Game of Thrones: Chapter 12: Eddard AKA Growing Lannister Influence

This chapter opens up with Ned being awoken to go riding with the king to discuss affairs of state. On the ride Robert laments that they are no longer the carefree young men they once were and years for the days prior to his rebellion and becoming the king.

After Ned reminds Robert of the duties they have in life now and how even if they both wished to go back to the way things were they couldn’t. Robert points out that Ned was never really carefree and always a bit reserved even back in the days.

One significant thing of this conversation is that Ned tells Robert the name of Jon Snow’s mother was Wylla, and then Ned asks Robert to not talk about it any further. Robert does make a couple of interesting statements here though:  

“Wylla. Yes” the king grinned. “She must have been a rare wench if she could make Lord Eddard Stark forget his honor, even for an hour. You never told me what she looked like...”

So Ned tells Robert Wylla was the woman who is the mother of Jon. Very weird Ned never mentions what she looks like to Robert and gets really defensive saying:

“Nor will I. Leave it be, Robert, for the love you say you bear me. I dishonored myself and I dishonored Catelyn in the sight of gods and men.”

So apparently Ned and Wylla were together after Ned wed Catelyn.

I'm sure at this point everyone who supports the theory R+L = J are nodding.

But is this simply a quick use of carefully selected words? Note that Ned doesn’t specifically say sleeping with Wylla and fathering a bastard was how he dishonored Catelyn.

Regardless the conversation eventually gets to affairs of state when Robert presents Ned a letter from his Spymaster Varys. Here we learn that Varys not only serves Robert but also served the Mad King Aerys Targaryen prior.

As it turns out it’s a report that Daenerys has wed Drogo. Ned questions the source of the information and we learn that Ser Jorah Mormont is acting as a spy in order to hopefully get a pardon for the crime of selling poachers into slavery.

A Double Agent?

We also learn of a sore spot for Ned. He disapproves of the killing of children as was done by the Lannisters to the Targaryen children at the taking of Kings Landing. We learn that Tywin Lannister's men dragged the girl from under a bed where she was hiding and killed her. Her younger brother, who was still nursing, was taken from the mother and his head smashed against a wall.

In addition we see how disturbed Robert is by the news as well as what lengths he is willing to go to as he suggests sending assassins. Ned provides him with good council in that the Dothraki have not ships and hate the open water. In addition when he is told that the child of Jon Arryn won’t be the Warden of the East. Ned counters and makes an excellent suggestion in putting forth the King’s Brother Stannis.

In spite of this it becomes clear that Robert has already named a Warden of the East and that man is Jaime Lannister. Again Ned is unhappy with this choice and warns Robert that when he went into the throne room of the Red Keep, towards the end of the rebellion Jaime was sitting upon the Iron Throne.

Ned also points out that it was Jaime Lannister, also known as the Kingslayer who broke his oath as a member of the Kingsguard and killed the Mad King prior to Robert claiming the crown. Ned questions not only Jaime's honor but his trustworthiness as well.

This gives the Lannisters a great amount of power. With Cersei as Queen, Jaime as Warden of the West and their father Tywin as Warden of the East and Joffrey set to become the next king the Lannisters are certainly gaining in political power and now in a time of war will be in control of half the armies of the Seven Kingdoms.

At this time Ned has not vocalized his concerns to Robert, but his sister in-law’s accusation that the Lannisters had Jon Arryn killed does cross his mind.

The clear question to be asked is why not Stannis? Stannis held on to Storm's End for Robert during his rebellion and was named Master of Ships. As Master of Ships he brilliantly defeated the fleet from the Iron Islands at sea during the Greyjoy Rebellion. That Robert isn’t picking his trusted and accomplished brother suggests strongly that the Lannisters heavily influenced this decision.

Lets look at the track record for Stannis Baratheon up to this point. First a quote from Stannis in A Clash of Kings:

"I held Storm's End for him, watching good men starve while Mace Tyrell and Paxter Redwyne feasted within sight of my walls. Did Robert thank me? No. He thanked Stark, for lifting the siege when we were down to rats and radishes. I built a fleet at Robert's command, took Dragonstone in his name. Did he take my hand and say, Well done brother, whatever should I do without you? No he blamed me for letting Willem Darry steal away viserys and the babe, as if I could have stopped it."

Ok so Stannis held out while under siege and also was able to take the isle of Dragonstone after. Now keep in mind this means all the while that Stannis and his men held out at Storm's End the armies of Highgarden were unable to march and contribute to the war efforts elsewhere on the part of the Targaryens.

OK fine so Stannis holds out and the siege is lifted by Ned. But later he takes Dragonstone. In A Dance With Dragons we learn of how masterful a tactician Stannis was at sea. Victarion Greyjoy laments:

The memory of Fair Isle still rankled in the iron captain's memory. Stannis Baratheon had descended on the Iron Fleet from both north and south whist they were trapped in the channel between the island and the mainland, dealing Victarion his most crushing defeat.

Lets keep in mind Victarion is of the Ironborn who are master seamen. That Stannis dealt such a crushing and complete defeat to him that he years later laments it is more than significant. This proves that Stannis is more than capable of being in charge of a large military force dealing with both land and sea power.

It is clear that the growing influence of the Lannisters is coming into play here with the appointment of Jaime as Warden of the East. It begs the question that had Ned brought the widow Arryn’s accusations to light would Robert have at the least reconsidered. After all a Warden who calls the armies forth and gets no reply isn’t going to be all that effective.

Ned even has a feeling of helplessness at the end of the chapter and even thinks that he really doesn't belong in Kings Landing and really belongs in Winterfell.

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.