| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Selwyn Tarth, art by lupotterdraws © | ||||
|
| ||||
| Alias | Selwyn of Tarth[1] | |||
| Titles | ||||
| Allegiance | House Tarth | |||
| Culture | Stormlander | |||
| Born |
245 AC or 246 AC[4] Tarth[5] | |||
| Spouse | Deceased wife[6] | |||
| Issue | ||||
| Books |
| |||
Selwyn Tarth, or Selywn of Tarth,[1] is the Lord of Tarth, Lord of Evenfall, and the head of House Tarth, known as the Evenstar. Selwyn has one remaining child, his daughter and heir, Brienne.[9][8]
Appearance and Character
[edit]Selwyn is said to be a good man.[10] He has large hands.[6]
History
[edit]Selwyn's daughters Alysanne and Arianne died in infancy. His son Galladon drowned when he was eight years old, leaving Brienne as his only living child.[7]
After the death of his wife, Selwyn took a new mistress every year. One mistress came from across the narrow sea; she had a slim waist, purple eyes, and a lovely voice.[6]
Lord Tarth had a septa, Roelle, who educated Brienne. He also allowed his master-at-arms, Ser Goodwin, to train Brienne at arms.[11] He kept a singer every year of Brienne's childhood, which led her to memorize all the songs.[6]
Selwyn betrothed Brienne to the second son of Lord Bryen Caron, but the boy died of a chill when he was twelve.[12] Selwyn then tried to wed Brienne to Ser Ronnet Connington, but the knight rejected her for her appearance.[13][14] He last tried an older man for her, Ser Humfrey Wagstaff, but Brienne broke her betrothal to Wagstaff by defeating him in combat. After that, Lord Selwyn stopped trying to arrange a marriage for Brienne.[11]
Selwyn hosted Renly Baratheon at Evenfall Hall during the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands's coming of age progress.[15] Some time later, Selywn sent Brienne to serve Renly at Storm's End.[16]
Recent Events
[edit]A Clash of Kings
[edit]When Ser Davos Seaworth is sent to ask after the allegiance of the stormlords, Lord Selwyn only agrees to a midnight meeting in a grove. The Evenstar informs Davos of his refusal to join Stannis Baratheon.[17]
Selwyn instead supports Stannis's brother, Renly Baratheon.[8] Selwyn's daughter, Brienne of Tarth, becomes one of Renly's Rainbow Guard.[2] During the siege of Storm's End, Renly claims he is supported by Tarth arrows.[18]
At Riverrun, Catelyn Stark and Brienne discuss Selwyn.[6]
A Storm of Swords
[edit]Brienne and Ser Jaime Lannister are captured by the Brave Companions, and Jaime protects Brienne from rape by claiming that Selwyn will ransom her with sapphires, drawing on Tarth's epithet of "the Sapphire Isle". After they are brought to Harrenhal, Qyburn sends a raven to Tarth demanding a ransom. Lord Selwyn responds by offering three hundred gold dragons for Brienne's safe return. Vargo Hoat rejects the offer, however, believing Selwyn is trying to cheat him by withholding sapphires.[19]
A Feast for Crows
[edit]Lord Randyll Tarly ridicules Brienne and advises her to return to her father at Tarth.[10] The Elder Brother of the Quiet Isle also recommends that Brienne give up her quest and return home, saying that her father would rather have a living daughter than her broken shield. Brienne tearfully explains her family's history and her life since Tarth, and that she must find Sansa Stark or die trying.[7]
After being captured by the brotherhood without banners, Brienne claims that Selwyn will ransom her squire, Podrick Payne, with sapphires, silver, or whatever they want.[14]
Quotes
[edit]Jaime: Do you have any siblings, my lady?
Brienne: No. I was my father's only s—child.
Jaime: Son, you meant to say. Does he think of you as a son? You make a queer sort of daughter, to be sure.[20]
As for you, my lady, it is said that your father is a good man. If so, I pity him. Some men are blessed with sons, some with daughters. No man deserves to be cursed with such as you.[10]
You have a noble father who must surely love you. Consider his grief if you should never return. Perhaps they will bring your sword and shield to him, after you have fallen. Perhaps he will even hang them in his hall and look on them with pride... but if you were to ask him, I know he would tell you that he would sooner have a living daughter than a shattered shield.[7]
A daughter. He deserves that. A daughter who could sing to him and grace his hall and bear him grandsons. He deserves a son too, a strong and gallant son to bring honor to his name. Galladon drowned when I was four and he was eight, though, and Alysanne and Arianne died still in the cradle. I am the only child the gods let him keep. The freakish one, not fit to be a son or daughter.[7]
—Brienne Tarth, to the Elder Brother
Family
[edit]
References
[edit]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 1, Jaime I.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 22, Catelyn II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
- ↑ See the Selwyn Tarth calculation.
- ↑ George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Selwyn Tarth.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 45, Catelyn VI.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 31, Brienne VI.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 A Clash of Kings, Appendix.
- ↑ George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Brienne Tarth.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 25, Brienne V.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 9, Brienne II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 14, Brienne III.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 27, Jaime III.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 42, Brienne VIII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 4, Brienne I.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 42, Davos II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Prologue.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 31, Catelyn III.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 44, Jaime VI.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 11, Jaime II.