Maidenvault

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The Maidenvault is a keep within the Red Keep, the castle of King's Landing.

Layout

Located behind the royal sept, the Maidenvault is a long keep with a slate roof. It has tall carved doors.[1]

History

After dissolving his marriage with his sister-wife, Daena Targaryen, King Baelor the Blessed confined Daena and her younger sisters, Rhaena and Elaena, into their own "Court of Beauty" to avoid them tempting him with carnal thoughts.[2]

The sisters were comfortably confined[3] in what has become known as the Maidenvault.[1] On one occasion Elaena cut her beautiful hair in an entreaty to be freed, hoping that she would now be considered ugly.[2] Daena escaped three times while dressed as a servant or smallfolk,[2] and she became pregnant with a child, Daemon Waters, who was secretly fathered by her cousin, Prince Aegon.[4] Barba Bracken was one of the noble companions for the sisters during their decade of confinement.[4] Unlike her sisters, Rhaena did not mind the confinement.[5] The princesses were released from the Maidenvault after Baelor's death.[6]

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

Sansa Stark eating lemon cakes with Margaery and Olenna Tyrell, by mustamirri ©

After the Battle of the Blackwater, Lord Mace Tyrell and his entourage stay in the Maidenvault. Sansa Stark has supper with Mace's mother, Olenna Tyrell, and daughter, Margaery Tyrell.[1]

A Feast for Crows

Margaery stays in the Maidenvault even after her wedding to King Tommen I Baratheon.[7] The Blue Bard performs for the young queen in the keep.[8] Margaery and her cousins—Megga, Alla, and Elinor—attempt to learn a new game from Volantis, presumably cyvasse.[8]

Quotes

Lord Mace Tyrell and his entourage had been housed behind the royal sept, in the long slate-roofed keep that had been called the Maidenvault since King Baelor the Blessed had confined his sisters therein, so the sight of them might not tempt him into carnal thoughts.[1]

—thoughts of Sansa Stark

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 6, Sansa I.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I.
  3. So Spake Martin: The Great Bastards, December 26, 2005
  4. 4.0 4.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.
  5. So Spake Martin: Three Maidens in the Tower, June 27, 2006
  6. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II.
  7. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 12, Cersei III.
  8. 8.0 8.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 36, Cersei VIII.