Stark Girls

A Game of Thrones

Arya 1

The Stark Girls

Septa Mordane is instructing a group of girls in the arts of needlework. In attendance are Beth Cassel, Jeyne Poole, Princess Mrycella Baratehon, and the two Stark daughters: Arya and Sansa. The Septa praises Sansa and Myrcella's work while Arya watches, resenting the whole affair. Arya laments to herself how Sansa is so perfect: more beautiful and more womanly than she'll ever be. She thinks of how Sansa's best friend, Jeyne, used to call her Arya Horseface, a name that stung more when she realized the only thing should could ever best Sansa at is horse riding.

As they are working the girls begin to gossip. Jeyne says that the crown prince, Joffrey likes Sansa. Arya is not impressed. As they talk the Septa asks to see Arya's stitch-work and is critical. Arya storms out. She meets up with her direwolf pup Nymeria, named after the famed conqueror of Dorne to meet up with the boys who are practicing swordplay.

Arya catches up with Jon Snow, who was always her closet sibling. She reflects how alike they are, to the point of her wondering if she's a bastard herself. Jon is too lowborn to be allowed to practice with royalty, so he is forced to the sidelines. Bran and Tommen are at it, something that is not very impressive to watch.

Soon after its Robb and Joffrey's turn to spar again. Joffrey has grown bored with practice swords and demands live steel, something Master at Arms Rodrick Cassel denies him. After some arguing, Joffrey leaves, but not before tossing some more insults at Robb Stark.

Commentary:
This is another chapter big on major character introductions. The most important being the stark contrast between Arya and Sansa, the Stark sisters.

Arya "Horseface"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arya is our point of view for the chapter, and it takes great plains to paint her as a tomboy. She sucks at needlework. (Incidentally so do I. I almost flunked Home EC in 7th grade due to shitty needle skills). She's also very self conscious, feeling inferior to her sister at every turn (who at least in this sister sounds like a complete Mary Sue). She'd much rather learn to fight than to sew. Arya and Sansa's differences can honestly be summed up by what they named their wolves. Sansa's is 'Lady'. Arya's is 'Nymeria' --a female conqueror who made the nation of Dorne her bitch.

Of course at this point it's no secret that Arya's a fan favorite. While I am sorta....hesitant...as to where her story is going in the later books, this chapter is good at setting her up as a likeable underdog. Of course this isn't your typical fantasy story so the underdog role is going to go in a much different direction. But that's for later.

One of the nicest parts of this chapter is seeing how close she is to Jon. It's good to see that they have each other.

As for the other Stark girl

I think Sansa gets a lot of undeserved flak but we can't really get into that now. Even though she's a fairly main character in this chapter, we aren't really introduced to her yet. We're introduced to her through Arya's eyes. Arya is deeply resentful of how perfect her sister is, so we don't really see her as anything but a slightly insufferable Mary Sue for now. There's not too much to comment on now but believe me there will be soon.

As for some of the other minor characters - Septa Mordane is like Maester Luwin, she'll be around a lot but never a major character. She's fairly two dimensional. It's important to remember Jeyne Poole in this chapter and that she's slightly bitchy. She's not going to do anything for like four books but man when Martin decides to make her an important character does it come out of nowhere. Once again Mrycella comes off as rather likeable, though we don't get much out of her.

Things are more interesting when we meet up with the boys. Bran and Tommen are in this chapter but we don't really learn anything new about them other than Tommen is fat. The master at arms is Rodrick Cassel who doesn't really have much to him...except in the show where he has the most ridiculous facial hair.

 

 

 

The only reason he gets a picture is his beard. I mean damn look at that thing!

Jon gets to be nice and snarky with Arya, reminding me again why I prefer him so much more in the books than in the show. We also see the dynamic between Robb and Joffrey. Robb I already introduced but this chapter really shows off how hot blooded he is.

And then there's Joffrey. Joffrey. Fucking Joffrey.

Such a punchable face.

We've heard a bit about the young prince and now we finally get to meet him. And basically right now he's a shit. A little fucking shit. In this chapter he pretty much seems like Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter has been lifted out of Hogwarts and dropped in here. Now I fucking hate Malfoy and I hate everything about Joffrey in this chapter. He's a smug little rich bastard who talks all this shit, backs away from a fight, and plays it off like he's still the better man. He even uses the excuse that Robb is older than him for why Robb got in more hits.

But *Spoilers* Joffrey is NOT Draco. Joffrey may seem like it right now, but if you think that Joffrey is just your typical wannabe, minor in the grand scheme of things, pussy kind of villain, you got another thing coming. Draco Malfoy doesn't have SHIT on Joffrey.

We also are introduced to a guard of Joffrey's named Clegane who seems to be an ass. He's a little more complicated but...yeah he's an ass.

Ned's Decision

A Game of Throne


Catelyn 2

After lovemaking, Eddard Stark leaves the bed, naked, and opens the window to his bed chamber: embracing the cold. Castle Winterfell was built on natural hot springs, warming the walls...something Catelyn appreciates more than her husband.

Ned tells his wife he does not wish to take up the King's offer to be Hand. Catelyn urges him to do so, since it will look like a slight against the royal family and may give them cause too suspect the Starks as being enemies. Eddard argues that King Robert would never think such things but Catelyn responds that Robert is a different man than the boy Eddard knew.

They are interrupted by Lewin, the castle's maester, who brings a message to Catelyn. It was in a secret compartment in a box and written in a language only Cat would know--it was one she invented with her sister Lysa, Jon Aryn's widow, as girls.

With apprehension Catelyn reads the note and instantly burns it.  Lysa claims that the Lannisters were behind the murder of Jon Aryn. Eddard is skeptical, he believes that Lysa may be blinded by grief. Catelyn however notes how much trouble Lysa went through to make this message a secret and the danger she would have put her and her son in. Luwin agrees with Catelyn and both urge Eddard to take up the position of Hand of the King, to protect Lysa and her son and to bring the Lannisters to justice. Most importantly though Catelyn asks Ned if he would rather leave Robert, who he just claimed loved him more than a brother, alone with people such as the Lannisters. After some deliberation Ned agrees. However to Cat's displeasure, he states that she must stay in Winterfell with Robb and Rickon. Rickon is too young to take the journey south and Robb needs to be groomed to be the new lord. Sansa must come with him to be wed to Prince Joffrey and Arya needs to learn the ways of court, something she is woefully lacking knowledge in. Catelyn urges Ned to let Bran stay but Ned cannot, Bran needs to form a friendship with Joffrey since there is bad blood between Robb and the Prince. Catelyn agrees this is what would be best for the family, with hesitation.

Luwin then brings up Jon Snow. Catelyn demands that she will not have him in the castle with Ned gone and Ned knows there is no place for him in court. Luwin mentions about the boy's desire to take the black and Ned agrees that he will allow this.
.

Commentary
This is our first plot twist, the Lannisters killed Jon Aryn apparently. Not too much of a WTF moment, given that we clearly aren't supposed to like them at this point. This chapter gives us a good look at Eddard and Catelyn's marriage, while they do love each other, there is some distance between them --especially due to Jon Snow. Cateyln is not so much angry with the fact that thy boy exists, but rather that she is forced to see evidence of her husbands infidelity day after day. As much as she hates it, this is another shining example of Ned's character. Most men send their bastards away, Ned announces him to the world and treats him as any other son.  We also get a bit more tidbits on Jon Snow's past. Rumors were present that the mother was a woman named Ashara Dayne of Starfall but Eddard has silenced any discussion of the topic. All Ned has to say is the boy has his blood.

We get some more about the bromance between Ned and Robert, which Catelyn uses to guilt her husband into taking the position of Hand of the King.  We also meet a fairly important character, Maester Luwin

Maester's are pretty much doctor's, accountants, councilors, teachers, and scientists all rolled up into one neat package. Most lords have one in their employ. Luwin's never a major character, but he's always a presence and I like him for what he is. He's an overall nice guy, caring deeply about his charges, and does not have any ulterior motives. For a story that thrives on mostly http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BlackAndGrayMorality...where the characters are at best deeply flawed individuals and at worst utter puppy kicking bastards I like to consider Luwin pretty much squarely 'good'.  Interesting to note both Luwin and Catelyn argue in favor for Ned to go south. In the show they have more of a good angel bad angel thing going on representing Ned's conscious...with Catelyn urging him to stay north away from the den of vipers that is the capital. Of course it's not really a choice of right and wrong: both are perfectly acceptable and justifiable actions.

Also let's comment on Lysa, Catelyn's sister. Her method of delivering the letter was clever and she risked a lot to warn the Starks of the Lannister's crimes. She must be pretty cool. I think we have a fan favorite coming. Right?


....

....right?