Difference between revisions of "Bael the Bard"
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− | '''Bael the Bard''' was a [[King-Beyond-the-Wall]]. According to legend, he was one of the greatest [[free folk]] raiders of his time, a man who outwitted the [[north]]men and | + | '''Bael the Bard''' was a [[King-Beyond-the-Wall]].{{ref|ACOK|23}} According to legend, he was one of the greatest [[free folk]] raiders of his time, a man who outwitted the [[north]]men and impregnated the daughter of Lord [[Brandon Stark (the daughterless)|Brandon Stark]]. He was also a bard who wrote songs about his own life, which are still used to this day.{{Ref|aSoS|7}} |
− | ==Legend of Bael the | + | ==History== |
+ | ===Legend=== | ||
+ | According to [[free folk]] legend, Lord [[Brandon Stark (the daughterless)|Brandon Stark]], the liege of the [[north]], once called Bael a coward. To take revenge of this affront and prove his courage, Bael climbed the [[Wall]], took the [[kingsroad]], and entered [[Winterfell]] under the guise of a singer named ''Sygerrik of Skagos'', which means "deceiver" in the old language of [[Skagos]]. There, he sang until midnight for the lord.{{ref|ACOK|51}} | ||
− | + | Impressed by his skills as a singer, Lord Stark asked him what he wanted as a reward, and Bael only asked for the most beautiful flower blooming in Winterfell's gardens. As the [[blue winter rose]]s were just blooming, Brandon Stark accepted to offer him one. The following morning, the single, virgin daughter of the lord had disappeared, and in her bed was the blue winter rose.{{Ref|acok|51}} | |
− | + | Lord Brandon sent the members of the [[Night's Watch]] looking for them [[beyond the Wall]], but they never found Bael or the girl. The Stark line was on the verge of extinction, when one day the girl was back in her room, holding in her hand an infant: they had actually never left Winterfell, staying hidden in [[crypt of Winterfell|the crypts]]. Bael's bastard with Brandon's daughter became the new Lord Stark. | |
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− | Lord Brandon sent the members of the [[Night's Watch]] looking for them [[beyond the Wall]], but they never found | ||
When thirty years later Bael was [[King-Beyond-the-Wall]] and led the [[wildlings]]' army south, he had to fight his own son at the [[Frozen Ford]]. There, incapable of killing his own blood, he let himself be killed by Lord Stark. His son brought back Bael's head to Winterfell, and his mother who had loved the bard, seeing the trophy, killed herself from the top of a tower. The son was eventually slain by the [[House Bolton|Boltons]].{{Ref|acok|51}} | When thirty years later Bael was [[King-Beyond-the-Wall]] and led the [[wildlings]]' army south, he had to fight his own son at the [[Frozen Ford]]. There, incapable of killing his own blood, he let himself be killed by Lord Stark. His son brought back Bael's head to Winterfell, and his mother who had loved the bard, seeing the trophy, killed herself from the top of a tower. The son was eventually slain by the [[House Bolton|Boltons]].{{Ref|acok|51}} | ||
===Legacy=== | ===Legacy=== | ||
− | The | + | The legend of Bael the Bard is recalled in songs of the [[free folk]]. [[Ygritte]] learned the song from her mother,{{ref|ACOK|51}} and [[Mance Rayder]] often sang it at the [[Shadow Tower]] after rangings.{{ref|ACOK|53}} Bael is not mentioned in the old chronicles at [[Winterfell]],{{ref|TWOIAF| The Wall and Beyond: The Wildlings}} although [[Jon Snow]] learned stories from Maester [[Luwin]] and [[Old Nan]].{{ref|ACOK|23}} |
+ | |||
+ | ==Recent Events== | ||
+ | ===''A Clash of Kings''=== | ||
+ | [[Ygritte]] tells [[Jon Snow]] about the legends of Bael. Her [[free folk]] version differs from stories Jon had heard at [[Winterfell]].{{ref|ACOK|23}}{{ref|ACOK|51}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===''A Storm of Swords''=== | ||
+ | [[Mance Rayder]], the [[King-Beyond-the-Wall]], tells Jon that the tale of Bael inspired his infiltration of [[Winterfell]] to attend the feast with King [[Robert I Baratheon]].{{ref|ASOS|7}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===''A Dance with Dragons''=== | ||
+ | In order to rescue "[[Arya Stark]]" (actually [[Jeyne Poole]]) from Winterfell, Mance pretends to be a musician and takes the alias of "Abel", an anagram of "Bael".{{ref|ADWD|31}}{{ref|ADWD|51}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Quotes by Bael== | ||
+ | {{quote|All I ask is a flower, the fairest flower that blooms in the gardens o' [[Winterfell]].{{ref|ACOK|51}}}} - Bael to [[Brandon Stark (the daughterless)|Brandon Stark]] as told by [[Ygritte]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Quotes about Bael== | ||
+ | {{quote|'''Ygritte''': Well, long before he was [[King-Beyond-the-Wall|king]] over the [[free folk]], Bael was a great raider.<br> | ||
+ | '''Stonesnake''': A murderer, robber, and raper, is what you mean.{{ref|ACOK|51}}}} - [[Ygritte]] and [[Stonesnake]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | {{quote|'''Ygritte''': So there it is—you have Bael's blood in you, same as me.<br> | ||
+ | '''Jon''': It never happened.<br> | ||
+ | '''Ygritte''': Might be it did, might be it didn't. It is a good song, though.{{ref|ACOK|51}}}} - [[Ygritte]] and [[Jon Snow]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | {{quote|'''Jon''': Your Bael was a liar.<br> | ||
+ | '''Ygritte''': No, but a bard's truth is different than yours or mine.{{ref|ACOK|51}}}} - [[Jon Snow]] and [[Ygritte]] | ||
==References and Notes== | ==References and Notes== | ||
− | {{references}} | + | {{references|2}} |
+ | |||
+ | |||
{{Kings-Beyond-the-Wall}} | {{Kings-Beyond-the-Wall}} | ||
[[Category:Characters from Beyond the Wall]] | [[Category:Characters from Beyond the Wall]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Kings-Beyond-the-Wall]] | ||
[[Category:Legendary Heroes]] | [[Category:Legendary Heroes]] | ||
[[Category:Monarchs]] | [[Category:Monarchs]] | ||
[[Category:Singers]] | [[Category:Singers]] | ||
[[Category:Wildlings]] | [[Category:Wildlings]] | ||
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[[es:Bael el Bardo]] | [[es:Bael el Bardo]] |
Revision as of 15:27, 21 September 2017
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Bael and Brandon face off. Art by Roman Papsuev | |
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Aliases |
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Title | King-Beyond-the-Wall |
Culture | Free folk |
Books |
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Bael the Bard was a King-Beyond-the-Wall.[1] According to legend, he was one of the greatest free folk raiders of his time, a man who outwitted the northmen and impregnated the daughter of Lord Brandon Stark. He was also a bard who wrote songs about his own life, which are still used to this day.[2]
Contents
History
Legend
According to free folk legend, Lord Brandon Stark, the liege of the north, once called Bael a coward. To take revenge of this affront and prove his courage, Bael climbed the Wall, took the kingsroad, and entered Winterfell under the guise of a singer named Sygerrik of Skagos, which means "deceiver" in the old language of Skagos. There, he sang until midnight for the lord.[3]
Impressed by his skills as a singer, Lord Stark asked him what he wanted as a reward, and Bael only asked for the most beautiful flower blooming in Winterfell's gardens. As the blue winter roses were just blooming, Brandon Stark accepted to offer him one. The following morning, the single, virgin daughter of the lord had disappeared, and in her bed was the blue winter rose.[3]
Lord Brandon sent the members of the Night's Watch looking for them beyond the Wall, but they never found Bael or the girl. The Stark line was on the verge of extinction, when one day the girl was back in her room, holding in her hand an infant: they had actually never left Winterfell, staying hidden in the crypts. Bael's bastard with Brandon's daughter became the new Lord Stark.
When thirty years later Bael was King-Beyond-the-Wall and led the wildlings' army south, he had to fight his own son at the Frozen Ford. There, incapable of killing his own blood, he let himself be killed by Lord Stark. His son brought back Bael's head to Winterfell, and his mother who had loved the bard, seeing the trophy, killed herself from the top of a tower. The son was eventually slain by the Boltons.[3]
Legacy
The legend of Bael the Bard is recalled in songs of the free folk. Ygritte learned the song from her mother,[3] and Mance Rayder often sang it at the Shadow Tower after rangings.[4] Bael is not mentioned in the old chronicles at Winterfell,[5] although Jon Snow learned stories from Maester Luwin and Old Nan.[1]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
Ygritte tells Jon Snow about the legends of Bael. Her free folk version differs from stories Jon had heard at Winterfell.[1][3]
A Storm of Swords
Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, tells Jon that the tale of Bael inspired his infiltration of Winterfell to attend the feast with King Robert I Baratheon.[2]
A Dance with Dragons
In order to rescue "Arya Stark" (actually Jeyne Poole) from Winterfell, Mance pretends to be a musician and takes the alias of "Abel", an anagram of "Bael".[6][7]
Quotes by Bael
All I ask is a flower, the fairest flower that blooms in the gardens o' Winterfell.[3]
- Bael to Brandon Stark as told by Ygritte
Quotes about Bael
- Ygritte and Stonesnake
Ygritte: So there it is—you have Bael's blood in you, same as me.
Jon: It never happened.
Ygritte: Might be it did, might be it didn't. It is a good song, though.[3]
Jon: Your Bael was a liar.
Ygritte: No, but a bard's truth is different than yours or mine.[3]
References and Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 23, Jon III.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 7, Jon I.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 51, Jon VI.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 53, Jon VII.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Wall and Beyond: The Wildlings.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 31, Melisandre I.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 51, Theon I.
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