Russell Merryweather
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| Allegiance | House Merryweather | |||
| Culture | Reach | |||
| Born |
293 AC or 294 AC[1] Longtable[2] | |||
| Books |
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Russell Merryweather is the sole child of Lord Orton Merryweather and Lady Taena of Myr. He is the heir to Longtable.
Contents
History
Russell was born at Longtable.[2]
Recent Events
A Feast for Crows
While Russell remains at Longtable, his father, Lord Orton Merryweather, becomes justiciar on the small council of King Tommen I Baratheon in King's Landing.[3] Russell's mother, Taena of Myr, becomes a confidante of Tommen's mother, Queen Regent Cersei Lannister,[4][3] and later her lover.[5]
Cersei invites Taena to bring Russell to court as the queen's fosterling. Taena wishes to think about the offer before committing herself to it.[2]
Cersei appoints Orton as Hand of the King after demoting Ser Harys Swyft.[6] After Cersei is arrested by the Faith of the Seven, Orton resigns and departs with Taena for Longtable.[7]
A Dance with Dragons
After her release from imprisonment in the Great Sept of Baelor, Cersei asks her uncle, Ser Kevan Lannister, Tommen's new regent, to send word to Longtable asking for Taena and Russell to come to court. Kevan, who wants to send his niece to Casterly Rock, agrees, thinking he still can send Taena to the Rock with Cersei and foster young Russell himself at King's Landing. Kevan is assassinated before he can send a letter to Longtable, however.[8]
Quotes
Cersei: A little foster brother might be just what Tommen needs to wean him away from Margaery and her hens. In time they might grow as close as Robert and his boyhood friend Ned Stark. A fool, but a loyal fool. Tommen will have need of loyal friends to watch his back.
Taena: Your Grace is kind, but Russell has never known any home but Longtable. I fear he would be lost in this great city.[2]
Cersei: When do you mean to bring that boy of yours to court? Russell, was that his name? He could train with Tommen.
Taena: That would thrill the boy, I know ... but things are so uncertain just now, I thought it best to wait until the danger passed.
Cersei: Soon enough. Send word to Longtable and have Russell pack his best doublet and his wooden sword. A new young friend will be just the thing to help Tommen forget his loss, after Margaery's little head has rolled."[7]
He could foster the Merryweather boy himself, whilst Lady Taena accompanied Cersei back to Casterly Rock.[8]
—thoughts of Kevan Lannister
Family
| Owen | Unknown wife | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Son | Unknown wife | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orton | Taena of Myr | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Russell | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Theories
It has been speculated that Russell is one of Robert Baratheon's 16 bastard children,[9] not only due to Taena's refusal to bring him to court (Russell may have Robert's features),[2] but also because of Taena's ability to get into the beds of hedonistic monarchs.[5] According to this theory, she was the one who convinced Robert to pardon Orton and restore his family's possessions.[4]
References
- ↑ See the Russell Merryweather calculation.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 28, Cersei VI.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 16, Jaime II.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 32, Cersei VII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 39, Cersei IX.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 43, Cersei X.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 A Dance with Dragons, Epilogue.
- ↑ A Forum of Ice and Fire: Robert's possible bastards, March 12, 2013