Glass candle
A glass candle is a candle made of obsidian. Historically they burned, but they have not been reported to burn in recent memory.
Contents
Appearance
The four candles found at the Citadel are said to be tall and twisted with sharp edges.[1] The black candle in the study of Archmaester Marwyn is three feet tall and slender like a sword.[2]
Citadel
The existence of four candles at the Citadel is considered a poorly-kept secret. The night before an acolyte says his maester's vows, he must stand a vigil in a vault with one of the black candles. Since no other light source is permitted, he must spend the night in darkness unless he can light the candle. Those who try to light the candle often cut their hands on its sharp glass, so many acolytes instead go to sleep or spend their time in prayer. Acolytes are never able to light the candles. This ritual is to show that even with all the knowledge one has acquired, there are still some things that are impossible.[1]
History
According to Archmaester Marwyn, sorcerers of the Valyrian Freehold used glass candles to see across mountains, seas, and deserts; give men visions and dreams; and communicate with one another half a world apart.[2]
One green and three black candles were brought to the Citadel from Valyria a thousand years before the Doom.[1]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
After Daenerys Targaryen defeats the Undying Ones in Qarth, she is told by Xaro Xhoan Daxos that glass candles that have not burned in a hundred years are now burning in the house of Urrathon Night-Walker.[3]
A Feast for Crows
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At the Quill and Tankard in Oldtown, Leo Tyrell reports to his fellow novices and acolytes that the glass candle in Archmaester Marwyn's study is burning. Armen tells Roone how acolytes are expected to stand vigil with one of the candles before they can become a maester.[1]
Traveling on the Cinnamon Wind, the dying Maester Aemon mentions a glass candle that could not be lit to Samwell Tarly.[4]
When Samwell arrives at Marwyn's study on the Isle of Ravens, he sees a black glass candle burning with a pale flame. Sam finds it to be unpleasantly bright and unnerving, and that colors seem to be altered by its light. The archmaester tells Sam some of the properties of glass candles and reported abilities of those who use them. Marwyn believes the other maesters do not want glass candles in the world. When Sam asks Alleras how they knew he was coming to the Citadel, Alleras nods at the burning candle.[2]
A Dance with Dragons
One night in the apex of the Great Pyramid of Meereen, Daenerys is unable to sleep. She leaves her private chambers and heads for the terrace garden, where she decides to take a bath alone in the terrace pool. As she is bathing, Daenerys hears a noise and sees Quaithe standing under a persimmon tree. Daenerys wonders how an intruder could get past her guards. Quaithe replies that she "came another way", and that the guards never saw her. Quaithe tells Daenerys that the glass candles are burning and gives her a cryptic warning.[5]
Quotes
It is said that the glass candles are burning in the house of Urrathon Night-Walker, that have not burned in a hundred years.[3]
Pate: But what's the use of a candle that casts no light?
Armen: It is a lesson, the last lesson we must learn before we don our maester's chains. The glass candle is meant to represent truth and learning, rare and beautiful and fragile things. It is made in the shape of a candle to remind us that a maester must cast light wherever he serves, and it is sharp to remind us that knowledge can be dangerous. Wise men may grow arrogant in their wisdom, but a maester must always remain humble. The glass candle reminds us of that as well. Even after he has said his vow and donned his chain and gone forth to serve, a maester will think back on the darkness of his vigil and remember how nothing that he did could make the candle burn ... for even with knowledge, some things are not possible.[1]
The candle was unpleasantly bright. There was something queer about it. The flame did not flicker, even when Archmaester Marwyn closed the door so hard that papers blew off a nearby table. The light did something strange to colors too. Whites were bright as fresh-fallen snow, yellow shone like gold, reds turned to flame, but the shadows were so black they looked like holes in the world. Sam found himself staring. The candle itself was three feet tall and slender as a sword, ridged and twisted, glittering black.[2]
—thoughts of Samwell Tarly
Marwyn: Call it dragonglass. It burns but is not consumed.
Samwell: What feeds the flame?
Marwyn: What feeds a dragon's fire?[2]—Marwyn and Samwell Tarly
Marwyn: The sorcerers of the Freehold could see across mountains, seas, and deserts with one of these glass candles. They could enter a man's dreams and give him visions, and speak to one another half a world apart, seated before their candles. Do you think that might be useful, Slayer?
Samwell: We would have no more need of ravens.
Marwyn: Only after battles.[2]—Marwyn and Samwell Tarly
The glass candles are burning. Soon comes the pale mare, and after her the others. Kraken and dark flame, lion and griffin, the sun's son and the mummer's dragon. Trust none of them. Remember the Undying. Beware the perfumed seneschal.[5]
Behind the Scenes
The glass candles may be inspired by the palantíri, magical crystal balls used for long-distance communications, featured in The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.
In a 1997 draft of A Clash of Kings, maesters must attempt the lighting ritual every morning with their own glass candles. Maester Cressen successfully lights a glass candle, coinciding with the arrival of the red comet, and Tyrion Lannister sees Grand Maester Pycelle's glass candle burning. The maesters call a Conclave to discuss the ramifications.[6] Furthermore, in a draft for the prologue of A Feast for Crows, it is said, quoting the words of the poet and sorcerer Esharys, that the candles can be used to grant immortality.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 A Feast for Crows, Prologue.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 45, Samwell V.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 63, Daenerys V.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 35, Samwell IV.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.
- ↑ Secrets of the Cushing Library: the ACOK and ASOS drafts - gsteff on Reddit
- ↑ Secrets of the Cushing Library: the AFFC Prologue - gsteff on Reddit