Welcome to r/ASOIAF!

It's like, in the cartoons, where the snail goes inside of his shell, and he has a little bed and a TV in there, and sometimes there's a roaring fireplace, like his own little mobile home

Curious which storyline might hold the most surprises for us. Here is a list of the remaining POV characters and the direction we know (or believe) they are headed in. BOLD will signify a character who was cut from the show.

Jon - Currently bleeding out on the Wall; will likely be revived; might become King of the North.

Daenerys - Currently in the Dothraki Sea; will likely rally the Dothraki to her side; will hopefully sail for Westeros after the conflict in Meereen.

Arya - Currently in Bravos training under the Faceless Men; will likely return to Westeros

Bran - Currently Beyond the Wall training with Bloodraven and the Children of the Forest; will likely be forced to flee south after an attack by the Others; will likely have a Hold-the-door moment with Hodor.

Tyrion - Currently outside Meereen; will likely cross paths with Daenerys (or whoever rules Meereen if she remains absent) before returning to Westeros.

Sansa - Currently in the Vale learning under Littlefinger; will likely be involved with a scheme against Sweetrobin; this storyline was significantly altered for the show, but signs point towards Sansa returning North.

Theon/Asha - 2 POVS. Currently in Stannis' camp outside Winterfell; will likely witness the battle between Stannis and the Boltons. Afterwards... will they diverge???

Brienne/Jamie - 2 POVS. Currently in the Riverlands; likely on their way to meet Lady Stoneheart. Will they diverge?

Cersei - Currently in King's Landing awaiting her trial; will likely have Ser Robert Strong fight in a Trial by Combat; will she blow up the Sept of Baelor like the show???

Samwell - Currently in Oldtown training to become a Maester for the Night's Watch; what happens when Euron invades???

Aeron - Currently tied to Euron's ship. (technically cut from the show)

Victarion - Currently in Slaver's Bay.

Arianne - Currently in the Stormlands; likely on her way to Storm's End to meet Aegon and Jon Connington.

Jon Con - Currently somewhere in Westeros, likely Storm's End.

Areo - Currently in Dorne hunting for Darkstar with Obara Sand and Balon Swann.

Davos - Currently headed towards Skagos to retrieve Rickon Stark; will likely meet Osha.

Barristan - Currently in Meereen fighting a battle. Will he meet the same fate as he did in the show?

Melisandre - Currently at the Wall; will likely abandon Stannis for a revived Jon Snow.

Quentyn - Currently toast.

Is there anything I'm missing? Feel free to share your thoughts.

Yeah, I know it’s a stupid question. But we have plenty of time until Winds comes out, and I’m curious what people think so who cares.

When a lot of fans talk about Jon’s looks, they just say that he’s a younger Ned—so average looking. But how do we know he’s not, like, the spitting image of Brandon or something? Maybe Jon takes after the better looking brother? Brandon and Ned are both equally related to Lyanna, after all.

While Dany was in Qarth, why didn't Xaro , the thirteen, the pureborn, ancient guild of spicers, or the tourmaline brotherhood FORCEFULLY take Danys dragons ?

If I were Xaro, I would have imprisoned Dany and her friends and taken her dragons for myself.

Even after drogon destroys the house of the undying, no one attempts to forcefully take her dragons.

Why is this?

What would happen to a bastard of two noble parents if their parents got married. Feels like calling them a bastard would be wrong at that point.

How did Robert know about Lyanna's death? Did Ned go to Kings Landing to tell him before to go north? Or did he send a crow? Did Pycelle inform Robert? Did Robert see Lyanna's body ( I think was not possible due the decomposition). I didnt find those clues I think George didnt tell us yet about in details or am I missing something?

Below, all of Hodor’s direct quotes that I could find from the books. Did you know that he speaks more than 100 times? And on not a few of those occasions his meaning is quite intelligible?

Putting this together gave me a much more compassionate understanding of Hodor. Although limited in his ability to conventionally communicate, he’s kind to both people and animals, he shuns fighting (unless one of his friends is in danger), he's helpful, loyal, masters complex tasks and (usually) remembers to do them faithfully…it’s telling that after a while he basically becomes a personal attendant for Bran, as opposed to just his porter, and people trust him to take care of many of Bran’s needs on his own. And that he seems to do a wide variety of tasks in Winterfell.

He bears hardship well, and seems only afraid of a few things, including lightening / thunder, and the entry to the Winterfell Crypts. (Which might be a foreshadowing of where "Hold the door" occurs, who knows?)

And to answer your most pressing question in advance: what's the largest number of "Hodor"s that Hodor says in one sequence? There are at least three occasions where he repeats the word six times in quick succession...but the longest is an amazing THIRTEEN times in a row, apparently taking two quick breaths (indicated by periods) part way through.

With that…on with the conversation. These are roughly chronological through the books.

1. Hodor the stableboy who smiled so much and took care of his pony and never said anything but "Hodor," 
2. "Hodor!" the stableboy announced, as was his custom, smiling hugely at them all.
3. "Hodor!" Hodor agreed happily. 
4. "Hodor," he said again. Theon Greyjoy had once commented that Hodor did not know much, but no one could doubt that he knew his name. 
5. Hodor hummed tunelessly as he carried Bran down the steps and through the gallery.
6. "Hodor," Hodor said, and he trotted forward smiling and set Bran in the high seat of the Starks
7. Hodor said "Hodor," gathered up his great-grandmother, and carried her off, snoring softly.
8. "I didn't hear," he whispered, trembling in fear, but then the shadow said "Hodor," and lit the candle by the bedside, and Bran sighed with relief.
9. "Hodor!" Sansa yelled.
10. "Hodor," said Hodor.
11. "Hodor." Hodor stomped through the trees and vanished.
12. Bran heard muffled footfalls and a low humming, and Hodor came blundering out of the trees, naked and smiling. “Hodor!"
13. "Hodor, you forgot your clothes.” "Hodor," Hodor agreed.
14. "Hodor." He walked back the way he had come, ducking under a low-hanging tree limb.
15. The huge stableboy had a lost and frightened look to his face. "Hodor?" he said sadly. "Hodor," Bran agreed, wondering what it meant.
16. He just stood on the top step and said 'Hodor,' like he was scared of the dark, but I had a torch. 
17. Hodor said only, "Hodor." That was all he ever said.
18. Rickon sat in the mud laughing, and Hodor came lumbering in shouting "Hodor! Hodor! Hodor!”
19. They went quicker with Hodor's help. Once he had been taught to do something, he did it deftly. His hands were always gentle, though his strength was astonishing. "You could have been a knight too, I bet," Bran told him. "If the gods hadn't taken your wits, you would have been a great knight.""Hodor?" Hodor blinked at him with guileless brown eyes, eyes innocent of understanding.
20. "Hodor," Hodor said again, rising. 
21. Little Walder cast his splintered lance aside, spied Bran, and reined up. "Now there's an ugly horse," he said of Hodor. "Hodor's no horse," Bran said. "Hodor," said Hodor.
22. "Hodor." Beaming genially, Hodor looked from one Frey to the other, oblivious to their taunting. "Hodor hodor?” Little Walder's mount whickered. "See, they're talking to each other. Maybe hodor means 'I love you' in horse.”
23. "A good lord comforts and protects the weak and helpless," he told the Freys. "I will not have you making Hodor the butt of cruel jests, do you hear me? He's a good-hearted lad, dutiful and obedient, which is more than I can say for either of you." 
24. "Hodor, go with the maester," Bran commanded. "Hodor," said Hodor.
25. And then Osha exploded up out of the pool with a great splash, so sudden that even Summer leapt back, snarling. Hodor jumped away, wailing "Hodor, Hodor" in dismay until Bran patted his shoulder to soothe his fears. 
26. "Hodor never knew they were mocking him," Bran said. "Anyhow he never fights." He remembered once when he was little, going to the market square with his mother and Septa Mordane. They brought Hodor to carry for them, but he had wandered away, and when they found him some boys had him backed into an alley, poking him with sticks. "Hodor!" he kept shouting, cringing and covering himself, but he had never raised a hand against his tormentors. "Septon Chayle says he has a gentle spirit.”
27. "Hodor," Hodor shouted back, kneeling. Maester Luwin and Hayhead lifted him into his basket. 
28. "You can go back to the feast now, but don't go bothering Joseth and that woman," Bran said. "Hodor," Hodor replied, bobbing his head.
29. "Hodor, help me. Chase off the wolves. Chase them off.” Hodor went to it gleefully, waving his arms and stamping his huge feet, shouting "Hodor, Hodor," running first at one wolf and then the other. 
30. "Who else has something to say?" asked Theon Greyjoy. "Hodor hodor hodor hodor," shouted Hodor, eyes wide.
31. Hodor was given the task of bearing Bran back to his bed. His face was all ugly from the beating, his nose swollen and one eye closed. "Hodor," he sobbed between cracked lips as he lifted Bran in huge strong arms and bloody hands and carried him back out into the rain.
32. He could feel arms around him, the warmth of a body snuggled close. He could hear Hodor singing "Hodor, hodor, hodor," quietly to himself.
33. Osha might have liked it better if they had never talked at all, but there was no way to quiet Rickon, or to stop Hodor from muttering, "Hodor, hodor, hodor," endlessly to himself.
34. "I'd need to go up soon to steal food in any case, or we'd be down to eating Hodor.” "Hodor," Hodor said, grinning at her.
35. "Hodor," said Hodor nervously.
36. His brother was squirming restlessly. "I want to go home!" he said loudly. Hodor bobbed his head and said, “Hodor."
37. The huge stableboy put both hands flat on the door, pushed, and grunted. "Hodor?" He slammed a fist against the wood, and it did not so much as jump. “Hodor."
38. Turning, Hodor put his back to the wood and shoved. Again. Again. "Hodor!" He put one foot on a higher step so he was bent under the slant of the door and tried to rise. This time the wood groaned and creaked. "Hodor!" The other foot came up a step, and Hodor spread his legs apart, braced, and straightened. His face turned red, and Bran could see cords in his neck bulging as he strained against the weight above him. "Hodor hodor hodor hodor hodor HODOR!" From above came a dull rumble. 
39. Hodor stomped in a circle. "Hodor," he whimpered in a small voice. They stood huddled together with ruin and death all around them.
40. "Hodor?" Hodor said mournfully. “Hodor?"
41. "We'll take the Hunter's Gate," said Meera. "Hodor," said Hodor.
42. “Hodor."
43. "Hodor, hodor.”
44. "Hodor, hodor, hodor, hodor, hodor," Hodor chanted as he shook him softly by the shoulders, back and forth and back and forth. 
45. "NO!" he shouted angrily. "Hodor, leave off, I'm here, I'm here.” Hodor stopped, looking abashed. “Hodor?"
46. Hodor jerked suddenly to his feet, almost hitting his head on the barrel-vaulted ceiling. "HODOR!" he shouted, rushing to the door. Meera pushed it open just before he reached it, and stepped through into their refuge. "Hodor, hodor," the huge stableboy said, grinning.
47. "Hodor!" burped Hodor. "Hodor, hodor.”
48. "Hoooodor," said Hodor, swaying. "Hooooooodor, hoooooodor, hoDOR, hoDOR, hoDOR." Sometimes he liked to do this, just saying his name different ways, over and over and over. Other times, he would stay so quiet you forgot he was there. There was never any knowing with Hodor. "HODOR, HODOR, HODOR!" he shouted.
49. The stableboy had forgotten about his sword, but now he remembered. "Hodor!" he burped.
50. Even when he went outside they could hear him through the walls, bellowing "HODOR!" as he cut and slashed at his tree. 
51. Once they were caught in a sleet storm so fierce that even Hodor bellowed in dismay.
52. "Hodor," said Hodor.
53. "Hodor," said Hodor. "Hodor," Bran agreed. Jojen kicked a pinecone. "Hodor likes it when you say his name, I think.” "Hodor's not his true name," Bran explained. "It's just some word he says. His real name is Walder, Old Nan told me. She was his grandmother's grandmother or something." 
54. "Hodor," said Hodor, humming.
55. "Hodor," said Hodor agreeably.
56. Hodor must have felt the same. "Hodor," he said, and then, "Hodor hodor hodor hodor.”
57. It was a peaceful spot, still and tranquil and lovely to behold, but Bran thought there was something sad about an empty inn, and Hodor seemed to feel it too. "Hodor?" he said in a confused sort of way. "Hodor? Hodor?”
58. "Hodor," said Hodor. Maybe he agreed.
59. Twice Hodor almost lost his footing and shouted "HODOR!" in alarm before regaining his balance. 
60. "Hodor," said Hodor, straightening.
61. "HODOR!" Hodor shouted. 
62. "Hodor," he panted happily, grinning at all of them.
63. "Hodor," Hodor said at the noise.
64. "Hodor?" Hodor had put a hand over his eyes as well, only he was looking the wrong way. “Hodor?"
65. "Hodor," he said hopefully.
66. Hodor devoured the wing and leg, muttering "Hodor" and licking the grease off his fingers after every bite.
67. Bran counted to eight, waiting for the thunder. When it came, Hodor shouted, “Hodor!"
68. "Hodor!" Hodor yelled again. "HODOR! HODOR!”
69. "Hodor, hush," said Bran. "Be quiet now. No more stupid hodoring. Sit down.”
70. "Hodor?" He gave the longsword to Meera meekly enough, but his face was a mask of confusion.
71. "Hodor." Hodor sounded frightened. "Hodor. Hodor.”
72. "HODOR!" he roared, clapping his hands over his ears and stumbling in a circle through the darkness. "HODOR! HODOR! HODOR!” "NO!" Bran shouted back. "NO HODORING!”
73. It did no good. "HOOOODOR!" moaned Hodor. Meera tried to catch him and calm him, but he was too strong. He flung her aside with no more than a shrug. "HOOOOOODOOOOOOOR!" the stableboy screamed as lightning filled the sky again
74. "Hodor." Hodor shifted his weight, and Bran with it. 
75. Only Hodor slept that night, muttering "Hodor, hodor," as he tossed and turned. 
76. Hodor said, "Hodor," to that, and the Reeds exchanged a look. 
77. "Hodor?" said Hodor, doubtfully.
78. Hodor said "Hodor" to that
79. Hodor peered over the knee-high lip of the well and said, "HODOR!" The word echoed down the well, "Hodorhodorhodorhodor," fainter and fainter, "hodorhodorhodorhodor," until it was less than a whisper. Hodor looked startled. 
80. Hodor looked at him innocently. “Hodor?"
81. From time to time he thrashed beneath his cloak, and whimpered something that might have been “Hodor."
82. Hodor roaring "Hodor hodor HODOR," the way he had in the lake tower whenever the lightning flashed.
83. Hodor was still shouting, "Hodor hodor hodor.”
84. "Hodor?" said Hodor.
85. "Hodor," Hodor whispered, "Hodorhodorhodorhodorhodorhodor," the well whispered back. 
86. "Hod-d-d-dor," he would mutter, his teeth chattering.
87. A puff of white heralded each of Hodor's hodors. 
88. Hodor," said Hodor.
89. Hodor squatted down beside the door, rocking back and forth on his haunches and muttering, "Hodor, hodor, hodor.”
90. "Hodor," he muttered between bites, "hodor, hodor." 
91. "Hodor," whispered Hodor. 
92. Hodor shifted his weight. “Hodor."
93. "Hodor." Hodor clapped his hands together.
94. Wordless for once, Hodor slapped the snow off his legs, and plowed upward through the snowdrifts with Bran upon his back. 
95. "Hodor," said Hodor.
96. Hodor wanted to keep up. "Hodor, hodor, hodor," he grumbled loudly, to drown out Bran's complaints.
97. Hodor screamed. He twisted, stumbled, fell.
98. "Hoooodor" came a whimper, from somewhere down below.
99. "HODOR!" he bellowed, and slashed again. 
100. "Hodor," Bran roared again, waving her uphill. "Hodor, hodor." Jojen was twisting feebly where she'd laid him down. Bran went to him, dropped the longsword, gathered the boy into Hodor's arm, and lurched back to his feet. "HODOR!" he bellowed.
101. "Hodor," Hodor said with every step. "Hodor, hodor." 
102. He could hear Hodor screaming, "Hodor hodor hodor hodor. Hodor hodor hodor hodor. Hodor hodor hodor hodor hodor." 
103. Hodor saw them too. "Hodor," he whimpered, reluctant to go on. 
104. "Hodor." Hodor plunged ahead, hurrying after the child and her torch, deeper into the earth.
105. Bran only had to smile, do as he was told, and mutter "Hodor" from time to time, 
106. "Hodor," he grunted every time he gave a pull. "Hodor, hodor, hodor.”
107. "Hodor," Bran said to him, and he felt the real Hodor stir down in his pit.
108. "Hodor," said Hodor. Meera began to cry.
109. Hodor carried Bran back to his chamber, muttering "Hodor" in a low voice. 

Plotwise, it still *feels* like she could be alive. We don't ever see her body, and there are obviously a lot of unanswered questions regarding the Daynes. I don't think she's Lemore or anything, but she could involve several important connections.

If she is alive, what plots (storylines or schemes) is she a part of? Where will she end up?

If she's dead, what's her narrative purpose? What do she and her death represent?

Before I started reading AFFC I had heard that Brienne’s chapter would be boring and useless. So when I got to her first chapter, I had really low expectations. And for the first two chapters I didn’t even try to enjoy them. I almost felt like skipping them because I found them so boring. But I decided I would not be that type of person and I would just push through and try to enjoy them. And when I first started to actually try to enjoy them, it wasn’t hard at all. They are amazing. And here’s why I think so: Her whole adventure through the riverlands gives so much life to Westeros. In most chapters we only follow lords in castles and it’s really nice to get a break from that with brilliant descriptions of the environment and nature. We really get to see the consequences of the war when in other chapters we just hear about the battles. The writing in her chapters are truly amazing. Her whole journey with Nimble dick just made me feel uncomfortable, but in a good way. I also love the characters in her chapters. Like I said earlier, in most chapters we only follow lords and ladies. Whereas in Brienne’s chapters we get to know th e small folk of the riverlands. I know there are instances in other chapters where the POV’s talk with small folk, but in Brienne’s chapters we actually get to know them. Their stories, their life and their perspective of the war and of the lords. And idc what anybody says Brienne is one of the best written characters in the books. And to delve deeper into her past and her traumas just makes her character so much better. We see her face challenges and learn and grow stronger from them.

I know some people find her chapters boring because ”She doesn’t get anywhere”. But as the saying goes ”It is not about the destination, it is about the journey.

Since Jon left the night's watch to go winterfell and save Arya he doesn't know that fake Arya is heading to the wall, what if she arrives just in time when Jon is resurrected and explains everything to him? Will he still want to leave the night's or will he go to hardhome with tormund?

I won't bore you with a thousand lines of conspiracy so here is the short version:

The Lannister column is making it's way through a hostile crowd only to be stopped in its tracks by a woman with a dead baby. This woman eventually starts shouting at King and Queen (regent) that they are abominations. So far this could have just been a random incident. What makes me question this is the person that slung the dung. They were on a roof with dung prepared meaning that they didn't just pick it up off the street randomly. They were prepared to throw it and where prepared to throw it accurately at the right place and the right time - when the Lannisters had stopped and Joffrey was losing his temper. My bet is on Littlefinger (who was at Bitterbridge) sowing chaos. Of anyone at the council, switching to Highgarden would have been easiest for him at that point.

Am i the only one who thought that "A Feast For Crows" was a reference to Night's Watch(the crows) letting the wildlings (the feast💀) into Wall and Westeros? I thought so because it was my first time read and i knew the wildling stuff from the show. But then we got very southern povs and no pov from Wall except Sam who then went on a travel. What do you think?

Show says one thing (for what it's worth. I mean I know the show shouldn't be used as a template for what will/not/did happen in the books, but - there are a lot of things that will/have been be the same, like Bran king and Mad Danny).

Book - it's more ambiguous, or so people say.

What do you think?

Cersei is born a boy instead of a girl. How does this change the story overall?

Most fans say that Edmure cost Robb the war by stopping Tywin from marching West, but I and many others believe that Robb was lying about the plan to draw them into the West and that Robb would've died if Edmure let Tywin through. The reason to believe Robb lied is because the battle of the fords and the battle of Oxcross happens at the same time and even if Robb's injured host of 5,000 men manages to defeat Stafford's army before Tywin's 20,000 men makes it into the west there is no position in the Westerlands the blackfish could've found that Tywin wouldn't know about. Tywin also had more cavalry than Robb so eventually Robb would've been cornered and killed in the Westerlands. The only way Robb's supposed plan works is if its revised, Robb should've taken Edmure cavalry at Riverrun with him so he'd have 8,000 cavalry men which is more than Tywin's and then he should've ordered Edmure's 8,000 men at Riverrun and Roose's 10,000 men at harrenhal to follow and flank Tywin's army's from behind while Robb attacks Tywin's front when his army enters the Westerlands resulting in Tywin's army being attacked and defeated from both sides. Even then Robb still had to tell Edmure the whole plan so that he could evacuate the smallfolk from Tywin's path, Edmure's duty as a lord is to protect his people first and foremost.

Robb lied because he was losing support amongst his lords after the battle of blackwater. he needed to guilt trip Edmure so he could take the fall for his strategic blunder and to bring the Freys back into the fold.

Aka, bran doesn’t get pushed, jon arryn doesn’t die, no long night, etc

I read the collection over the course of this year and they really are as good as everyone said. It's been a looong time since I read the main ASOIAF series, and man did they get me hankering for a reread!

My personal ranking would probably be:

1. The Sworn Sword

2. The Hedgeknight

3. the Mystery Knight

TMK was my "least" favorite (still great of course) because I feel like the story got a bit more complicated compared to the simplicity of the previous two. But I get how some people might love that greater complexity and interweaving plot threads, plus it's got a great cast of characters, and the most blackfyre stuff.

The Hedgeknight was a great introduction to the characters and this period in history, and it was just a lot of fun with a smaller story all set at the tourney.

But the Sworn Sword was the right balance in my opinion. The story is the smallest in scope, just dealing with very minder lords, but it really allowed for the most character focus out of the three stories imo.

Bennis was such a little scumbag, George gave us another banger of a fiery redhead with lady rohanne, and who can forget the absolute legend, Ser Eustace Osgrey.

Osgrey is probably the main reason this story is my favorite. Just everything his plotline says about morality, honor, loyalty, and fleshing out the Blackfyre history a bit. His speech about why he supported Daemon was just absolute peak.

Background

Recently I have been posting about abandoned/changed plotlines in the serise and while working on a post regarding the abandoned plotline in Dorne (where GRRM originally had Ser Arys Oakheart survive the Queenmaker Plot and surrender, he instead had Boros Blount dying) I started thinking on what he might have changed the plotline to. GRRM was seemingly setting up a potential duel between Arys Oakheart and Balon Swann, and now that Arys is dead and Myrcella maimed, the natural conclusion is Darkstar. In this post I wanted to explore that idea a bit (Balon Swann vs. Darkstar) with the rest of the information available to us.

If interested: "The Dornish Portion" of GRRM's 2003-2004 Outline of AFFC

Ser Balon Swann

Ser Balon is setup as very brave and noble from the beginning. He performs well not only in the Hand's Tourney (defeating Alyn and falling to Gregor):

Alyn and Harwin fared less well; Harwin was unhorsed in his first tilt by Ser Meryn of the Kingsguard, while Alyn fell to Ser Balon Swann.

Ser Balon Swann also fell to Gregor, and Lord Renly to the Hound. -AGoT, Sansa II

and the archery contest:

That afternoon a boy named Anguy, an unheralded commoner from the Dornish Marches, won the archery competition, outshooting Ser Balon Swann and Jalabhar Xho at a hundred paces after all the other bowmen had been eliminated at the shorter distances. Ned sent Alyn to seek him out and offer him a position with the Hand's guard, but the boy was flush with wine and victory and riches undreamed of, and he refused. -AGoT, Eddard VII

GRRM randomly has him return from Robert's boar hunt:

Prince Joffrey returned this morning, with the Royces, Ser Balon Swann, and some twenty others of the party. The rest are still with the king." -AGoT, Eddard XII

and there are numerous quotes calling him courtly, modest, obedient, valiant, as well as good with a lance, better with a morningstar and exceptional with a bow. He is appointed to the kingsguard and almost all consider it a good choice.

If interested: Swann vs. Swann: Ser Donnel the Constant

The Task Given by Doran

I went into the above on Balon (not even close to the amount of actual detail on his chivalry) basically just to say that when Doran gives him the task of hunting down Myrcella's attempted assassin, he is going to immediately be up for it:

Prince Doran raised a hand. His knuckles were as dark as cherries and near as big. "Ser Balon is a guest beneath my roof. He has eaten of my bread and salt. I will not do him harm. No. We will travel to the Water Gardens, where he will hear Myrcella's story and send a raven to his queen. The girl will ask him to hunt down the man who hurt her. If he is the man I judge, Swann will not be able to refuse. Obara, you will lead him to High Hermitage to beard Darkstar in his den. The time is not yet come for Dorne to openly defy the Iron Throne, so we must needs return Myrcella to her mother, but I will not be accompanying her. That task will be yours, Nymeria. The Lannisters will not like it, no more than they liked it when I sent them Oberyn, but they dare not refuse. We need a voice in council, an ear at court. Be careful, though. King's Landing is a pit of snakes." -ADWD, The Watcher

which is why it seems like he believed Myrcella's story:

"Prince Doran says nothing of your brother. And Balon Swann writes that Myrcella puts it all on this Gerold Dayne. Darkstar, they call him. -ADWD, Cersei I

and so he sets out to hunt down Darkstar:

Obara, you will lead him to High Hermitage to beard Darkstar in his den.

and:

With Balon Swann hunting the rogue knight Darkstar down in Dorne -ADWD, Epilogue

If interested: The Mountain, Ser Robert Strong & a Large Skull

Gerold Dayne and High Hermitage

I've posted "recently" (1 year ago) on Darkstar's importance to the series, so please check it out if you are interested: Gerold "Darkstar" Dayne

If the gods were good, by now Obara Sand had treed him in his mountain fastness and put an end to him.

She said as much to Daemon Sand that first night, as they made camp. "Be careful what you pray for, princess," he replied. "Darkstar could put an end to Lady Obara just as easily."

"She has Areo Hotah with her." Prince Doran's captain of guards had dispatched Ser Arys Oakheart with a single blow, though the Kingsguard were supposed to be the finest knights in all the realm. "No man can stand against Hotah."

"Is that what Darkstar is? A man?" Ser Daemon grimaced. "A man would not have done what he did to Princess Myrcella. Ser Gerold is more a viper than your uncle ever was. Prince Oberyn could see that he was poison, he said so more than once. It's just a pity that he never got around to killing him." -TWOW, Arianne I

If interested: The Showdown at High Hermitage

Duel?

While Arianne seems to think that Hotah/Obara are the ones potentially to fight Darkstar (and it makes sense since they are close to her and Darkstar was part of her botched plan), Doran's words and more importantly Ser Balon's status as a kingsguard basically makes him honorbound to fight Darkstar.

If we couple this with the fact that GRRM likely had Ser Arys and Ser Balon fighting it out at some point, which morphed into Arys/Hotah and maybe now Balon and Darkstar.

As I mentioned above, Balon is extremely talented:

In addition to being well born, young Ser Balon was valiant, courtly, and skilled at arms; good with a lance, better with a morningstar, superb with the bow. He would serve with honor and courage. -ACOK, Tyrion XI

but while many readers dislike Darkstar/find him somewhat cheesy, etc. we need to look at GRRM's intent with the character (he seemingly was suprised that readers didn't like the character) and it was that he was trying to create an edgy/dark bad boy who was not only evil but also talented.

If we keep in mind that Balon might be better with normal weaponry, but let's say Darkstar steals Dawn (it needs to enter the story somehow), it might allow him to kill Balon (just a thought).

If interested: Major Duels/Fights That Could Happen

TLDR: Somewhat explored the idea that as he changed the Dornish Plotline that instead of having Ser Arys Oakheart survive the Queenmaker Plot and face Ser Balon Swann, GRRM spun the idea into Ser Arys Oakheart vs. Areo Hotah and Ser Balon Swann vs. Darkstar (as Ser Balon's nature and position on the kingsguard would require him to defend Myrcella's honor). While the plot is headed in that direction (Obara Sand is taking Areo Hotah (the Camera that Rides) and Balon Swann to High Hermitage), outside of the character's natures and the location (near Starfall and Dawn) we have very little to go on as to what will happen next. I have plenty of further thoughts but they are a little disjointed, and would love to hear other readers' thoughts on this plot change.

Oh man, the entire flow of the war could have been changed by Theon’s strength of character. Can you imagine if he was a different type of person, the person that Robb thought he was. It’s all so clear now, he’s the exact personality type that someone a few years younger than him would think is super cool, but is really just like… kind of a fuckin’ dork; He’s aloof, acts cool, (seemingly) good with the ladies, 11-15 y/o Robb must have thought he was the man, and that translated into thinking he was actually A MAN, but essentially all he was was just a chill guy that low-key doesn’t give a fuck but nothing more. Catelyn gets a lot of hate (much of it justified) but she was right about how bad of an idea it was to send Theon to the Iron Islands. In fact, it’s disappointing that some of Robb’s other counsel didn’t see the same thing. The more experienced ones that knew more about the Iron Islands should have seen it.

I’m basically replaying Theon II in my head the way I replay previous encounters and conversations I’ve had in my own life when I’m in the shower, like “if only I’d said this or done that.” If only Theon wasn’t such a fuckboy and just concentrated on the task at hand, he might have been able to convince his dad and uncles that their plan was fucking stupid which it absolutely was. Was there even an endgame with Balons plan?? How exactly did he plan to hold any of the northern castles?? You ain’t Harren the Black little bro. I can picture a better version of Theon just taking control of that meeting with Balon, Aeron, Victarian, and Asha and changing the course of the entire war

P.S. since I’m so familiar with Gurm I can’t help but feel like he’s reading the whole series to me, which is funny at times but It’s nice when the author doesn’t exist (yet) and it’s just a story on its own

Bran might be actively shaping or distorting dreams, visions and prophecies to hide the true nature of events. This manipulation could serve a specific purpose, 1. to deceive an enemy and balance the scales. Or 2. (the kinder version) to unify humanity through a constructed narrative of a future event that is yet to occur, in order to prevent it from happening.

Eilmer the flying monk- predicted William the conqueror invasion by observing the return of Hailey’s comet.

You've come, have you? – You've come, you source of tears to many mothers. It is long since I saw you; but as I see you now you are much more terrible, for I see you brandishing the downfall of my country.

William the Conqueror recorded Eilmer's quotation not to establish his age, but to show that a prophecy was fulfilled when the Normans invaded England.

William records that, in Eilmer's youth, he had read and believed the Greek myth of Daedalus. Thus, Eilmer fixed wings to his hands and feet and launched himself from the top of a tower. He fell, broke both his legs and was lame ever after. He used to relate as the cause of his failure, his forgetting to provide himself a tail.

Briefly Daedalus was a skillful architect and craftsman, seen as a symbol of wisdom, knowledge and power. He and his son were said to have created the Labyrinth for King Minos of Crete which imprisoned the Minotaur King Minos suspected that Icarus and Daedalus had revealed the labyrinth's secrets and imprisoned them—either in a large tower overlooking the ocean or in the labyrinth itself and wings that he and his son Icarus used to attempt to escape

This sounds like very similar to Bran the builder… Engineering and architecture in Westeros are attributed to Brandon in various tales, including the Wall,[4]Winterfell,[11] the Hightower, [12] and Storm's End. This may also go along with the “Winged Wolf” that is bound to earth with grey chains”

William the conqueror who is said to be the inspiration behind Aegon the conquerer.

"The realm... it's a story we agree to tell each other over and over, until we forget that it's a lie,”.

The Harrying of the North- biographers of William considered it to be his cruellest act and a "stain upon his soul"

• he made no effort to restrain his fury and punished the innocent with the guilty. In his anger he commanded that all crops, herds and food of any kind be brought together and burned to ashes so that the whole region north of the [river] Humber be deprived of any source of sustenance’*

…More than 100,000 people perished of starvation. I have often praised William in this book, but I can say nothing good about this brutal slaughter. God will punish him. — Vitalis 1853, p. 28

so great a famine prevailed that men, compelled by hunger, devoured human flesh, that of horses, dogs, and cats, and whatever custom abhors; others sold themselves to perpetual slavery, so that they might in any way preserve their wretched existence. - Symeon of Durham**

The maesters are frequently accused of bias, suppressing magical knowledge, and shaping history to fit their own worldview. Perhaps hiding the real truth of Aegons conquest. As Archmaester Marwyn says in AFFC "Who do you think killed all the dragons the last time around? Gallant dragon-slayers armed with swords?” The world the Citadel is building has no place in it for magic or prophecy.

Bran’s abilities as the Three-Eyed Crow allow him to see and even interact with the past, and present. As BR warns Bran "The past remains the past. We can learn from it, but we cannot change it."
Yet this statement is undermined by Bran’s interception of Hodors mind in the past and his whispering through the Weirwoods. This moment hints that Bran’s powers may extend beyond observation into influence.

Prophetic visions that come from BR & Bran might not be windows to objective truth but instead glimpses of crafted stories designed to serve a hidden agenda. Could he be creating false prophecies, shaping the beliefs of key players to engineer a specific outcome? For example Stannis, Melisandre is adamant he is the one she has seen it in the flames, but Aemon lets us know his sword is a glamour, and Melisandre’s ‘visions’ seem to change once she arrives at the wall. Does this show us that Visions are manipulative and ultimately a lie?

This idea also aligns with a major theme in The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin. (It also has 3 main characters from GOT and is directed by D&D coincidentally ) In that story, humanity fights an alien race that cannot comprehend storytelling or deception. Humans use this to their advantage, crafting lies and false narratives to outwit the enemy. If the Others lack human imagination or the ability to discern lies from truth, Bran’s manipulation of prophecy could be a similar strategy.

GRRM also may have been inspired by the Irish mythology The Voyage of Bran…

Bran has a vision of a woman from the Otherworld who tells him to find her on the Island of Women. He builds a ship with his foster brothers and sets sail west. They encounter the god of the ocean, Mananan Mac Lir, who tells them they are sailing through an orchard. They see a silver branch that some say is a passport to the Otherworld. They believe they spend a year on the Island of Women, but it turns out to be many years or even centuries. When they approach Ireland, they discover they have become ancient history

Brân is mortally wounded and asks his companions to cut off his head and bring it back to Britain. He tells them the head will provide entertainment and companionship, and will remain uncorrupted as long as they don't open a forbidden door.

Old Nan’s is a great story teller, often dismissed as simple fables, they could have a different purpose. She fills Bran’s mind with stories of the Long Night, the Night King, and the terrifying Others. Bran as 3EC could use these tales, turning them into prophecies. Prophets like Melisandre and the wood witches spread these tales as if they are words of a god.

A web of lies “all crows are liars” which means if Bran is the 3EC he is also a liar.

Arya is also leaning to lie in the HOBAW.

Littlefinger the best liar of all is teaching Sansa how to lie, his cryptic manipulation throughout the series aligns with the possibility that he is aware of a larger narrative. "Always keep your foes confused. If they are never certain who you are or what you want, they cannot know what you are likely to do next."

Daenerys in HOU is prophesied as ”Mother of Dragons slayer of lies - Dany is repeatedly told by Quaith not to trust anyone, betrayed by her advisors, and by Jon. Who is really leading the narrative here? Jorah dies, so her most trusted advisor in the end is Missandei who also is killed, leading to Dany’s paranoia and decision to Burn KL.

In the tv show Gilly comes across high septic Maynard recording that state Rhaeghar marriage was annulled, it doesn’t say who he remarried in dorne Gilly just says “someone else”. Bran then fills in this gap with his vision of Lyanna and Rhaeghar getting married and Lyanna in her birthing bed. This may all be true in the end however is all very convenient if the goal is to deliberately isolate Dany from Jon so that she ultimately burns KL.

“Burn them all” Perhaps Aerys was also a victim of this isolation and tormented by prophecies.

LF Tv series theory - I can’t help but feel there is something else going on, Littlefinger’s death scene is heavily criticized, but what if we’ve all been hoodwinked? It all happens so quickly and is underwhelming for such a big character, framed as a sudden betrayal, but it’s possible that everything from his trial to his execution was staged, even his pleading at the end seems odd and out of character. It is theorized that LF might be a faceless man, a little hint at this is when Brienne asks Arya who taught her how to fight, she glares up at LF and says “No one”. Faking his death could be part of a preordained plan to remove him from the game in a way that benefits later, while maintaining the illusion of his death.

Characters being told “remember who you are”… Aryas can’t seem to forget herself no matter how hard she tries (this may be a big part of the test.) Theon is loosing his identity to reek, Jamie is told to remember who he is as well as Dany. Ned seems to be losing his memory - Ned, he had known their faces as well as he knew his own once, but the years leech at a man's memories, even those he has vowed never to forget was Ned messing up the plan because he forgot his role?

If Bran is constructing a false narrative, these reminders might be necessary to keep key players anchored to their roles in this larger scheme.

The House of the Dragon finale "It is all a story” Another part lots of people hated. The ultimate irony could be that what we and the characters perceive as prophecy is itself a lie, crafted for survival in a world where stories hold the power to unite or destroy. If Bran is creating a false narrative, it could be to engineer such a final stand. He might craft a vision or dream so compelling that it convinces characters like Jon, and others to unite against the Others, even if the prophecy itself is not true. For example, the legend of Azor Ahai forging Lightbringer and defeating the darkness might be a myth Bran amplifies to ensure humanity believes it can win.

Will Theon, like Torgon Greyiron, return to the Iron Islands, declare the kingsmoot illegal, and become the King of the Iron Islands? But since he no longer wishes to rule, he passes the throne to his sister.

How do you imagine that Ser Robert Strong, aka an undead Gregor Clegane reanimated by Qyburn though his dark experiments (and possibly with another head, if the skull sent to Dorne is really Gregor's), will be unmasked and that his identity as the Mountain will be revealed to the public ? Who or what circumstances could possibly unmask him in front of a large public ? And when do you see it happening ?

Who really killed Little Walder really?

Some say it was Big Walder but he and kitten Walder were pretty cool with each other why would he want to hurt him?

Some say Ramsey which I’m willing to believe except littler Walder was Ramseys favorite normally you kill the people you don’t like and keep the ones you do like

Theon thinks it’s the spear wives but they denied in front of a heart tree

The Freys think it’s Manderly which is possible he does want revenge on the Freys

Or maybe it was the hooded man whoever he is

I'll go first: I think Arya would get along well with Elia Sand (ACOK-Arya, not ADWD-Arya). They'd be best friends and play pranks on Sansa hehe

Are we just joke to him?

Here's what I believe will happen:

Arya will meet Lady Stoneheart in the Riverlands. (although I am not sure how she'll get there)

Lady Stoneheart will try and crown Arya. (It's what Cat wanted to do)

Arya will somehow become aware of Robb's will probably from LSH herself. Robb's will likely names Jon as the heir.

Arya will use talk no jutsu to make LSH see the light that she should respect Robb's wishes and that Jon should be the King.

LSH will have a change of heart and finally acknowledge Jon. They will lead the BWB North. (At this point Arya also decides to abandon the FM. I am not sure they would care about her leaving anyway since they never forced her to stay with them.)

The BWB will assist Jon against the Boltons and the Others. At this point the Vale army, Sansa and Littlefinger will also be in the North.

Littlefinger will try and turn Sansa against her siblings. Brynden Tully is likely with Sansa but might change his mind once he sees Cat and Arya. Sansa eventually turns against LF and he gets executed at Winterfell like it has been foreshadowed. (The maiden slaying a giant at a snow castle prophecy) There will also be a trial like in the show.

Cat likely crowns Jon and then decides that it's time to go. She's a shell of her former self and doesn't want to live like this anymore. Arya might perform mercy kill her just like the FM perform euthanasia at the House of Black and White.

The Long Night happens and it completely messes up the continent unlike in the show. In the end Bran becomes King and Jon likely get exiled. However , there will be a lot of people starving as a result of the Long Night. Just like queen Nymeria, Arya will likely lead a band of refugees to search for new land. (Probably the remnants of the BWB will also be involved in this journey)

The reasons why I think this is possible:

-No matter how many changes D&D made I don't think they would keep the King Bran ending but change everyone else's endings. This is why I think Arya will sail West. However, it'll make more sense in the books because the land will likely be completely messed up by the Long Night. It will also parallel queen Nymeria's journey.

-The fact that LSH is searching for Arya specifically makes me think that their paths will intersect.

-The euthanasia stuff happening at the House of Black and White makes me think that Arya might perform euthanasia herself.

What are your predictions?

Throughout the novels, a handful of scenes with the Martells display rotten oranges falling off trees, hints that Doran sitting on his long-gestating plans for years is resulting in the downfall of his family. With Young Griff/Aegon(maybe?) coming to take over King's Landing, a lot can happen to Dorne and the Martell's, especially if they play their cards right. But, with the death of Quentyn and the failure of Arianne and Doran's recent plots, it's hard to know if the Martell family will make the right decision when it comes to choosing sides for the upcoming war and potential second dance of dragons between Griff and Dany. While I do think Arianne has a good chance of surviving and choosing to lead her family and Dorne under a more assertive leadership, there's still a good chance that everything crumbles and they get taken over. What do you guys think happens?

I enjoy HOTD and will watch Dunk and Egg but I feel like a show that covers the Defiance of Duskendale all the way to the Wedding of Robert and Cersei would be money… are they scared we still have a bad taste in our mouths from GOT and don’t wanna revisit characters we already know? I’m just trying to understand the motivation behind not immediately green lighting a Bobby B takes down the Mad King show.

I always felt like the battle of black water seemed a little silly as it was essentially a 1 battle or rather 1 night war. Robs war seemed to last at the very least months if not a year and seemed to have some more significance as far as impact on the 7 kingdoms and the cracking of kings landings reach beyond the far south

Stannis battle seemed to be just a battle, were there other battles I'm missing? Was this a realistic thing in history? Would it be closer to a seige attempt then a battle? Idk it just never felt as significant to me compared to the other conflicts

When the watch rides out in force beyond the wall, they have the objective of fighting the wildlings, fighting the Others, and learning why rangers are going missing and villages are empty.

After the wights attack on the Fist and the retreat to Crasters Keep, however, Lord Commander Mormont seems to have reached a certain conclusion. He tells Sam:

"...The Night's Watch has forgotten its true purpose, Tarly. You don't build a wall seven hundred feet high to keep savages in skins from stealing women. The Wall was made to guard the realms of men . . . and not against other men, which is all the wildlings are when you come right down to it. Too many years, Tarly, too many hundreds and thousands of years. We lost sight of the true enemy. And now he's here, but we don't know how to fight him..."

Had Jeor lived, it seems there might have been some change in foreign policy; Focusing on the "true enemy". Do you think he might have struck a deal with The Mance?