Game of Thrones 523-618

-This set of reading started off right away with an exciting chapter in Ned’s point of view.  In this chapter Robert is declared dead.  Upon hearing this Ned presents the counsel and Cersei with Robert’s letter.  Cersei rips the letter in to shreds. Joffrey refuses to believe the letter and claims to be the king.  Fighting breaks out and Littlefinger turns on Ned which leads to Ned getting taken and being held captive.  In this set of reading also, Arya is sent to be captured but she escapes and goes on the run trying to escape King’s Landing.  Sansa is being somewhat brainwashed by Cersei in to thinking her father committed treason and Cersei tells her that if she obeys by her commands then she will be able to marry Joffrey.  In Jon’s chapter we find out the hand came from a dead man who was a ranger in Ben Starks crew.  They take the two dead men back to the Night’s Watch. Jon also gets word that his father has been arrested and gets in a fight with one of the leaders for making fun of his father.  He gets sent to a room alone, and that night he has a battle in Mormont’s room with one of the “dead” men they brought back who turned into an ‘other.’ In Bran’s chapter we find that Robb has called the banners and plans to head south for war.  In Dany’s chapter, she goes to the market and a merchant tries to kill her by giving her poisoned wine.  Ser Jorah figures this out and also finds out about Robert’s threat against Dany and her son.  Khal Drogo finally plans to head across the sea for the first time and capture the seven kingdoms.  In Catelyn’s chapter she meets up with Robb and they discuss the battle plans, while in Tyrion’s chapter he reaches his father Lord Tywin and he gets the mountain dwellers to fight in the battle against Robb Stark with them.

-In this set of reading I think the characters loyalties are continuing to be tested.  Specifically Sansa’s loyalty as we find out she went behind Ned's back and told Cersei that her father was forcing them to leave.  I think Cersei is being extremely manipulative in promising Sansa to be with Joffrey if she obeys by their rules.  I think Sansa is truly loyal to the Starks, but she is being played by Cersei and is still not mature enough to completely believe this.  I also believe Jon’s loyalties are being put to the test.  Mormont told him that he is a sworn member of the Night’s Watch now and that his family is at the Wall but every time Jon has a chapter you can see him getting more and more worried about his family.  I feel as if it is only a matter of time until he reevaluates his priorities and goes to the defense of the Starks.  I also feel as if Martin has continuously kept this ongoing mystery surrounding Ben Stark throughout the book and every chapter with Jon they get closer to finding something out about Ben.  I myself am really questioning whether or not he is alive after they found his two men killed. Another major theme being brought up is the power of woman.  I feel like as if Catelyn and Cersei seem to be running the show quite a bit now.  Cersei is basically making all of Joffrey’s choices for him and she has a lot of power now that Robert is dead.  But also now that Catelyn is with Robb she seems to be giving a lot of advice and helping call the shots.  You can tell she wants to let Robb be in charge and mature, but she is still having quite a bit of influence on him.  I think it is pretty interesting how the power has progressively changed in to the hands of the women more as the book has gone on.

Discussion Questions:

-       Who do we think is more mature, Arya or Sansa? They seem to both be doing their own crazy but opposite things in this section of the book.

-        Do we think if Sansa obeys Cersei and does as she says that she will truly get to marry Joffrey? Or is Cersei just being extremely manipulative?

-        What do we think of the advice that Osha gave to Bran about Robb heading in the wrong direction?  Do we think there is reason to be worried or is she just crazy?