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Patchface is a fool and former slave who was brought to Westeros from Volantis by Lord Steffon Baratheon, the father of Robert, Stannis and Renly. According to Steffon's letter to his maester, Patchface was very clever and witty, and would help Stannis learn to laugh. However, the same shipwreck that killed Lord Steffon and his wife Cassana Estermont took its toll on Patchface, affecting his body and mind, leading him to ramble and sing incoherently.[1]
Yet even so, it is apparent that Patchface is not only well aware of his surroundings, but he sometimes also makes uncanny predictions in his songs. Patchface may have had such prophetic powers before the shipwreck; that might be a reason Lord Steffon decided to bring him to Westeros. Or maybe they somehow developed as a consequence of his misfortune; see for example how Jojen Reed developed greendreams after nearly dying from fever, and Bran Stark developed greensight after his coma. There is also the possibility that Patchface is a vessel for someone else's words, as we have occasionally seen happen with ravens and weirwood trees.
As Patchface apparently drowned but was revived, and makes frequent references to events underwater,[1] it is theorized he may be connected to the Drowned God of the Ironborn. This may be why Melisandre considers him dangerous,[2] as she may associate the Drowned God with the Great Other.
Rhymes
Some of Patchface's rhymes seem to be of prophetic nature, though none of his listeners understand them.
As Maester Pylos goes to get the white raven for Maester Cressen so Princess Shireen Baratheon can see it, the fool sings:
Under the sea, the birds have scales for feathers. I know. I know…[1]
Shireen states that her mother says that the white raven means that it is not summer any more, and when Maester Cressen responds with reassurances, the fool sings:
It is always summer under the sea. The merwives wear nennymoans in their hair and weave gowns of silver seaweed. I know. I know…[1]
Right after this, Shireen states that she would like a gown of silver seaweed, and the fool sings:
Under the sea it snows up, and the rain is dry as bone. I know. I know…[1]
When the white raven speaks to Shireen after Cressen introduces it to her, the princess exclaims that it talks. The maester responds that white ravens are clever birds, and the fool sings:
Clever bird, clever man, clever clever fool…[1]
Immediately after the statement about the clever bird the fool sings, possibly predicting Melisandre's shadow assassins:
The shadows come to dance my lord, dance my lord, dance my lord. The shadows come to stay my lord, stay my lord, stay my lord...[1]
When Maester Cressen enters the feasting hall and is making his way across, Patchface lurches into him while singing the same song from the morning and they both fall to the floor. Face to face with Cressen, the fool sings:
Under the sea, you fall up. I know. I know…[1]
As Maester Cressen had his first run in with Melisandre and then makes his way around the tables in the feasting hall to where Lord Davos Seaworth had offered him a place next to him, the fool sings:
Here we eat fish, under the sea, the fish eat us. I know. I know…[1]
After Maester Cressen states that R'hllor has no power here, the Red Woman tells him that if he believes that he should put the crown back on, and Queen Selyse Florent commands it, the fool sings:
Under the sea no one wears hats. I know. I know…[1]
As the statues of the seven gods are being burned at Dragonstone at the command of Melisandre, right before Stannis Baratheon plunges into the fire to pull out Lightbringer, Patchface sings, possibly predicting the green wildfire in the battle of the Blackwater:
Under the sea, smoke rises in bubbles, and flames burn green and blue and black. I know, I know, oh, oh, oh.[3]
Patchface also seems to predict the Red Wedding, randomly telling Davos:
Fool's blood, king's blood, blood on the maiden's thigh, but chains for the guests and chains for the bridegroom, aye aye aye.[4]
After overhearing a discussion of the fact that nearly all the giants are dead, Patchface says, possibly referring to wights:
In the dark the dead are dancing. I know, I know, oh oh oh.[5]
Shortly after Alys Karstark's wedding, Patchface proclaims:
Under the sea the mermen feast on starfish soup, and all the serving men are crabs. I know, I know, oh, oh, oh.[2]
Melisandre’s face darkens and she says to Jon Snow:
That creature is dangerous. Many a time I have glimpsed him in my flames. Sometimes there are skulls about him, and his lips are red with blood.[2]
Fans have theorized Melisandre's visions may be related to Patchface's mysterious origins (some connect the skulls and lips to the sigil of House Lonmouth), or may predict a terrible thing he will do if Shireen dies.
During a discussion between Jon and the queen's men regarding a planned Night's Watch expedition to Hardhome, Patchface apparently volunteers, saying:
I will lead it! We will march into the sea and out again. Under the waves we will ride seahorses, and mermaids will blow seashells to announce our coming, oh, oh, oh.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 A Clash of Kings, Prologue.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 49, Jon X.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 10, Davos I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 10, Davos II.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 44, Jon IX.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 69, Jon XIII.