GoT: Preface

PREFACE

Being the first 11 pages of ASOIAF, I doubt there's all too much to say on it that hasn't already been said. However, re-reading it, I did find one interesting tidbit:

When Ser Waymar Royce first becomes aware of another presence, but before the Other reveals himself, GRRM describes him boyishly-- calling him a "lordling" and noting how his "voice cracked like a boy's."

However, when he knows what he's up against, he's described in a far manlier way:

"Ser Waymar met him bravely. 'Dance with me then' . . . Yet in that moment, Will thought, he was a boy no longer, but a man of the Night's Watch."

Following this description, Ser Waymar is able to parry with the Other. He is referred to as either "Ser Waymar" or "Royce" only. In this brief moment, GRRM does nothing to describe him as young.

It's when the Other manages to strike him that this changes. Almost immediately he is "the young lord." And in his last blow, he cries "For Robert!" He is not acting as profoundly brave man of the Night's Watch, in this moment. He is acting out of "fury," and in the name of the king.

It is in response to this blow that "The Other's parry was almost lazy," and his sword shatters into pieces.

Again, when Will finally goes to check on him, the youthful references continue: "Lying dead like that, you saw how young he was. A boy."


Perhaps this is just a nice moment. An admiration of bravery. The Other got tired of playing with him and shattered his sword. Yet, given the recent revelation on HBO's GoT that the Children of the Forest created the Others to defend Westeros against men, I am intrigued.

As we know, the Children and men worked together to build the Wall to protect the realm from the Others (in WOIAF, GRRM says they lent their songs), and the Night's Watch is the order that defends the Wall. When he acted as a brave man of the Night's Watch, as part of the order who defends the Wall against the Others, his sword did not shatter.

It shattered only after he cried, "For Robert!" He cried out in the name of the ruler of the people the Others were created to stop. If nothing else, it is a sweet and sad beginning-- and end.