Great Keep (Winterfell)
The Great Keep, also called the main keep,[1] is the main residence and redoubt of House Stark at Winterfell.
Contents
Layout
The Great Keep contains the bedchambers for members of House Stark.[2] The building is heated by water from hot springs below the castle, and Lady Catelyn Stark's bedchambers are the hottest rooms in the Great Keep.[3] The towers of the Great Keep have winding stairs.[4] The bulding's cellar has narrow windows.[5]
Eddard Stark's solar contains an oak chair for the Lord of Winterfell and a long plank-and-trestle table.[6]
There is a view of the yard from the covered bridge which connects the Great Keep and the armory.[7] A dimly-lit gallery leads from the Great Hall to the Great Keep.[4]
The gatehouse of Harrenhal is as large as Winterfell's Great Keep.[8]
History
Theon Greyjoy once earned himself a thrashing by accidentally knocking Old Nan to the ground while carelessly leaping down the Great Keep's spiral stairs.[9] Theon and Robb Stark have also often sparred on the stairs with wooden swords.[9]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Bran Stark is confined to a sickbed after falling from the First Keep. Lady Catelyn Stark protects her son when he is attacked by an assassin, and the attacked is killed by the boy's direwolf.[2]
Hodor transports the crippled Bran to and from his chambers.[10]
A Clash of Kings
Mikken hammers a row of iron bars into the wall of Bran's chambers so the boy can pull himself around.[11]
Northmen come to Winterfell to celebrate the harvest feast. Bran, Maester Luwin, and Ser Rodrik Cassel meet with bannermen in the solar of Bran's late father, Lord Eddard Stark.[6]
Werlag breaks down the door to Bran's chamber during the capture of Winterfell by ironborn, and Theon Greyjoy takes the boy into custody.[12] Calling himself Prince of Winterfell, Theon claims Eddard's bedchamber.[13]
After the sack of Winterfell, Bran sees the glow of a fire in the cellar beneath the Great Keep.[5]
A Dance with Dragons
Lord Roose Bolton holds the wedding of his son Ramsay and "Arya Stark" (actually Jeyne Poole) in the godswood of Winterfell. After the guests feast in the Great Hall, Roose meets with bannermen in the Great Keep's solar.[14] Ramsay keeps Jeyne confined to his bedchamber,[15] a room lightly damaged by the sack and adorned with new furnishings from Barrowton.[14] Men from the Dreadfort guard the main doors of the Great Keep, and the Bastard's Boys guard Ramsay's chamber.[9] "Arya's" serving girls include Maisie and Jez.[9]
Because several men have been found dead in Winterfell, the captive Theon is interrogated in the solar by Roose, Lady Barbrey Dustin, Roger Ryswell, and Ser Aenys Frey.[16]
The Freys and the Manderlys fight after Little Walder Frey is found murdered, so Roose orders the two factions to advance on Stannis Baratheon in the wolfswood. Theon and Abel's washerwomen use this as an opportunity to sneak "Arya" from Ramsay's chambers in the Great Keep.[9]
References
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 80, Sansa VII.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 14, Catelyn III.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 6, Catelyn II.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 21, Bran III.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 69, Bran VII.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 16, Bran II.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 7, Arya I.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 30, Arya VII.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 51, Theon I.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 24, Bran IV.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 4, Bran I.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 46, Bran VI.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 50, Theon IV.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 37, The Prince of Winterfell.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 41, The Turncloak.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 46, A Ghost in Winterfell.