convinced that his mother would die. She glanced at Jeyne, at her wide hips and trim waist. The girl was still nibbling at her applecake, taking ladylike bites. Maester Luwin was a good man, skilled in delivering babes. Only once had he lost a mother, Jory Cassel's wife. Shyra's first child had come suddenly, several months too early, and she bled out before the weeping Jory could bring the maester.
No, that will not be Jeyne's fate, Catelyn decided.
Catelyn's words are sadly prophetic in the wrong way. Jeyne does indeed avoid this fate, but only because she is to die of winter fever two months later, after working herself to exhaustion nursing Robb and the other escapees from the Twins.
Her last moments also potentially hints at Jeyne's death. In her vision, the woman that Robb hands his babe to is described only vaguely; the text does not indicate Catelyn recognising her good-daughter as this older woman.
- Chapter 144 reveals that Daenerys has adopted one of the foundlings, a little boy that shares her Valyrian looks.
This is foreshadowed in Chapter 140.
In exchange, Dany told her of the foundlings, of little Neida and her fear of dragons, of Xanda and Nevio, always whispering to each other, of Collio, always begging for sweets, of the little Lyseni boy who refused to answer to any name until he was given one by whoever adopted him. He would be waiting a while; even the bravest Unsullied shied from adopting a child whose Valyrian looks made him a target for those still eager to strike against the queen by harming her children.
- In Chapter 154 Mrycella and Trystane attempt to run away together. It doesn't work.
Throughout Sansa's POV, there are several hints that foreshadow their unsuccessful escape.
Lady Mellario tells Sansa that whenever Trystane was not playing cyvasse with his former betrothed, he was spending time in the fishing village without a guard. It turns out he had a big reason for wanting to be alone, as he was using that time to arrange his and Mrycella's escape to Essos.
Mellario also complains of a missing wig, and Jynessa Blackmont of a missing dress. It turns out that they were stolen for Myrcella's disguise during her escape.
Mrycella tells Sansa that she is suffering nightmares and pleads for dream wine to help her sleep. Given the way the poor girl's world was destroyed due to her parents' selfishness, this is easy enough for Sansa to allow, although she bades Maester Pylos to give the girl only a small dose. Instead, she saves it, and Trystane uses it to slip into the cups of his mother and her ladies so they cannot raise the alarm. However, Mellaro's failure to drink enough of the wine foils their plan.
