fic: Hand of the Crow
So as I was trolling around the fairly limited ASoIaF fandom this morning looking for some place to self-promote, I finally read and remembered that not only does Martin not condone fiction for his series, but that his drooling - and evidently masochistic, given the long spaces between his books - fandom generally hates fan fiction as well. So,
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Aside from my sheer GRRM-less boredom between book releases, I think those plot holes are the reason that I'd even considering following through my unsubtle threats re: writing another part. BECAUSE YOU'RE SO RIGHT. Who the hell is at the wall? I have no clue. I rely mostly on metaphorical smoke and mirrors to distract from such things, so damn. Caught with my pants around my ankles.
I have to say that I was definitely too cryptic with what is the main freaking plot point of the story, as well. Perhaps the first line of part II should be Jon to Jaime: "I am a warg and while in warg form the other night I met my half-brother, who is also a warg, and now I am very concerned about him being beyond the Wall and maybe I am having priority issues here, please succor me." Because believe me, you are not the first to have pointed this out.
Regardless: THANK YOU for your comments. I very, very much appreciate them and am indebted to you for pricking my conscience re: leaving a story unfinished.
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The situation at the Wall's the only plothole that jarred me. I have no problem with you glossing over Margaery's and Cersei's trials-I, in fact, admire the deft skill with which you turned the story to other matters-because whatever happened, it was in King's Landing. Stannis and Melisandre on the Wall directly affects all the characters in the fic. As the fic stands, the most prominent mention of the two is in Jaime's fantasy of Melisandre fucking herself with Stannis's (fake) Lightbringer. Makes me feel like the story isn't finished. Not hard to resolve, IMO, but needs mentioning.
I have to say that I was definitely too cryptic with what is the main freaking plot point of the story, as well.
No need to be quite so blunt in stating the plot, lol. You left more than enough clues for me to figure out Jon was warging and in contact with Bran. Jon believed Bran dead until now, so I could see him having a strong reaction. Enough to set out on an aimless ranging? I'm not so sure. Jon already went through two desertion episodes-Robb and the wildlings-and seemed pretty committed to his duty in AFFC. I simply thought there was more to it. That there would have to be for him to leave the Wall after ASOS and AFFC.
Now I'm going to be a real ass of a reviewer and try to fill your plotholes.
First, kick Stannis off the Wall. Hell, Jon can decide Stannis doesn't need to know about Jaime et al. because he'll be busy fighting the ironborn for, um, Deepwood Motte. Conveniently taking the bulk of the wildlings from the Wall to serve in his van, too. Wait. Damn. The presence of Otho Hargreave guarantees Stannis knows something of what's going on. Well, assume Stannis wasn't there to react in person, and Jon did a bit of fast writing (realm in danger, Night's Watch is neutral in conflicts of the Seven Kingdoms, blah blah fishcakes) that convinced Stannis to at least wait until he wasn't occupied with gaining the support of the North to deal with the Lannisters.
Unfortunately, that leaves Melisandre on the Wall, as I can't see Stannis taking any woman, sorceress or not, on campaign with him. Her devotion to R'hllor would be embarrassing, anyways. However, Melisandre gives, I think, Jon enough impetus to take a short leave of absence from the Wall. So, second, Melisandre's been staring fixedly into her fires and is starting to think she's pegged the wrong man as Azor Ahai Reborn/Prince Who Was Promised/whatever (R+L=J!). She stalks Jon. Hinting that she sees his future in her fires, that he should get together with her and make shadowbabies, etc.
Jon, already sleepless with visions, has to evade Melisandre's increasingly less subtle attempts to get in his bed while, third, dealing with Slynt and Thorne and preparing the woefully-inadequate-in-nearly-all-respects Night's Watch to fight the legendary Others. He's pretty overwhelmed, and a one-armed Jaime Lannister showing up at Castle Black is the last straw.
At which point, he irresponsibly dumps the care of Castle Black and the Night's Watch in Bowen Marsh's lap and goes ranging. He didn't expect Jaime to want to come along.
...
Let me be frank.
What I'm hoping for is an epic in which Jon and Jaime circle each other and their stupid issues warily before having hot mansex because Jon's repressed and feeling squirrely being pursued by Melisandre and Jaime develops a ridiculous savior complex. Plots of backstabbing murder among Jon's enemies in the Night's Watch a plus. (Is Cersei's 100 among the men who arrived with Jaime? Osney Kettleblack may be whipped, but that doesn't mean Cersei's plan didn't start.) Extra points for somehow working in Robb's decree that Jon be made his heir. (I ♥ plot.)
What I'll settle for? Anything! I'm desperate for ASOIAF fanfic! I've already forgiven you everything in advance because you're writing a sequel. And, truly, I have no doubts it'll be a great read no matter how much the plot resembles Swiss cheese. I know myself to be a canon whore with an unhealthy obsession with plot. I don't really expect that of anyone else. Really.
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