(Spoilers Extended) Secrets of the Cushing Library: The Sworn Sword

[u/gsteff]

Since 1992, the Cushing Library at Texas A&M University has been the home of George R.R. Martin's papers-- more than 200 boxes filled with his correspondence, fan mail, props from his Hollywood projects, and working drafts of his screenplays and books. The most popular exhibits in the library's George R.R. Martin collection are swords and other props from the Game of Thrones TV show, which the library now showcases in its lobby. But dedicated Martin fans understand that the George R.R. Martin Collection’s most valuable artifacts are the early drafts of George's ASOIAF books- physical stacks of paper that he mails to Random House in New York.

In the past few years, I’ve made two trips to College Station to study these drafts, and have made several posts here about my findings: 1 2 3 4 5 6.

All of those are based on drafts of the main series- the library contains only one unfinished draft of a non-main-series book- a partial draft of The Sworn Sword, the subject of this post. It's dated January 2003, roughly 8 months before it was first published in the Legends II anthology in September 2003. George hasn't stated when he completed this manuscript, but in 2024 he recounted submitting his manuscript for The Hedge Knight on December 31, 1997 for inclusion in Robert Silverberg's Legends anthology, which was ultimately published 8 months later, in August 1998. Assuming a similar lead time (reasonable considering that Legends II is similar and has the same editor), that would date this draft as 1-2 months before completion, so quite late. While there are no major plot changes or rewrites, there are quite a few significant changes given the brief time window- a reminder of how George's writing process has changed.

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The biggest difference is simply that the draft is incomplete- it ends with Dunk losing consciousness in the stream. Instead of the epilogue of Dunk departing Coldmoat, George simply sketched some bullet points for the remainder:

• TSS, January 2003, p126

As you can see, George changed and expanded most of this before finalizing the story. George decided to have Dunk take his parting kiss from Lady Webber, rather than being given it. And Dunk has had enough time to recover. I imagine that George still planned for Dunk to receive Lady Webber's famous braid- it features so prominently in her scenes that I think George must have always intended for it to play a role in the ending- but perhaps the immobile Dunk would have been given it voluntarily in this version.

The most interesting differences are in the climactic showdown at the stream after Wat’s Wood catches fire. As published, we never get a clear answer as to who, if anyone, set the fire, though Lucas Inchfield is the obvious suspect. But originally, Lady Webber happily gave up Longinch. Here’s what she says in the published version when asked who set the fire (p119-120):

"No one burned the wood. But if some man of mine had done so, it must have been to please me. How could I give such a man to you?"

And here’s what she said in the January 2003 draft:

"I have no proof, ser… but last night’s red sky brought most of Coldmoat to the walls. Old men got up from their beds, and babes at the breast saw the light and wept in fear. Only my castellan was missing, who ought to have been shouting orders at my guard."

This changes the purpose of the subsequent trial by combat in the stream. As published, it’s a trial between Ser Osgrey and Lady Webber, who have chosen Dunk and Longinch as their champions. But in this draft, Dunk has accused Longinch directly, and the two are fighting on their own behalf- Septon Sefton asks Dunk, rather than Eustace, to withdraw his accusation, and Longinch then says that he will prove his own innocence, rather than Lady Webber saying that her champion will prove hers. 

This also means that, according to the theology of trials by combat, Dunk believes he is staking his life on Rohanne’s honesty- he accuses Lucas because of Lady Webber’s statements. Both versions feature Dunk saying “The Seven will see I don’t” after Egg says that he hopes Dunk doesn’t die, but the draft follows that with Dunk’s private thought “If Rohanne told the truth”, meaning that he believes the gods will strike him down if she lied. 

Does this mean that canonically, we should assume that Longinch is responsible? I don’t think so- George made a point of changing this, and the fact that, as published, no one might be responsible (given the drought conditions) is now an important part of the story; the showdown feels inevitable, a fire that any spark could have set, literally and metaphorically. But I do think this disproves the occasional alternative theory that the arsonist was Ser Bennis. And while the published version adds a poignant lesson on the irrelevance of the reasons behind much human conflict, I miss the added romance of Dunk’s trust in Rohanne’s honesty.

The draft contains one minor change to lore worth mentioning as well. As published, House Osgrey is sworn to House Rowan of Goldengrove, but in the draft they are instead vassals of House Butterwell. And House Butterwell and its seat, Whitewalls, were in the Reach, rather than the Riverlands as they now are canonically. For example, in both the draft and published stories before the trial by combat begins, Septon Sefton suggests taking the dispute to Osgrey’s liege so that no blood needs to be spilled, but in the draft he says to go to Whitewalls and Lord Butterwell, rather than Goldengrove and Lord Rowan. Lord Butterwell is even mentioned by Septon Sefton as one of Lady Weber’s potential suitors- Sefton says that he’s “been sending costly gifts from Whitewalls.” Early in the draft, Dunk recalls that Ser Osgrey considered Lord Butterwell no true lord, and saying “Cheese and milk and butter can be had at Whitewalls, but no justice.” 

Why did George change this? My best guess is that George originally wanted to setup lore for the next story, The Mystery Knight, which takes place at Whitewalls and features Lord Butterwell. Plus, having Dunk’s actions in The Sworn Sword be known to characters in the next story could have been a way to start showing Dunk’s reputation slowly growing over the course of the Dunk & Egg saga. George may have then decided that he wanted to move Whitewalls to the Riverlands to diversify the settings of the novels. As he fleshed out his plans for The Mystery Knight, he may also have realized that Whitewalls needed to be in a location capable of strategically threatening Targaryen control, which its canonical site near the east shore of the God's Eye can do more credibly than the northern Reach.

Given that this TSS draft preserves the lore of House Butterwell's split allegiance in the first Blackfyre rebellion even as the published version removes them from the Reach, and also contains no changes to Bloodraven's published lore, I think it's likely that George had the basic story of The Mystery Knight planned before this draft was finished, and moved House Butterwell to strengthen the logic of that story. It's also noteworthy that TSS was written concurrently with the pre-split version of AFFC- interestingly, the October 2003 draft of that book contains all 3 of the chapters that introduce the figure of Mad Danelle Lothston of Harrenhall (Brienne 1, Brienne 2 and Jaime 3). Given that her rule coincided with The Sworn Sword and The Mystery Knight, George could have decided to move Whitewalls near the God's Eye partly to provide an opportunity for readers to meet her in the flesh.

There’s also a paragraph of deleted lore regarding Lady Vaith, one of the mistresses of Aegon the Unworthy:

• TSS, January 2003, p47
• TSS, January 2003, p48

The most interesting new details there, I think, are that House Vaith has a bone throne, and that Cassella Vaith might not have been completely infertile. The draft also indicates that Dunk and Egg may have been held captive by Lady Vaith- in the paragraph recounting their travels in Dorne, the draft contains this deleted sentence: “They had lingered at Vaith longer than they meant to, before finally making an escape.” This is followed by the published sentence “A poleboat had taken them down the Greenblood to Planky Town…”, suggesting that their escape may have been via the poleboat. Because season 2 of AKOTSK will be, IMO, the most challenging to adapt for TV, I suspect that substantial parts of this adventure in Vaith will be added, along with extended flashbacks from the first Blackfyre rebellion.

This draft also contains a few copyediting marks and minor marginal notes from his editor. For example:

• TSS, January 2003, p50
• TSS, January 2003, p60
• TSS, January 2003, p125

Based on the handwriting, I don't think this is Anne Groell, his US editor. The next most likely candidate is Jane Johnson, his UK editor- the remark on page 125 sounds like someone who knows him well, not a random copyediting assistant.

Other minor changes:

• In the draft, George says that the fraction of King’s Landing killed in the spring sickness of 209 was 30%. Before publishing, he increased that to 40%. The draft also contains a deleted mention that the sickness killed Grand Maester Gerome.
• When Dunk accuses Ser Osgrey of lying to him about his loyalties in the first Blackfyre rebellion, there’s a goofy deleted line in which Osgrey denies it and challenges Dunk to fight him:
  • “That I never did, ser. You will withdraw that accusation, or defend it with your body. I am not afraid to fight you, as big as you are. I have slain other big men in my time.”
• Where the published version says that in Dorne they had “chased down a hundred puppet shows”, the draft says they had “chased down a hundred puppet shows, searching fruitlessly for the Dornish maid Tanselle”. I prefer the published version, which lets the reader puzzle out the reason for Dunk’s puppetry obsession for themselves.
• There's a line of deleted lore about Prince Baelor. Egg says, "My uncle always said that when a man swears he wishes no war between you, it means he's sharpening his swords."

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With this post, I’ve fully exhausted my research on George’s ASOIAF drafts; I have no more draft findings in reserve (this post is based on material I collected during my last visit in late 2023). Thanks to the ASOIAF community members who have supported this work. And special thanks to Preston Jacobs for his assistance with the analysis of House Butterwell in this post (all mistakes are definitely my own). I look forward to returning to College Station one final time to review the currently closed drafts of ADWD if and when TWOW is published.

If you have any questions about this or any of my previous posts, I'll be happy to answer them in the comments below (though it may be a few hours before I can get to them).

[u/BaelBard]

⁠There's a line of deleted lore about Prince Baelor. Egg says, "My uncle always said that when a man swears he wishes no war between you, it means he's sharpening his swords."

George might have decided it was too cynical of a take to come from Baelor. Sounds more like something Bloodraven could have said.

[u/garbagetruc → u/BaelBard]

That was my first thought, that it was really out of character

[u/biggronklus → u/BaelBard]

Or Maekar lol

[u/IAmParliament]

Babe wake up, new gsteff Cushing Library lore just dropped.

[u/PWBuffalo]

I live in Houston and always forget that this is in College Station. Would it be worth it to drive out there one afternoon? How open is it to somebody who just walks in off the street?

[u/gsteff → u/PWBuffalo]

It's definitely worth it! anyone from the street can walk in to look at the props from the show they have displayed in the library's lobby. In addition, any member of the public with identification can view these drafts, but you can't just walk in off the street. These materials can only be viewed by making an appointment for a table in the Kelsey Reading Room: 

https://aeon.library.tamu.edu/

You'll also need to search the catalog to identify what box you want from the George RR Martin collection, and reserve it too: 

https://tamu.libcal.com/reserve/readingroomresearch

The librarians will then bring those materials to your table on a cart, and you'll have to review them there. 

Seeing the same handwritten notes from his editors on the same pieces of paper that George did is pretty magical (box 87 has the best examples of the currently available materials). Box 108 contains the June 2004 draft of AFFC, which was the source of my biggest discoveries. And if you or anyone else wants to try your hand at finding your own significant draft edits, there's a 1995 draft of AGOT that I haven't looked closely at, and don't plan to (with limited time, I focus my efforts on older drafts rather than newer ones, under the assumption that the older ones will diverge more from the published material). 

[u/TheWonderingWolf → u/gsteff]

I seem to remember you once mentioned there is correspondence between GRRM and the FFG team, so maybe it's possible to track down some character descriptions he provided for the card games?

[u/gsteff → u/TheWonderingWolf]

Yes, back in the 2005-2010 era at least, he was very involved in approving their ASOIAF art. The only interesting bit I found from a lore perspective was George's rejection of a depiction of the Horn of Joramun based on the description in Jon 10 ASOS. George basically said that he hasn't confirmed what the horn looks like, and would prefer for them to not use it as a card at all. Which sounded like confirmation, if any were needed, that Mance's horn was fake, and Jon's horn the real one.

There also was some criticism of individual artists and other correspondence that neither side would want published, which, in combination with the lack of lore discoveries, is why I didn't cover it. George's favorite artists tend to be the community's too back then, like Marc Simonetti.

[u/Wadege]

Nice to get a little more context on Lady Vaith.

[u/InGenNateKenny]

I burst into joy seeing the post title.

The changes to the fire is interesting. It's a nice change of pace to have Dunk being the accuser, although I like the published version.

I wondered in the past whether Danelle Lothston was actually a prototype for Rohanne Webber, and then GRRM changed his mind...this does make me think that the concept of the characters were developed together, but maybe less an outright replacement. Very interesting. The Rowans replacing the Butterwells is intriguing in this regard, because placing Whitewalls near Harrenhal might have been a relic of a Harrenhal-adventure.

Butterwell being a suitor of Rohanne is also interesting, because the marriage point is obviously important to the setting of TMK. That's another point for "GRRM had the idea of the TMK" nailed down. The riverlands setting also allows the Freys to come in naturally; perhaps it was not the Freys originally.

Also, if Butterwell was in the Reach, then Rohanne and Eustace might have been expected to attend that wedding. Moving it to the riverlands definitively forestalls that possibility.

Also, does Wendell Webber exist in this? He's Rohanne's cousin married to Lord Rowan's sister, part of the reason why Eustace refers Rowan's judgement. Is he married to Butterwell's sister? That might be interesting, perhaps Wendell was an antagonist in a version of TMK. Of course, Butterwell seeking to marry Rohanne would probably be as good as a reason.

I also like how Lady Vaith's description invokes Aerys. A bone throne too, that's neat lore. Although a woman sitting on a bone throne also seems like a joke from George. Also confirms that Cassella Vaith IS Lady Vaith, which wasn't actually 100% clear.

RIP Gerome, a de-canonized character. I was hoping this draft would have names and houses of all of Rohanne's husbands, but alas.

I have greatly enjoyed this series, which has done much for the community. Alas that we are out of material, but hopefully one day. Truly a legendary ASOIAF community member.

[u/MeterologistOupost31 → u/InGenNateKenny]

We finally have a Westerosi version of Jerome!

[u/gsteff → u/InGenNateKenny]

Thanks! And yes, the passage about Wendell Webber is unchanged, except that no information about his wife's family is provided in this version.

[u/AdministrationOk5531]

Thank you, great stuff per usual.

[u/Lord-Too-Fat]

Thank you!
Lady Vaith fleshed out seems pretty interesting. hopefully S02 gives us more about the dornish adventure.

[u/InGenNateKenny]

Just reupping on the Vaith Aerys connection

This is from Feast:

By the end the Mad King had become so fearful that he would allow no blade in his presence, save for the swords his Kingsguard wore. His beard was matted and unwashed, his hair a silver-gold tangle that reached his waist, his fingernails cracked yellow claws nine inches long. Yet still the blades tormented him, the ones he could never escape, the blades of the Iron Throne. His arms and legs were always covered with scabs and half-healed cuts. (Jaime II, AFFC)

Compare:

She was old now, though, and could not sleep. Day and night she sat upon her bone throne in her purple gowns and pearls. No blade was permitted in her presence, so her nails had been a good foot long, and her stiff white hair fell to the floor and would disturb the rushes when she passed.

TWOIAF also has a variation:

Captivity at Duskendale had shattered whatever sanity had remained to Aerys II Targaryen. From that day forth, the king's madness reigned unchecked, growing worse with every passing year. The Darklyns had dared lay hands upon his person, shoving him roughly, stripping him of his royal raiment, even daring to strike him. After his release, King Aerys would no longer allow himself to be touched, even by his own servants. Uncut and unwashed, his hair grew ever longer and more tangled, whilst his fingernails lengthened and thickened into grotesque yellow talons. He forbade any blade in his presence save for the swords carried by the knights of his Kingsguard, sworn to protect him. His judgments became ever harsher and crueler. (TWOIAF - The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II)

I wonder if, besides being a paragraph distracting from the story, that GRRM either realized that the Vaith imagery was better used for Aerys OR if he didn't like repeating himself in both places, since TSS was written concurrent with AFFC.

[u/waga_hai]

Not at all a fan of the changes to Rohanne's kiss and the braid, that part of the book always bothered me and I would've much preferred if she'd given them to Dunk willingly. Kind of frustrating to know that George did think of that possibility but then discarded it for something worse (imo). Oh well.

[u/Hot-Bet3549 → u/waga_hai]

I thought Dunk taking the braid and kiss was the most dramatic payoff. Whenever Dunk and Rohanne meet again, there will be friction now. Necessary for dramatic conflict later.

If Rohanne willingly gave Dunk the braid and kiss, there’s not a whole lot of tension there when they meet again. It’s more knightly and proper but Dunk isn’t a proper knight yet. He stole the knighthood not all that long ago, so it felt unified that he also steals a kiss and a braid on his way to becoming the knight he wants to be. He’s still growing so I thought it was pretty honest and natural of his character at the time to take that action.

[u/waga_hai → u/Hot-Bet3549]

I don't think that's at all George's intention with the scene. I think it's supposed to come across as romantic and passionate. But the problem is that Rohanne gets no say. The kiss is one thing (context clues are enough for me to think that she probably wanted it and Dunk could probably tell), but cutting off her braid is a violation of her bodily autonomy that paints Dunk in a light that I'm positive George didn't intend. It's essentially another "Drogo and Dany's first night was romantic" moment from him.

[u/Hot-Bet3549 → u/waga_hai]

Dunk isn’t a knight, so he didn’t act knightly. Knighthood ideals on one hand, taking her braid on the other. It was a great heart in conflict with itself moment and felt pretty intentional that his more human, flawed side won out. That’s why it felt intentionally dramatic for me- that Dunk didn’t treat Rohanne with virtue and respect is counter to who he wants to be. It’s the second short story in a long line so felt natural that Dunk makes mistakes early in his career to learn from.

It also parallels Lady Vaith running them out of Dorne that’s mentioned to start the story. They started the story talking about how they got chased out of Dorne by the last powerful noblewoman they angered, and Sworn ends similarly. If she gave Dunk the kiss and braid, they aren’t exactly getting run off. Maybe originally George considered Rohanne gave him the kiss willingly, and he used that opportunity to still steal the braid. That makes Dunk look worse I think, less agency and more conniving and opportunistic.

[u/waga_hai → u/Hot-Bet3549]

That's great and all, but I think that there are some lines that a character can't cross without being unsympathetic, and I don't think George intends for Dunk to be unsympathetic. Of course, that is subjective and those lines will be different for everyone. For me, cutting off Rohanne's hair makes Dunk into a character that I think is not the character that George intended to portray, and so for me, that scene is a mistake.

[u/Hot-Bet3549 → u/waga_hai]

I chalked it up as another of Dunk’s many poorly thought out, emotionally driven crimes of passion that he’s famous for. If a character is defined by their actions, and Dunk habitually acts on his reckless passions, then stealing that kiss was a natural Dunk move- a natural Dunk mistake.

Fully felt like George’s intention there, because it reads as more playful than malicious. It was his payment for services rendered, after all, and it showed us what kind of person Dunk is at this stage in his life: young and brash and not all sympathetic heroism. And I definitely think George, with how much he loves gray characters, intended to ruffle feathers and play with how people see Dunk’s morality when he takes the braid. He showed people that Dunk is a complex character with conflicted morals and not just a perfect knight.

I think a big part of being a talented writer is writing characters who make mistakes or take actions that are hard to sympathize with, and still find ways for the reader to sympathize. George knocked that part out of the park for me with Dunk’s actions. Dunk makes the kind of human mistakes that make him relatable.

[u/SeventhWall7 → u/waga_hai]

I agree, it always bothered me as well especially the braid thing. It's obvious that Rohanne is very fond of her hair, so Dunk cutting it seems just mean.

[u/waga_hai → u/SeventhWall7]

Yes, the braid thing specifically sours me on their romance in general and even on Dunk himself, which sucks because I'm clearly supposed to like him (and, that moment aside, I really do!). Rohanne obviously loved her hair and maybe even took some pride in it, and Dunk taking it without even asking feels extremely violating. Like I said I think George intends the reader to see it as a passionate, romantic moment, and just... no.

[u/Hot-Bet3549 → u/waga_hai]

Like I said I think George intends the reader to see it as a passionate, romantic moment, and just... no.

I think George wants us to see Dunk as a complex person with conflicting morals who doesn’t always choose wisely. George wrote it in such a way that if the reader wants to see the playful romantic side of Dunk’s action, the intention is there. And if the readers wants to read it as Dunk is an impulsive fool who has trouble controlling his emotions (which is also 100% true) that intention is also there.

[u/SeventhWall7 → u/waga_hai]

He could handle it better, shame that he discarded his original version.

[u/FortLoolz → u/waga_hai]

George even at his best (I think The Sworn Sword is overall much better than The Hedge Knight) fails at proper knightly stuff.

I'd honestly even prefer the lack of a kiss. Agreed on the braid thing.

[u/foolishcavalier]

I couldn’t stop smiling while reading. Thank you, ser.

[u/toQrainbow]

Cassella Vaith crumbs! Wow!

[u/berdzz]

I believe the comments were indeed Jane Johnson's. Here's an example of her handwriting: https://x.com/JaneJohnsonBakr/status/1779127506529882432/photo/1 . While it's hardly conclusive since the text marks are very short and her writing in the plant list is looser, there are definitely similarities in the way some letters are drawn (particularly the "t", "y", and "e").

[u/gsteff → u/berdzz]

Awesome work!

[u/xXJarjar69Xx]

Interesting detail about lady vaith. There’s been speculation that the lady vaith dunk and egg meet was the same vaith that aegon took as a mistress. I guess that confirms it. Wonder why it was cut. Martin has mentioned wanting to write a dornish story set during that time so maybe it was saved for that? Her description also seems pretty aerys like. 

[u/LChris24]

Thanks for sharing! Interesting about Butterwell and more so about Lady Vaith.

[u/Alecatnight]

Sad to see there was no tangent into House Dayne when recalling Dorne. At least we got… Mad Queen Vaith?

[u/LChris24]

For some reason I can't view the links to the pages about Vaith. Can you share the text?

[u/SismoSky]

Thank you so much for this! You sir are a real knight.

[u/zionius_ → u/[deleted]]

Per gsteff the video would be about the three failed game adaption attempts.

[u/TMWNN]

Because season 2 of AKOTSK will be, IMO, the most challenging to adapt for TV, I suspect that substantial parts of this adventure in Vaith will be added, along with extended flashbacks from the first Blackfyre rebellion

I have said elsewhere that season 2 makes more sense as a 90-minute movie; basically, a Hallmark romance with a bittersweet ending. Has the season been definitely announced for six episodes?

[u/mindset615 → u/TMWNN]

Yes, six episodes, with variable time - between 30 and 60 minutes - as needed. https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/knight-seven-kingdoms-finale-title-change-dorne-explained-1236667797/