Difference between revisions of "A Game of Thrones-Chapter 53"

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Jump to: navigation, search
(fix part about male giants and human woman mating)
m (Added "A Read of Ice and Fire" to references/notes)
 
(15 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Infobox Chapter AGoT
 
{{Infobox Chapter AGoT
| pov = [[Bran Stark|Bran]]
+
| pov = [[Bran Stark]]
 +
| place        = [[Winterfell]]
 
| title = Bran VI
 
| title = Bran VI
 
| page = 475
 
| page = 475
Line 10: Line 11:
 
}} __NOTOC__
 
}} __NOTOC__
  
[[Bran Stark|Bran]] watches the [[House Karstark|Karstarks]] and then goes to the [[Godswood]] to pray for [[Robb Stark|Robb]] and his family. [[Osha]], who also prays to the [[Old Gods]], disturbs his thought. She offers to go but Bran asks him to stay and tell him about hearing the gods. Then she tells him of the [[Others]] in the north, and that Robb should be marching north not south. Bran tells her he will tell his brother, and only has an opportunity to tell Maester [[Luwin]]. The Robb is marching is army south.
+
[[Bran Stark|Bran]] watches the [[House Karstark|Karstarks]] arrive, then goes to the [[godswood]] to pray. He is interrupted by [[Osha]], who tells him about the [[old gods]] and the [[Others]]. She insists that [[Robb Stark|Robb]] should be marching north not south. Bran passes on her advice to Maester [[Luwin]]. Then Robb marches his army south.
  
 
==Synopsis==
 
==Synopsis==
[[Bran Stark|Bran]] is watching the last of Lord [[Eddard Stark|Eddard]]’s bannermen arrive at [[Winterfell]] from a guard turret through Maester [[Luwin]]’s fareye. The [[House Karstark|Karstarks]] are the last to arrive: Lord [[Rickard Karstark]] leads with his sons [[Harrion Karstark|Harrion]], [[Eddard Karstark|Eddard]], and [[Torrhen Karstark|Torrhen]] riding beside him. The Karstarks are said to have Stark blood in them, going back hundreds of years, but they do not look like [[House Stark|Starks]] to Bran, big and fierce.  
+
[[Bran Stark|Bran]] watches from a guard turret with the [[Myrish eye|far-eye]] of Maester [[Luwin]] as the [[House Karstark|Karstark]] forces arrive at [[Winterfell]]. When [[Robb Stark|Robb]] heard the news that their father, Lord [[Eddard Stark|Eddard]], had been taken captive in [[King's Landing]], he called the Stark bannermen together for war. The Karstarks are the last to arrive: three hundred horsemen and near two thousand foot lead by Lord [[Rickard Karstark]] with his sons [[Harrion Karstark|Harrion]], [[Eddard Karstark|Eddard]], and [[Torrhen Karstark|Torrhen]] riding beside him. The Karstarks are said to have Stark blood in them, going back hundreds of years, but the fierce men do not look like Starks to Bran.
  
Bran has not been allowed to go out of the castle after the incident in the [[Wolfswood]]. [[Robb Stark|Robb]] tells him that there are no men available to guard, and is not dissuaded by Bran’s argument that he can take [[Summer (direwolf)|Summer]]. The incident in the Wolfswood shames Bran that he is not able to protect himself; even [[Rickon Stark|Rickon]] would have been able to kick them. A year ago he would have visited the village anyway, climbing over the walls. Now he can only watch with Maester Luwin and [[Hodor]].  
+
Bran has not been allowed to leave the castle since [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 37|the incident]] in the [[wolfswood]]. Robb insists that there are no men available to guard him and is not dissuaded by Bran’s argument that [[Summer]] will protect him. The incident in the wolfswood shames Bran as he is not able to protect himself; even [[Rickon Stark|Rickon]] would have been able to kick them. A year ago he would have visited the [[winter town]] anyway, climbing over the walls, but now he can only watch with Maester Luwin and [[Hodor]].  
  
Maester Luwin had taught Bran all the banners and now has faces associated with them. Bran asks how many knights, but Luwin tells Bran that there are over 12,000 men, but only 300 knights because [[the North]] holds to the [[Old Gods]]; knights are anointed in a sept of [[The Faith of the Seven|the Seven gods]]. Luwin tells him, "a man’s worth is not marked by a [[Knight|Ser]] before his name." Bran asks when they will leave and is told they must leave soon or the countryside will be eaten clean if stay much longer. Robb has a long way to go and the fighting has started. More men with join Robb as he travels south.  
+
Maester Luwin has taught Bran all the banners and now he has faces to associate with them. Bran asks how many [[knight]]s there are and Luwin tells Bran that there are over twelve thousand men, but only three hundred knights because the [[north]] holds to the [[old gods]] and knights are anointed in a [[sept]] of the [[Faith of the Seven]]. However, Luwin assures him, "a man's worth is not marked by a ser before his name." Bran asks when they will leave and is told they must leave soon or the countryside will be eaten clean. Robb has a long way to go and the fighting has started. More men will join Robb as he travels south.  
  
Bran tells Hodar that he does not want to watch anymore. Maester Luwin tells Bran that is brother is busy greeting the Karstarks, and Brans tells him that he wants to visit the [[Godswood]]. Hodor has been carrying Bran in a basket strapped to his back, an idea Luwin had gotten from baskets used by the women to carry firewood. Being carried this way did not shame Bran like being carried like a baby; there was the problem that Hodor sometimes forgot Bran was on his back when he went through a doorway. When Bran exits the castle there are Karstarks arriving. Some men mock him, and he had been warned of this by the maester, and Bran’s attitude was to let them mock; he did not want to stay in his bedroom where no one would mock him. Bran calls for Summer, and the Karstark horses reel as the[[direwolf]] goes by.  
+
Bran tells Hodor that he does not want to watch anymore. Maester Luwin reminds Bran that his brother is busy greeting the Karstarks, but Bran assures him that he wants to visit the [[godswood]]. Hodor now carries Bran in a basket strapped to his back, an idea Luwin got from the baskets used by the serving women to carry firewood. Being carried this way does not shame Bran the same as being carried like a baby, although Hodor sometimes forgets Bran is on his back when going through doorways.  
  
When Bran arrives at the Godswood, Bran pulls himself out of his seat on Hodor’s back using a branch of the [[Weirwood]]. Then he lets Hodor lowers him down beside the water, and Bran tells Hodor that he wants to be alone with Summer. Bran has been finding himself drawn more to the Heart Tree, and now he takes comfort from the deep red eyes of the Heart Tree; the old gods are looking over him. He feels safe and it give time for him to think, which he has been doing a lot recently.  
+
When Bran exits the castle there are Karstark men arriving. Some men mock him, but Bran has been warned of this by the maester. His attitude is to let them mock since he does not want to stay in his bedroom. Bran calls for Summer, and the Karstark horses reel as the [[direwolf]] goes by.
  
Bran now prays that Robb will not go away, the safety of his family, and for [[Rickon Stark|Richon]] to understand. Rickon had been wild and violent since he had learned the Robb was leaving. Rickon had disappeared once, and was finally been found in the crypts with [[Shaggydog]. When he was found Rickon slashed at the with a sword and Shaggydog, who was also wild, had bitten [[Gage]] on the arm and taken a chunk out of [[Mikken]]’s thigh; it had taken Robb and [[Grey Wind]] to bring Shaggydog under control. Now [[Farlen]] had chained Shaggydog in the kennels, and Rickon now cries more. Luwin and Bran had both asked Robb to stay, but he refused saying he does not want to go but has to. Bran believes this is only half a lie because Robb could have sent somebody else in charge of the force to guard the neck. Robb’s response is that Eddard would not send others to die while he stayed behind the walls of Winterfell, and Robb denies all who request being given battle command. Many of the lords try to test Robb by making demands, and he is able to handle them much as father did, and bend them to his will, even when anger flairs. When [[Jon Umber (Greatjon)|Greatjon Umber]] demanded right to command, he drew his sword against Robb. [[Grey Wind]] immediately reacted by biting of two of his fingers. Since the incident, the Greatjon was Robb’s staunchest supporter. That night Robb came to Bran’s bedchamber pale and shaken. Robb then states that [[Roose Bolton]] never says a word and only looks at him, and all Robb can think of is the room in the [[Dreadfort]] where they hang the skins of their enemies. Bran states that this is only a story of Old [[Nan]], but then asks for confirmation.  
+
When Bran arrives in the godswood, he pulls himself out of his seat on Hodor's back using a branch of the [[weirwood]]. Then he lets Hodor lower him down beside the water and says he wants to be alone with Summer. Bran has been finding himself drawn more to the [[heart tree]] and now he takes comfort from its deep red eyes; the old gods are watching over him. He feels safe and it gives him time to think, which he has been doing a lot of recently.  
  
There are many horrible stories that come with travelers, and it is impossible to say which is real, although some are obviously impossible. Then the letter from Sansa arrives with the seal of Winterfell. After Robb reads the letter he crushes it. Robb states that she says nothing of Arya, and asks what is wrong with her. Bran states she had lost her wolf, remembering the day four of the guardsmen had returned with bones of [[Lady (direwolf)|Lady]]. They buried the bones in the cemetery where the faithful servants had been buried; she had gone south and only her bones returned like Lord [[Rickard Stark]], [[Brandon Stark ]], and two hundred men, and none had returned. Now [[Eddard Stark|father]], [[Arya Stark|Arya]], [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]], [[Jory Cassel]], and [[Tomard]] had gone south not come back and later [[Catelyn Tully|mother]] and Ser [[Rodrik Cassel|Rodrik]] had gone and not come back. Now Robb was going south and it frighten Bran. Bran prays that the gods look after Robb and his men going south, and that that they should defeat the [[House Lannister|Lannisters]] and bring father back.
+
Bran prays for Robb not to go away, for the safety of his family, and for Rickon to understand. Rickon has grown wild and violent since he learned that Robb was leaving. Once Rickon disappeared and, when he was finally found down in the crypts, the youngest Stark had slashed at the men with a sword and [[Shaggydog]] bit [[Gage]] on the arm and took a chunk out of [[Mikken]]'s thigh. It took Robb and [[Grey Wind]] to bring Shaggydog under control. After that [[Farlen]] chained Shaggydog in the kennels and now Rickon cries even more.  
  
Bran is surprised by words from [[Osha]], who was apparently able to move quietly in irons she has to wear. When Summer comes around the pool to sniff her, she flinches. Bran calls Summer back and asks Osha, who he had not seen since she was taken capture, what she is doing here, and she replies they are her gods too, and the only gods beyond the wall. Bran notes that she looks more womanly with her longer hair and her dress of brown spun. She tells how [[Gage]] lets her out to do her prays from time to time while she lets him do what he wants under her skirt when he feels the need; it is nothing to her and she likes the smell of four on his hands and he is gentler than [[Stiv]]. She offer to leave but Bran asks her to stay and tell what she means about hearing the gods. She tells him to open his ears, to which Bran replies that it is only the wind. She asks him who sends the winds; they see you and hear your words. Bran asks what they say and she replies that they are sad because they cannot help his brother in the South, as the old gods have no power there with all the [[weirwood]]s were destroyed thousands of years ago; they cannot watch his brother because they have no eyes. Now he listens and it seems there is sadness, and then he hears Hodor, who arrives naked. When Osha sees Hodor she states that he has [[Giants|giant]] blood in him due to his size. When Bran tells her that Maester Luwin taught him that there are no more giants, Osha tells him that the Maester should ride beyond the [[Wall]]. The giants often breed with men beyond the Wall, producing half-breeds. It goes hard on the woman that have sex with a giant. She then asks Bran is he knows what she is talking about and he tells her he has seen animals. As Hodor returns to dress at Bran’s command, Bran notes he is very big. Osha confirms there are giants beyond the [[Wall]], and worse than giants: when men leave their fires they often do not come back and sometimes when they do they are [[Others#Wights|Wights]] with blue eyes and cold black hands. She had tries to tell Robb, the maester and [[Theon Greyjoy|Theon]] this but they would not listen. This is why she left the north and joined Stiv and the rest of those fools. [[Mance Rayder]], once a sworn brother of the [[Night's Watch]], who  thinks he can fight since Wrights are no more than Rangers, but what does he know. Osha states that she, unlike Mance, is of the north. Osha laments that she cannot get Robb to listen, and Bran tells her to tell him and she will get Robb to listen. She tells Bran that Robb should be marching his army north, not south.
+
[[File:Robb's FavorNitenII.png|thumb|[[Grey Wind]] bites off the [[Jon Umber|Greatjon's]] fingers, by Niten © Fantasy Flight Games]]
  
We learn that the [[King-Beyond-the-Wall]]l, was once a sworn brother of the [[Night's Watch]] who came from the [[Shadow Tower]]. Bran also recalls  when the bannermen first began to arrive, how they tested Robb. Bran also knows from his brother that King [[Robert Baratheon|Robert]] is dead, and that their lord father has been imprisoned for treason.  
+
Luwin and Bran have both asked Robb to stay but he refuses, saying he has no choice. Bran believes this is only half a lie because Robb could send someone else to guard the [[Neck]]. Robb’s response was that their father would not send others to die while he stayed behind the walls of Winterfell. Robb denies all who request being given supreme battle command. Many of the lords try to test Robb by making demands, but he is able to handle them much as his father did and bend them to his will, even when anger flares. When [[Jon Umber|Greatjon Umber]] demanded the right to command, he drew his sword against Robb. [[Grey Wind]] immediately reacted by biting off two of his fingers. Since the incident, the Greatjon has been Robb’s staunchest supporter.
  
Bran does not get to tell Robb because he took his meal in the solar with the great lords to make final plans for the march; Bran had to act the host to the Karstarks in the [[Winterfell#The Great Hall|Great Hall]]. When he arrives in the hall, he feels the eyes on him, and then hears them murmuring about his being broken. He whispers under his breath that he wants to be a knight, which Maester Luwin overhears. He tells Bran that some call his order the knights of the mind, and that Bran could forge his maester’s chain at the [[Citadel]] in [[Oldtown]]. Bran states that he wants to learn magic and the crow promised he would fly. The maester tells him that he can teach Bran many things but no one can teach him magic. Bran replies that the [[Children of the Forest]] could teach him. Now he remembers he promised Osha, and tells the maester of the threat in the north. The maester promises to talk to Osha, but it is obvious it will do little good.
+
That night, Robb came to Bran’s bedchamber pale and shaken. Robb also told Bran that the most frightening bannerman is [[Roose Bolton]], who never says a word but only looks at him. When Bolton does this, all Robb can think of is the room in the [[Dreadfort]] where the Boltons hang the skins of their enemies. Bran states that this is only a story of [[Old Nan]]'s, but then asks for confirmation.  
  
Two days later, Robb and his army leave [[Winterfell]] to march south. Robb tells Bran that now he must be a lord; Bran, who never felt so little, alone or scared, did not know how to be a lord. He is told to listen to the maester and to take care of Rickon; Rickon had refused to come down, stating that no one ever comes back. Robb states that mother will be home soon and he promises to bring father back. As Robb’s force leaves, Bran remembers Osha’s words: he is marching the wrong way. Then he hears the cheers from the village, and thinks they will never cheer for him. All that seems to be left in Winterfell are women, children, old men and Hodor.
+
There are many horrible stories that come with travelers, and it is impossible to say which is real, although some are obviously untrue. Then the letter from Sansa arrived with the seal of House Stark. After Robb had read the letter he crushed it. Sansa had said nothing of Arya and Robb asked what is wrong with her. Bran replied that Sansa has lost her wolf, remembering the day four of the guardsmen returned with bones of [[Lady (direwolf)|Lady]]. They buried the bones in the [[lichyard]] with the faithful servants of Winterfell; she went south and only her bones returned, like Lord [[Rickard Stark]], [[Brandon Stark]], and two hundred men, and none returned. Now their father, [[Arya Stark|Arya]], [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]], [[Jory Cassel]], and [[Tomard|Fat Tom]] have gone south and not come back and later [[Catelyn Tully|mother]] and Ser [[Rodrik Cassel|Rodrik]] left and have not come back. Now Robb is going south and it frightens Bran. Bran prays that the gods look after Robb and his men going south, and that they defeat the [[House Lannister|Lannisters]] and bring Father back.
  
==External links==
+
[[File:Osha.jpg|thumb|165px|right|[[Osha]] the wildling, by Amok ©]]
*[http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/09/a-read-of-ice-and-fire-a-game-of-thrones-part-26 Summary and analyses of the chapter] by Leigh Butler.
+
 
*[http://towerofthehand.com/books/101/054/index.html Summary of the chapter] on Tower of the Hand.
+
Bran is surprised by words from [[Osha]] who is apparently able to move quietly in the shackles she has to wear. She tells him that she can hear the gods answering him. When Summer comes around the pool to sniff her, she flinches. Bran calls Summer back and asks Osha, whom he has not seen since she was taken captive, what she is doing here. The [[spearwife]] replies they are her gods too and the only gods north of the [[Wall]]. Bran notes that she looks more womanly with her longer hair and her dress of brown roughspun. She tells Bran that Gage lets her out to do her prayers from time to time while she lets him do what he wants under her skirt when he feels the need; it is nothing to her, she likes the smell of flour on his hands and he is gentler than [[Stiv]].
 +
 
 +
She offers to leave but Bran asks her to stay and tell him what she means about hearing the gods. She tells him to open his ears, to which Bran replies that it is only the wind. Osha asks him who sends the winds, insisting that the old gods can see him and hear his words. Bran asks what they say and Osha replies that they are sad because they cannot help his brother in the south. The old gods have no power there because all the weirwoods were destroyed thousands of years ago; they cannot watch over his brother because they have no eyes.
 +
 
 +
Now Bran listens and it seems there is sadness in the wind, but then he only hears Hodor, who arrives naked from his bath in the hot springs. When Osha sees Hodor she declares that his size denotes [[Giants|giant]] blood in him. When Bran tells her that Maester Luwin taught him that there are no more giants, Osha tells him that the maester should ride [[beyond the Wall]]. The giants sometimes breed with men beyond the Wall, producing half-breeds, though it goes much worse on the women that have sex with a giant. She then asks Bran if he knows what she is talking about and he tells her does, as he has seen animals mating.
 +
 
 +
As Hodor leaves to dress at Bran’s command, Bran admits that he is very big. Osha confirms there are giants beyond the Wall, and worse than giants: when men leave their fires they often do not come back, or sometimes they come back as [[wights]] with blue eyes and cold black hands. Osha explains that she tried to tell Robb, Maester Luwin, and even [[Theon Greyjoy]] of this, but they would not listen. She asks Bran why else she would flee south in the company of Stiv and the rest of those fools. She goes on to declare that [[Mance Rayder]], once a sworn brother of the [[Night's Watch]], thinks he can fight the wights. Osha states that she, unlike Mance, is of the north, from a long line of the [[free folk]]. Osha laments again that she cannot get Robb to listen and Bran suggests that perhaps Robb will listen to him. Osha is dubious but gives Bran the message:
 +
 
 +
{{Quote|You tell him this, m’lord. You tell him he’s bound on marching the wrong way. It's north he should be taking his swords. North, not south.}}
 +
 
 +
Bran does not get to tell his brother this, because Robb takes his meal in the solar with the great lords to make final plans for the march, while Bran has to act as the host to the Karstarks in the Great Hall. When he arrives in the hall, Bran can feel the eyes on him and hears them murmuring about him being broken. He whispers under his breath that he wants to be a knight, which Maester Luwin overhears. He tells Bran that some call his order the “knights of the mind,” and that Bran could forge a maester’s chain at the [[Citadel]] in [[Oldtown]]. Bran states that he wants to learn [[magic]] and that [[Three-eyed crow|the crow]] promised he would fly. The maester says he can teach Bran many things but no one can teach him magic. Bran replies that the [[children of the forest]] could teach him. Then he remembers what he promised Osha, and tells the maester of the threat in the north. The maester promises to talk to Osha, but it is obvious even to Bran that what he has said has made little impression.
 +
 
 +
Two days later, Robb and his army march south. Robb tells Bran that now he must be the lord, the Stark in Winterfell. Bran—who has never felt so little, alone, or scared—does not know how to be a lord. He is told to listen to Maester Luwin and to take care of Rickon who has refused to say goodbye, claiming that no one ever comes back. Robb states that Mother will be home soon and promises to bring Father back. As Robb’s force leaves, Bran remembers Osha's words: he is marching the wrong way. Then he hears the cheers from the village, and thinks they will never cheer for him. All that seems to be left in Winterfell are women, children, old men, and Hodor.
  
 
==References and Notes==
 
==References and Notes==
{{References|2}}
+
{{References}}
[[Category: A Song of Ice And Fire chapters|A Game of Thrones: Chapter 53]]
+
*[https://www.tor.com/2011/09/30/a-read-of-ice-and-fire-a-game-of-thrones-part-26/ A Read of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones, Part 26] Analyses and summary of the chapter by Leigh Butler.
[[Category: A Song of Ice And Fire chapters--POV Bran Stark]]
+
 
[[es:Juego de Tronos-Capítulo 53]][[fr:A Game of Thrones, Chapitre 54, Bran]][[ru:Игра престолов, Бран VI]]
+
[[Category:A Song of Ice And Fire chapters|A Game of Thrones: Chapter 53]]
 +
[[Category:A Song of Ice And Fire chapters--POV Bran Stark]]
 +
[[Category:Chapters which take place in Winterfell]]
 +
 
 +
[[es:Juego de Tronos-Capítulo 53]]
 +
[[pt:A Guerra dos Tronos - Capítulo 53]]
 +
[[fr:A Game of Thrones, Chapitre 54, Bran]]
 +
[[ru:Игра престолов, Бран VI]]

Latest revision as of 08:00, 8 June 2021

Bran VI
A Game of Thrones chapter
AGameOfThrones.jpg
POV Bran Stark
Place Winterfell
Page 475 US HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
Bran V
Jon VII  ← Bran VI →  Daenerys VI

Bran VII

Bran watches the Karstarks arrive, then goes to the godswood to pray. He is interrupted by Osha, who tells him about the old gods and the Others. She insists that Robb should be marching north not south. Bran passes on her advice to Maester Luwin. Then Robb marches his army south.

Synopsis

Bran watches from a guard turret with the far-eye of Maester Luwin as the Karstark forces arrive at Winterfell. When Robb heard the news that their father, Lord Eddard, had been taken captive in King's Landing, he called the Stark bannermen together for war. The Karstarks are the last to arrive: three hundred horsemen and near two thousand foot lead by Lord Rickard Karstark with his sons Harrion, Eddard, and Torrhen riding beside him. The Karstarks are said to have Stark blood in them, going back hundreds of years, but the fierce men do not look like Starks to Bran.

Bran has not been allowed to leave the castle since the incident in the wolfswood. Robb insists that there are no men available to guard him and is not dissuaded by Bran’s argument that Summer will protect him. The incident in the wolfswood shames Bran as he is not able to protect himself; even Rickon would have been able to kick them. A year ago he would have visited the winter town anyway, climbing over the walls, but now he can only watch with Maester Luwin and Hodor.

Maester Luwin has taught Bran all the banners and now he has faces to associate with them. Bran asks how many knights there are and Luwin tells Bran that there are over twelve thousand men, but only three hundred knights because the north holds to the old gods and knights are anointed in a sept of the Faith of the Seven. However, Luwin assures him, "a man's worth is not marked by a ser before his name." Bran asks when they will leave and is told they must leave soon or the countryside will be eaten clean. Robb has a long way to go and the fighting has started. More men will join Robb as he travels south.

Bran tells Hodor that he does not want to watch anymore. Maester Luwin reminds Bran that his brother is busy greeting the Karstarks, but Bran assures him that he wants to visit the godswood. Hodor now carries Bran in a basket strapped to his back, an idea Luwin got from the baskets used by the serving women to carry firewood. Being carried this way does not shame Bran the same as being carried like a baby, although Hodor sometimes forgets Bran is on his back when going through doorways.

When Bran exits the castle there are Karstark men arriving. Some men mock him, but Bran has been warned of this by the maester. His attitude is to let them mock since he does not want to stay in his bedroom. Bran calls for Summer, and the Karstark horses reel as the direwolf goes by.

When Bran arrives in the godswood, he pulls himself out of his seat on Hodor's back using a branch of the weirwood. Then he lets Hodor lower him down beside the water and says he wants to be alone with Summer. Bran has been finding himself drawn more to the heart tree and now he takes comfort from its deep red eyes; the old gods are watching over him. He feels safe and it gives him time to think, which he has been doing a lot of recently.

Bran prays for Robb not to go away, for the safety of his family, and for Rickon to understand. Rickon has grown wild and violent since he learned that Robb was leaving. Once Rickon disappeared and, when he was finally found down in the crypts, the youngest Stark had slashed at the men with a sword and Shaggydog bit Gage on the arm and took a chunk out of Mikken's thigh. It took Robb and Grey Wind to bring Shaggydog under control. After that Farlen chained Shaggydog in the kennels and now Rickon cries even more.

Grey Wind bites off the Greatjon's fingers, by Niten © Fantasy Flight Games

Luwin and Bran have both asked Robb to stay but he refuses, saying he has no choice. Bran believes this is only half a lie because Robb could send someone else to guard the Neck. Robb’s response was that their father would not send others to die while he stayed behind the walls of Winterfell. Robb denies all who request being given supreme battle command. Many of the lords try to test Robb by making demands, but he is able to handle them much as his father did and bend them to his will, even when anger flares. When Greatjon Umber demanded the right to command, he drew his sword against Robb. Grey Wind immediately reacted by biting off two of his fingers. Since the incident, the Greatjon has been Robb’s staunchest supporter.

That night, Robb came to Bran’s bedchamber pale and shaken. Robb also told Bran that the most frightening bannerman is Roose Bolton, who never says a word but only looks at him. When Bolton does this, all Robb can think of is the room in the Dreadfort where the Boltons hang the skins of their enemies. Bran states that this is only a story of Old Nan's, but then asks for confirmation.

There are many horrible stories that come with travelers, and it is impossible to say which is real, although some are obviously untrue. Then the letter from Sansa arrived with the seal of House Stark. After Robb had read the letter he crushed it. Sansa had said nothing of Arya and Robb asked what is wrong with her. Bran replied that Sansa has lost her wolf, remembering the day four of the guardsmen returned with bones of Lady. They buried the bones in the lichyard with the faithful servants of Winterfell; she went south and only her bones returned, like Lord Rickard Stark, Brandon Stark, and two hundred men, and none returned. Now their father, Arya, Sansa, Jory Cassel, and Fat Tom have gone south and not come back and later mother and Ser Rodrik left and have not come back. Now Robb is going south and it frightens Bran. Bran prays that the gods look after Robb and his men going south, and that they defeat the Lannisters and bring Father back.

Osha the wildling, by Amok ©

Bran is surprised by words from Osha who is apparently able to move quietly in the shackles she has to wear. She tells him that she can hear the gods answering him. When Summer comes around the pool to sniff her, she flinches. Bran calls Summer back and asks Osha, whom he has not seen since she was taken captive, what she is doing here. The spearwife replies they are her gods too and the only gods north of the Wall. Bran notes that she looks more womanly with her longer hair and her dress of brown roughspun. She tells Bran that Gage lets her out to do her prayers from time to time while she lets him do what he wants under her skirt when he feels the need; it is nothing to her, she likes the smell of flour on his hands and he is gentler than Stiv.

She offers to leave but Bran asks her to stay and tell him what she means about hearing the gods. She tells him to open his ears, to which Bran replies that it is only the wind. Osha asks him who sends the winds, insisting that the old gods can see him and hear his words. Bran asks what they say and Osha replies that they are sad because they cannot help his brother in the south. The old gods have no power there because all the weirwoods were destroyed thousands of years ago; they cannot watch over his brother because they have no eyes.

Now Bran listens and it seems there is sadness in the wind, but then he only hears Hodor, who arrives naked from his bath in the hot springs. When Osha sees Hodor she declares that his size denotes giant blood in him. When Bran tells her that Maester Luwin taught him that there are no more giants, Osha tells him that the maester should ride beyond the Wall. The giants sometimes breed with men beyond the Wall, producing half-breeds, though it goes much worse on the women that have sex with a giant. She then asks Bran if he knows what she is talking about and he tells her does, as he has seen animals mating.

As Hodor leaves to dress at Bran’s command, Bran admits that he is very big. Osha confirms there are giants beyond the Wall, and worse than giants: when men leave their fires they often do not come back, or sometimes they come back as wights with blue eyes and cold black hands. Osha explains that she tried to tell Robb, Maester Luwin, and even Theon Greyjoy of this, but they would not listen. She asks Bran why else she would flee south in the company of Stiv and the rest of those fools. She goes on to declare that Mance Rayder, once a sworn brother of the Night's Watch, thinks he can fight the wights. Osha states that she, unlike Mance, is of the north, from a long line of the free folk. Osha laments again that she cannot get Robb to listen and Bran suggests that perhaps Robb will listen to him. Osha is dubious but gives Bran the message:

You tell him this, m’lord. You tell him he’s bound on marching the wrong way. It's north he should be taking his swords. North, not south.

Bran does not get to tell his brother this, because Robb takes his meal in the solar with the great lords to make final plans for the march, while Bran has to act as the host to the Karstarks in the Great Hall. When he arrives in the hall, Bran can feel the eyes on him and hears them murmuring about him being broken. He whispers under his breath that he wants to be a knight, which Maester Luwin overhears. He tells Bran that some call his order the “knights of the mind,” and that Bran could forge a maester’s chain at the Citadel in Oldtown. Bran states that he wants to learn magic and that the crow promised he would fly. The maester says he can teach Bran many things but no one can teach him magic. Bran replies that the children of the forest could teach him. Then he remembers what he promised Osha, and tells the maester of the threat in the north. The maester promises to talk to Osha, but it is obvious even to Bran that what he has said has made little impression.

Two days later, Robb and his army march south. Robb tells Bran that now he must be the lord, the Stark in Winterfell. Bran—who has never felt so little, alone, or scared—does not know how to be a lord. He is told to listen to Maester Luwin and to take care of Rickon who has refused to say goodbye, claiming that no one ever comes back. Robb states that Mother will be home soon and promises to bring Father back. As Robb’s force leaves, Bran remembers Osha's words: he is marching the wrong way. Then he hears the cheers from the village, and thinks they will never cheer for him. All that seems to be left in Winterfell are women, children, old men, and Hodor.

References and Notes