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{{Character
{{Infobox character 
| Character_name          = Coldhands
| title =
| image         = [[File:Zippo514 Coldhands.jpg|300px|]]
| nickname = Coldhands
| image_caption = Coldhands astride his great elk - © Zippo514
| firstname =
| particle =
| lastname =
| epithet =
| arms = Night's Watch
| image = Zippo514 Coldhands.jpg
| image_caption = Coldhands astride his [[great elk]], by Zippo514 ©
| Alias =
| Alias =
| Title =
| Title =
| Allegiance = [[Three-eyed crow|Last Greenseer]]
| Allegiance = [[Night's Watch]] <small>(formerly)</small><br>[[Three-eyed crow]]
| Race =
| Race =
| Culture =
| Culture =
| Date_of_Birth =
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Death = "long ago"{{Ref|ADWD|13}}
| Place_of_Death = [[Beyond the Wall]]{{Ref|ADWD|13}}
| Spouse =
| Spouse =
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth =
| Place_of_Death =
| Date_of_Death =
| Books = [[A Storm of Swords]] (Appears)<br>[[A Feast for Crows]] (Mentioned)<br>[[A Dance with Dragons]] (Appears)
| coat-of-arms =
| coat-of-arms =
| Books = ''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (appears)<br>''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' (appears)
}}
}}


[[‎File:Marc Fishman Coldhands.jpg| Coldhands astride his great elk - by Marc Fishman © |thumb|300px|right]]
'''Coldhands''' is a mysterious figure from [[beyond the Wall]]. "Coldhands" is a name given to him by [[Samwell Tarly]]; his actual name is unknown.{{Ref|ADWD|4}}
'''Coldhands''' is a mysterious figure from beyond the [[Wall]]. He looks like a [[wight]] dressed in the black of the [[Night's Watch]] with a scarf concealing his face, a corpse with hands black from pooled and congealed blood, but is intelligent and seemingly benign.  
 
In the television adaptation ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', Coldhands is merged with [[Benjen Stark]] and portrayed by [[w:Joseph Mawle|Joseph Mawle]].{{Refn|group="N"|[[George R. R. Martin]] has [https://www.reddit.com/r/asoiaf/comments/2rtcaa/i_went_to_the_cushing_library_and_went_through/ stated] that Coldhands is not Benjen Stark in the ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' novels.}}


==Appearance==
==Appearance==
His hands are black and as cold as ice, and he rides a great elk. A flock of ravens flies under his command.<ref>[[A Storm of Swords]], [[A Storm of Swords-Chapter 46|Chapter 46]], Samwell</ref> He does not breathe. {{Ref|aDwD|4}}  
{{See also|:Category:Images of Coldhands|l1=Images of Coldhands}}
 
Coldhands is dressed in the mottled blacks and greys{{Ref|ASOS|46}} of the [[Night's Watch]] with a black wool scarf concealing his pale face.{{ref|ADWD|4}} He is armored in boiled leather and ringmail,{{Ref|ADWD|4}} and he wields a sword.{{Ref|ADWD|13}} His ungloved hands are black and cold as ice, and he rides a [[great elk]].{{Ref|ASOS|46}} A flock of [[raven]]s flies under his command{{ref|ASOS|46}} and brings him information.{{Ref|ADWD|4}} Thin and gaunt, he speaks with a rattling voice and does not breathe.{{Ref|ADWD|4}}


[[Summer (direwolf)|Summer]] does not like the way Coldhands smells - ''dead meat, dry blood, a faint whiff of rot. And cold.  Cold all over''. Though Coldhands is often described as dead, but still alive, his eyes are described as black, in contrast of the light blue of [[wights]] and [[Others]].
[[Summer]] does not like the way Coldhands smells.{{Ref|ADWD|4}} Though Coldhands is often described as dead, his eyes are described as black,{{Ref|ADWD|4}} in contrast to the light blue of [[wights]]' eyes.{{ref|ASOS|56}}{{ref|ADWD|13}}


==Recent Events==
==Recent Events==
===A Storm of Swords===
===''A Storm of Swords''===
Coldhands saved [[Samwell Tarly]], [[Gilly]] and her son when they were beset by [[wights]] and were lost north of the [[Wall]], while fleeing [[Craster's Keep]]. He took the two under his protection and brought them back and through the wall, by the [[Nightfort#Black Gate|Black Gate]] located underneath it. He could not pass through himself, due to the wall's magic, but he charged them to bring him [[Bran Stark]] and his companions who Coldhands was expecting. He looks and talks as if he was a ranger of the [[Night's Watch]].
Coldhands saves [[Samwell Tarly]], [[Gilly]], and [[Monster|her son]] when they are beset by [[wights]] at [[Whitetree]], lost in the [[haunted forest]] after fleeing [[Craster's Keep]], addressing Sam as "Brother!"{{Ref|ASOS|46}} Coldhands takes them under his protection.{{Ref|ASOS|56}}
{{Ref|aSoS|46}}{{Ref|aSoS|56}}
 
===A Dance with Dragons===
Coldhands brings his charges to the [[Black Gate]] of the [[Nightfort]] located underneath the [[Wall]]. Coldhands cannot pass through himself, due to the Wall's [[magic]], but he charges Sam and Gilly with bringing [[Bran Stark]] and his companions to the Black Gate.{{Ref|ASOS|56}} Sam continues on to [[Castle Black]], entrusted to secrecy by Coldhands.{{Ref|ASOS|75}}
Coldhands guides [[Bran Stark]], [[Hodor]], [[Meera Reed|Meera]] and [[Jojen Reed]] to the last [[Greenseer]] beyond the [[Wall]]. Along the way he kills men of the [[Night's Watch]]. Bran, having [[warg]]ed into [[Summer]], discovers this and confronts him in the abandoned village. There they discover that Coldhands is indeed dead, but continues to refuse to show his face. However unknown to Bran was that the men Coldhands killed were the surviving traitors responsible for the [[Mutiny at Craster's Keep]].{{Ref|aDwD|4}}
 
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
Coldhands guides Bran, [[Hodor]], and [[Meera Reed|Meera]] and [[Jojen Reed]] to the last [[greenseer]] north of the Wall. Along the way he departs to deal with "foes" behind them, sending his charges on to a lakeside village. The ranger hunts down approaching men and kills them with his [[raven]]s. Bran, having slipped into his [[direwolf]], [[Summer]], as a [[warg]], later finds [[One Eye]], [[Stalker]], and [[Sly]]—all once members of [[Varamyr]]'s wolfpack—trying to eat five black-clad bodies. Unknown to Bran is that the slain were traitors responsible for the [[mutiny at Craster's Keep]], such as [[Ollo Lophand]]. Summer forces the three wolves to submit and join his pack. As Summer begins eating from the corpses, Bran wakes from his [[skinchanging]] to find that Coldhands has returned with raw meat which Meera is roasting; Coldhands claims to have found a [[pig|sow]] in the forest. Bran and his friends discover that Coldhands is indeed dead, but he continues to refuse to show his face.{{ref|ADWD|4}}
 
When his [[great elk]] collapses along their journey, Coldhands whispers a blessing in an [[True Tongue|unknown language]] and slits the animal's throat; he and Meera butcher the carcass for food.{{Ref|ADWD|13}}
 
Coldhands leads Bran and his companions to the [[cave of the three-eyed crow]], his flock of ravens dwindling during the journey.{{Ref|ADWD|13}} Coldhands cannot enter the cave, but he fights off wights as Bran and his friends climb to the cave entrance.{{Ref|ADWD|13}}
 
==Quotes by Coldhands==
[[‎File:Marc Fishman Coldhands.jpg|thumb|350px|Coldhands by Marc Fishman ©]]
{{Quote|The world believes [[Bran Stark|the boy]] is dead ... Let his bones lie undisturbed. We want no seekers coming after us. Swear it, Samwell of the [[Night's Watch]]. Swear it for the life you owe me.{{Ref|ASOS|75}}|Coldhands to [[Samwell Tarly]]}}
 
{{Quote|'''Bran''': What happened to the men? The foes behind us?<br>'''Coldhands''': They will not trouble you.<br>'''Bran''': Who were they? [[Wildlings]]?<br>'''Coldhands''': They were [[mutiny at Castle Black|foes]].<br>'''Bran''': You killed them. You and the [[raven]]s. Their faces were all torn, and their eyes were gone. They were your ''[[Night's Watch|brothers]]''. I saw. The [[wolf|wolves]] had ripped their clothes up, but I could still tell. Their cloaks were black. Like your hands. Who are you? ''Why are your hands black?''<br>'''Coldhands''': Once the heart has ceased to beat, a man's blood runs down into his extremities, where it thickens and congeals. His hands and feet swell up and turn as black as pudding. The rest of him becomes as white as milk.<br>'''Meera''': Show us your face.<br>'''Bran''': He's dead.{{Ref|ADWD|4}}|[[Bran Stark]], Coldhands, and [[Meera Reed]]}}
 
==Quotes about Coldhands==
[[File:GOT99 5772 Coldhands DiegoGisbertLlorens-Final.jpg|thumb|350px|Coldhands, with two [[children of the forest]], by Diego Gisbert Llorens © Fantasy Flight Games]]
{{Quote|'''Jojen''': This ... Coldhands?<br>'''Gilly''': That wasn't his true name. We only called him that, [[Samwell Tarly|Sam]] and me. His hands were cold as ice, but he saved us from the [[wights|dead men]], him and his [[raven]]s, and he brought us here on his [[great elk|elk]].{{Ref|ASOS|56}}|[[Jojen Reed]] and [[Gilly]]}}
 
{{Quote|He wasn't a [[green man]]. He wore blacks, like a brother of [[Night's Watch|the Watch]], but he was pale as a [[wight]], with hands so cold that at first I was afraid. The wights have blue eyes, though, and they don't have tongues, or they've forgotten how to use them.{{ref|ASOS|56}}|[[Samwell Tarly]] to [[Bran Stark]]}}


He leads Bran and his companions to the cave of the last [[greenseer]] but he cannot enter. He fights off wights as they climb to the cave entrance. [[Leaf]] the [[children of the Forest|child of the forest]] states about him:
{{Quote|[[Summer|The direwolf]] did not like the way that Coldhands smelled. Dead meat, dry blood, a faint whiff of rot. And cold. Cold over all.{{Ref|ADWD|4}}|thoughts of [[Bran Stark]]}}


{{Quote|''"They killed him long ago"''.{{Ref|aDwD|13}}}}
{{Quote|I don't like ''him''. And I don't trust him. Those hands of his are bad enough. He hides his face, and will not speak a name. Who is he? ''What'' is he? Anyone can put on a [[Night's Watch|black cloak]]. Anyone, or any ''thing''. He does not eat, he never drinks, he does not seem to feel the cold.{{Ref|ADWD|4}}|[[Meera Reed]] to [[Bran Stark]]}}


==Quotes==
{{Quote|'''Bran''': The [[ranger]] ...<br>'''Leaf''': He cannot come.<br>'''Bran''': [[wights|They'll]] kill him.<br>'''Leaf''': No. They killed him long ago.{{Ref|ADWD|13}}|[[Bran Stark]] and [[Leaf]]}}
[[File:UrukkiSaki bransmonsterII.jpg|Coldhands guided [[Bran Stark]], [[Hodor]], [[Meera Reed|Meera]] and [[Jojen Reed]] to the last [[Greenseer]] beyond the [[Wall]] – by Urukki Saki ©|thumb|300px|right]]
{{Quote|Your monster, [[Brandon Stark]].}} - Coldhands, to [[Bran]], after Bran calls him a monster


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Coldhands/Theories]]
* [[Coldhands/Theories]]


==References and Notes==
==Notes==
{{references|2}}
<references group="N" />
 
==References==
{{References}}
 
[[Category:Characters from Beyond the Wall]]
[[Category:Characters with black eyes]]
[[Category:Members of the Night's Watch]]
[[Category:Rangers of the Night's Watch]]
[[Category:Undead]]
[[Category:Unnamed characters]]
[[Category:Friends and companions of Bran Stark]]
[[Category:Supporters of the three-eyed crow]]


[[Category:Characters from the North]]
[[es:Manosfrías]]
[[fa:دست سرد]]
[[fr:Mains-froides]]
[[fr:Mains-froides]]
[[ru:Холодные Руки]][[zh:&#20919;&#25163;]]
[[pt:Mãos-Frias]]
[[ru:Холодные Руки]]
[[zh:冷手]]

Latest revision as of 00:41, 4 July 2026

Coldhands
Image of Coldhands
Coldhands astride his great elk, by Zippo514 ©
Allegiances
Died "long ago"[1]
Beyond the Wall[1]
Books

Coldhands is a mysterious figure from beyond the Wall. "Coldhands" is a name given to him by Samwell Tarly; his actual name is unknown.[2]

In the television adaptation Game of Thrones, Coldhands is merged with Benjen Stark and portrayed by Joseph Mawle.[N 1]

Appearance

[edit]
See also: Images of Coldhands

Coldhands is dressed in the mottled blacks and greys[3] of the Night's Watch with a black wool scarf concealing his pale face.[2] He is armored in boiled leather and ringmail,[2] and he wields a sword.[1] His ungloved hands are black and cold as ice, and he rides a great elk.[3] A flock of ravens flies under his command[3] and brings him information.[2] Thin and gaunt, he speaks with a rattling voice and does not breathe.[2]

Summer does not like the way Coldhands smells.[2] Though Coldhands is often described as dead, his eyes are described as black,[2] in contrast to the light blue of wights' eyes.[4][1]

Recent Events

[edit]

A Storm of Swords

[edit]

Coldhands saves Samwell Tarly, Gilly, and her son when they are beset by wights at Whitetree, lost in the haunted forest after fleeing Craster's Keep, addressing Sam as "Brother!"[3] Coldhands takes them under his protection.[4]

Coldhands brings his charges to the Black Gate of the Nightfort located underneath the Wall. Coldhands cannot pass through himself, due to the Wall's magic, but he charges Sam and Gilly with bringing Bran Stark and his companions to the Black Gate.[4] Sam continues on to Castle Black, entrusted to secrecy by Coldhands.[5]

A Dance with Dragons

[edit]

Coldhands guides Bran, Hodor, and Meera and Jojen Reed to the last greenseer north of the Wall. Along the way he departs to deal with "foes" behind them, sending his charges on to a lakeside village. The ranger hunts down approaching men and kills them with his ravens. Bran, having slipped into his direwolf, Summer, as a warg, later finds One Eye, Stalker, and Sly—all once members of Varamyr's wolfpack—trying to eat five black-clad bodies. Unknown to Bran is that the slain were traitors responsible for the mutiny at Craster's Keep, such as Ollo Lophand. Summer forces the three wolves to submit and join his pack. As Summer begins eating from the corpses, Bran wakes from his skinchanging to find that Coldhands has returned with raw meat which Meera is roasting; Coldhands claims to have found a sow in the forest. Bran and his friends discover that Coldhands is indeed dead, but he continues to refuse to show his face.[2]

When his great elk collapses along their journey, Coldhands whispers a blessing in an unknown language and slits the animal's throat; he and Meera butcher the carcass for food.[1]

Coldhands leads Bran and his companions to the cave of the three-eyed crow, his flock of ravens dwindling during the journey.[1] Coldhands cannot enter the cave, but he fights off wights as Bran and his friends climb to the cave entrance.[1]

Quotes by Coldhands

[edit]
Coldhands by Marc Fishman ©

The world believes the boy is dead ... Let his bones lie undisturbed. We want no seekers coming after us. Swear it, Samwell of the Night's Watch. Swear it for the life you owe me.[5]

—Coldhands to Samwell Tarly

Bran: What happened to the men? The foes behind us?
Coldhands: They will not trouble you.
Bran: Who were they? Wildlings?
Coldhands: They were foes.
Bran: You killed them. You and the ravens. Their faces were all torn, and their eyes were gone. They were your brothers. I saw. The wolves had ripped their clothes up, but I could still tell. Their cloaks were black. Like your hands. Who are you? Why are your hands black?
Coldhands: Once the heart has ceased to beat, a man's blood runs down into his extremities, where it thickens and congeals. His hands and feet swell up and turn as black as pudding. The rest of him becomes as white as milk.
Meera: Show us your face.
Bran: He's dead.[2]

—Bran Stark, Coldhands, and Meera Reed

Quotes about Coldhands

[edit]
Coldhands, with two children of the forest, by Diego Gisbert Llorens © Fantasy Flight Games

Jojen: This ... Coldhands?
Gilly: That wasn't his true name. We only called him that, Sam and me. His hands were cold as ice, but he saved us from the dead men, him and his ravens, and he brought us here on his elk.[4]

—Jojen Reed and Gilly

He wasn't a green man. He wore blacks, like a brother of the Watch, but he was pale as a wight, with hands so cold that at first I was afraid. The wights have blue eyes, though, and they don't have tongues, or they've forgotten how to use them.[4]

—Samwell Tarly to Bran Stark

The direwolf did not like the way that Coldhands smelled. Dead meat, dry blood, a faint whiff of rot. And cold. Cold over all.[2]

—thoughts of Bran Stark

I don't like him. And I don't trust him. Those hands of his are bad enough. He hides his face, and will not speak a name. Who is he? What is he? Anyone can put on a black cloak. Anyone, or any thing. He does not eat, he never drinks, he does not seem to feel the cold.[2]

—Meera Reed to Bran Stark

Bran: The ranger ...
Leaf: He cannot come.
Bran: They'll kill him.
Leaf: No. They killed him long ago.[1]

—Bran Stark and Leaf

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ George R. R. Martin has stated that Coldhands is not Benjen Stark in the A Song of Ice and Fire novels.

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 13, Bran II.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 4, Bran I.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 46, Samwell III.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 56, Bran IV.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 75, Samwell IV.
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