The Liddle

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The Liddle
Image of The Liddle
Bran Stark and the Liddle, by Effemar ©

Allegiance House Liddle
Culture Northern mountain clans
Book A Storm of Swords (appears)

The Liddle is a traveler in the northern mountains. Bran Stark presumes he is a member of House Liddle.[1] His name is unknown.

Appearance and Character

The Liddle is generous with food and shelter. His squirrelskin cloak is clasped with a pinecone made of gold and bronze, and he carries a knife and green and white cloth.[1]

History

The man learned the phrase "dark wings, dark words" from his mother, who died nine years ago.[1]

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

One day when Bran Stark, Hodor, and Meera and Jojen Reed are traveling through the northern mountains toward the Wall, a burst of freezing rain makes them look for shelter. Bran's direwolf Summer finds a shallow cave behind a sentinel tree, but when they enter, they find it already occupied. However, the traveler invites them to share the shelter of the cave and the warmth of his fire. The man does not ask their names, nor gives his. Bran assumes he is a Liddle because of the man's pinecone-shaped cloak clasp, however, and the man is implied to recognize Bran and his direwolf as Starks. The Liddle offers oatcakes, blood sausage, and ale to Bran's party. He informs them that ironborn are in the wolfswood, and he looks at Bran and Summer after warning that the Bastard's boys are hunting along the kingsroad. He also mentions the great ranging into the haunted forest by the Night's Watch.[1]

The Liddle departs before Bran and his companions wake in the morning, but he leaves them a sausage and twelve oatcakes containing pinenuts or blackberries, wrapped in green and white cloth. Bran has one of each oatcake, and greatly enjoys the food. He thinks that when House Stark returns to Winterfell, he will pay back House Liddle a hundredfold.[1]

Quotes

Come in and warm yourselves. There's stone enough to keep the rain off all our heads.[1]

—The Liddle to Bran Stark's party

Liddle: It was different when there was a Stark in Winterfell. But the old wolf's dead and young one's gone south to play the game of thrones, and all that's left us is the ghosts.

Jojen: The wolves will come again.
Liddle: And how would you be knowing, boy?
Jojen: I dreamed it.
Liddle: Some nights I dream of me mother that I buried nine years past, but when I wake, she's not come back to us.

Jojen: There are dreams and dreams, my lord.[1]

—The Liddle and Jojen Reed

One day there would be Starks in Winterfell again, he told himself, and then he'd send for the Liddles and pay them back a hundredfold for every nut and berry.[1]

—thoughts of Bran Stark

Behind the Scenes

According to a semi-canon source, George R. R. Martin has confirmed the man is a Liddle.[2]

References