Jalabhar Xho
| Prince Jalabhar Xho | |
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 Jalabhar Xho by Felicia Cano © Fantasy Flight Games | |
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| Title | Prince of the Red Flower Vale[1] |
| Allegiance | House Xho |
| Culture | Summer Islander[1] |
| Born | the Summer Isles[1] |
| Books |
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Jalabhar Xho, Prince of the Red Flower Vale, is an exiled prince from the Summer Isles residing in the Red Keep.[2]
Contents
Appearance and Character
Jalabhar has the dark skin and extravagant feather cape typical of Summer Islanders. The feathers of his own cape are green and scarlet.[3] Jalabhar speaks both the Common Tongue and his native Summer Tongue.[4][5]
Queen Cersei Lannister considers Jalabhar to be little more than a highborn beggar,[6] and Prince Quentyn Martell thinks that Jalabhar is seen as an amusing curiosity by the court of King Robert I Baratheon.[7]
History
Jalabhar Xho is the exiled Prince of the Red Flower Vale,[8] likely exiled for losing a highly ritualized war as per the tradition of the Summer Isles.[9] Following his exile, Jalabhar came to King's Landing in the Seven Kingdoms to request gold and swords from King Robert I Baratheon to help him regain the Red Flower Vale. Robert always entertained the notion of conquering the Summer Isles, but always put off Jalabhar's request for help. However, Robert never firmly declined him, telling him "Next year" instead of "No".[6]
While Jalabhar continues to occasionally petition the Iron Throne to win back his seat,[6] he has become a noted courtier at King's Landing. Having no other place to seek refuge,[10] the exiled prince is one of the most colorful figures at court, alongside Thoros of Myr.[11]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Jalabhar attends the Hand's tourney in King's Landing. Jeyne Poole admits to Sansa Stark that she is frightened by his looks.[3] In the final round of the archery competition, Jalabhar and Ser Balon Swann get outshot by the commoner Anguy at a hundred paces.[12]
After the death of King Robert I Baratheon, Jalabhar is among the score of nobles who attend King Joffrey I Baratheon's first court session in the Red Keep.[13]
A Clash of Kings
Jalabhar attends the tourney on King Joffrey's name day in King's Landing, one of the few nobles to do so as the War of the Five Kings has broken out.[10]
The prince is part of the procession that sees Princess Myrcella Baratheon off to Dorne. While returning to the Red Keep, the group is attacked by smallfolk as a riot breaks out in King's Landing. After the group narrowly returns to safety, Jalabhar believes he saw Ser Preston Greenfield of the Kingsguard ride back to futilely aid the High Septon, though he was not certain.[4]
Following the defeat of Stannis Baratheon at the Battle of the Blackwater, Jalabhar dresses splendidly in feathers for the following court session.[14]
A Storm of Swords
Arya Stark remembers Jalabhar as the most colorful figure at court, alongside the red priest Thoros of Myr.[11]
Jalabhar attends the wedding of Sansa Stark and Tyrion Lannister. After the ceremony, Jalabhar dances with Meredyth Crane, looking gorgeous in his feathered finery. He also dances with Sansa, telling her something in the Summer Tongue that she does not understand.[5]
As part of Lord Tywin Lannister's orders, Jalabhar is part of the group that accompanies Tyrion to meet the delegation from Dorne, ensuring the Prince of Dorne is greeted by more notables aside from Tyrion. Instead of Doran Martell, however, the the delegation is led by Oberyn Martell.[2]
Jalabhar is a guest at the wedding of King Joffrey and Queen Margaery Tyrell, gifting Joffrey a great bow of golden wood and a quiver of arrows fletched with green and scarlet feathers.[15] After the ceremony, Jalabhar is among the nobles enjoying the unseasonable heat in the courtyard, where Sansa asks him about wedding customs in the Summer Isles.[15]
A Feast for Crows
Jalabhar visits Queen Margaery often, teaching her and her handmaids the Summer Tongue,[6] and attaches himself to her entourage.[16] He petitions the Iron Throne for aid in retaking his seat, the Red Flower Vale, but is put off by Queen Regent Cersei Lannister.[17]
The Blue Bard is tortured and forced to list those he claims to have been Queen Margaery's secret lovers, with Jalabhar among them.[18] Cersei has an arrest warrant signed for Jalabhar as part of her plans to remove Margaery, as well as getting rid of the prince, whom she deems to be an annoying beggar.[19]
A Dance with Dragons
Jalabhar is held with the rest of Margaery's falsely-accused lovers in a dungeon, under the charge of Qyburn.[20][21]
Quotes
Jalabhar Xho was all in feathers, a plumage so fantastic and extravagant that he seemed like to take flight.[14]
—thoughts of Sansa Stark
Beneath his jewels and feathers, Xho was little more than a wellborn beggar. Robert could have put an end to his importuning for good with one firm "No," but the notion of conquering the Summer Isles had appealed to her drunken lout of a husband.[6]
—thoughts of Cersei Lannister
Splendid as he looked in his bright feather cloak, he had only come to beg.[17]
—thoughts of Cersei Lannister
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 29, Sansa II.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 41, Tyrion IX.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 28, Sansa III.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 24, Cersei V.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 60, The Spurned Suitor.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Appendix.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: The Summer Isles.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 2, Sansa I.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 22, Arya IV.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 57, Sansa V.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 65, Sansa VIII.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 59, Sansa IV.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 28, Cersei VI.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 36, Cersei VIII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 39, Cersei IX.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 43, Cersei X.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Appendix.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 54, Cersei I.