Like my ramble on Viserys, this one requires a trigger warning. Frank discussion of abuse, brutality, and Randyll Tarly follow under the cut.
(The views of Randyll Tarly are not those of the author)
Randyll Tarly left the hall with his liege lord, their green-cloaked spearmen right behind them. Tarly is the real danger, Ser Kevan reflected as he watched their departure. A narrow man, but iron-willed and shrewd, and as good a soldier as the Reach could boast.
The king was a great disappointment to Jon. His father had talked of him often: the peerless Robert Baratheon, demon of the Trident, the fiercest warrior in the realm, a giant among princes. Jon saw only a fat man, red-faced under his beard, sweating through his silks. He walked like a man half in his cups(…)
Ser Jaime Lannister was twin to Queen Cersei; tall and golden, with flashing green eyes and a smile that cut like a knife(…) Jon found it hard to look away from him. This is what a king should look like.
‘What do you think a knight is for girl? You think it’s all taking favors from ladies and looking fine in gold plate? Knights are for killing.’ (A Clash of Kings)
‘So many vows, they make you swear and swear. Defend the king. Obey the king. Keep his secrets. Do his bidding. But obey your father. Love your sister. Protect the innocent. Defend the weak. Respect the gods. Obey the law. It’s too much. No matter what you do, you’re forsaking one vow or another.’ (A Clash of Kings)
‘Brother, have you taken leave of your senses? This man attacked my son.’
‘This man protected the weak, as every true knight must.’(The Hedge Knight
‘An old septon once claimed I was living proof of the goodness of the gods. […] If the gods were cruel, they would have made me my mother’s firstborn, and Doran her third.’
They were lowborn, even as I was, but they do not like to recall that. When they look at our banner all they see is a tall black ship flying on the wind. They close their eyes to the onion.
‘See, lad, that’s why he’s king and I’m not. I can outdrink, outfight, and outsing him, and my member’s thrice the size o’ his, but Mance has cunning.’
‘You’re a good man, Tormund Giantsbabe. For a wildling.’
‘Better than most, might be. Not so good as some.’
‘Is it your fault that Bronn’s an insolent black-hearted rogue? He’s always been an insolent black-hearted rogue. That’s what I liked about him.’
‘Your squire is insolent, ser,’ Lord Rivers said to Dunk. ‘You ought to beat that out of him.’
‘I’ve tried, m’lord. He’s a prince, though.’
‘What he is,’ said Bloodraven, ‘is a dragon.’
The following Ramble includes me playing Devil’s Advocate, a role I’ve never undertaken. Therefore, I must include a trigger warning for abuse.
…even as a child, your brother Viserys oft seemed to be his father’s son, in ways Rhaegar never did.
“Who are all these folk?”
“My people.” Edmure answered. “They were afraid.”
“Tell Father I have gone to make him proud.”…
“He was always proud of you, Edmure. And he loves you fiercely. Believe that.”
“I mean to give him a better reason than mere birth.”
Bloodraven is not behind every event in the series.
![io9updates:
This children’s book will teach you all about the Houses of Westeros
Bran Stark might have had an easier time learning those House mottos if he’d grown up with a book like this. mrstater posted this series from the imaginary children’s book of Game of Thrones houses, inspired by Eric Carle’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
[mrstater via Popped Culture]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcz5nydAuj1rk5dmso1_500.jpg)
This children’s book will teach you all about the Houses of Westeros
Bran Stark might have had an easier time learning those House mottos if he’d grown up with a book like this. mrstater posted this series from the imaginary children’s book of Game of Thrones houses, inspired by Eric Carle’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
[mrstater via Popped Culture]
“Do you think the noble Lord of Winterfell wanted to hear my feeble explanations? Such an honorable man. He only had to look at me to judge me guilty.”
About Kings have no friends.
