Godswood of Riverrun
The godswood of Riverrun is a garden at Riverrun, seat of House Tully in the riverlands.
Contents
Layout
The godswood at Riverrun is an airy garden with streams[1] and thick stands of great old elms and tall redwoods.[2][3] The godswood's heart tree is a slender weirwood with a sad-looking face.[2] Grass,[3] wildflowers,[3] and mint[2] also grow in the garden. Songbirds have hidden nests in the godswood.[1]
The shortest way from the Great Hall of Riverrun to the castle's central keep is through the godswood.[3] Wind from the Red Fork blows through the higher branches of the godswood trees, and the ivy-covered Wheel Tower is nearby.[2]
Since House Tully prays in their sept as followers of the Seven, they use their godswood for relaxation instead of worship of the old gods.[1]
History
Hoster Tully, Lord of Riverrun, taught his eldest child, Catelyn, how to ride in the godswood.[2] His son and heir, Edmure, broke his arm once after falling from an elm.[2] Edmure would chase Catelyn through the damp godswood when it rained.[4] Catelyn and her sister Lysa fed mud pies to Petyr Baelish, their father Hoster's ward.[4] Petyr liked to chew the mint which grows in the godswood, and on one occasion he kissed the Tully sisters beneath a bower.[2]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
After their victory in the Battle of the Camps, followers of the old gods—including Robb Stark, Lord Greatjon Umber, Lord Rickard Karstark, Lady Maege Mormont, Galbart Glover, and Lord Tytos Blackwood—pray in the godswood of Riverrun.[2] During the war council held in the Great Hall, Robb is proclaimed King in the North by the assembled nobles.[2]
A Clash of Kings
After Robb's mother, Catelyn Stark, returns to Riverrun from Storm's End, she meets with her brother, Ser Edmure Tully, in the castle's godswood.[5]
Catelyn considers praying in the godswood during the Battle of the Fords, as her late husband Eddard followed the old gods.[6]
A Storm of Swords
Lord Karstark commits treason by murdering two of Robb's prisoners, Willem Lannister and Tion Frey, after being denied his vengeance against Ser Jaime Lannister. Robb responds by publicly beheading Rickard before the godswood's heart tree in the rain the next morning.[7]
While walking through the godswood, Robb informs Catelyn that his sister, Sansa, has been wed to Tyrion Lannister. They argue about Robb possibly making peace with the Lannisters.[8]
Before departing Riverrun for the Twins, Robb bids farewell to his wife, Queen Jeyne Westerling, before the heart tree.[9]
Robb and Catelyn are killed in the Red Wedding,[10] but Riverrun remains under the control of Catelyn's uncle, Ser Brynden Tully.[11]
A Feast for Crows
Ser Jaime Lannister is sent to resolve the siege of Riverrun and force the surrender of Brynden the Blackfish. Threatening the captive Edmure, Jaime says he will fell Riverrun's godswood if the besiegers are forced to assault the castle.[12] Edmure negotiates the castle's surrender, but Brynden is able to escape the Lannister siege.[13] With winter arriving in the Seven Kingdoms, Jaime sees snow piling up in the godswood.[13]
Quotes
The godswood there was a garden, bright and airy, where tall redwoods spread dappled shadows across tinkling streams, birds sang from hidden nests, and the air was spicy with the scent of flowers.[1]
—thoughts of Catelyn Stark
The Tullys kept a godswood, as all the great houses did, but it was only a place to walk or read or lie in the sun. Worship was for the sept.[1]
—thoughts of Catelyn Stark
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 2, Catelyn I.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 71, Catelyn XI.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 7, Catelyn I.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 28, Catelyn V.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 39, Catelyn V.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 45, Catelyn VI.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 20, Catelyn III.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 35, Catelyn IV.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 53, Tyrion VI.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 38, Jaime VI.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 44, Jaime VII.