Editing Lightbringer

[[File:Hyrkoon.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Azor Ahai|Hyrkoon the Hero]], with Lightbringer in hand, leads the virtuous into battle, as depicted by Jordi Gonzales Escamilla in ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'']]
'''Lightbringer''', also called the '''Red Sword of Heroes''',{{ref|ACOK|10}} is a [[magic]]al sword associated with a heroic warrior most commonly named [[Azor Ahai]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}} [[Melisandre]] claims that the sword of [[Stannis Baratheon]] is Lightbringer.{{ref|ACOK|10}}

==Legend==
{{See also|:Category:Images of Lightbringer|l1=Images of Lightbringer}}
[[File:Azor Ahai by Mel Rubi.png|thumb|350px|right|[[Azor Ahai]] forging Lightbringer, by Mel Rubi © Dynamite Entertainment]]
Lightbringer is associated with a great warrior—most commonly called [[Azor Ahai]], but also Hyrkoon the Hero, Yin Tar, Neferion, and Eldric Shadowchaser in other cultures—who led the virtuous in battle when darkness lay over the [[known world]], possibly the [[Long Night]] recalled by [[Westeros]]i.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}

According to the legend of Azor Ahai, he labored for thirty days and thirty nights to create a hero's sword. However, when he went to temper it in water, the sword broke. Azor Ahai was not one to give up easily, so he started over. The second time he took fifty days and fifty nights to make the sword, even better than the first. To temper it this time, he captured a [[lion]] and drove the sword into its heart, but once more the [[steel]] shattered. The third time, with a heavy heart, for he knew beforehand what he must do to finish the blade, he worked for a hundred days and nights until it was finished. This time, Azor Ahai called for his wife, [[Nissa Nissa]], and asked her to bare her breast. He drove his sword into her breast, her soul combining with the steel of the sword, creating Lightbringer, while her cry of anguish and ecstasy left a crack across the face of the [[moon]].{{ref|ACOK|10}}

According to the ''[[Jade Compendium]]'' by [[Colloquo Votar]], Lightbringer was henceforth always as warm as Nissa Nissa had been, and that the blade burned fiery hot during battles.{{ref|ADWD|10}} Lightbringer was able to boil the blood of a monster when Azor Ahai thrust the sword through the belly of the beast. After steam poured from the beast's mouth and its eyes melted, its body burst into flame.{{ref|ADWD|10}} Followers of [[R'hllor]] believe that Azor Ahai used the red sword to end the darkness.{{ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Long Night}}

It has been foretold in books from [[Asshai]] that when the stars bleed and the cold winds blow, Azor Ahai will be reborn as a warrior who draws the burning sword Lightbringer from a fire.{{ref|ACOK|10}}

==Recent Events==
===''A Clash of Kings''===
[[File:King in the narrow sea by reneaigner.jpg|350px|right|thumb|[[Stannis Baratheon]] by Rene Aigner ©]]
[[Melisandre]], a [[red priest]]ess, burns wooden statues of the [[Faith of the Seven|Seven]] from the [[sept at Dragonstone]] in a pyre outside of [[Dragonstone]]'s gates; [[Melisandre's ruby|her ruby]] glows during the ceremony. Melisandre proclaims that [[Stannis Baratheon]] is [[Azor Ahai]] come again, and she has Stannis withdraw a longsword which had been thrust into the breast of the [[Mother (the Seven)|Mother's]] statue. The cherry-red steel of the blade, which has a leather grip, is covered with jade-green flames. After Stannis thrusts the sword into the ground, [[Bryen Farring]] and [[Devan Seaworth]] cover the burnt and blackened sword with Stannis's cloak.{{ref|ACOK|10}} [[Salladhor Saan]] tells Ser [[Davos Seaworth]] that the sword is not actually Lightbringer, and the sellsail tells the Onion Knight about the legend of Azor Ahai.{{ref|ACOK|10}}

When Stannis meets with his younger brother, [[Renly Baratheon]], near [[Storm's End]], [[Catelyn Stark]] notices that his sword has a great square-cut [[ruby]] set in the hilt. Stannis draws Lightbringer after being mocked by Renly, and the longsword brightly shimmers red, yellow, and blazing white.{{ref|ACOK|31}} After Renly is assassinated by [[shadow assassin|a shadow]], one of the rumors about his death claims that Stannis killed his brother with a magic sword.{{ref|ACOK|36}}

Stannis declines Ser [[Cortnay Penrose]]'s offer to resolve the [[siege of Storm's End (299)|siege of Storm's End]] through single combat.{{ref|ACOK|42}}

===''A Storm of Swords''===
[[File:John Matson Stannis.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Stannis Baratheon]] and [[Melisandre]] by John Matson © FFG]]
Because stories have spread about Stannis and his magic sword, Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] decides to give his grandson, King [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]], a [[Valyrian steel]] longsword made from [[Ice]] as a wedding gift.{{ref|ASOS|17}} Joffrey eventually names his blade [[Widow's Wail]].{{ref|ASOS|59}}

Stannis touches Lightbringer to Davos's shoulder when appointing him as [[Hand of the King]]. Davos sees the longsword glowing orange, yellow, and red, and air shimmers around it. Davos does not notice heat, however.{{ref|ASOS|36}}

Melisandre tells Stannis she has had [[vision]]s in her flames of Stannis wielding Lightbringer against the dark.{{ref|ASOS|54}} Stannis draws a glowing Lightbringer in anger after Davos has [[Edric Storm]] smuggled to safety from Dragonstone. Davos reads a letter from the [[Night's Watch]],{{ref|ASOS|63}} however, and Stannis travels north with his remaining followers to save [[Castle Black]] from [[Mance Rayder]].{{ref|ASOS|73}}

Following the [[battle beneath the Wall]], Melisandre tells the officers of the Night's Watch that Stannis wields the red sword of heroes. Stannis draws Lightbringer upon Maester [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]]'s request, and [[Samwell Tarly]] explains to the blind maester that the sword prettily glows without flame. [[Grenn]] compares the glowing Lightbringer to the [[sun]].{{ref|ASOS|75}}

===''A Feast for Crows''===
While sailing from [[Braavos]] to [[Oldtown]], a fevered and dying Aemon tells Sam that the real Lightbringer both shone with light and radiated heat.{{ref|AFFC|35}}

===''A Dance with Dragons''===
Stannis angrily draws Lightbringer when [[Jon Snow]], [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]], refuses to give him more castles along the [[Wall]].{{ref|ADWD|3}}

When Melisandre burns "[[Rattleshirt|Mance Rayder]]" and the [[Horn of Joramun]], Stannis displays a brilliant Lightbringer before the [[free folk]] at Castle Black.

Stannis's possession of the enchanted blade is among the reasons why [[smallfolk]] continue to support him during the [[march on Winterfell]].{{ref|ADWD|42}} [[Ramsay Snow|Ramsay Bolton]] sends [[Bastard Letter|a letter]] to Jon in which he claims that he has defeated Stannis in battle and taken the magic sword.{{ref|ADWD|69}}

===''The Winds of Winter''===
{{warning/twow}}
Instead of having [[Theon Greyjoy]] burned at the [[crofters' village]], [[Asha Greyjoy]] advises Stannis to behead her brother with his sorcerous sword before a [[weirwood]] on a nearby islet.<ref>''[[The Winds of Winter]]'', [[Theon I (The Winds of Winter)|Theon I]]</ref>

==Quotes==
[[File:Stannis-Baratheon-MCaradonna.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Stannis Baratheon]] by Marco Caradonna © FFG]]
{{quote|In ancient books of [[Asshai]] it is written that there will come a day after a long summer when the stars bleed and the cold breath of darkness falls heavy on the world. In this dread hour a warrior shall draw from the fire a burning sword. And that sword shall be Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and he who clasps it shall be [[Azor Ahai]] come again, and the darkness shall flee before him. Azor Ahai, beloved of [[R'hllor]]! The Warrior of Light, the Son of Fire! Come forth, your sword awaits you! Come forth and take it into your hand!{{ref|ACOK|10}}|[[Melisandre]] to [[Stannis Baratheon]]}}

{{quote|Be glad that it is just a burnt sword that [[Stannis Baratheon|His Grace]] pulled from that fire. Too much light can hurt the eyes, my friend, and fire burns.{{ref|ACOK|10}}|[[Salladhor Saan]] to [[Davos Seaworth]]}}

{{quote|Are you afraid I'll piss on your burning sword and put it out?{{ref|ACOK|42}}|[[Cortnay Penrose]] to [[Stannis Baratheon]]}}

{{quote|[[Melisandre]] swears that she has seen me in her flames, facing the dark with Lightbringer raised on high. Lightbringer! It glimmers prettily, I'll grant you, but on the [[Blackwater Rush|Blackwater]] this magic sword served me no better than any common steel. A [[dragon]] would have turned [[Battle of the Blackwater|that battle]].{{ref|ASOS|54}}|[[Stannis Baratheon]] to [[Davos Seaworth]]}}

{{quote|'''Samwell''': It glows. As if it were on fire. There are no flames, but the steel is yellow and red and orange, all flashing and glimmering, like sunshine on water, but prettier. I wish you could see it, Maester.<br>
'''Aemon''': I see it now, Sam. A sword full of sunlight. So lovely to behold.{{ref|ASOS|75}}|[[Samwell Tarly]] and [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]]}}

{{Quote|The sword is wrong, [[Melisandre|she]] has to know that ... light without heat ... an empty [[glamor]] ... the sword is wrong, and the false light can only lead us deeper into darkness.{{ref|AFFC|35}}|[[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] to [[Samwell Tarly]]}}

{{quote|[[Westeros]] has but one king. With this sword I defend my subjects and destroy those who menace them. Bend the knee, and I promise you food, land, and justice. Kneel and live. Or go and die. The choice is yours.{{ref|ADWD|10}}|[[Stannis Baratheon]] to the [[free folk]]}}

{{quote|'''Clydas''': A sword that makes its own heat ...<br>
'''Jon''': ... would be a fine thing on the [[Wall]]. A pity that the sword that [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis]] wields is cold. I'll be curious to see how his Lightbringer behaves in battle.{{ref|ADWD|10}}|[[Clydas]] and [[Jon Snow]]}}

==Theories==
There are many popular fan beliefs as to what Lightbringer actually is. See [[Lightbringer/Theories]].

==References==
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[[Category:House Baratheon of Dragonstone]]
[[Category:Magic]]
[[Category:R'hllor]]
[[Category:Swords]]

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