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| King Robert Baratheon visits Winterfell. He's portrayed by Mark Addy |
Summary
This chapter is told through the eyes of Lord Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell. Last we read from the previous chapter, King Robert Baratheon and his entourage were coming to visit Winterfell.
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| The sigil of House Baratheon is a stag |
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| The Lannister sigil is that of a lion |
We are finally told that the crowned stag is the sigil of House Baratheon. We also learn that the Lannister sigil is that of a lion. Ned meets King Robert again whom he had last seen 9 years ago during another battle - the Greyjoy rebellion.
We learn how Theon Greyjoy came to be Ned Stark’s ward: Balor Greyjoy, Theon’s father, made himself King of the Iron Islands and tried to rebel against King Robert. Ned aided King Robert and fought back the rebellion. Balor Greyjoy finally surrendered and Ned took Theon as hostage and ward.
Ned recalls Robert 15 years ago when he was much younger, a fierce warrior and a force to be reckoned with. Now he’s a fat aging man who hardly looks heroic at all.
After greeting Ned and Catelyn like old family, he asks Ned to take him down to the Stark crypt to pay respects. We learn that King Robert is really just a dude. A big man who loves life, food and most importantly, women.
We learn a bit more about Ned’s father, older brother and his sister who have all died. Ned’s father was Lord Rickard Stark who was probably killed via assassination. Brandon Stark was 20 years old when he died, strangled to death by Mad King Aerys Targaryen days before he was supposed to marry Catelyn Tully, now Ned‘s wife. Lyanna Stark died at 16, and was to be married to Robert who loved her very much. She died of fever but Robert blames Rhaegar Targaryen (Viserys and Danny’s older brother) for her death. Robert was also responsible for killing him in battle. But even though Robert avenged her death, he was never satisfied. We also learn that Robert doesn’t like his wife, Cersei Lannister.
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| Cersei Lannister portrayed by Lena Headey |
We learn Ned really doesn’t like the Lannisters and doesn’t like to have anything to do with him, while Robert doesn’t have a choice because his wife, Cersei, is a Lannister.
We then learn that Jon Arryn was Robert’s Hand of the King, the 2nd most powerful position in the realm next to the King. Literally his right hand man. Robert needs someone to fill the Hand of the King position. He offers it to Ned because he trusts him.
Ned initially turns it down because he doesn’t want the responsibility or the power but he says he will discuss the matter with Catelyn. Robert then says perhaps Ned’s daughter Sansa can marry his son Prince Joff and join houses. Sansa is only 11 now and maybe can be married later.
The chapter ends with Ned feeling a horrible sense of dread having to deal with this powerful and dangerous position that‘s being thrust on him.
Analysis
Themes and Topics
-Friendship
-Meeting long lost friends only to see they’re a shadow of their former self.
-Politics
-History
-Mercy vs. Justice
-Power and Position
-Conflict between Duty and Self
-Death and Overcoming Grief
-Power granted by birthright or by earning it?
-Everyone is untrustworthy
-Omens
This chapter is told through the point of view of Lord Eddard Stark. King Robert Baratheon has come to Winterfell with his entourage. Just as we suspected, the sigil of house Baratheon is the crowned stag. If we remember correctly, the dead Direwolf omen seen in the previous chapters was killed by a stag. So we know this omen is an obvious foreshadowing of bad things to come: The Starks could be killed by the Baratheons or in this case, the King.
Ned hasn’t seen Robert in a long time and barely recognizes him until the King comes down his warhorse and bear hugs him. Just from this first interaction, we can tell that Ned and Robert are best buddies and Robert is the more friendly, jovial friend in contrast to Ned who is more reserved. We can also tell that King Robert doesn’t really take his position very seriously because Kings aren’t meant to behave so informally.
Ned recalls a time when Robert was a total badass, 15 years ago. ‘Fifteen years past, when they had ridden forth to win a throne, the Lord of Storm’s End had been clean-shaven, clear-eyed and muscled like a maiden’s fantasy… he’d had a giant’s strength too, his weapon of choice a spiked iron war hammer that Ned could scarcely lift…’ but now, Robert was a shadow of his former past. ‘A beard as coarse and black as iron wire covered his jaw to hide his double chin and the sag of the royal jowls, but nothing could hide his stomach or the dark circles under his eyes.’ Ned is clearly disappointed that his best friend had grown old and become a fatass, but of course, he doesn’t say this to his friend.
We learn how Theon Greyjoy ended up becoming Ned’s ward: Theon’s lord father, Balor Greyjoy, decided to crown himself King of the Iron Islands and rebelled against King Robert. Ned rallied the Stark forces to help the King quell the rebellion and Balor Greyjoy surrendered. Theon ended up being Ned’s hostage and ward. This happened 9 years ago.
Ned Stark is very kind. He could have just let Theon be hostage and treat him badly but instead, he chose to adopt him as a ward, like a surrogate son. Theon is kind of part of the Stark family. This is the first instance we see in the chapter about the conflict of duty and self. As duty, Theon Greyjoy is a hostage of Starks, he’s still the enemy, but instead, Ned Stark chooses kindness and treats Theon as a son.
After the usual pleasantries, Robert asks Ned to take him to the Stark crypt, much to the chagrin of Robert’s wife, Cersei Lannister. She protests but Robert doesn’t care and he follows Ned down to the crypt. This is the second instance of duty vs. self conflict. As a King, Robert is supposed to go along with his wife to do the usual kingly stuff but instead, he chooses to accompany his friend Ned to the Stark crypts to pay respects to his friend’s family. As we read on, we understand why...
While they talk, Ned is very formal because of Robert’s change in status. His best buddy is King now and he treats him like so. Robert on the other hand, doesn’t act like a King and behaves as he is. King Robert is revealed to be a man who lives large: he appreciates fine food, fine drink and most importantly, beautiful women. The King is just a dude who wants to party and have fun. He doesn’t seem very kingly at all. This is another instance of duty vs. self conflict - King Robert has the King position but he rather just party and have fun. He doesn’t want to take on the duties of the position.
They walk pass the many tombs Lord Starks ancestors. We learn abit about Stark history that Eddard’s ancestors were tough men and even after ‘the Dragon lords (the Targaryens) came over the sea, they had sworn allegiance to no man, styling themselves the Kings in the North’. The Starks have a stubbornness in them and it was in their blood to rule in the North and bow to no one. We also find out that Lord Stark has empty tombs prepared for him and his children in the event they do die, they can be buried in the crypt immediately. It's as if he's already planned in advance that something bad will happen to them.
We learn about Eddard’s dead father and siblings: Lord Rickard Stark, his father, had died possibly by assassination ’stone fingers holding tight to the sword across his lap, but in life, all swords had failed him’. Ned’s elder brother, Brandon Stark, was strangled to death by the Mad King Aerys Targaryen in front of his father. Brandon was meant to wed Catelyn Tully, who is now Ned’s wife. He was only 20 when he died.
Lyanna Stark, Ned’s sister was only 16 when she died. She was meant to marry Robert but she died before then. Robert loved her to bits and he still mourns her death after so many years. ‘his eyes lingered on Lyanna’s face, as if he could will her back to life.’
Ned recalls the painful last moments with his sister before she died of fever. Her death still haunts him and affects him deeply. ‘He could hear her still at times. Promise me, she had cried, in a room that smelled of blood and roses. Promise me, Ned.’
We learn that Rhaegar Targaryen was to blame for her death and Robert avenged her by killing him at the waters of the Trident with his war hammer. But even then, Robert was never satisfied ‘In my dreams, I kill him every night…a thousand deaths will still be less than he deserves’.
Robert hasn’t gotten over Lyanna’s death and he dislikes his current wife Cersei Lannister. After Ned prompts that they should head back to his wife, he complains. ‘The Others take my wife.’. This is another instance of duty vs. self. We learn that Robert really loves Lyanna and even though she’s dead and he has a new wife, he doesn’t love her. As a duty of a husband and king, he’s supposed to, but he doesn’t. He chooses self over duty again.
Ned and Robert talk about the death of Jon Arryn, their shared foster father. He knows surely there was foul play involved because Jon died too quickly ‘I have never seen a man sicken so quickly. We gave a tourney on my son’s name day, you would have sworn he would live forever. A fortnight later he was dead. The sickness was like a fire in his gut. It burned right through him.’
We also know from previous chapters that Jon Arryn was married to Catelyn’s sister, Lysa Tully. Robert says that Lysa was not taking his death well and ‘losing Jon has driven the woman mad.’ Robert suggested she leave her child to Cersei’s father, Tywin Lannister to foster him, but Lysa refused and took her son back to the Eyrie. This is Lysa’s duty vs. self conflict. She could have left her son to Tywin Lannister to look after but she didn’t. She chose self over duty and in this society, it is crucial that sons grow up with a father figure but she disregards this because she loves her son too much.
Ned is kind enough to offer to take Lysa’s son, Robert Arryn to be his ward, but Lord Tywin had already allowed Lysa to take her son back so there was nothing to be done. Ned complains that he rather take care of his nephew’s welfare than listen to Lannisters, showing his obvious dislike of them. Robert on the other hand knows his position and knows he has to be friendly to them because of his wife. This is Ned’s self vs. duty conflict. He personally hates the Lannisters and would rather he foster Robert Arryn himself but Robert understands his duty that he can’t change this arrangement now because his wife is a Lannister and he needs to support them.
While Ned talks to Robert about matters of The Night’s Watch and the Wall, Robert rather talk about pressing matters at King’s Landing: Jon Arryn was Hand of the King and now that he’s dead, Robert needs someone to fill that position.
He also talks about Jon Arryn’s son, who he’s stripped the title of Lord of the Eyrie, because he’s too young and he knows the child is not a war leader and is sickly. While Ned disagrees that the boy should just get the title in honor, Robert feels that ‘the son is not the father. A mere boy cannot hold the east.’
This is kind of a conflict of power. To Lord Stark, honor is everything and he feels that Jon Arryn’s son, Robert Arryn, should automatically be instilled as Lord of the Eyrie as face value since he’s Jon Arryn’s heir. But King Robert feels that Robert Arryn doesn’t deserve it because he’s too young and doesn’t show leadership qualities and he’s also a sickly child. He can get all his father’s incomes but he isn’t Lord of the Eyrie. This is a question of birthright: should an heir automatically be given a leadership position just because of his Lord father, even though he doesn’t deserve it or should he only get a title when he earns it?
In a sense, Ned Stark is more straight edge and he doesn’t question authority or birthright. He’s very much a traditionalist who obeys the system and reverently believes in honor and granting it to others. While Robert Baratheon believes that if someone is not worthy to lead, he shouldn’t get the position automatically just because he’s born into it. And if he wants that title and honor, he’s got to work for it. King Robert is quite the non-conformist in this feudal society.
Robert then confesses that he hates the kingly responsibilities of being a king. ’I swear to you, sitting a throne is a thousand times harder than winning one.’ he finds it boring doing the finances, listening to people and finds it hard to trust anyone because ’half of them don’t dare tell me the truth, and the other half can’t find it.’ He wants Ned to be his Hand of the King to help him out.
We learn that the Hand of the King position is extremely powerful. ’the Hand of the King was the second-most powerful man in the 7 Kingdoms. He spoke with the king’s voice, commanded the king’s armies, drafted the king’s laws. At times, he even sat upon the Iron Throne to dispense king’s justice, when the king was absnet, or sick, or otherwise indisposed.’ Literally, the position entails being the King’s right hand man.
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| Ned kneels before the King at the Stark crypts |
And Ned doesn’t want the position or the responsibility. ’it was the last thing in the world he wanted.’ and then we find out why the King wants Ned to be the Hand ’I am planning to make you run the kingdom and fight the wars while I eat and drink and wench myself into an early grave.’ King Robert just wants to have fun! He even jokes about the position ’the king eats, they say, and the Hand takes the shit.’ Which, is literally the main summary of what the position is.
King Robert goes on to say perhaps the Starks and the Baratheons could join houses. Sansa, Ned's older daughter, could marry the crown Prince Joff. But Sansa is only eleven at the moment and perhaps they will wed when she’s older.
Ned finds it all very hard to process this overwhelming amount of information and tells Robert that he needs to discuss this 'promotion' with the wife before saying yes.
Ned feels almost sick to his stomach that he knows he will probably have to say yes to the position. A sense of dread washes over him. ’For a moment Eddard Stark was filled with a terrible sense of foreboding. This was his place, here in the north…. He could feel the eyes of the dead. They were listening, he knew. And winter was coming.’ Once again, this is another duty vs. self conflict. Ned doesn’t want the position because all he wants is to be happy and do his thing in Winterfell. But now that this duty thing has come up, he knows he will have to accept it and he hates the thought of it. It's not just about him, his entire family could be at risk because the position entails so much - he will be the 2nd powerful man in the realm and everyone will be out to get him.
Chapter Impressions
This chapter is all about Robert Baratheon and we learn how un-kingly he truly his. He’s just a warrior dude who wants to party, have fun while someone else manages all the kingly stuff. We also learn he’s a man who feels strong emotions - he loves Ned’s sister Lyanna deeply and still can’t get over her death even though he killed the man responsible. He’s also a non-conformist and believes in meritocracy rather than people given positions of power by birthright. Robert is also quite shrewd in certain political affairs and understands a little of how to please others and how others can be silenced for political reasons - he knows that he has to please the Lannisters and knows that Jon Arryn died unnaturally. He also suggested Lysa Tully to let Tywin Lannister look after her son because he knows that it is important he have a father figure.
But we also know that Robert’s love for partying and having fun is extremely dangerous especially for his position because he doesn’t take the King’s duty seriously at all. And Ned Stark knows that he will be doing a lot of work for his best buddy when he accepts this 'Hand of the King' position and this truly frightens him.
We also learn why Eddard Stark is such a melancholic: his father, older brother and sister were all murdered by the Targaryens (directly or indirectly) their deaths still haunt him and he is affected by them. So we can't exactly blame the man for having such a serious and grim view of life. He has experienced much unpleasantness and it has taken a tole on his system.
Perhaps the prophecy of the Direwolf being killed by the Stag could come true after all… that Ned Stark could be that Direwolf and the Stag could be Robert Bartheon…
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