Areo Hotah
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 Areo by Henning Ludvigsen © Fantasy Flight Games | ||||
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| Title | Captain of the guards at Sunspear | |||
| Allegiances |
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| Culture | Norvoshi | |||
| Born |
or before 257 AC[1] Norvos | |||
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| Played by | DeObia Oparei | |||
| TV series |
Game of Thrones: Season 5 | 6 | |||
Areo Hotah is the captain of the household guard at Sunspear for the Prince of Dorne, Doran Martell. He is originally from the Free City of Norvos, where he was trained by the bearded priests.[2] In the television adaptation Game of Thrones he is portrayed by DeObia Oparei.
Contents
Appearance and Character
- See also: Images of Areo Hotah
Areo is broad-shouldered with white hair which was once dark,[2] and he has a seamed and scarred face.[3] Areo speaks the Common Tongue with a gruff, deep voice and thick Norvoshi accent.[2][3] The captain is loyal, obedient, and confident in his martial abilities,[2][3] and he has a bellowing voice when commanding his guardsmen.[4] Areo usually stations himself to the left of Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne, and he carries the prince gently when needed.[2]
In Norvos, Areo wore a heavy horsehair cape, a studded leather tunic, and an iron halfhelm with a crest of sharpened spikes. When he arrived in Dorne, he quickly realized he had to change his clothing to acclimatize to the Dornish sun. Nowadays, he wears a shirt of copper scales with a billowing cloak of dun-and-yellow sandsilk to keep the sun off the copper. The sun beating down on the metal of his Norvoshi halfhelm caused him headaches, so he wrapped it in orange silk.[2] Areo's longaxe has a shaft of mountain ash six feet long and is kept in a sling across his back,[2] and he considers it his ash-and-iron wife.[5]
Areo is an old friend and protector of Doran's daughter and heir, Princess Arianne Martell.[3]
History
Areo was born in Norvos[6] as the youngest of six children, with two brothers and three sisters, and he was sold to the bearded priests at a young age. When he was sixteen years old, Areo completed his training. He was wedded to his axe and branded on his chest to signify the event.[2]
Areo became a guardsman to the family of Lady Mellario, and was present the day she first met her future husband, Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne.[6][3] He escorted Mellario when she traveled with Doran to Dorne, having learned Westerosi speech. Upon arrival in Dorne, Areo found it a strange place; the Dornish women were lewd, Dornish wine was sour, and Dornish food was full of queer hot spices. He also thought the Dornish sun was hotter than the pale, wan sun of Norvos.[5] Areo entered the service of House Martell, and Mellario married Doran.[2]
Areo watched all of Doran and Mellario's children grow up, and developed a father-like love for Princess Arianne Martell, whom he refers to as "little princess."[2][5] Despite this affection, however, he is utterly loyal to Prince Doran.[2][4] Areo eventually became the captain of Prince Doran's guard, and remained in Dorne to serve the Martell's even after Mellario returned to Norvos. Even after all his years in Dorne, Areo still reminds himself of the vows he took when he was sixteen, "Serve. Obey. Protect."[2]
When Doran Martell moved from Sunspear to the Water Gardens due to his deteriorating health, Areo accompanied him. On occasion, Areo is sent to Sunspear by Doran.[2]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Areo is a sellsword serving as captain of guards for Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne.[7]
A Feast for Crows
Areo is at the Water Gardens with Doran. Following the death of Doran's younger brother, Prince Oberyn Martell, Areo accompanies Doran when the latter returns to Sunspear. He is ordered by Doran to arrest Oberyn's bastard daughters, the Sand Snakes.[2]
Areo is sent by Doran to put an end to Arianne Martell's plot to steal Princess Myrcella Baratheon away with the intention of crowning her Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. During the confrontation at the Greenblood, Ser Arys Oakheart of the Kingsguard, Myrcella's sworn shield, charges Areo and his guards. After Arys's horse is brought down by crossbowmen, Areo chops off the knight's right arm at the shoulder and beheads him with his longaxe.[4] Areo orders his men to pursue Ser Gerold Dayne, who has wounded Myrcella. Darkstar escapes, however, which angers Areo.[3]
Areo escorts Arianne back to Sunspear to await an audience with Doran.[3] After she has spent several weeks in confinement in Spear Tower, it is Areo who retrieves Arianne and brings her to her father.[3]
A Dance with Dragons
Areo is present at the feast at Sunspear in which Ser Balon Swann of the Kingsguard presents Prince Doran Martell with the skull of Ser Gregor Clegane. Areo notes that Balon looks to be a more formidable warrior than Ser Arys had been, and wonders if it will come to a fight between them as well.[5]
Areo is present when Prince Doran discusses his plans in a private solar with Arianne Martell and Obara, Nymeria and Tyene Sand. They decide to tell Balon that Arys was killed by Darkstar.[5]
The Winds of Winter
| Warning This information has thus far been released in a sample chapter for The Winds of Winter, and might therefore not be in finalized form. Keep in mind that the content as described below is still subject to change. |
Areo joins Obara and Balon on their mission to hunt and kill the rogue knight Darkstar.[5][8]
Quotes by Areo
Once, long ago, a callow youth had come from Norvos, a big broad-shouldered boy with a mop of dark hair. That hair was white now, and his body bore the scars of many battles ... but his strength remained, and he kept his longaxe sharp, as the bearded priests had taught him.[2]
—thoughts of Areo
Hotah had felt a certain sadness whenever he saw the man in the long snowy cloak, the times the prince had sent him down to Sunspear. One day, he sensed, the two of them would fight; on that day Oakheart would die, with the captain's longaxe crashing through his skull. He slid his hand along the smooth ashen shaft of his axe and wondered if that day was drawing nigh.[2]
—thoughts of Areo
Arianne: How could he know? I was so careful. How could he know?
Areo: Someone told. Someone always tells.[4]—Arianne Martell and Areo
Arianne: You know me, captain. You have known me since I was little. You always kept me safe, as you kept my lady mother safe when you came with her from Great Norvos to be her shield in a strange land. I need you now. I need your help. I never meant—
Areo: What you meant does not matter, little princess. Only what you did. I am sorry. It is for my prince to command, for Hotah to obey.[3]—Arianne Martell and Areo
Doran: I saw Volantis once, on my way to Norvos, where I first met Mellario. The bells were ringing, and the bears danced down the steps. Areo will recall the day.
Areo: I remember. The bears danced and the bells rang, and the prince wore red and gold and orange. My lady asked me who it was who shone so bright.[3]—Doran Martell and Areo
Serve. Protect. Obey. Simple vows for simple men. That was all he knew.[5]
—thoughts of Areo
Quote about Areo
The big Norvoshi captain with the scarred face had always made him feel profoundly uneasy. They say he sleeps with that great axe beside him.[9]
—thoughts of Arys Oakheart
References
- ↑ See the Areo Hotah calculation.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 2, The Captain Of Guards.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 40, Princess In The Tower.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 21, The Queenmaker.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 38, The Watcher.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Areo Hotah.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Winds of Winter, Arianne I
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 13, The Soiled Knight.
External Links
- Areo Hotah on Wikipedia
- Areo Hotah on the Wiki of Westeros
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