A Storm of Swords-Chapter 37

Jaime V
A Storm of Swords chapter
POV	Jaime
Place	Harrenhal
Page	416 UK HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
Jaime IV ↑
Davos IV  ← Jaime V →  Tyrion V
↓ Jaime VI

Synopsis

"My name is Jaime" - by Kallielef ©

Jaime and Brienne are in the bathhouse in Harrenhal, washing themselves before meeting Roose Bolton. Jaime feels dizzy in the hot bath, and begins to tell Brienne his story despite his own misgivings about revealing the tale. Jaime says, "Aerys would have bathed in wildfire if he’d dared. The Targaryens were all mad for fire." After the Battle of the Bells, Aerys realized that Robert Baratheon was no mere outlaw, and that the Targaryens faced their greatest threat since the Blackfyre Pretenders. He began to disperse his Kingsguard to take command of the army, recalled Rhaegar from the south, and sent letters to Casterly Rock. But when Tywin Lannister never responded, Aerys commanded his pyromancers Rossart, Garigus and Belis “to place caches of wildfire throughout King's Landing.” Lord Chelsted, the current Hand, found out what was going on and tried to stop Aerys from continuing along his mad course, but Aerys had him killed and named the pyromancer Rossart, the man who had burned Rickard Stark alive, his Hand.

All this time, Jaime remained in the throne room guarding the king and his secrets. After the Trident, Aerys sent his wife and Prince Viserys to Dragonstone, but kept Elia and her children in the Red Keep because he thought that Prince Lewyn Martell had betrayed Rhaegar during the battle, and thus needed Elia and the children as hostages to ensure Dorne's loyalty. With the wildfire in place, Aerys told Rossart, "The traitors want my city, but I’ll give them naught but ashes. Let Robert be king over charred bones and cooked meat." Aerys may have thought that the great fire would kill everyone, but transform him into a dragon, much as Aerion Brightflame had thought. When the Lannisters appeared before King's Landing Varys advised to keep the gates closed. But on the advice of Pycelle, Aerys let in the Lannisters, who proceeded to sack King's Landing.

Jaime felt he had to act after the Mad King commanded him to bring him his father’s head. He killed Rossart, then returned to the Throne room and killed King Aerys. Days later he hunted down and killed the remaining two of Aerys’ pyromancers, Garigus and Belis, so that their secret would die with them. When Brienne asks why no one else knows this tale, Jaime tells her that the Kingsguard are sworn to protect the king’s secrets, and that Eddard would never have believed his tale. Jaime then nearly passes out from the heat, and Brienne calls out for Qyburn.

They are brought before Roose Bolton, who tells them he chose to wed Walda Frey because Lord Walder Frey offered him his bride’s weight in silver. When Brienne inquires after Arya, Bolton mysteriously states that she was lost for a time, but she has been found and is to be returned safely to the north. Bolton tells them he awarded Harrenhal to Vargo Hoat because the goat was a stranger to the Seven Kingdoms and did not know ‘the prize was poisoned’. He means the curse of Lord Tywin, for Hoat was not aware of what Tywin does to traitors such as the Tarbecks and the Reynes. Bolton explains that he has a small problem, because the goat wishes to return Jaime to Rickard Karstark to claim the Lord’s reward of his daughter’s hand in marriage. Vargo had Jaime’s hand chopped off to send as a grisly token to Lord Tywin, feeling he would be well safe in Karhold. What he doesn’t know is that Robb has beheaded Lord Karstark, and the goat is now doomed. But since Vargo is in Bolton’s employ, Tywin might feel that Bolton was responsible for the maiming as well. Jaime agrees to carry word to his father absolving Bolton of all blame. But as for Brienne, Bolton tells her, "It would be unconscionable of me to deprive Lord Vargo of both his prizes."

Character List

Appearing: Roose Bolton Elmar Frey Jaime Lannister Qyburn Brienne Tarth

Mentioned: Renly Baratheon Robert I Baratheon Stannis Baratheon Belis Daemon I Blackfyre Qarlton Chelsted Gregor Clegane Jon Connington Jonothor Darry Beric Dondarrion Aenys Frey Roslin Frey Fair Walda Frey Fat Walda Frey Walder Frey Garigus Robett Glover Harren Hoare Vargo Hoat Alys Karstark Harrion Karstark Rickard Karstark Cersei Lannister Tyrion Lannister Tywin Lannister Amory Lorch Elia Martell Lewyn Martell Pycelle Rossart Barristan Selmy Arya Stark Bran Stark Catelyn Stark Eddard Stark Lyanna Stark Rickard Stark Robb Stark Sansa Stark Steelshanks Walton Helman Tallhart Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar) Aerion Targaryen Aerys II Targaryen Rhaegar Targaryen Rhaella Targaryen Viserys Targaryen Edmure Tully Tysha Varys Gawen Westerling Jeyne Westerling Shella Whent

Mentions

Events: Blackfyre Rebellion Coronation of Robert I Baratheon Edmure's wedding Reyne-Tarbeck revolt Robert's Rebellion Battle of the Bells Battle of the Trident Sack of King's Landing Wildfire plot War of the Five Kings Battle of the Blackwater Battle at Duskendale Fall of Harrenhal

Houses: House Baratheon House Blackfyre House Bolton House Chelsted House Connington House Darry House Dondarrion House Frey House Glover House Hoare House Karstark House Lannister House Lorch House Martell House Reyne House Selmy House Stark House Tallhart House Tarth House Tarbeck House Targaryen House Tully House Westerling House Whent

Places: Blackwater Rush Casterly Rock Crag Dorne Dragonstone Dreadfort Duskendale Free Cities Harrenhal Hall of a Hundred Hearths Kingspyre Tower Karhold King's Landing Dragon Gate Flea Bottom Gate of the Gods Great Sept of Baelor Iron Gate King's Gate Lion Gate Old Gate Red Keep River Gate Kingsroad North Seven Kingdoms Stoney Sept Twins Westeros

Terms: Alchemists' Guild Bannerman Bone Brave Companions Brotherhood without banners Captain of the guards Cheese Cupbearer Currency Golden dragons Dornishmen Dragon Dwarf Goat Gold Guest right Griffin Hand of the King Honey House Bolton guards Iron Throne King King in the North Kingsguard Lion Lord Lord of the Dreadfort Lord of Karhold Lord of Winterfell Leech Maester Maiden Man-at-arms Myrish lace Northmen Outlaws Poison Prince Pyromancer Raven Sapphire Sellsword Silver Spices Spider Steel Treason Trout Warden Warden of the West Wildfire Wine Wolf

References and Notes

• The synopsis was copied from Aol member vbkorik27 previously at[1]
• A Read of Ice and Fire: A Storm of Swords, Part 21. Analyses and summary of the chapter by Leigh Butler.
• Re-read Jaime V: Do the math, Jaime & Brienne in a bath. Summary and analyses of the chapter in the course of a 10th reread by Slynt.