Chapter 44 - Jaime - Golden mediation

Martin is really throwing in some awesome stuff in the last 1/4 of this book.  We got an Arya chapter just recently and now there's a Jaime chapter, too.  Also, this chapter was good because it told us where we are in relation to A Feast for Crows.  Some time has passed since Jaime received Cersei's note pleading for him to save her.  Jaime has continued to ignore that note and is about to finish what he left King's Landing to do when the chapter begins.

I love that he has ignored the letter.  Cersei deserves what she gets.  At one point he wonders if she'll even be alive before he returns.  The casual nature of his thought is startling compared to the intense love and protective nature he had for her previously.  Her...indiscretions have sparked another change in Jaime and I like it.  When he interrupts Lord Bracken he has a conversation with his woman and, at one point, his thoughts drift to Myrcella.  He thinks about how he "will need to tell her too" and it is obvious that he plans to tell his children that they are not Baratheons but rather the offspring of his incestuous relationship with Cersei.  Prince Doran would not be happy to hear this though I doubt he has any intention of marrying his son to Myrcella and I would wager that he already knows that she is a pureblood Lannister.

His goal is simple...to agree to terms with Tytos Blackwood and have the castle under Lannister control before the day is done.  This is the last holdout of the Stark uprising and it's sad for me to see it fall.  It's just another reminder that Robb and Ned are long dead.  I just know that the Starks will rise again somehow since Arya, Bran, Rickon, and Sansa still live, but I don't think it will happen for some time still.

Once in the castle with Lord Blackwood Jaime offers the terms and Blackwood accepts them almost too eagerly.  I don't suspect a trap or a lie.  I think Blackwood is just accepting the reality of his situation.  I kind of respect that, but it was weird how he kept asking about how and when he'd have to kneel.  He was so focused on that.  Maybe it means nothing.  Jaime gets to see the massive heart tree within the castle and Blackwood tells him about how ravens cover the tree every single night and have been for thousands of years.  No one knows why.  Perhaps the ravens are connected to Ser Brynden and they return because of his connection to them through the tree.  I wouldn't be surprised if he can use them as his eyes as they travel across Westeros.  Jaime seals the agreement by taking Blackwood's son as a hostage.  The scene at the end where his son grins about being a hostage was kind of funny.  Jaime quickly grounds this boy's expectations and reminds him that the only thing keeping his head on his shoulders is his father's continued submission and loyalty.  I could hear the way Blackwood snarled the name "Kingslayer" when he said it.
The squabbling of the Blackwoods and the Brackens is ridiculous.  Even Blackwood's son sees it from the histories.  I could feel the boredom and annoyance that Jaime must have felt having to act as a mediator to these two men.

Martin finishes the chapter in typical "holy crap" fashion as Brienne of Tarth rides up to speak with Jaime.  He immediately notices her facial wound that she received from Biter.  She tells him that she has found Sansa and that he must come alone to save her from the Hound.  There's only one way I can react to that (and I must do so in the epic words of Admiral Ackbar)...

Chapter 43 - Tyrion - So close yet so far

So close yet so far was the only thing I could think as I read this chapter.  Tyrion has slowly been moving on his way towards Dany since the beginning of the book.  Each time he thinks he is on the straight path something else gets in the way.  The last chapter was apparently no exception.  It ended with the ship being completely disabled and a slaver ship heading directly towards them.  After the ship reached them it seems that the crew was all captured including Ser Jorah.  I thought that Jorah might have died, but instead he was just beaten within an inch of his life and branded.  I'm thinking he'd have preferred to die.

Tyrion and Penny are thankfully sold as a pair along with the pig and the dog and they are sold as freaks and performers.  In the world they are in now it's as equally good a chance that both would be forced to live as prostitutes or worse so being sold as performance slaves isn't so bad.  In fact, they are so popular that they bring in a ton of silver and are sold to a gigantically fat man in yellow.  For some reason, I can't help but picturing Curious George and the Man in the Yellow Hat here.  I'm not sure why...  Ser Jorah is saved by Tyrion and also sold to the fat man in yellow.  I don't know why Tyrion did what he did other than that he recognizes that Jorah may be useful to him when it comes time to escape.

What's crazy is that the camp they end up in is just outside the walls of Meereen.  Dany has married Hizdahr and peace has been made with the Yunkai'i so that they may continue their slaving.  It was heartbreaking to hear many of the slaves claim that Dany would never make peace with the slavers when that is exactly what she did.  But, she can't save everyone and that's the reality of the world.

After Tyrion and Penny perform for their new master, Tyrion plays cevasse with Brown Ben Plumm who betrayed Dany not so long ago.  I didn't realize that he was a Westerosi.  I guess that is part of why Dany was so hurt by his betrayal.  Tyrion recognizes the coldness in his eyes immediately.  He mentions how Ben's face smiles, but his eyes never do.  So was Brown Ben good at hiding this coldness when he was with Dany or did she just miss it?  There's no doubt that Tyrion is smarter than Dany and I'm sure he's much better at reading them.  I think Dany didn't see it.  That's why I think her marriage to Hizdahr and her relationship with Daario is so dangerous.  Also, she has even been warned of future betrayal and she's on the lookout for it because she talks about it in her point of view chapters, yet she never suspected Brown Ben Plumm of switching sides for coin.

At the end of the chapter we find out that Tyrion and Penny will be performing in front of many more people in the Great Pit of Daznak.  I assume this is one of the fighting pits that Hizdahr wishes to re-open.  Will Dany also be there to see their show?  If so, will Tyrion and Ser Jorah finally be able to reach her?  If so, I will find it funny that the only thing that saved Tyrion and Ser Jorah was Tyrion humbling himself enough to perform in Penny's show.

Chapter 42 - The Ghost in Winterfell - Who is knocking on the door?

There is a ghost in Winterfell, but it's not clear if the ghost is the voice Theon hears in the godswood or if it's the person who is killing Roose Bolton's men or if it's Theon himself.  Regardless, all three are possibilities.  When Theon is in the godswood begging for a man's death I am sure that it really is Bran who he hears and sees.  Bran is communicating through the trees just as Ser Brynden has taught him.  It's interesting that he can do that. I don't think Brynden can though we've never been told that.  Perhaps Bran has abilities because he is a Stark.

Someone is killing the men in Winterfell and they are good.  The first few look like accidents which I think was probably the idea.  The last is obviously not unless Yellow Dick somehow shoved his own member into his mouth and died and I highly doubt that.  I think the last one was intended to freak everyone out because the person on the inside knows that Stannis (or whoever is banging the drums) is near.  I also think that it's this singer and his lady friends.  They are much too interested in Theon and his story and then the scene at the end of the chapter makes it very clear that they are not what they seem.

If Stannis really is outside then I don't know how he did it, but I would rather Stannis take the castle and kill everyone then have Roose Bolton and his men win again.  Manderley will help Stannis as soon as it is safe and wise to do so, of course.  I imagine many of the other northern houses will turn against the Boltons as well.  I also suspect that Theon's love for the Starks is about to bring him back to who he was.  I think that is why this chapter has such an emphasis on Theon wanting to die as a man and not as Reek.

It was funny when Roose Bolton accused him of being the killer.  Could anyone ever suspect that Theon is physically capable of besting anyone at this point?  I think Roose Bolton is desperate and he knows his hold on these houses is tenuous at best.  I don't like him for the part he played in the Red Wedding.  I hope that he and his son get what's coming to them.  I especially hope that for Ramsey.

Chapter 41 - The Blind Girl - Now she can see

This book is just full of wonderful surprises.  Getting an Arya chapter is about one of the coolest things that could happen.  I was so happy when I read the title and immediately recognized who it would be.

So, Arya is still blind and since that was close to the end of A Feast for Crows it means we are getting close to the point where this books extends beyond that one.  This chapter just has me super excited for more.  What is even better is that Arya gets her eyesight back at the end of the chapter once she has proven that she can rely on her other senses as well as her eyes.  Arya is such a strong, amazing character.  I can't wait for her to get an opportunity to show off how tough and smart she really is.

I liked that Arya is warging inside of Nymeria despite the distance between them.  It's nice to know that Nymeria is alive still.  It seems that Arya's ability to warg is growing stronger just like Bran's though Bran knows what he's doing and controls it.  I know that Arya can if she wanted and she obviously used the cat to see who was attacking her.  She must understand it a bit.  I want to know why their powers are growing stronger.  There must be a need.

I'm not totally sure why her sight was returned to her.  It can't be as simple as her figuring out who was attacking her.  I have my suspicions that the old man knows what she can do and he was waiting for her to use the ability.  The things that go on here just feel too well orchestrated.  Regardless, Arya has eyes again and I can't wait to see what she does next.

Chapter 40 - Jon - The arrival of the grey girl

So Queen Selyse is as pleasant as Stannis.  They will make quite the pair ruling Westeros (if Stannis somehow ever sits the Iron Throne).  No wonder her men treat Jon with such contempt since she looks down on him as if he were a mouse.  I kind of chuckled when she said that they were moving into the Nightfort because Eastwatch wasn't safe and how Shireen would one day sit the Iron Throne.  If Shireen ever gets to be queen, that will be quite an event.  Even the way that the queen and her men react to Wun Wun the giant is ignorant and patronizing.  They are appalled at his very existence and refuse to listen to a thing that Jon says.  Part of me wishes her men would have started a fight just so the giant could have killed half of them.  Of course that would have caused major problems for Jon which is the only reason I'm glad it didn't happen.  I did notice that Shireen wasn't scared at all but rather amazed that she was seeing a giant.  She at least seems more open minded than her parents, but I just don't think she'll ever be strong enough to rule.

After the queen and her men leave Jon grabs the banker from Bravos, Tycho, and Jon does something that is very smart but which will probably get him crap from the other Night's Watchmen.  He takes out loans that will enable the Watch to feed and arm the men who are going to be very important in the coming months.  He also acquires temporary use of the 3 ships belonging to Tycho so that he can protect the Wildlings from becoming wights.  I found it very interesting that the Iron Throne isn't paying off Robert's debts and is gaining the anger of the Iron Bank.  If Stannis makes it back from Winterfell and he is willing to work with them then he may have truly just gained an edge over the Lannisters.  And since we know of the trouble going down in King's Landing now is as good a time as any.

Of course, just as soon as there is some good news for Stannis we finally meet the mystery girl on the horse that Melisandre saw and we learn that the Karstarks really are going to betray Stannis for Roose Bolton.  Theon had mentioned that in a previous chapter and it sounds legit now.  How did Theon know this?  I guess he is much like a servant in that people talk in front of him as if he's not there.

Her name is Alys Karstark and her uncle (really cousin) is after her to take her back home.  I believe what she is saying about them wanting an heir through her and about how they are basically playing to take over the Karstark line.  Her uncle is making a good move, but she made it to Jon.  Now we see what he does.  He's not one to turn down a woman in need especially when that woman reminds him of Arya.

Chapter 39 - Daenerys - Decisions and Denial

Dany awakes to the dawn nearly arriving and Daario lying next to her.  She is only a few days away from her marriage to Hizdahr, but she is filled with dread.  She does not love Hizdahr and will wed him only to bring peace.  She feels something for Daario however.  I believe it is nothing more than lust, but it could be more.  Either way, it is foolish for Dany to be acting this way.  She is making one decision as a queen and yet the other as an immature girl.  Daario even dared to kiss her in open court.  He's nothing but a sellsword and a brute and he "loves" Dany because she is queen and beautiful.  I found it interesting that even Dany referred to Ser Barristan as "Ser Grandfather" in her thoughts.  She is letting Daario rub off on her more than she realizes.

Daario manages to convince Dany to hold court so that the Dornishmen in his group can present a gift to Dany. I loved that Daario was used like a fool here and how it made him angry.  He's not someone I trust and I think he's going to be trouble.  Granted, I think that Hizdahr is more than he seems and could be even worse trouble.

So, Dany meets the Dornishmen who reveal themselves.  Quentyn presents him as the prince of Dorne and reveals that Viserys was to marry Arianne.  This confirms for me that Doran did not know that Aegon was alive.  It is fitting that Aegon is headed to Dorne then.  A Targaryen will wed Arianne now, but it will not be Dany and Quentyn.  So Dany refuses him and does what she feels she must.  She is right that she must do what it takes to live long enough to reach Dorne.  I can't fault her for that thinking.

Afterwards, she lies with Daario and in the morning he storms out to raise hell.  I can't tell if he truly cares for her and is jealous or perhaps he's angry that he isn't getting what he wants.  I suspect he usually gets what he wants.

Dany wraps herself in her wedding attire and heads to the temple.  I couldn't help but wonder if there was a bit of symbolism in the fact that she was unable to ride her silver and instead had to be carried to the temple.  The silver was hers from her Khal and that was such a different life.  That Dany is gone.  The inability to ride her horse had such a finality to it.

So, she meets Hizdahr and they wed.  We see them as they emerge.  When we see Dany next will Hizdahr be what he has claimed to be?

Chapter 38 - The King's Prize - Dead in the snow

It was interesting to get a Theon chapter followed immediately by an Asha chapter.  Both of them have fallen quite far from where they started and from where they aimed to be.  It feels like Martin is trying to stress the importance of the Greyjoy siblings by doing this and I think the two of them will play a big role in the coming battle.

Asha is a hostage of Stannis as they travel to Winterfell.  Stannis wants to present her as a prize and as proof of his strength, but I don't get how that's going to work.  Asha even thinks the same thing.  How does capturing the daughter of the former king of the Iron Islands prove anything?  Euron is king.  Asha is kind of worthless in my opinion.  It feels like this is another one of Stannis' weird, illogical moves.

As the army travels, they are hit with a tremendous winter storm.  Is this the storm that Roose Bolton was saying slowed Stannis' army?  The men who follow R'hollor continually pray for deliverance but none comes.  There is constant discussion of offering a sacrifice to R'hollor to prove their faith and gain his protection.  Clearly they want to burn Asha, but that just seems silly to me.  How does burning her prove anything?  It seems like an empty gesture since it costs these men nothing and therefore proves nothing.  Melisandre practices a true faith and it's a faith that seems to bring results.  Perhaps the reason that their prayers have been unanswered is because their faith is false to begin with.  Perhaps their faith isn't strong enough to counter the power of the Old gods of the north.  That is one thing that Martin has never really touched on.  There are so many competing gods and faiths in this world.  You have the Seven, the old gods, R'hollor, and even more gods outside of Westeros.  Is one of them real?  Are all of them?  Perhaps they are all manifestations of the same god?

We see some interesting things about Stannis in this chapter.  We see just how averse he is to woman.  We already kind of knew that, but Asha points out just how bad it is.  Stannis can't stand to be around any women, even the She-bear.  The three Baratheon brothers were quite terrible at dealing with women it seems.  Robert was a womanizer, Stannis is incredibly awkward around them (and possibly even a bit scared of them), and Renly was gay.  We also see that Stannis still lives in his brothers shadow to the point where Robert's name angers him and ends any discussion.  I think this is part of why Stannis can't be a good king.  He keeps himself in that shadow.

By the end of the chapter, the food has vanished and men are dying every day.  They stop to camp in a tiny town.  When Asha wakes there is no movement or sound.  There is no annoucement to start marching.  Something is wrong.  We don't find out what it is, but I expect it's something that could put an end to this march once and for all.

Chapter 37 - Turncloak - Theon's love

The host at Winterfell sits and waits for Stannis to arrive.  Roose Bolton announces that Stannis' host has slowed to a crawl amidst cheers.  Roose seems to think that Stannis presents no threat and part of me agrees.  However, Lady Dustin offers a glimpse into the reality of the situation a bit later in the chapter.  Apparently, Ramsey has not done a good job of keeping Fakarya happy (and who can blame her?).  She weeps constantly and the men can hear it.  The Northmen fear Roose Bolton, but they loved the Starks.  Even in the world that Martin has built, love tends to win over fear and men will fight and die for the former long before the latter.  I think that Stannis may have a chance...if he ever gets to Winterfell.

In the meantime, Theon is left to hobble around the castle eating gruel and visiting old memories.  As the chapter begins, Theon is eating when he is approached by a washerwoman (i.e. whore) who has attached herself to a singer.  She promises to write a song about Theon and begs him for the story of how he took Winterfell.  Theon rejects her advances in case she is another one of Ramsey's tricks.  She very well could be.  What it is to be Theon Turncloak...to live in constant fear of his master and his games.  Perhaps there is more to this washerwoman however.  She was very intent on getting the secret of Theon's success.  Could she be working against the Boltons from the inside?

The chapter ends with Theon leading Lady Barbrey Dustin into the crypts beneath Winterfell.  This was a very, very interesting part as we learn some things about the Stark's history.  I loved when Lady Dustin told Theon that she hated the Starks for the same reason that he loved them.  She's right.  Theon loved the Starks.  Why he did what he did is still beyond me.  Theon could be one of the dumbest characters in the series.

We learn that Lady Dustin was, for all intents and purposes, in love with Brandon Stark and even gave him her virginity.  According to her Brandon Stark loved to fight and didn't even want to marry Catelyn.  That was interesting for a couple of reasons.  I believe that it was Brandon who severely wounded Littlefinger over Catelyn.  If he didn't even want her, then he did it for honor and possibly also because he wanted to hurt someone.  It seems that Brandon and Ned were as different as Robert and Stannis or as Jaime and Tyrion.  How would things have been different if Brandon had never died in King's Landing?  We also learn that Lady Dustin wants to feed Ned's bones to her dogs.  The way she snarls when she says it is a bit creepy as well.

They leave and as they do she tells Theon that he best keep all of this information to himself.  He replies "Hold my tongue or lose it."  She tells him that "Roose has trained you well."  That he has, but will Theon Turncloak keep to that when he has the opportunity to show his love for the Starks?  Love is stronger than fear.

Chapter 36 - Tyrion - Piggy riding

When this chapter began, I figured that Tyrion had to be dreaming.  There was no way that he would consent to riding a pig dressed as a knight and putting on a show just so that he could be laughed at.  I quickly realized that this was, in fact, reality and that Tyrion was doing something that he had refused so many times before.  He had even refused to do this same thing when Joffrey commanded it and could have executed him for his refusal.  The fact that Tyrion is willing to make a fool of himself now is very interesting and it lets us see even more of this softer side of his.  Of course, I don't think he did it totally for Penny.  I'm sure there was also a bit of self-protection going on in the hope that the crew would not fry him on a spit when things got bad.

Afterwards, he and Jorah return to their tiny room where they are almost kind to one another.  I think Ser Jorah is realizing that Tyrion isn't some evil, monstrous half-man who turns into a bat at night and flies around stalking children.  He's seeing that Tyrion can be kind and, dare I say, human.  Of course, that doesn't last as Tyrion and Jorah get onto the topic of Dany and Tyrion sorts out that Jorah is actually trying to win back her favor and then suggests that perhaps Ser Jorah should be more worried about losing his head once they reach her.  Ser Jorah replies with a nice hand to the face and thus ends the conversation and their short-lived friendship.

The ship has been sitting idle for several days at this point which was part of why Tyrion agreed to the show with Penny so when a wind begins to blow it is cause for celebration.  That is until they realize that it is a beast of a storm headed their way.  Tyrion realizes that the prophecy of the ship was very accurate but misinterpreted by himself.  The ship is not going to reach its destination because it is going to get destroyed.  Annnnnnd destroyed it is.  The storm rips the mast to pieces, kills many of the crew members along with the Red Priest, and leaves the ship barely able to stay afloat.  Tyrion is also wounded which is typical for him.  During the assault, Tyrion and Penny kiss though neither are interested in the other and it ends there.  That made me breathe a sigh of relief.  I want Tyrion to stay as Penny's big brother-esque protector.  I like him in that role.

At the end of the chapter, a ship appears in the distance and begins heading towards them.  At first you think that they may be saved until Ser Jorah points out what should be obvious...a ship out where they are is most likely a slaver's ship.  He draws his blade and prepares because they are about to fight.  I don't know that we'll get to see the battle.  I just hope Penny and her pets survive along with Tyrion.

Chapter 35 - Jon - The Night's Watch is a-changin'

Jon is sending Val out beyond the Wall to find Tormund Giantsbane.  At first, it doesn't seem to be very clear as to why he is seeking Tormund, but by the end of the chapter we know.  If anyone can navigate the area north of the wall and get to him to deliver Jon's message, it's Val.  She is a very confident, very strong woman and I doubt much can stand in her way.  What will happen if Stannis returns before Val does?  Stannis lets Jon get away with quite a bit, but will this push him past his limits?  Part of me wonders if Stannis is ever going to return.  You know, because he might die fighting the Boltons.

Afterwards, Jon is in his quarters when Bowen Marsh and a couple others appear to give him a hard time about it.  It turns out that they already know about Val being sent out and they also have quite a few other concerns such as who is going to become Jon's steward when Dolorous Edd is gone and who is going to train the new recruits.  Bowen Marsh is really beginning to irritate me.  The Night's Watch in general really feels like the United States government.  It's been around for a long time and it's really set in its ways.  It has a system that worked a long time ago, but don't try to modify it to fit the times!  That'd be terrible.  The Night's Watch is about to face the greatest enemy they have ever faced.  They are about the face the enemy that they are basically there to face and Marsh and the other men are concerned with titles and rank.  They don't care about skill or need.

Jon then tells them about a mass of Wildlings that are sheltered in a "haunted" area of the North called Hardhome.  Apparently, it's been haunted for 600 years.  I doubt that it's really haunted.  I think it's folklore and it's the Night's Watch men being superstitous and stuck-in-their-ways.  Marsh is way too happy to let all of the Wildlings die there.  Jon manages to point out that a few thousand dead Wildlings could easily become a few thousand wights ready to swarm the Wall and destroy them.  Yet, Marsh and the others still don't get it and leave angry.

I'm not sure what's going to happen at the Wall.  It seems that either Jon does nothing but the norm and the men are happy but the Others destroy them or Jon tries to prepare them and the men are unhappy and possibly ready to rebel.  Good times for Jon Snow.

Chapter 34 - The Watcher - The game of thrones is beginning again

The Mountain is dead...or so we're told by Ser Balon Swann and Cersei.  They have sent his skull in a little box to Dorne to offer vengeance for the murder of Elia and her two children.  The skull is big enough and the Mountain was quite unique, but we've seen that he is not the only creature out there of his size.  Beyond the Wall, giants are much more common.  Is it possible that this former maester in King's Landing had access to a giant's skull that he could pass off as Ser Gregor's?

During the feash, the Sand Snakes are not pleased with Prince Doran's willingess to offer fealty to King Tommen.  They think he is weak, but I'm beginning to realize that the Prince is possibly one of the best players of the game of thrones that we've seen.  It was nice to hear the phrase used again since there hasn't been as much of that type of intrigue since the first book.  It's returning now and it's going to get interesting very soon.  Doran has been waiting for years for this time to come.  I suspect that he has know of Aegon's survival since it occurred.

Tomorrow, they leave for the Water Gardens where Ser Balon is meet Princess Myrcella again and then take her back to her brother along with Doran's son Trystane.  I don't doubt Doran's sources for a second and I completely believe that Cersei cooked up a scheme to have Trystane murdered.  I can't even begin to imagine what would be her reasoning, but we've seen that Cersei is not the best at playing the game of thrones.  Hopefully Ser Balon will believe Myrcella's story about how she lost her ear.  I had completely forgotten that she had been injured in the fight.

So, Prince Doran has a better plan in mind and he will send two of the Sand Snakes to King's Landing to continue his plans.  Once they have left, he speaks to Arianne about the arrival of an army which must be Aegon's army.  He acts like he doesn't know that it's Aegon and not Dany, but I think he does know who it is.  Though he may be expecting Aegon to go to Dany and then return together, so that could be a surprise to him.  Regardless, he has no intention of submitting to the Iron Throne.  I liked that his story about the Water Gardens involved a Targaryen named Daenerys.  How fitting that a Daenerys taught him how to rule and that his hopes are partially based in the return of the new Daenerys.

One more thing...it was cool to get Hotah as a point of view!  He's so BA!

Chapter 33 - The Prince of Winterfell - The Prince returns to his biggest failure

Theon gets a new chapter title now as he is called the Prince of Winterfell a few times throughout.  I can't tell if it's supposed to a mocking title or if it's a throwback to the old Theon who used to dream of being one of Ned's sons.  Maybe it's supposed to be both.  Regardless, Theon is not even close to being a prince of anything except for maybe the prince of the dogs.

I had wondered if Roose Bolton had something big planned for Theon because of his claim to the Seastone Chair the way that I think Asha realized that she could use him.  However, it sounds like this was Theon's role and no more.  They are using him to "prove" that Fakarya is the real Arya.  It's a clever move by a clever man as anyone who might suspect that Jeyne isn't Arya will keep their mouth shut if someone like Theon vouches for her.  It's a pretty basic trick, but it's very effective.

As Theon leads the bride to her groom, he stares into her brown eyes.  These are eyes which prove that this girl is not Arya.  Perhaps Theon knew that Sansa was always out of his league, but Arya...she may have one day been his bride.  He wishes someone would realize that her eyes are wrong and would end this farce and perhaps even end his misery swiftly.  When Jeyne begged him to save her, it was almost heartbreaking because she's trapped and I don't think she deserves it at all.  Her names, as Theon recites, rhymes with pain and I think she's about to feel a lot of it.  As they walk, Theon looks around the godswood and the memories rush in.  He had so many good memories here.  I think his main issue is that he struggled with the desire to be one of the Starks, but he knew that he was really nothing more than a hostage.  In the end, he wanted to be remembered and he got everyone killed and himself captured.

Quickly, the wedding takes place and Theon wanders back to the castle.  He hears someone whisper his name in the mist.  Was it real or was it his imagination?  Could it have been Bran?  It really sucks to see Winterfell in the state it is in.  I remember when Ned was alive and the castle was whole.  I hope that Winterfell goes back into the hands of the Starks one day.

At the end of the wedding feast, Roose Bolton gives a speech and he announces that Stannis is on the way.  Theon thinks that Arnolf Karstark is going to turn on Stannis when Bolton commands.  Is that the truth?  If it is, then Stannis could find himself capture or dead before this coming battle is through.  Afterwards, Theon is summoned to take Fakarya to Ramsey's chambers.  Once he is there he is forced to strip her and more.  Ramsey is such a brutal, sadistic animal.  Every Theon chapter makes me wish he would meet his end soon, but I'm afraid it won't happen for a while.  He might survive for quite a bit a la Joffrey.

What is the most distressing about this chapter is that Theon has a few opportunities to kill Ramsey and he even contemplates doing so.  But, in the end, he submits just like a dog, just like Reek and he does his duty.  I think Theon is stronger now than he ever was before, but something needs to bring it out of him.

Chapter 32 - Daenerys - The sick and the lying and Dany

The Astapori are dying.  The Flux is spreading through them like wildfire.  I imagine that this is tearing Dany apart as she considers all of these people to be her children and she cannot do anything for him.  Even trying to separate the sick from the not sick is having no affect as the not sick quickly become sick.  She is out surveying the status of the people and delivering food.  She seems to think that she will be safe from the Flux since she can never remember getting sick and Viserys had told her that dragons are not affected by disease.  I wonder if there is something about the Targaryen's that protects them from disease?

As she travels through the camp, the people who can call out to her as their Mother and yell blessings to her.  It's almost scary how the people idolize her to the point that it almost feels like she is their god.  The power that she holds is truly amazing, but it has so much hardship for someone who cares as much as she does.  Now that Aegon is in the picture, part of me thinks that it would be better for him to deal with the pressures of being king and ruling Westeros.  Let Dany be his queen or remain a princess who can care for the people without those heavy burdens laying on her shoulders.

Eventually, Dany decides to stop and distribute the food.  She then decides to show the people that she cares by personally washing them much to the chagrin of some of her entourage.  She manages to guilt most of them to help her by separating the dead from the living to burn the bodies and by helping the living to wash in the water.  She could possibly be immune to sickness, but the others are not.  Will any of them catch the Flux?

Afterwards, they return to the city and Dany bathes with Missandei.  Missandei makes a comment about hearing the Astapori scratching at the walls during the night.  They quickly quell her fears, but that worries me.  Is this just the imagination of a child or is something going on?  Afterwards, she discusses her impending marriage to Hizdahr.  She resists many of the rituals that they want her to follow and Hizdahr seems to be ok with that.  He is almost....too ok with it.  Why is he so ready to throw away these traditions except because he is ready to have the power of kingship given to him?  He happily tells her that he has secured peace with the Yunkai'i and the men of New Ghis as long as Dany leaves them to their slaving and as long she marries him.  This seems suspicious.

Before her dinner is over the Storm Crows (in other words Daario) return with news for her.  Daario reports to her with various pieces of information including the betrayal of the the Second Sons and Brown Ben Plumm.  Is this the truth or a lie of Daario's?  I like that Ser Barristan doesn't like Daario.  I don't like him either.  After everyone else leaves Daario kisses Dany and she returns the favor.  Ugh.  She is like putty in his hands.  This is bad.  I don't know why, but it's bad.

Chapter 31 - Jon Snow - A merry trip to ye ol' Godswood

Ahh...a relaxing trip to the Godswood is exactly the thing to release all that built up stress.  Watch the icicles grow.  Watch the snow fall.  Watch the birds fly.  Watch the undead or roaming wildings stab you in the eyeball.  Ahhh.
So, Jon is taking the new brothers-to-be out to the Godswood to say their woods the way he and Sam did.  That feels like such a long time ago.  It's only been a few years story-wise, but it feels like an eon.  His men try to talk him out of it because of the many threats out there.  I can see their point and I wouldn't want Jon to go.  I also get that this is something that must happen.  The Night's Watch can't hide from their enemies.  So, he takes the men and they do their business.

As they arrive, they encounter a rather pathetic group of Wildlings including a giant.  A battle almost takes place, but Jon talks them down.  Afterwards, Jon takes many of them back wtih him which creates many new mouths to feed.  The giant goes as well.  It'd be pretty cool if the giant were to eventually join the Night's Watch and take the black.  That'd be pretty awesome.

Once they have returned a letter arrives from Stannis discussing the marriage of Ramsey and Fakarya.  It also sounds like Asha was caught at the end of her chapter.  This has all the makings of a good trap and I have a feeling that Stannis is going to walk right into it.  I'm pretty sure that Roose Bolton outright said that he's holding the marriage at Winterfell in order to draw his enemies out.  I think the battle will happen closer to the end of this book.  If Stannis is smart and as good of a strategist as he used to be then he'll do the smart thing and take Winterfell quickly and wait for the Boltons.  It will also be interesting if Stannis manages to save Fakarya.  Then everyone will know that she is, in fact, fake.  It'll play into the Manderley plan to find Rickon quite nicely.

Stannis' hold on the throne will ultimately come down to this final.  It should be a good one.

Chapter 30 - Bran - The powers of Ser Brynden

Oh, man.  This was such a friggin' awesome chapter!  It's been a while since we had a Bran chapter so this one was a pleasant surprise.  It was so good.  I feel like it had the right amount of new information and teasing nuggets of future information.

First off, I must admit that I am a dumb head.  How could I not have realized that Melisandre's vision in the fire of the wooden face was referring to Ser Brynden?  Stupidity is my only excuse and it's not a good one.  So, I am convinced that's who she saw which means that the Wolf boy is definitely Bran.  That doesn't clear up any of my other questions about whether Bran is being led down the wrong path or not.  I still don't know whether Brynden is an enemy or whether he is just at odds with Melisandre and R'hollor.  That's one of the great things about Martin's books.  There are so many characters who aren't clearly good or evil because everyone has different realistic motivations.  Also, could the dark haired girl that Melisandre believes to be Arya really be Meera Reed?

I was also wrong to expect that Bran was going to fly on a dragon.  I thought that Brynden was hinting at that the last time they spoke, but now I think that he was really referring to Bran using his Warg powers more openly to control ravens.  Brynden, or Woody wood face as I may sometimes refer to him, is showing Bran how to use his abilities properly.  It also sounds like the Children of the Forest have built a little throne for Bran alongside Brynden which makes me think that Bran isn't ever leaving this place in a physical sense.  The only way I can see him leaving is if the Reeds "rescue" him, but does Bran want to be "rescued"?  These powers that Brynden has are quite incredible after all.  I also wonder who Brynden was before he became Woody wood face.  He's been there for a looooooooooong time.  If Bran continues along this path, he's going to end up just like Brynden.  I think that part of him wants to do it, but the other part of him is afraid because he's already becoming cut off from the others.

Bran is then given a taste of the power to see through time.  This part was awesome.  We see Ned again, which I loved.  I forgot how much I loved Ned's character and how much I miss him being around.  The scene with Ned was obviously after he brought Jon home as his son.  I wonder if we'll be learn about Jon's true parentage using Bran's time-vision?

Bran also sees a bunch of other people running through the Godswood.  He sees a girl who reminds him of Arya, but she's not.  That has to be Lyanna and Benjen.  He sees a bunch of other people in his visions, too, but I'll have to ponder those a bit more.  I be's intrigued.

Another cool thing about this chapter is that we get a good description of the Children of the Forest, too, with their three-fingered hands and big eyes and their weird ears.  We also learn that many of the Children of the Forest are inside of the roots of the Weirwood trees.  Is that how these trees are created?  Do they all have the Children intertwined in their roots?

So, now I can't wait for a future Bran chapter.  I don't know what's going to happen and I love it.

Chapter 29 - Tyrion - The softer side of the Imp

The last time that we saw Tyrion he was being dragged around town by Ser Jorah bound in chains and forced to sleep hanging from a hook in the wall.  He was also being attacked by a young, dwarf girl who blames him for the fact that her dwarf brother had his head not so gently removed and presented to Cersei.  Now, we find Tyrion in a slightly better situation.  He's on a ship headed to Dany and the dwarf girl, Penny, is also on board having decided not to kill him anymore.

I'm curious what's going to happen when he gets to Dany now.  When he was with Aegon and his crew, I figured they would vouch for him in the name of Illyrio.  She'd find out that he killed his father and is wanted for the murder of Joffrey as well.  I imagined that Dany would welcome him, not with open arms, but at least with some kind of trust.  Now, however, he is being brought as a prisoner of Ser Jorah who would love nothing more than to present him to be executed so that he could prove his loyalty to Dany.  Ser Jorah's making a good move by getting Tyrion to Dany, but I hope it's for a reason that Tyrion will also appreciate.  In any case he'll be there soon, which is awesome.

On the ship Tyrion has a few interactions with Penny, once she stops running out of the room in tears every time he enters.  I like that Tyrion doesn't intend to take advantage of her.  Tyrion is a twisted, little man, but he can be caring when the moment suits him.  It's the softer side we so seldom see of him.  We kind of saw it with Shae, but that was more of "Tyrion needs to be loved" kind of thing and this seems more like a "Tyrion wants to help someone" thing.

The differences between the two of them are quite interesting.  She's lived a life on the road putting on show after show while he has lived in luxury as a Lannister.  More than that, she's lived a life where she has encouraged people to laugh at her because of her dwarfism.  One thing we know about Tyrion is that he hates being laughed at.  I think the difference comes from their fathers.  Penny's taught her to accept her state and use it lightheartedly.  Tywin was sickened by the fact that he had a dwarf son.  Penny is also a bit naive where Tyrion is bitterly realistic.

At the end of the chapter, we get a few more prophetic visions from a Red Priest and one of them refers to something that has got to be the Crow's Eye who is headed to Dany.  We haven't heard much about him in a while.  I'm not looking forward to his arrival to be honest.

Lastly, I wonder if cyvasse will ever be developed as a real game and sold.  I think that'd be really cool.  Hearing the characters discuss it has me very intrigued.  Just something that popped into my head...