Ponderings along the Song of Ice and Fire way
I have been re-reading Martin. This happens quite frequently. Two things have struck me lately, and I have been pondering. Now this is all loose speculation - but please hear me out:
The first:
The kings of winter in the Winterfell crypt. They sit with their swords drawn over their knees, and a wolf at their feet. When Robb greets Tyrion in Game of Thrones, the feeling is tense - and he has a sword drawn over his knees. It’s Bran’s POV - and he thinks that a greeting like this is a bad sign. So what are the Kings of winter greeting - sitting like they are?
The second:
Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all nights to come
This is the wording of the Nightwatch oath. I love it, it’s beautiful - but it’s also a little strange. Especially this part: I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, […]
It goes from talking about what the initiate shall do, to what he is once he is part of the watch. He is the sword in the darkness. I’ve always liked that, the way the wording of the oath underlines that the person swearing is no longer an individual, but part of the brotherhood. In fact he is a tool of the brotherhood.
But as I was reading it, and I started thinking - the light that brings the dawn - the light bringer? As in Lightbringer that is associated with Azor Ahai? Because Martin wouldn’t hide a detail like that right? Well, yes he would - but that still doesn’t exempt me from grabbing at straws here.
Now the prophesy about Ahai and Lightbringer is given as this in Clash of Kings (in my paperback that is p. 111):
In ancient books of Asshai it is written that there will come a day after a long summer when the stars bleed and the cold breath of darkness falls heavy on the world. In this dread hour a warrior shall draw from the fire a burning sword. And that sword shall be Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and he who clasps it shall be Azor Ahai come again, and the darkness shall flee before him.
And this mentions a sword -and not some ragged band of Nightwatch men. Except that the oath also states: I am the sword in the darkness.[…] . I am the fire that burns against the cold
So, could the prophesy be talking not about a literal sword, but a metaphorical sword, a weapon in the form of the Nightwatch - and who ever controls the Nightwatch wields this weapon?
See - this must be what going mad feels like. Re-reading Martin for the unnumbered time. *sigh* If he could just please finish the next book my head would be a quieter place. At least for a time…
The first:
The kings of winter in the Winterfell crypt. They sit with their swords drawn over their knees, and a wolf at their feet. When Robb greets Tyrion in Game of Thrones, the feeling is tense - and he has a sword drawn over his knees. It’s Bran’s POV - and he thinks that a greeting like this is a bad sign. So what are the Kings of winter greeting - sitting like they are?
The second:
Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all nights to come
This is the wording of the Nightwatch oath. I love it, it’s beautiful - but it’s also a little strange. Especially this part: I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, […]
It goes from talking about what the initiate shall do, to what he is once he is part of the watch. He is the sword in the darkness. I’ve always liked that, the way the wording of the oath underlines that the person swearing is no longer an individual, but part of the brotherhood. In fact he is a tool of the brotherhood.
But as I was reading it, and I started thinking - the light that brings the dawn - the light bringer? As in Lightbringer that is associated with Azor Ahai? Because Martin wouldn’t hide a detail like that right? Well, yes he would - but that still doesn’t exempt me from grabbing at straws here.
Now the prophesy about Ahai and Lightbringer is given as this in Clash of Kings (in my paperback that is p. 111):
In ancient books of Asshai it is written that there will come a day after a long summer when the stars bleed and the cold breath of darkness falls heavy on the world. In this dread hour a warrior shall draw from the fire a burning sword. And that sword shall be Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and he who clasps it shall be Azor Ahai come again, and the darkness shall flee before him.
And this mentions a sword -and not some ragged band of Nightwatch men. Except that the oath also states: I am the sword in the darkness.[…] . I am the fire that burns against the cold
So, could the prophesy be talking not about a literal sword, but a metaphorical sword, a weapon in the form of the Nightwatch - and who ever controls the Nightwatch wields this weapon?
See - this must be what going mad feels like. Re-reading Martin for the unnumbered time. *sigh* If he could just please finish the next book my head would be a quieter place. At least for a time…