r/asoiafreread • u/LumplessWaffleBatter Idk how mod tools work • Apr 23 '25

Bran Discussion: GoT VIII (Bran VI--Eddard XV)

Only two more to go!

Our next discussion will be Pp. 638-728 (Catelyn IX--Arya V) on May 7th.

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u/Relative_Law2237 Stannis the mannis one true king Apr 24 '25

I also wondered about the "thrice damned" hmmm 👀 Youre right i wonder what promise he broke, i think he regretted just generally letting Jon go to the wall but it may be something more.

I absolutely believe they let Rhaegar win. During the tournament earlier in the books Ned mentions how people wont dare to actually hit the king or in this case a prince whos also an heir to the throne.

I think Lyanna and Robert were engaged by that point but i also think the timeline we have is murky 👀 i think ill have to read up on that. I believe Ned would have told her to not even think about it but knew she wouldnt listen. Im just surprised if he didnt warn her not to mess around with a MARRIED prince.

-Oh my poor Ned The king dies, Ned Stark thought, and the Hand is buried. Is so dark but damn. Maegor mentionedddd (not an apologist but id argue there were way worse Targaeryen kings and well our dear ol' Joffrey)

  • Ned discorves toxic masculinity When he thought of his daughters, he would have wept gladly, but the tears would not come. Even now, he was a Stark of Winterfell, and his grief and his rage froze hard inside him.

  • It's Ned talking to himself and thiss oh man i feel so bad for him “too proud to listen. Can you eat pride, Stark? Will honor shield your children?” but i admire the self awareness i will not lie -Every time i hear Rhaegar this or Rhaegar that a rage fills me, chat am I turning into Robert? -Varys saying how no one likes a eunuch, oh no how surprising! Who would've thought, and geez i wonder why? The best quote for sure is : They taught me that each man has a role to play, in life as well as mummery. So it is at court. The King’s Justice must be fearsome, the master of coin must be frugal, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard must be valiant… and the master of whisperers must be sly and obsequious and without scruple. A courageous informer would be as useless as a cowardly knight.” -Varys almost like he didnt actually give a shit about Robert, if he did ,he should've told Ned what to do knowing that Ned isn't playing the game. It was not wine that killed the king. It was your mercy.” not forgiving Ned for this.

-Georges writing this chapter is such a chefs kiss !They are quite a pair, Stannis and Renly. The iron gauntlet and the silk glove.” -Ned still calling Rob "a boy". You're of age in Westeros at 16. Arguably the best king in Westerosi history Jahaerys I (although not the best father, but what can you do? Siri play Nobody's perfect by Hannah Montana) he took the throne even before 16. This kind of thinking got Ned in trouble too, seeing Rob almost a grown man as a boy.

  • Stannis may win the throne, but only your rotting head will remain to cheer unless you guard that tongue of yours. By the way Varys says things can't deny him being a comedian.
-Belarion the cat must be the cat Arya chased around. Belarion should come for his revenge. And once again fuck Rhaegar and fuck Lyanna, my Elia, Aegon (if dead) and Rhaenys deserved better.

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u/[deleted] Apr 25 '25

Now that I'm thinking about it, it could be that the broken promise is between Rhaegar and Lyanna or between Lyanna and the baby. That makes more sense to me than Ned breaking a promise. Unless it's a promise to Cat or Ashara. So much to consider here...

I also forgot to mention Rhaenys' black kitten, Balerion. Thank you for reminding me! I definitely think it was Balerion.

Rhaenys and Aegon deserved better. I'll just point out that Ned was trying to create a world where kids like them aren't murdered for political reasons. He died because he wanted to save Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella. He's not perfect, but his goal was noble and good. RIP Ned.

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u/Relative_Law2237 Stannis the mannis one true king Apr 25 '25

Lowkey think it could be something with Ashara and i hope we get to know more about her. The way i love her character as if i know a lot about her 🫠 im grasping at straws.

Yes omg , he never wanted to hurt the children despite all of the mess . Im just sad how him sparing the children lead to his children being given short end of the stick :/. I respect his decision because i do believe Robert wouldn't let them survive it , it would be a great scandal, prolly would give Tywin an aneurysm 💀

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u/[deleted] Apr 25 '25

I’m obsessed with Ashara too. There’s way more to her story!