A Feast for Crows-Chapter 38
| Jaime VI | ||||||
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| A Feast for Crows chapter | ||||||
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| POV | Jaime Lannister | |||||
| Place | Riverrun | |||||
| Page | 561 UK HC (Other versions) | |||||
| Chapter chronology (All) | ||||||
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Jaime V ↑ | ||||||
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↓ Jaime VII | ||||||
Synopsis
Ser Jaime and Ser Brynden face each other across the drawbridge to Riverrun, alone for a parley during the siege of Riverrun. The Blackfish is aware of the oath Jaime swore to Catelyn, but the member of the Kingsguard makes it known he does not have the Stark girls. He offers Edmure Tully in exchange for Lady Sybell Spicer and her children, but Brynden refuses, telling him he swore to his king to keep his wife safe and won't hand her over to a Frey noose. Jaime responds that the girl has been pardoned and no harm will come to her, nor anyone else if Brynden yields Riverrun; they will be free to go or take the black as they choose, but Brynden dismisses the offer, claiming that he and his men would rather die with swords in their hands than "be paraded through King's Landing to die like Eddard Stark". Brynden adds that he is well provisioned for a siege and the Lannister and Frey casualties will be far higher than his own if they storm Riverrun.
The Blackfish also makes it clear that he believes Lord Tywin had a hand in the Red Wedding, though that will never absolve the Freys for their breach of the sacred laws of hospitality. Jaime challenges the older knight to single combat, with each choosing a champion. When Brynden prods Jaime to face him himself, Jaime cannot help but rise to the bait. But the Blackfish is not so foolish as to trust that Jaime's terms would be honored. The parley over, Jaime rides back to his camp and calls his captains for a war council, resolved that he must break his vow to Lady Catelyn and storm Riverrun.
The lords of the riverlands who have bent the knee to the Iron Throne do not tolerate the Freys' presence at the war council. Ser Ryman is too drunk to attend, but Edwyn and Bastard Walder are present. When confronted by Lord Clement Piper as to the condition of his son, Ser Marq, Edwyn replies that he is still held at the Twins to ensure that Pinkmaiden is truly loyal to the Iron Throne. When Bastard Walder and Lord Clement nearly come to blows when Piper challenges Edwyn to a duel over a threat to Lord Clement's heir, Jaime silences them, ending the council prematurely. Lord Clement storms out, and Lord Vance explains to Jaime that as well as his first born son, several of Lord Clement's cousins and nephews accompanied Marq to the Twins, and are either captives or dead. When Edwyn denounces them as traitors and rebels, Jaime coldly retorts that the Freys first rebelled against the Crown with Robb Stark and then betrayed him, making them twice the traitors House Piper are. Jaime takes enjoyment out of watching Edwyn's smug attitude evaporate at that remark.
Summoning Ser Ilyn Payne and Ser Lyle Crakehall, Jaime heads straight for the Frey camp. He first has Payne cut loose Edmure Tully, and when Edwyn and his father, Ser Ryman, come forth to protest, he warns them to keep quiet. When Ryman persists, stating that he is the heir to the Crossing, Jaime punches him in the face with his golden hand. He then dismisses Ryman back to the Twins, sick of the man's whoring and drinking, and takes the bladed crown that his whore wears. When Jaime places Edwyn in charge of the Freys, Jaime witnesses a glimpse of the contempt Edwyn feels for his own father. Jaime also demands that Lord Walder release all the hostages that he has imprisoned at the Twins.
Jaime asks that Ser Ryman's singer accompany him back to his pavilion, and has his squires draw a bath for Edmure. Jaime informs Edmure that he will be returned to Riverrun forthwith, and if he yields the castle, all will end well for him.
The terms are that the smallfolk can stay and serve Lord Emmon Frey, Ser Brynden will be permitted to take the black along with any of the garrison who choose the same, and Edmure and his pregnant wife Roslin will be well-treated prisoners at Casterly Rock. If their child is a boy, Jaime says he will serve House Lannister as a page and squire, and they will grant the boy some lands when he gets his knighthood. If it is a girl, the Lannisters will make sure she has a good dowry when she is old enough to wed.
When Edmure asks what will happen should he refuse to yield, Ser Jaime indicates that he will assault Riverrun's walls in waves. The ex-Tully bannermen will attack first, as fodder, followed by the Freys, and finally his cousin Daven's westermen. After the castle falls, Jaime will see that Riverrun is demolished and put all within its walls to the sword. Jaime also delivers a personal threat: should Roslin give birth before the siege is lifted, he will deliver the child to Edmure, within the castle, by trebuchet. As Jaime leaves the tent, commanding Ryman's singer to play "The Rains of Castamere" for Edmure, the former Lord of Riverrun pleads, "No. Not him. Get him away from me."
References
- The synopsis was copied from AOL member vbkorik27 previously at [1].
External links
- A Read of Ice and Fire: A Feast for Crows, Part 27. Analyses and summary of the chapter by Leigh Butler.