A Game of Thrones-Chapter 56
From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
| Tyrion VII | ||||||||||
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| A Game of Thrones chapter | ||||||||||
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| POV | Tyrion | |||||||||
| Place | Crossroads Inn | |||||||||
| Page | 507 US HC (Other versions) | |||||||||
| Chapter chronology (All) | ||||||||||
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Tyrion arrives with his force of the Mountain clans at his father’s camp. As he is meeting with his father, the clansmen burst in, but Lord Tywin handles them coolly. When news arrives that Robb Stark’s host is coming, Tywin offers all the rewards his son promised and more to the clans if they fight for him.
Synopsis
Chella of the Black Ears is the one who locates Lord Tywin’s army, which she deduces to be 20,000 men. Tyrion has gathered a force of over 300 men from the Mountain clans and Gunthor is collecting more. He wonders what his father will make of his little army.
Tyrion wants to meet his father without the clans, but Ulf expresses distrust and Shagga insists that he will go with the “boyman,” and if he lies, Tyrion will lose his manhood. Tyrion is forced to quickly give in to the demands of his captor-followers (he’s still not sure which they are) and selects representatives from each clan to accompany him. As a parting jibe, he asks the remaining clansmen to try not to kill each other while he is gone. Tyrion dislikes having to work with the clans because they think everyone’s voice should be heard in council, which causes them to argue endlessly.
When they come to the first strongpoint, which Tyrion approaches alone, the captain recognizes Tyrion and gives them an escort. They travel past burned land and buildings. There are many carrion birds, although there are no bodies. When they arrive at the guarded camp containing hundreds of campfires, they are met by a party lead by Ser Flement Brax. Ser Flement is surprised by the appearance of Tyrion and his companions. He tells Tyrion that his father has taken the Crossroads Inn as his headquarters, which Tyrion finds a fitting full-circle to his unpleasant abduction.
As they pass the many banners, Tyrion guesses that Chella’s count cannnot be far wrong. He also notes that his clansmen are awed, which pleases him; if they are impressed with the power of Lannisters they will be easier to control. When they arrive at the inn, Tyrion is pleased to see the body of its now former innkeepter Masha Heddle rotting in a gibbet. When the stableboys emerge hesitantly to take their horses, Shagga is suspicious of surrendering his horse but Tyrion is able to convince him. Houseguards at the door direct Tyrion to his father in the Common Room.
Lord Tywin Lannister is sharing ale with his brother, Ser Kevan Lannister. Kevan sees Tyrion first and expresses surprise, but all that his father can say is that the rumors of his demise were unfounded. Tyrion tells his father that he is sorry to disappoint him, feeling uncomfortable with his deformities under his father’s gaze. Tyrion quickly covers his discomfort with a quip that he is thankful they started a war for his sake. His father takes the opportunity to chastise Tyrion for going meekly with a woman; his brother Jaime would not have gone without a fight. Tyrion replies that Jaime is also taller.
Lord Tywin then explains that Lannister honor demanded they go to war after Tyrion was captured. Tyrion asks them how that war is going. His father explains that Jaime has been covering himself in glory, smashing the forces of Lords Piper and Vance at the Golden Tooth and pushing on to defeat the main Tully forces outside Riverrun and capture Edmure Tully. Lord Blackwood has fallen back to hold Riverrun against Jaime, but the other lords have dispersed to their own lands. Many of these lords have now fallen to Lord Tywin’s army, one by one. That leaves only the Freys and the Mallisters to oppose them. Lord Tywin in not concerned; he knows that Walder Frey will not bestir himself until the winner is clear and Jason Mallister lacks the strength to stand alone. The only real threat is that the Arryns and the Starks will interfere.
Tyrion tells them that they need not worry about the Arryns, but the Starks are another matter. He is informed of Eddard Stark’s captivity and that his son Robb has called the Stark banners. Tywin remains unperturbed, declaring that Robb Stark is only a child. When Tyrion questions how Cersei has convinced King Robert to imprison his dear friend Ned, he learns that the king is dead and his nephew reigns. Tyrion immediately understands that his sister is the true ruler and knows that things will be very different.
Tyrion is then offered a command in the army: he is to handle Marq Piper and Karyl Vance, who have been raiding Jaime’s supply trains across the Red Fork, and Beric Dondarrion, who has been harassing Lord Tywin’s forging parties. Tyrion is not impressed since this would be a command of perhaps 20 men, so he reveals to his father he has a promise to keep: weapons and armor for 3,000 and wagons to carry them.
Then the door opens with a crash as the Captain of the Guard flies across the room. Shagga stamps in, followed by the other clansmen. Lord Tywin coolly asks who they are and Tyrion explains that they followed him and he wants to keep them. The clansmen tell Lord Tywin that free men have the right to sit on war councils. Lord Tywin asks Tyrion to introduce the clansmen. Once that is done, Tyrion introduces his father to the clansmen, complete with all his titles. Lord Tywin then tells the clansmen that even in the west they have heard of the prowess of the Mountain clans, and then asks what brings them here. The reply is horses, silk, and steel.
It is then that news arrives that Robb Stark’s host is coming down the Kingsroad. Lord Tywin is pleased that he will be given a chance to easily defeat House Stark so he can turn his attention towards Stannis Baratheon. He gives orders that Ser Addam Marbrand fall back to draw the northerners further south, harassing them. He then orders assembly, and compliments the mountain clans that he has heard they are without fear. He also promises that if they ride against his enemy he will provide them with all that his son promised them and more. The clansmen insist that they are being promised what is already owed. Tywin quickly covers by saying that his words were a courtesy and that his boldest knights fear to face the northerners. Timett takes the bait and declares that the Burned Men fear nothing. With the Burned Men agreeing, all the other clans agree, but only if Tyrion accompanies them into battle until the promises he made them are honored.
External links
- Summary and analyses of the chapter by Leigh Butler.
- Summary of the chapter on Tower of the Hand.
