Hamish the Harper

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Hamish
the Harper
Alias Hamish the Harper
Culture Westerosi
Died In 300 AC[1]King's Landing[1]
Books

Hamish the Harper is a singer.[2]

Appaerance and Character

Hamish is old[3][4] and has a grey beard.[5] He plays the high harp,[5] and allegedly often forgets what he is singing.[3]

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

Hamish is chosen as one of the seven singers who will sing at the wedding of King Joffrey Baratheon and Lady Margaery Tyrell, to compete for a prize of a gilded lute with silver strings. Symon Silver Tongue tries to blackmail Tyrion Lannister into dismissing Hamish for himself, claiming that Hamish's age makes him often forget what he is singing. Instead, Tyrion arranges for his man Bronn to tell Symon that Hamish has broken his arm and that he must be fitted for new clothes for court, to convince Symon to go with him before Bronn makes him disappear.[3]

Hamish writes a new song for the wedding, called "Lord Renly's Ride", which makes Margaery teary-eyed, and makes Tyrion think he has likely won the gilded lute. Hamish also sings "A Rose of Gold" to flatter the Tyrells, "The Rains of Castamere" to flatter Tywin Lannister, "Maiden, Mother, and Crone" for the High Septon, and "My Lady Wife" for the romantics.[5]

A Feast for Crows

Hamish plays for Queen Margaery and her entourage once a fortnight.[6] As part of Cersei Lannister's plans to remove Margaery with a false claim of adultery, she has an arrest warrant signed for Hamish. While being arrested, Hamish faints. He is consigned to the dungeons, where he continually requests a maester, as he has trouble breathing. Cersei realizes that Hamish is too old to be credible as a lover to Margaery, and tells Qyburn to inform Hamish he can have a maester if he falsely confesses to having played for Margaery while she entertained her actual lovers. Qyburn tells Cersei he will help Hamish remember the details.[7]

A Dance with Dragons

Kevan Lannister reports to Cersei that Hamish has died. It is unknown whether Hamish died from his illness or from Qyburn's methods.[8]

References