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 Ser Vardis Egen duels Bronn near the statue of Alyssa Arryn, by Marc Simonetti © | ||||
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| Allegiance | House Arryn | |||
| Culture | Valemen | |||
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Alyssa Arryn is a half-legendary figure of House Arryn. Alyssa's Tears, a waterfall in the Vale of Arryn, is named for her.[1]
History
Maesters are reasonably certain that Alyssa Arryn did exist, but are not exactly sure when she lived. Most people believe her to have lived six thousand years ago,[1] but the book True History states four thousand years ago. Maester Denestan, in his Questions, states two thousand years.[2] According to legend, Alyssa saw her husband, her brothers, and her children killed in front of her, but she did not shed a tear. As a consequence, after her own death, the gods determined that she would not know rest until her tears reached the earth of the Vale of Arryn, where all those she had loved were buried. The waterfall that flows from the Giant's Lance, known as Alyssa's Tears, pours from such a height that the water turns into mist and is dispersed by wind before it ever reaches the ground below. Per the legend, no drop of the waterfall has ever reached the valley.[1][2]
Statue of Alyssa
The godswood of the Eyrie includes a woman's statue, located at its center. It depicts a weeping woman, carved in veined white marble. Catelyn Stark felt certain that it was a statue of Alyssa.[1]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
The duel between Ser Vardis Egen and Bronn takes place by Alyssa's statue. Early in the duel, Bronn hides behind the statue of the weeping woman. A failed lunge by Ser Vardis results in his sword striking the marble thigh of "Alyssa". Later, an off-balance Bronn gets hold of the statue to avoid falling to the ground. A wounded Ser Vardis chooses the moment to attack, but Bronn is able to avoid the strike. As a result, Ser Vardis's sword strikes the elbow of the statue and breaks. Bronn then pushes the back of the statue, breaking its torso. The heavy piece of marble falls on Ser Vardis and traps him beneath it, allowing Bronn to easily kill the incapacitated knight.[1]
A Storm of Swords
Snow falls upon the Eyrie, and Sansa Stark enters the godswood and notices a broken statue of a weeping woman lying on the ground in the center of the garden, half-buried by snow. She builds a snow castle copy of Winterfell nearby.[3]
Quotes
Alyssa had been dead six thousand years now, and still no drop of the torrent had ever reached the valley floor far below. Catelyn wondered how large a waterfall her own tears would make when she died.[1]
—thoughts of Catelyn Stark
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 40, Catelyn VII.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Seven Kingdoms: The Vale (The Eyrie).
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 80, Sansa VII.