Game of Thrones 431-522

-This section of reading starts out with Catelyns chapter at the Vale.  The battle between Bronn and Ser Vardis takes place and Bronn wins which allows Tyrion to be set free.  Tyrion and Bronn set out on the high road and have an encounter with the mountain people.  In Jon’s chapters he convinces the Lord Commander of the Nights Watch to allow Sam Tarly to be inducted into the Nights Watch.  Even though he may not be physically ready, he convinces him there are other ways Sam can help such as with his reading and writing skills.  Jon also gets inducted into the Night’s Watch but he is named to be a servant to Lord Commander which he is extremely upset about at first but then he comes around to it a little bit in the end.  In Dany’s chapter, she goes through her rituals with the Dothraki, and most importantly at her feast Khal Drogo kills Viserys by putting a hot pan of boiling gold over his head.  Ned decides it’s best to arrange to send Arya and Sansa back to Winterfell, Arya is excited but Sansa is extremely upset because she will not be allowed to marry Joffrey.  Also, Ned finds out why Jon Arynn was killed and he confronts Cersei.  He finds out that none of her kids are Roberts, and instead all belong to her brother.  He confronts her and tells her it’s in her best interest to leave King’s Landing but this does not seem to be happening.  Also, Robert gets hurt in a hunting accident and on his death bed he puts Ned in charge until Joffrey is of age, however Ned doesn’t write those exact words in the letter that Robert told him to write, and he instead plans to name Stannis, Robert’s Brother, to be the new king.  This set of reading was full of a lot of drama and almost too much to discuss at once I feel like.

-So far it seems as if Tyrion has been loyal to his word, this being showed when he gave the guard the gold he had promised him while being in jail at The Vale.  It makes me wonder now what is going to happen with the mountain people who he had made a promise too.  I am curious to see what will play out with them throughout the next readings.  I also was surprised with Jon being chosen not to be a ranger but instead to be a servant to the Lord Commander. I think Martin did this for a reason though and I think it builds on the honor aspect that he has mentioned throughout the book.  Jon comes from a house of honor, the Starks, and I believe his job is one that will deal with having a lot of honor and pride.  I’m going to predict that Jon will eventually take Lord Commanders place and that he was not chosen to be his servant by accident. I think that with Robert about to be dead, it seems as if all hell is going to break loose and everyone is sort of preparing for war.  Everyone seems to be getting their armies ready and making sure they have their plans in order. Last, Martin has built Ned out to be a man of great honor throughout the book, but I feel like now were starting to see his honor get in the way of doing what may be best for himself or everyone else.  An example of this is when Ned is thinking about selecting Stannis as the next king because it is the way things are supposed to be by natural law, even though it may not be what is best for him and Kings Landing.

Discussion Questions:

-          In Ned’s chapter ending on page 514, does it seem like his honor is starting to get in the way too much of doing what may be best for him or the others?  Mainly shown when he is talking to Littlefinger about who should be the next king if Robert dies.

-          What do we think is meant by Cersei when she says, “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die?”