Ah, Wylla Manderly. Wyman Manderly’s granddaughter and speaker of this awesome quote:
“Maester Theomore, tell them! A thousand years before the Conquest, a promise was made, and oaths were sworn in the Wolf’s Den before the old gods and the new. When we were sore beset and friendless, hounded from our homes and in peril of our lives, the wolves took us in and nourished us and protected us against our enemies. The city is built upon the land they gave us. In return we swore that we should always be their men. Stark men!”
Well. I’m afraid I have no theories about her, only the thought that she is really cool and a spectacular example of Northern women. The fact that she didn’t know her grandfather’s plans against the Lannisters/Freys/Boltons and stood up for the Starks all by herself is, well, just awesome. (Her older sister knew and played along, mind you.) And her hair is just neat, the way she dyes it green to match the merman sigil of the Manderlys.
As for a possible deception, sometimes hair dye is just hair dye, and sometimes a 15-year-old is just a 15-year-old, y’know? The Manderlys are Andal migrants to the North, so their blonde hair is natural. And White Harbor is a harbor and the biggest city in the North (5th biggest city in Westeros), so Tyroshi traders and their hair dye come through the city all the time. Re conspiracies, Wylis Manderly doesn’t seem to have been involved with Ned’s group of friends at all. And Lady Leona is far too devoted to her husband for any sort of deception that way. Wylla’s just a regular post-war baby like so many others.
Really, the only thing I have close to a theory is more of a hope — that she’ll survive the wars, marry the person of her choice (obviously the Frey betrothal is not happening because among other things, Little Walder’s dead), and eventually be a lady-in-waiting at the court of Lady Sansa, Regent of the North.
(If Dany’s queen somewhere, Wylla can go visit her too.)
King Sandor Clegane, the first of his name; King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, the First Men, and empty threats; Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm, and fashion disaster.
Anonymous asked: i haven't read the books but do you think aryaxgendry has any chance of becoming canon?
I think Arya/Gendry has about as much of a chance as anything else, really. Which is not saying it has a good chance, because this series is very cruel and it’s hard to hold out hope for anything really, but it doesn’t have a bad chance either.
I mean, there’s nothing actively working against the relationship except for, oh, miles of distance, personal trauma, a relatively minor (for this series) age gap, and the possibilities of armageddon… Like, at least they’re not dead (yet), or married to someone else, or on opposite sides of a war, or related to each other, or sworn to kill each other… and y’know, at least they’ve met. (Don’t laugh, people ship quite a few characters that have never met.) At least they’ve had some kind of friendship already. Their other problems are almost irrelevant, in context. ;)
So, yeah, basically, if they both live, once Arya grows up (if she grows up — there was once a 5-year-gap planned for the books, but it was removed, but maybe GRRM might add a timeskip in at the end), if they meet again, I can certainly see them getting together. Marriage and happiness? God knows, I just want them sane and alive. (See also.)
Also, for more info, you don’t mind book spoilers, I have more detailed thoughts about Gendry here, and a rant about the bastard/legitimization question here. I’ve got Arya thoughts all over the place, but a good overview is here. Hope that helps!
grinningsouls asked: The Tori Amos song for Sansa and Ned broke my heart to pieces. In addition to your Sansa playlist, check Karen Elson's "Stolen Roses". The slight medieval tone, "the stolen roses", that remind me of the winter roses in Winterfell (and the story of Bael the Bard). and her longing for Winterfell, seemed so Sansa-ish to me, so beautiful. I heard this song for the first time right after I read Sansa's last chapter in ASOS, and it pretty much became my Sansa hymn, hah. I hope you like it as well. (:
That’s a very pretty song, I love the echoes of “Scarborough Fair”. Very Lyanna-ish as well as for Sansa, I think. Thank you so much for recommending it to me. :)
Anonymous asked: Any chance you could put the ASOIAF music challenge songs on a 8track when you have done, like a fanmix of sorts. :) Love the blog btw your meta is top notch.
Thanks so much! And sure, I suppose I could, never worked with 8tracks before but it can’t be that hard. You haven’t seen some of the more unusual choices yet, mind you. ;)
Game of Thrones/ASOIAF Music Challenge:
Day 7 - GendryGoo Goo Dolls - Name
And even though the moment passed me by
I still can’t turn away
‘Cause all the dreams you never thought you’d lose
Got tossed along the way
And letters that you never meant to send
Got lost or thrown away
And now we’re grown up orphans
And never knew their names
We don’t belong to no one
That’s a shame
But you could hide beside me
Maybe for a while
And I won’t tell no one your name
And I won’t tell ‘em your name
And scars are souvenirs you never lose
The past is never far
Did you lose yourself somewhere out there?
Did you get to be a star?
And don’t it make you sad to know that life
Is more than who we are?
We grew up way too fast
And now there’s nothing to believe
And reruns all become our history
A tired song keeps playing on a tired radio
And I won’t tell no one your name
And I won’t tell ‘em your name
I won’t tell ‘em your name
I won’t tell ‘em your name
I think about you all the time
But I don’t need the same
It’s lonely where you are
Come back down
And I won’t tell ‘em your name
So much sweeter and sappier than Arya’s, isn’t it? Ah well, that’s my boy Gendry for you. (And speaking of fanvids, if this has not been used in a Gendrya vid, I’ll eat my hat.)
Game of Thrones/ASOIAF Music Challenge:
Day 6 - Arya StarkL7 - Shitlist
When I get mad and I get pissed
I grab my pen and I write out a list
Of all the people that won’t be missed
You’ve made my shitlist
For all the ones who bum me out
(Shitlist)
For all the ones who fill my head with doubt
(Shitlist)
For all the squares who get me pissed
(Shitlist)
You’ve made my shitlist
Shitlist
Shitlist
When I get mad and I get pissed
(Shitlist)
I grab my pen and I write out a list
(Shitlist)
Of all you assholes that won’t be missed
(Shitlist)
You’ve made my shitlist
Shitlist
Shitlist
Had to go with a riot grrrl band for Arya. ;) Don’t think I have any other commentary on this except that I’d love to see this song used in an Arya fanvid some time…
For those who asked for a happy Sansa! Her and Lady sharing leomoncakes (O‿O✿)
