Why does Aemon One Eye joke that the “Velaryon” princes are Strongs, when in reality they’d be “Waters”.

Because he’s trying to insuate who their father is, which is more important for the insult than strict adherence to custom.

What do you think was in Ashai for Dany in Plan A.? Either plot or characterwise

Some sort of draconic revelation, but what kind I have no idea.

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion III, ASOS

“Too many strange faces, Tyrion thought, too many new players. The game changed while I lay rotting in my bed, and no one will tell me the rules.” Synopsis: Tyrion attends a Small Council meeting and finds out he’s engaged. Mazeltov? SPOILER WARNING: This chapter analysis, and all following, will contain spoilers for all Song of Ice and Fire novels and Game of Thrones episodes. Caveat lector.…

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Why was it that Bloodraven was loyal to Daeron? Was Daeron the brother he loved?

Re your first question: I think I’ve discussed this before (check the archives, or the guest appearances I did on History of Westeros), but I think it was a combination of any number of the following factors:

Bloodraven agreed with Daeron’s politics/thought that Daeron was the better administrator.
Bloodraven thought that disinheriting Daeron and ending the legitimate male line of House Targaryen was dangerous and destabilizing.
Bloodraven did not want Bittersteel anywhere near government.
Boodraven owed Daeron for protecting him and his mother at court when he was a child, so was returning the favor.
Boodraven saw a chance for advancement under Daeron, parlaying his support into becoming Master of Whispers and other offices.

Re your second question: no, I think it works better if he loved Daemon but fought against him.

Is there any significance to the BwB using hanging as their preferred method of execution as opposed to beheading?

I think there’s a couple different reasons:

Hanging is a more plebian way to be executed (historically, beheading was something of a perogative of the nobility) so it fits the BwB’s politics.
Hanging is much easier to carry out, whereas beheading requires both strength and precision;
Unless you have a long enough drop, hanging is a slow, drawn-out way of executing someone, so it’s way more painful than cutting someone’s head off.

Any thoughts on the NY Constitutional Convention?

I think NY’s political problems are due more to political culture than constitutional shortcomings, so I think Prop 1 is a solution in search of a problem.

Why do people in Westeros say half-a-hundred instead of fifty? And from a Doylist perspective, why does GRRM have them say it?

I think it’s just an archaic terminology GRRM uses to make dialogue sound more old-timey.

I was going through one of your old Reddit AMAs, and in it you talked about how you think that George probably intended for Dany’s storyline to take her to Asshai. Do you mind elaborating on that?

So there’s a couple different places where I think you can see the original “Plan A”:

“Dragon’s eggs, from the Shadow Lands beyond Asshai,” said Magister Illyrio. “The eons have turned them to stone, yet still they burn bright with beauty.” (AGOT, Dany II)

He lifted his eyes and saw clear across the narrow sea, to the Free Cities and the green Dothraki sea and beyond, to Vaes Dothrak under its mountain, to the fabled lands of the Jade Sea, to Asshai by the Shadow, where dragons stirred beneath the sunrise. (AGOT, Bran III)

“To go north, you must journey south. To reach the west, you must go east. To go forward you must go back, and to touch the light you must pass beneath the shadow.”

Asshai, Dany thought. She would have me go to Asshai. “Will the Asshai’i give me an army?” she demanded. “Will there be gold for me in Asshai? Will there be ships? What is there in Asshai that I will not find in Qarth?”

“Truth,” said the woman in the mask. And bowing, she faded back into the crowd. (ACOK, Dany III)

So GRRM is creating a very strong link between Asshai and dragons from early on – Dany’s eggs come from Asshai, Asshai are where dragons are still alive tho slumbering, and Dany gets a prophecy telling her to go to Asshai.

At some point, however, I think GRRM realized that he didn’t have enough time get Dany to Asshai and back, not so much due to physical limitations (although Asshai is 2700 miles east of Qarth, so it’s not a nothing voyage) but more due to how that would screw up everyone else’s timelines.

My guess is that point was either when he decided against the five-year gap (which would have given people plenty of time to get to where Dany is and vice versa), or when he was struggling through the Meereenese Knot and realizing that the timing and sequence of who meets Dany was more important than whatever he had planned in Asshai.

Do you think Littlefinger will have to try and get Sansa an annulement in order for her to marry Harry if Tyrion doesn’t turn up dead soon? If so how would he pull that off?

opinions-about-tiaras:

Cersei might do his work for him in this regard; if the High Sparrow ever actually follows through and pronounces Tyrion anathema, that might null out his marriage.

I was writing up Tyrion III and asearchoficeandfire spat out a quote from Tyrion IV that might be relevant here:

racefortheironthrone:

Good question! I’m not sure. It could be that he’ll get a septon to declare that Sansa didn’t freely consent to the marriage with Tyrion and therefore it wasn’t valid, it could be they’ll go with an Old Gods/New Gods thing, or could be some other dodge.

“Do I need to remind you that a marriage that has not been consummated can be set aside?“
"By the High Septon or a Council of Faith. Our present High Septon is a trained seal who barks prettily on command. Moon Boy is more like to annul my marriage than he is.”

Sansa may be able to have her marriage dissolved by proving herself virgo intacta…

Do you think Littlefinger will have to try and get Sansa an annulement in order for her to marry Harry if Tyrion doesn’t turn up dead soon? If so how would he pull that off?

Good question! I’m not sure. It could be that he’ll get a septon to declare that Sansa didn’t freely consent to the marriage with Tyrion and therefore it wasn’t valid, it could be they’ll go with an Old Gods/New Gods thing, or could be some other dodge.