Showing posts with label Rangers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rangers. Show all posts

"W" is for White Walkers!

Author: Anonymous / Labels: , , , , , , , ,

There are things that go bump in the night.

There's a feeling of impending doom...and an evil presence stirs from its' slumber.

The first time you see them, you notice the piercing blue colour of their eyes. Their skin is discoloured, bordering between white and grey. They don't speak. They omit an eerie set of wails and howls.

These aren't the grumpkins and snarks that your nanny warned you about. The threat is real, not imagined. And the people of Westeros are going to find out the hard way, come Season III.

The two Brothers of the Night's Watch found out the hard way in the very first season premiere. The third Brother ran faster then lightning, south beyond the Wall, only to be caught and be branded a deserter. But he saw what he saw. He was no mad man. Too bad the late Eddard Stark and company didn't pay attention to what this poor ranger was trying to warn them about.

The next people to encounter the White Walkers are Green, Dolores Edd and Samwell. Well, I should point out that in the second season series finale, the three of them heard the horn blow three times. The first two fled the scene, with the wind and snow whipping around them, thus making visibility extremely poor.

Samwell, terrified and trying to escape, runs to seek shelter by a jagged rock. It doesn't matter, you can't outrun an army of them. Their blue eyes glow with evil intent, their bodies rotting and torn, wander aimlessly about. Once you are killed by a wight, you become infected and turn into a White Walker. You are no longer human, but a monster who sleeps for hundreds or thousands of years until it is time to wake up. When the White Walkers wake from their wintry nap, they have but one task: to roam and conquer anything that befalls their path.

Only two things seem to be an effective defence: fire and obsidian. We saw how Jon Snow burnt one by tossing the oil lamp, thus saving himself and Lord Commander Mormont from being killed.

Samwell, being well versed in Castle Black's military defence and history, had indicated that the bodies that they had found earlier be burnt as an added precaution. Lesson learned!

Which makes fans wonder: who did the black cloak and shield belong to? Where did Benjen Stark disappear to? And will Samwell survive his encounter with the army of White Walkers?!

"R" is for Rhaegar, Rangers and Robb

Author: Anonymous / Labels: , , , , , , , ,

I'm kind of squeezing in  a few juicy topics into the letter "R."

Rhaegar: who was he? What did he mean to Lyanna Stark? Why was he so melancholy? Why did Robert have to kill him at the battle of the Trident? These are just a few questions that I have concerning the mysterious Rhaegar Targaryen. Poor guy. From what I have read and what threads have said, the guy was rather depressed. He was married to Elia Martell. That didn't end well, either. His two children were murdered. The woman he loved died under mysterious circumstances. And yet, Ned seemed to have remembered him fondly, not a bad word said about him.

I wonder, do you suppose at some point that HBO may cast someone to portray Rhaegar in flashback sequences? That would be pretty cool. My curiosity has been piqued ever since reading "A Feast for Crows." If any of you have read that far, you'll understand why I find his character so intriguing!

Rangers. Hey, we all have our calling in life. Jon Snow seems to have found his. Mind you, by virtue of his birth and circumstances, what else would he have been permitted to do? He started off as a steward (not his choice) but by the second season, he volunteered to go with Qhorin Halfhand as a ranger. Samwell, being the thoughtful and intelligent friend he was, volunteered to take over Jon's duties while Jon was away. I think being a ranger is a damned tough job and Jon is just beginning to find out just how difficult it is. Especially since venturing into Wildling territory and being far north of the Wall, where the cold is so merciless, it numbs your fingers and feet within seconds. If you don't have your wits about you, anything could kill you up there. I have a feeling Jon will fare just fine, albeit a few skirmishes here and there.

Robb Stark, the King in the North. That's what his banner men call him. He showed real promise in the form of military strength and tactic during the end of the first season. Of course, he also endured a heavy loss - his father was executed. He had the Kingslayer imprisoned - a major coup. He was also forced into a betrothal - which he agreed to - to one of Walder Frey's granddaughters, once Stark banner men had received permission to cross the Twins.

The apple of Robb's eye is not a Frey, it just happens to be a very beautiful field nurse named Lady Talisa Migear, who comes from Volantis. Awkward. This is the kind of impediment that collapses an empire. That brings discord and dishonour to the various Houses in Westeros. Do you think King Robb listened to the advice of his lady mother in the second season? No! So what does he do? He goes full steam ahead and marries Lady Talisa in secret, thus breaking his oath with Lord Walder Frey.

Smooth move, Robb. I think we all know how this is going to end. Scratch another Stark off of your list.