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 Danelle Lothston, by scrapchap © | ||||
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| Aliases | ||||
| Title | Lady of Harrenhal | |||
| Allegiance | House Lothston | |||
| Culture | Rivermen | |||
| Born | Harrenhal[5] | |||
| Died | 221–233 AC[6] | |||
| Books |
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Danelle Lothston, known as Mad Danelle, was the Lady of Harrenhal and the head of House Lothston during the reigns of Kings Aerys I and Maekar I Targaryen.
Appearance and Character
Lady Danelle had long red hair. She wore tight-fitting black armor.[4]
Danelle was allegedly a practitioner of magic.[6] After her time, misbehaving children were told a story that on moonless nights, giant bats would fly from Harrenhal and take bad children back to Mad Danelle for her cookpots.[2] Other stories were told about mad Lady Lothston bathing in blood, and presiding over feasts of human flesh.[3]
History
When Lord Brynden Rivers, the Hand of the King to Aerys I Targaryen, marched on Whitewalls to quash the Second Blackfyre Rebellion, Lady Danelle was among the riverlords who came in support, marching in great strength. She led her men herself, wearing black armor.[4]
Lady Danelle turned to the black arts during the reign of Maekar I Targaryen, causing madness and chaos and the downfall of the Lothston line. Harrenhal then passed to House Whent, knights in the service of the Lothstons who had helped bring down the family.[6]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
According to Gendry, the old blacksmith Ben Blackthumb served the Whents, as well as the last Lord Lothston before them.[7] Gendry probably errs, as the last Lothston to hold Harrenhal was Lady Danelle.
A Feast for Crows
Brienne of Tarth carries a Lothston shield taken from Harrenhal, and is told by Ser Illifer the Penniless that his great-great grandfather took part in the destruction of Lady Danelle and the last of the Lothston line.[1] To have the shield repainted, Brienne gives the shield to the sister of the captain of the guards at Duskendale, who tells Brienne her mother would frighten her with tales of Mad Danelle.[2]
Upon returning to Harrenhal, Ser Jaime Lannister recalls hearing stories about mad Lady Lothston bathing in blood and presiding over feasts of human flesh.[3]
Quotes
Mad Danelle Lothston herself rode forth in strength from her haunted towers at Harrenhal, clad in black armor that fit her like an iron glove, her long red hair streaming.[4]
—thoughts of Duncan the Tall
He found himself remembering tales he had first heard as a child at Casterly Rock, of mad Lady Lothston who bathed in tubs of blood and presided over feasts of human flesh within these very walls.[3]
—thoughts of Jaime Lannister
Behind the Scenes
Danelle may be inspired by Elizabeth Báthory, a noblewoman accused of being a serial killer who allegedly bathed in blood.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 4, Brienne I.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 9, Brienne II.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 27, Jaime III.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 The Mystery Knight.
- ↑ George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Danelle Lothston.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Riverlands: The Lords of Harrenhal.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 47, Arya IX.