Leeches are parasitic or predatory worms similar to the real-life annelid. Known species in Westeros include black leeches and larger pale leeches.[1]
Culture
Medicinal leeches can be used by maesters[2] to thin the blood and remove "bad blood".[3] Maesters learn how to leech fevers at the Citadel.[4] Healers at the House of the Red Hands in Braavos also use leeches in their treatments.[5]
Roose Bolton, Lord of the Dreadfort, is convinced that regular leechings improve a person's health, and as such frequently has himself leeched, which has led to some calling him the Leech Lord, though never to his face.[6]
History
Queen Alysanne Targaryen attended a lecture about leechcraft at the Citadel during her visit to Oldtown in 54 AC.[7]
Grand Maester Mellos treated Viserys I Targaryen with leeches after the king cut himself on the Iron Throne and lost two fingers. Grand Maester Orwyle appeared to have more success using potions and tinctures, but Viserys's improvement was short-lived.[8]
Chett grew up in Hag's Mire as the son of a leechman who sold leeches to maesters.[2]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
Lord Roose Bolton has himself leeched at Harrenhal, which frightens his squire, Elmar Frey. However, the leechings do not scare Roose's cupbearer "Nan", the incognito Arya Stark, and he has the girl remove leeches from his chest, arms, and legs.[1]
A Storm of Swords
Qyburn leeches the bad blood from Ser Jaime Lannister's eye as part of his treatment at Harrenhal.[9][10]
Maester Pylos leeches the bad blood from Ser Davos Seaworth after the Onion Knight is returned to Dragonstone from Blackwater Bay.[11] Pylos also leeches Edric Storm, a bastard son of the late King Robert I Baratheon, when the boy becomes sick with a chill.[12] Melisandre, a red priestess of Asshai, tells Stannis Baratheon she can wake a stone dragon with Edric's king's blood. Stannis refuses to allow Melisandre to sacrifice the boy, however, and the king instead throws leeches filled with Edric's blood into flames while stating the names of the "three false kings:" Balon Greyjoy, Robb Stark, and Joffrey Baratheon.[12] Balon falls to his death at Pyke,[13] Robb is killed in the Red Wedding,[14] and Joffrey chokes to death at his wedding feast.[15] Davos has Edric smuggled from Dragonstone to save him from Melisandre.[16]
Ser Gregor Clegane is poisoned by Prince Oberyn Martell during their trial by combat. Grand Maester Pycelle uses leeches on the Mountain in an attempt to heal him, but all of the leeches die.[17]
Maester Colemon uses leeches to treat the shaking sickness of Lord Robert Arryn, but the boy dislikes the treatment.[3]
A Feast for Crows
According to Aurane Waters, Ser Loras Tyrell has lost so much blood from the siege of Dragonstone that maesters dare not leech him.[18]
Quotes
Roose: Are you afraid of leeches, child?
Arya: They're only leeches. My lord.
Roose: My squire could take a lesson from you, it would seem. Frequent leechings are the secret of a long life. A man must purge himself of bad blood.[1]
—Roose Bolton and Nan (Arya Stark)
Elmar's eyes got as big as boiled eggs. Leeches terrified him, especially the big pale ones that looked like jelly until they filled up with blood.[1]
—thoughts of Arya Stark
Roose Bolton lay abed, naked. Leeches clung to the inside of his arms and legs and dotted his pallid chest, long translucent things that turned a glistening pink as they fed. Bolton paid them no more mind than he did Arya.[1]
—thoughts of Arya Stark
The Lady Walda wrote from the Twins almost every day, but all the letters were the same. "I pray for you morn, noon, and night, my sweet lord," she wrote, "and count the days until you share my bed again. Return to me soon, and I will give you many trueborn sons to take the place of your dear Domeric and rule the Dreadfort after you." Arya pictured a plump pink baby in a cradle, covered with plump pink leeches.[1]
—thoughts of Arya Stark
His father had spent his life grubbing in other men's fields and collecting leeches. He'd strip down bare but for a thick leather clout, and go wading in the murky waters. When he climbed out he'd be covered from nipple to ankle. Sometimes he made Chett help pull the leeches off. One had attached itself to his palm once, and he'd smashed it against a wall in revulsion. His father beat him bloody for that. The maesters bought the leeches at twelve-for-a-penny.[2]
—thoughts of Chett
My lord, your blood needs thinning. It is the bad blood that makes you angry, and the rage that brings on the shaking.[3]
—Colemon to Robert Arryn
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 64, Arya X.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 A Storm of Swords, Prologue.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 80, Sansa VII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Prologue.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 26, Samwell III.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 50, Arya X.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 31, Jaime IV.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 25, Davos III.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 60, Tyrion VIII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 63, Davos VI.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 72, Jaime IX.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 36, Cersei VIII.