Game of Thrones: Chapter 6: Catelyn & A long look at Winterfell

This chapter starts off with Ned and Catelyn just finishing lovemaking. In this Catelyn has some thoughts and provides us a description of Winterfell and how it was built over hot springs.

Essentially it uses hot springs as geothermal energy in lieu of an actual forced water and heating element. I think George R. R. Martin may have been inspired by the Roman hypocaust system in the design of Winterfell.

Now this is a very unique solution to the long winters that happen in the world of Ice and Fire. But it also presents some direct problems.

First the North is HUGE! It’s almost as big as the rest of the 7 kingdoms combined.

Now usually castles were built in locations that were of strategic importance. So if you aren’t building your castle in a strategic location in favor of a prefered environment then you are gonna have to make up for that in some way or other. Luckily Winterfell had been built in a central location and was able to take advantage of the springs.

This isn’t a bad idea as it’s a seemingly constant source of heat that will ensure survival. Cultures throughout history have used geothermal resources for heating, cooking, preserving food, and bathing. All of which could be done without modifying the natural features.

But this also presents some problems as well..

Most modern geothermal power stations are built away from the source and water is pumped to a safe and stable place to process it. How are the Starks doing this with Winterfell? Perhaps everything is done far enough below the castle, under the crypts that this isn’t an issue.

If it’s not beneath the crypts then how would the Starks defend the castle from an invading army? They enemies could just cut off the source of heat by messing with the valve and/or piping system and watch the Starks freeze to death behind their walls.

Secondly, water and steam from the springs would be really hot and most likely would contain chemicals. Assuming the engineers who built Winterfell used metal, wood and stone they would have to have a knowledge of plumbing that the rest of the Seven Kingdoms doesn’t seem to have.

Another issue is how they are controlling the pressure? Perhaps Winterfell is built on something equivalent to Old Faithful and they lucked out in finding a rare spot that is predictable and stable. If that’s the case then they could manage it out. Otherwise they are gonna need to have built some sort of pressure control system to deal with the fluctuations that normally occur naturally.

Lastly lets say they do figure all of this out..

The book describes it thusly:

The castle had been built over a hot springs and the scalding waters rushed through its walls and chambers like blood through a man's body, driving chill from the stone halls, filling the glass gardens with moist warmth, keeping the earth from freezing. Open pools smoked day and night in a dozen small courtyards. That was a little thing in summer; in winter it was the difference between life and death.

So they got boiling water and steam going through the walls and all over the castle through the various walls and whatever systems they have in place..

While this addresses the environmental issues it also creates a massive risk from a defensive standpoint.. Let's say some force decides to lay siege to Winterfell and instead of using ladders to try to scale the walls they opt instead to fling a few boulders via catapults/trebuchets. Once they start punching holes in the walls that hot steam and boiling hot water is gonna start pouring out of the castle. Now maybe it is designed that the water starts pouring towards the outside.. That could aid in your defense making a sort of constant deterrent for anyone trying to get in.. But what happens if it punches all the way though and water starts spilling into the castle you are defending?

Regardless of how Winterfell actually works let's get back to the actual story..

We also learn that Ned and Catelyn have been married for 15 years. Ned decides to turn down Robert’s offer to become Hand of the King and a brief argument between him and Catelyn, who wants her husband to take the position ensues.

The conversation is interrupted by Maester Luwin, who informs them that a message was left for him. The message was hidden in a false bottom of a box containing a lens most likely from Myr. They assume it was someone who traveled with the King's party as no rider had come in the meantime.

The message was sent to Catelyn from her sister Lysa. She breaks the seal (Blue wax with the moon and falcon seal of House Arryn. Lysa and Catelyn had a secret language when they were kids and the message is coded. After reading it she lights a fire and tosses the message in. She tells Ned that it said Jon Arryn was murdered by the Lannisters, specifically the Queen.

Ned suggests that Lysa may have made a mistake, in her grief, but Catelyn is certain that her sister wouldn’t have gone to such lengths without justification. At this point Catelyn uses this as leverage to win the argument over Ned as to whether or not he should become the hand of the king.

Interestingly enough we see the main motivation and theme for Catelyn here in this line.

Catelyn’s heart went out to him but she knew she could not take him into her arms just then. First the victory must be won, for her children's sake.

Here we see that she is even willing to put her husband at risk in order to secure the future for her children. Her argument with Ned she was adamant that he would need to take the position to ensure the future of House Stark, especially if Prince Joffrey is to wed their daughter Sansa. In many ways this is perhaps insightful to the relationship between Ned and Catelyn where being right is more important than being happy.

Catelyn is convinced that this is the right course even though it will put many members of the family in danger, which Ned has no desire to be a part of.

Ned concedes but decides that Catelyn, Rob and young Rikkon are to remain at Winterfell. Catelyn is upset and doesn’t wish to let Bran go, but Ned insists. But it is the next part regarding the future of Jon Snow that seems to be of keen interest.

Ned had hoped that Jon could at some point become a bannerman for Rob, but as Catelyn would not hear of Jon staying in Winterfell it’s agreed that Jon may pursue his desire to join the Night’s Watch. In fact Catelyn is adamant that Jon not remain at Winterfell.

In this however we also get a glimpse from the point of view of Catelyn looking back to when she first came to Winterfell with her and Ned’s son Rob. While Catelyn wasn’t upset that Ned had fathered a bastard during the war she was upset that Ned had brought Jon and his wet nurse back to Winterfell and made it common knowledge that the boy was his son.

Catelyn did manage to get some details/rumors out of some of the servants. Essentially she found out the following:

• Ned defeated Ser Arthur Dayne - the Sword of the Morning - the deadliest knight in the Kingsguard, in single combat.  
• Ned returned the sword to the family at Starfall in Dorne (Southern part of the Seven Kingdoms)
• He was met there by the Lady Ahsara Dayne.

Now this angered Ned and Catelyn recalled being fearful of him, and she recalls the following:

“Never ask me about Jon,” he said cold as ice. “He is my blood and that is all you need to know. And now I will learn where you heard that name, my lady.”

It is notable that Ned says “He is of my blood” and not “He is my son.” Perhaps just a chance coincidence but one that bears keeping in mind.

Regardless Catelyn wins this argument and Ned consents to allow Jon to join the Night's Watch as bastards aren't welcome in the King's Court. Catelyn knows that when Jon joins the Night’s Watch that he will swear an oath to not sire children who she fears at some point could challenge Rob or his descendants for lordship of Winterfell.