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Melisandre laughed again. "You are lost in darkness and confusion, Ser Davos." "And a good thing." Davos gestured at the distant lights flickering along the walls of Storm's End. "Feel how cold the wind is? The guards will huddle close to those torches. A little warmth, a little light, they're a comfort on a night like this. Yet that will blind them, so they will not see us pass." I hope. "The god of darkness protect us now, my lady, Even you. By George R R Martin Melisandre Davos Laughed Ser End

And a good thing." Davos gestured at the distant lights flickering along the walls of Storm's End. "Feel how cold the wind is? The guards will huddle close to those torches. A little warmth, a little light, they're a comfort on a night like this. Yet that will blind them, so they will not see us pass... The god of darkness protects us now, my lady. Even you. By George R R Martin Thing Good End Storm Feel

If I faint, pull me out. No Lannister has ever drowned in his bath and I don't mean to be the first." "Why should I care how you die?" "You swore a solemn vow. By George R R Martin Faint Pull Lannister Die Drowned

And Arya ... he missed her even more than Robb, skinny little thing that she was, all scraped knees and tangled hair and torn clothes, so fierce and willful. Arya never seemed to fit, no more than he had ... yet she could always make Jon smile. He would give anything to be with her now, to muss up her hair once more and watch her make a face, to hear her finish a sentence with him. By George R R Martin Arya Robb Hair Make Jon

Tyrion stared up at his father's hard green eyes with their flecks of cold bright gold. "Guilty," he said, "so guilty. Is that what you want to hear?"Lord Tywin said nothing. Mace Tyrell nodded. Prince Oberyn looked mildly disappointed. "You admit you poisoned the king?""Nothing of the sort," said Tyrion. "Of Joffrey's death I am innocent. I am guilty of a more monstrous crime." He took a step toward his father. "I was born. I lived. I am guilty of being a dwarf, I confess it. And no matter how many times my good father forgave me, I have persisted in my infamy. By George R R Martin Guilty Gold Tyrion Father Stared

You are your mother's trueborn son of Lannister.""Am I?" the dwarf replied, sardonic. "Do tell my lord father. My mother died birthing me, and he's never been sure.""I don't even know who my mother was," Jon said. "Some woman, no doubt. Most of them are." He favored Jon with a rueful grin. "Remember this, boy. All dwarfs may be bastards, yet not all bastards need be dwarfs."And with that he turned and sauntered back into the feast, whistling a tune. When he opened the door, the light from within threw his shadow clear across the yard, and for just a moment Tyrion Lannister stood tall as a king. By George R R Martin Lannister Sardonic Mother Replied Jon

This is folly, Tyrion,' declared Lord Tywin. 'Speak to the matter at hand. You are not on trial for being a dwarf.'That is where you err, my lord. I have been on trial for being a dwarf my entire life. By George R R Martin Tyrion Tywin Folly Declared Lord

I thank you for calling them off, young ser. I promise you, they would have found me indigestible. By George R R Martin Young Ser Calling Indigestible Promise

Jon:'What are you doing up there? Why aren't you at the feast?'Tyrion: 'Too hot, too noisy, and I'd drunk too much wine', the dwarf told him. 'I learned long ago that it is considered rude to vomit on your brother. By George R R Martin Jon Tyrion Feast Hot Noisy

One naked girl with a mud up to her knees could not seem to take her eyes off Tyrion. She has never seen a dwarf before, he realized, much less a dwarf without a nose. He made a face and stuck his tongue out and the girl began to cry By George R R Martin Tyrion Naked Mud Knees Eyes

The dwarf has played her like a set of pipes, and she is too deaf to hear the tune. By George R R Martin Pipes Tune Dwarf Played Set

The dwarf slapped his flushed face so hard the crown flew from Joffrey's head. Then he shoved him with both hands and knocked him sprawling. "You blind bloody fool." "They were traitors," Joffrey squealed from the ground. "They called me names and attacked me!" "You set your dog on them! What did you imagine they would do, bend the knee meekly while the Hound lopped off some limbs? You spoiled witless little boy, you've killed Clegane and gods know how many more, and yet you come through unscratched. Damn you!" And he kicked him. By George R R Martin Joffrey Head Dwarf Slapped Flushed

It is real, all of it, he thought, the wars, the intrigues, the great bloody game, and me in the center of it ... me, the dwarf, the monster, the one they scorned and laughed at, but now i hold it all, the power, the city, the girl. this was what i was made for, and gods forgive me, but i do love it ... and her. and her. (tyrion lannister) By George R R Martin Real Thought Wars Intrigues Game

Less reliable tales also reached his ears, of a dwarf witch who haunted a hill in the riverlands, and a dwarf whore in King's Landing renowned for coupling with dogs. His own sweet sister had told him of the last, even offering to find him a bitch in heat if he cared to try it out. When he asked politely if she were referring to herself, Cersei had thrown a cup of wine in his face. By George R R Martin Dwarf King Landing Ears Riverlands

Thoren Smallwood, a sinewy ranger with a weak chin and a weaker mouth hidden under a thin scraggle of beard, gave Jon and Sam a cool look. He had been one of Alliser Thorne's henchmen, and had no love for either of them. "The Lord Commander's place is at Castle Black, lording and commanding," he told Mormont, ignoring the newcomers, "it seems to me." "If you are ever Lord Commander, you may do as you please," Mormont told the ranger, "but it seems to me that I have not died yet, nor have the brothers put you in my place. By George R R Martin Smallwood Jon Sam Thoren Beard

I'll smith for you," Gendry went to one knee before Lord Beric. "If you'll have me, m'lord, I could be of use. I've made tools and knives and once I made a helmet that wasn't so bad. One of the Mountain's men stole it from me when we was taken."Arya bit her lip. He means to leave me too. By George R R Martin Gendry Beric Lord Smith Knee

Bran could not take his eyes off the blood. The snows around the stump drank it eagerly, reddening as he watched. By George R R Martin Bran Blood Eyes Eagerly Reddening

He pushed away from her and raised his arm, forcing his stump into her face. A Hand without a hand? A bad jape, sister. Don't ask me to rule. By George R R Martin Arm Forcing Face Hand Pushed

If this is true, how is it no one knows?" "The knights of the Kingsguard are sworn to keep the king's secrets. Would you have me break my oath?" Jaime laughed. "Do you think the noble Lord of Winterfell wanted to hear my feeble explanations? Such an honorable man. He only had to look at me to judge me guilty." Jaime lurched to his feet, the water running cold down his chest. "By what right does the wolf judge the lion? By what right?" A violent shiver took him, and he smashed his stump against the rim of the tub as he tried to climb out. By George R R Martin True Kingsguard Jaime Judge Secrets

When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say. By George R R Martin Tongue Liar Tear Man Proving

Ruling is hard. This was maybe my answer to Tolkien, whom, as much as I admire him, I do quibble with. Lord of the Rings had a very medieval philosophy: that if the king was a good man, the land would prosper. We look at real history and it's not that simple ... Real-life kings had real-life problems to deal with ... My people who are trying to rule don't have an easy time of it. Just having good intentions doesn't make you a wise king. By George R R Martin Ruling Hard Tolkien Good Rings

Melisandre: I pray for a glimpse of Azor Ahai, and R'hllor shows me only snow. By George R R Martin Melisandre Ahai Azor Rhllor Snow

It is night in your Seven Kingdoms now,' the red woman went on, 'but soon the sun will rise again. The war continues, Davos Seaworth, and some will soon learn that even an ember in the ashes can still ignite a great blaze. The old maester looked at Stannis and saw only a man. You see a king. You are both wrong. He is the Lord's chosen, the warrior of fire. I have seen him leading the fight against the dark, I have seen it in the flames. The flames do not lie, else you would not be here. It is written in prophecy as well. When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt to wake dragons out of stone. By George R R Martin Kingdoms Night Woman Sun Rise

and your enemies will melt away like snow." He shall be the stallion that mounts the world. Dany knew how it went with prophecies. They were made of words, and words were wind. There would be no son for Loraq, no heir to unite dragon and harpy. When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east, when the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves. Only then would her womb quicken By George R R Martin Snow Enemies Melt Words Wind

When will he be as he was?' Dany demanded.'When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east' said Mirri Maz Duur. 'When the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves. When your womb quickens again, and you bear a living child. Then he will return, and not before. By George R R Martin Duur Mirri Maz Dany Demanded

When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east," she said sadly. "When the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves. When my womb quickens again, and I bear a living child. Then you will return, my sun-and-stars, and not before." -Daenerys Targaryen By George R R Martin East Sadly Sun Rises West

The real issue lies in the North beyond the Wall. Stannis becomes one of the few characters fully to understand that, which is why in spite of everything he is a righteous man. By George R R Martin Wall North Real Issue Lies

You told me that the children of the forest had the greensight. I remember.""Some claimed to have that power. Their wise men were called greenseers.""Was it magic?""Call it that for want of a better word, if you must. At heart it was only a different sort of knowledge."Oh, to be sure, there is much we do not understand. The years pass in their hundreds andtheir thousands, and what does any man see of life but a few summers, a few winters? We look at mountains and call them eternal, and sothey seem ... but in the course of time, mountains rise and fall, rivers change their courses, stars fall from the sky, and great cities sinkbeneath the sea. Even gods die, we think. Everything changes.So long as there was magic, anything could happen. Ghosts could walk, trees could talk, and broken boys could grow up to be knights. By George R R Martin Greensight Told Children Forest Call

Warn you, Lannister, you'll find no inns at the Wall," he had said, looking down on him. "No doubt you'll find some place to put me," Tyrion had replied. "As you might have noticed, I'm small. By George R R Martin Lannister Wall Warn Find Inns

Up and down," Meera would sigh sometimes as they walked, "then down and up. Then up and down again. I hate these stupid mountains of yours, Prince Bran.""Yesterday you said you loved them.""Oh, I do. My lord father told me about mountains, but I never saw one till now. I love them more than I can say."Bran made a face at her. "But you just said you hated them.""Why can't it be both?" Meera reached up to pinch his nose."Because they're different," he insisted. "Like night and day, or ice and fire.""If ice can burn," said Jojen in his solemn voice, "then love and hate can mate. Mountain or marsh, it makes no matter. The land is one.""One," his sister agreed, "but over wrinkled. By George R R Martin Walked Meera Sigh Them Prince

My lady," Maege Mormont said to her one morning as they rode through a steady rain, "you seem so somber. Is aught amiss?" My lord husband is dead, as is my father. Two of my sons have been murdered, my daughter has been given to a faithless dwarf to bear his vile children, my other daughter is vanished and likely dead, and my last son and my only brother are both angry with me. What could possibly be amiss? By George R R Martin Maege Mormont Lady Rain Somber

He'll be down with the books. My old septon used to say books are dead men talking. Dead men should keep quiet is what I say. No one wants to hear a dead man's yabber. By George R R Martin Dead Books Men Talking Septon

There are things to be learned even from the dead. By George R R Martin Dead Things Learned

Do dead man dream?The dead themselves are silent on the matter By George R R Martin Dream Matter Dead Man Silent

The Father protects his children, the septons taught, but Davos had led his boys into the fire. Dale would never give his wife the child they had prayed for, and Allard, with his girl in Oldtown and his girl in Kings Landing, and his girl in Braavos, they would all be weeping soon. Matthos would never captain his own ship, as he dreamed. Maric would never have his knighthood.'How can I live when they are dead? So many brave knights and mighty lords have died, better men than me, and highborn. Crawl inside your cave, Davos. Crawl inside and shrink up small and the ship will go away, and no one will trouble you ever again. Sleep on your stone pillow and let the gulls peck out your eyes while the crabs feast on your flesh. You've feasted on enough of them, you owe them. Hide, smuggler. Hide, and be quiet, and die. By George R R Martin Girl Father Davos Children Taught

[Stares at dead knight, killed by the Direwolves]Ersen: If he had sounded his horn ... Theon: Try and imagine it was you up there, Ersen. Its dark and cold. You have been walking century for hours looking forward to the end of your watch. Then you hear a noise and you move forward to the gate, and suddenly, you see eyes glowing green and gold in the torchlight.Two shadows come rushing toward you faster than you can believe. You catch a glimpse of teeth, start to level your spear, and they slam into you and open your belly, tearing through leather as if it was cheese cloth.[Shoves Ersen hard]Theon: And now you're down on you back, your guts are spilling out and one of them has his teeth around your neck.[Grabs Ersen around the neck and sqeezes]Theon: Tell me, at what moment during all of this do you stop to blow your Fucking horn?[Shoves Ersen roughly] By George R R Martin Ersen Theon Stares Direwolves Shoves

A knight's a sword with a horse. The rest, the vows and the sacred oils and the lady's favors, they're silk ribbons tied round the sword.Maybe the sword's are prettier with ribbons hanging off it, but it will kill you just as dead. By George R R Martin Horse Sword Knight Ribbons Rest

We should start back," Gared urged as the woods began to grow dark around them. "The wildlings are dead." "Do the dead frighten you?" Ser Waymar Royce asked with just the hint of a smile. By George R R Martin Gared Back Start Urged Woods

Should start back," Gared urged as the woods began to grow dark around them. "The wildlings are dead." "Do the dead frighten By George R R Martin Gared Back Start Urged Woods

My old septon used to say that books are dead men talking. By George R R Martin Talking Septon Books Dead Men

Beyond the Wall the monsters live, the giants and the ghouls, the stalking shadows and the dead that walk, but they cannot pass so long as the Wall stands strong and the men of the Night's Watch are true. So go to sleep Brandon, my baby boy, and dream sweet dreams. There are no monsters here. By George R R Martin Wall Night Watch Live Ghouls

Flies are the dead man's revenge. By George R R Martin Flies Revenge Dead Man

Start back," Gared urged as the woods began to grow dark around them. "The wildlings are dead." "Do the dead frighten you?" Ser Waymar Royce asked with just the hint of a smile. Gared did not rise to the bait. He was an old man, past fifty, and he had seen the lordlings come and go. "Dead is dead," he said. "We have no business with the dead." "Are they dead?" Royce asked By George R R Martin Dead Gared Start Back Urged

Ow!" she cried out. She would have a fresh bruise there by the time she went to sleep, somewhere out at sea. A bruise is a lesson, she told herself, and each lesson makes us better. Syrio stepped back. "You are dead now." Arya made a face. "You cheated," she said hotly. "You said left and you went right." "Just so. And now you are a dead girl." "But you lied!" "My words lied. My eyes and my arm shouted out the truth, but you were not seeing." "I was so," Arya said. "I watched you every second!" "Watching is not seeing, dead girl. The water dancer sees. Come, put down the sword, it is time for listening now. By George R R Martin Dead Cried Arya Bruise Lesson

Perhaps magic was once a mighty force in the world, but no longer. What little remains is no more than the wisp of smoke that lingers in the air after a great fire has burned out, and even that is fading. Valyria was the last ember, and Valyria is gone. The dragons are no more, the giants are dead, the children of the forest forgotten with all their lore. By George R R Martin World Longer Magic Mighty Force

Why should death make a man truthful, or even clever? The dead are likely dull fellows, full of tedious complaints - the ground's too cold, my gravestone should be larger, why does he get more worms than I do ... By George R R Martin Truthful Clever Death Make Man

All men must sleep, Bran. Even princes.""When I sleep I turn into a wolf." Bran turned his face away and looked back out into the night. "Do wolves dream?""All creatures dream, I think, yet not as men do.""Do dead men dream?" Bran asked, thinking of his father. In the dark crypts below Winterfell, a stonemason was chiseling out his father's likeness in granite."Some say yes, some no," the maester answered. "The dead themselves are silent on the matter.""Do trees dream?""Trees? No ... ""They do," Bran said with sudden certainty. "They dream tree dreams. I dream of a tree sometimes. A weirwood, like the one in the godswood. It calls to me. The wolf dreams are better. I smell things, and sometimes I can taste the blood."Maester Luwin tugged at his chain where it chafed his neck. "If you would only spend more time with the other children - ""I hate the other children," Bran said, meaning the Walders. "I commanded you to send them away. By George R R Martin Bran Dream Men Sleep Trees

Books are dead men talking. By George R R Martin Books Talking Dead Men

They have scarcely finished burying the dead from the last battle, and already they are practicing for the next one. By George R R Martin Battle Scarcely Finished Burying Dead

When Maester Aemon heard him sing, he said his voice was honey poured over thunder. By George R R Martin Maester Aemon Sing Thunder Heard

I don't like the strictly objective viewpoint [in which all of the characters' actions are described in the third person, but we never hear what any of them are thinking.] Which is much more of a cinematic technique. Something written in third person objective is what the camera sees. Because unless you're doing a voiceover, which is tremendously clumsy, you can't hear the ideas of characters. For that, we depend on subtle clues that the directors put in and that the actors supply. I can actually write, "'Yes you can trust me,' he lied." [But it's better to get inside the characters' heads.] By George R R Martin Viewpoint Thinking Person Strictly Actions

Sam loved to listen to music and make his own songs, to wear soft velvets, to play in the castle kitchen beside the cooks, drinking in the rich smells as he snitched lemon cakes and blueberry tarts. His passions were books and kittens and dancing, clumsy as he was. By George R R Martin Sam Songs Velvets Cooks Drinking

Who would attack Astapor?" Ser Jorah asked. "Meereen and Yunkai are rivals but not enemies, the Doom destroyed Valyria, the folk of the eastern hinterlands are all Ghiscari, and beyond the hills lies Lhazar. The Lamb Men, as your Dothraki call them, a notably unwarlike people." "Yes," she agreed, "but north of the slave cities is the Dothraki sea, and two dozen mighty khals who like nothing more than sacking cities and carrying off their people into slavery." "Carrying them off where? What good are slaves once you've killed the slavers? Valyria is no more, Qarth lies beyond the red waste, and the Nine Free Cities are thousands of leagues to the west. And you may be sure the sons of the harpy give lavishly By George R R Martin Astapor Cities Dothraki Attack Valyria

Thank you, sweet lady.' Ser Dontos lurched clumsily to his feet, and brushed earth and leaves from his knees. 'Your lord father was as true a man as the realm has ever known, but I stood by and let them slay him. I said nothing, did nothing ... and yet, when Joffrey would have slain me, you spoke up. Lady, I have never been a hero, no Ryam Redwyne or Barristan the Bold. I've won no tourneys, no renown in war ... but I was a knight once, and you have helped me remember what that meant. My life is a poor thing, but it is yours.' Ser Dontos placed a hand on the gnarled bole of the heart tree. He was shaking, she saw. 'I vow, with your father's gods as witness, that I shall send you home. By George R R Martin Sweet Dontos Lady Ser Father

Tyrion felt the heat rise in him. "It was not my dagger," he insisted. "How many times must I swear to that? Lady Stark, whatever you may believe of me, I am not a stupid man. Only a fool would arm a common footpad with his own blade."Just for a moment, he thought he saw a flicker of doubt in her eyes, but what she said was, "Why would Petyr lie to me?""Why does a bear shit in the woods?" he demanded. "Because it is his nature. Lying comes as easily as breathing to a man like Littlefinger. You ought to know that, you of all people. By George R R Martin Tyrion Felt Heat Rise Man

It hurts so much, she thought. Our children, Ned, all our sweet babes. Rickon, Bran, Arya, Sansa, Robb ... Robb ... please, Ned, please, make it stop, make it stop hurting ... The white tears and the red ones ran together until her face was torn and tattered, the face that Ned had loved. Catelyn Stark raised her hands and watched the blood run down her long fingers, over her wrists, beneath the sleeves of her gown. Slow red worms crawled along her arms and under her clothes. It tickles. That made her laugh until she screamed. "Mad," someone said, "she's lost her wits," and someone else said, "Make an end," and a hand grabbed her scalp just as she'd done with Jinglebell, and she thought, No, don't, don't cut my hair, Ned loves my hair. Then the steel was at her throat, and its bite was red and cold. - Catelyn Stark By George R R Martin Ned Make Robb Red Stark

Fish," the fool declared happily, waving a cod about like a scepter. "Under the sea, the fish eat us. By George R R Martin Happily Waving Scepter Fish Fool

A man who sees nothing has no use for his eyes," the Mountain declared. "Cut them out and give them to your next outrider. Tell him you hope that four eyes might see better than two ... and if not, the man after him will have six. By George R R Martin Mountain Declared Cut Man Eyes

The battle fever. He had never thought to experience it himself, though Jamie had told him of it often enough. How time seemed to blur and slow and evenstop, how the past and the future vanished until there was nothing but the instant, how fear fled, and thought fled, and even you body. "You don't feel your wounds then, or the ache in your back from the weight of the armor, or the sweat running down into your eyes. You stop feeling you stop thinking, you stop being you, there is only the fight , the foe, this man and then the next and the next and the next, and you know they are afraid and tired but you're not, you're alive, and death is all around you but their swords move so slowly, you can dance through them laughing." Battle fever. I am half a man and drunk with slaughter, let them kill me if they can! By George R R Martin Stop Fever Fled Thought Battle

The rain feels so good against my face, Sam. It feels like tears. Let me stay awhile longer, I pray you. It has been a long time since I last wept. By George R R Martin Sam Face Feels Rain Good

We'll never find that one, and I'll be blamed," announced Edd Tollett, the dour grey-haired squire everyone called Dolorous Edd. "Nothing ever goes missing that they don't look at me, ever since that time I lost my horse. As if that could be helped. He was white and it was snowing, what did they expected By George R R Martin Edd Tollett Dolorous Blamed Announced

Some say knowledge is power. Some tell us that all power comes from the gods. Others say it derives from law. Yet that day on the steps of Baelor's Sept, our godly High Septon and the lawful Queen Regent and your ever-so-knowledgeable servant were as powerless as any cobbler or cooper in the crowd. Who truly killed Eddard Stark, do you think? Joffrey, who gave the command? Ser Ilyn Payne, who swung the sword? Or ... another?"Tyrion cocked his head sideways. "Did you mean to answer your damned riddle, or only to make my head ache worse?"Varys smiled. "Here, then. Power resides where men believe it resides. No more and no less.""So power is a mummer's trick?""A shadow on the wall," Varys murmured, "yet shadows can kill. And ofttimes a very small man can cast a very large shadow."Tyrion smiled. "Lord Varyls, I am growing strangely fond of you. I may kill you yet, but I think I'd feel sad about it. By George R R Martin Power Tyrion Varys Knowledge Smiled

What evil?" He laughed. "What gods?" "The gods who made us all." "All?" he mocked. "Tell me, little bird, what kind of god makes a monster like the Imp, or a halfwit like Lady Tanda's daughter? If there are gods, they made sheep so wolves could eat mutton, and they made the weak for the strong to play with." "True knights protect the weak." He snorted. "There are no true knights, no more than there are gods. If you can't protect yourself, die and get out of the way of those who can. Sharp steel and strong arms rule this world, don't ever believe any different. By George R R Martin Gods Evil Made True Weak

Do you believe in ghosts, Maester?" [Jaime] asked Qyburn.The man's face grew strange. "Once, at the Citadel, I came into an empty room and saw an empty chair. Yet I knew a woman had been there, only a moment before. The cushion was dented where she'd sat, the cloth was still warm, and her scent lingered in the air. If we leave our smells behind us when we leave a room, surely something of our souls must remain when we leave this life? By George R R Martin Maester Jaime Ghosts Leave Empty

Jaime smiled knowingly. Men will read all sorts of things into a knowing smile if you let them. By George R R Martin Jaime Knowingly Smiled Men Read

The light was so dim that Jaime could scarcely see her, though they stood a scant few feet apart. 'In this light she could almost be a beauty', he thought. 'In this light she could almost be a knight'. By George R R Martin Jaime Light Dim Scarcely Stood

He was born in grief, my queen, and that shadow hung over him all his days. By George R R Martin Grief Queen Days Born Shadow

And I know that a king protects his people, or he is no king at all. By George R R Martin People King Protects

That boy had wanted to be Ser Arthur Dayne, but someplace along the way he had become the Smiling Knight instead. By George R R Martin Dayne Ser Arthur Smiling Knight

Lord Tywin Lannister did not, in the end, shit gold. By George R R Martin Tywin Lannister Lord End Shit

Why would the stars want to look down on such as me? By George R R Martin Stars

Not everyone who spoke to you friendly was really your friend. By George R R Martin Friend Spoke Friendly

You are in difficulty," she observed."He will not come," Kraznys said."There is a reason. A dragon is no slave. By George R R Martin Kraznys Difficulty Observed Said Reason

I am a hollow shell, the crab's died, there's nothing left inside. Don't they know that? By George R R Martin Shell Died Inside Hollow Crab

She could not bear to look at him just now. If she did, she might well slap him again. Or cry. Or kiss him. And never know which was right and which was wrong and which was madness. By George R R Martin Bear Cry Slap Madness Kiss

Soon comes the cold, and the night that never ends. By George R R Martin Cold Ends Night

Do as you're told, sweetling, it won't be so bad. Wolves are supposed to be brave, aren't they? By George R R Martin Sweetling Told Bad Wolves Brave

You look different now. Like a proper little girl.""I look like an oak tree, with all these stupid acorns.""Nice, though. A nice oak tree. By George R R Martin Tree Nice Oak Girl Acorns

It all goes back and back," Tyrion thought, "to our mothers and fathers and theirs before them. We are puppets dancing on the strings of those who came before us, and one day our own children will take up our strings and dance in our steads. By George R R Martin Tyrion Back Thought Mothers Fathers

Why ask for truth when you close your ears to it? - Ser Barristan Selmy to Daenerys By George R R Martin Ser Daenerys Truth Close Ears

No, don't, don't cut my hair, Ned loves my hair. By George R R Martin Hair Ned Cut Loves

You know nothing, Jon Snow. By George R R Martin Jon Snow

Every once in a very long while, Lord Tywin Lannister would actually threaten to smile; he never did, but the threat alone was terrible to behold. By George R R Martin Lord Tywin Lannister Smile Behold

Whisper a word in the wrong ear and before you knew it you'd be short a head. By George R R Martin Whisper Head Word Wrong Ear

The snow drifted down and down, all in ghostly silence, and lay thick and unbroken on the ground. It was a place of whites and blacks and greys. White towers and white snow and white statues, black shadows and black trees, the dark grey sky above. A pure world, Sansa thought. I do not belong here. Yet she stepped out all the same. By George R R Martin White Silence Ground Black Snow

Noseless and Handless, the Lannister Boys. By George R R Martin Handless Boys Lannister Noseless

I never win anything," Dolorous Edd complained. "The gods always smiled on Watt, though. When the wildlings knocked him off the Bridge of Skulls, somehow he landed in a nice depp proof of water. How lucky was that, missing all those rocks?""Was it a long fall?" Green wanted to know. "Did landing in the pool of water save his life?""No," said Dolorous Edd. "He was dead already, from that axe in his head. Still, it was pretty lucky, missing the rocks. By George R R Martin Dolorous Edd Complained Watt Win

his snores sounded like ducks mating. By George R R Martin Mating Snores Sounded Ducks

Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons - as well as Tuf Voyaging, Fevre Dream, The Armageddon Rag, Dying of the Light, Windhaven (with Lisa Tuttle), and Dreamsongs Volumes I and II. He is also the creator of The Lands of Ice and Fire, a collection of maps from A Song of Ice and Fire featuring original artwork from illustrator and cartographer Jonathan Roberts, and The World of Ice & Fire (with By George R R Martin Fire Ice Windhaven Thrones Kings

As you say," Tyrion grinned. "If I were Volantene, and free, and had the blood, you'd have my vote for triarch, my lady.""I am no lady," the widow replied, "just Vogarro's whore. You want to be gone from here before the tigers come. Should you reach your queen, give her a message from the slaves of Old Volantis." She touched the faded scar upon her wrinkled cheek, where her tears had been cut away. "Tell her we are waiting. Tell her to come soon. By George R R Martin Tyrion Grinned Volantene Vogarro Volantis

'Rome' was one of my favourite shows, and I wish HBO had given it three more seasons 'cause I would have loved to continue watching it. By George R R Martin Rome Hbo Shows Seasons Favourite

Men live their lives trapped in an eternal present, between the mists of memory and the sea of shadow that is all we know of the days to come. By George R R Martin Men Present Trapped Eternal Mists

Give the wilding an axe, why not?" He pointed out Mormont's weapon, a short-hafted battle-axe with gold scrollwork inlaid on the black steel blade. "He'll give it back, I vow. Buried in the Old Bear's skull, like as not. why not give him all our axes, and our swords as well? I mislike the way the clank and rattle as we ride. We'd travel faster without them, straight to hell's door. Does it rain in hell, I wonder? Perhaps Craster would like a nice hat instead."Jon smiled. "He wants an axe. And wine as well.""See, the Old Bear's clever. If we get the wildling well and truly drunk, perhaps he'll only cut off an ear when he tries to slay us with that axe. I have two ears but only one head. By George R R Martin Axe Give Bear Wilding Mormont

Ser Rodrik shouted "Winterfell!" and rode to meet him, with Bronn and Chiggen beside him, screaming some wordless battle cry. Ser Willis Wode followed, swinging a spiked morningstar around his head. "Harrenhal! Harrenhal!" he sang. Tyrion felt a sudden urge to leap up, brandish his axe, and boom out, "Casterly Rock!" but the insanity passed quickly and he crouched down lower. By George R R Martin Winterfell Rodrik Bronn Chiggen Harrenhal

The maester had taught him all the banners: the mailed fist of the Glovers, silver on scarlet; Lady Mormont's black bear; the hideous flayed man that went before Roose Bolton of the Dreadfort; a bull moose for the Hornwoods; a battle-axe for the Cerwyns; three sentinel trees for the Tallharts; and the fearsome sigil of House Umber, a roaring giant in shattered chains. By George R R Martin Glovers Lady Dreadfort Hornwoods Cerwyns

The truth is in our bones, for flesh decays and bone endures. By George R R Martin Endures Truth Flesh Decays Bones

Be careful you don't cut yourself. The edges are sharp enough to shave with.''Girls don't shave', Arya said.'Maybe they should. Have you ever seen the septa's legs? By George R R Martin Arya Careful Cut Girls Shave

His long wait is almost done. I am sending Balon Swann to Sunspear, to deliver him the head of Gregor Clegane." Ser Balon would have another task as well, but that part was best left unsaid."Ah." Ser Harys Swyft fumbled at his funny little beard with thumb and forefinger. "He is dead then? Ser Gregor?""I would think so, my lord," Aurane Waters said dryly. "I am told that removing the head from the body is often mortal. By George R R Martin Ser Balon Gregor Sunspear Clegane

Shaga: How would you like to die, little man?Tyrion: In my bed, at the age of eighty with a belly full of wine and a woman's mouth around my cock. By George R R Martin Tyrion Shaga Die Man Bed

Fat men take a cushion with them wherever they go. By George R R Martin Fat Men Cushion

It's very hard to find a good child actor. There are a lot of child actors out there, especially in America, and they're cute kids, but most child actors appear on sitcoms where their main role is to be cute and make funny little remarks. By George R R Martin Child Actors America Hard Find

A man grows weary of having no lovers but his fingers. By George R R Martin Fingers Man Grows Weary Lovers

We were talking about the prince,' Sansa said, her voice soft as a kiss.Arya knew which prince she meant: Joffrey, of course. The tall, handsome one. Sansa got to sit with him at the feast. Arya had to sit with the little fat one. Naturally. By George R R Martin Joffrey Prince Sansa Meant Talking

Small men oft feel a need to prove their courage with unseemly boasts," he declared. "I doubt if he could kill a duck."Tyrion shrugged. "Fetch the duck. By George R R Martin Small Boasts Declared Tyrion Men

Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish: The realm. Do you know what the realm is? It's the thousand blades of Aegon's enemies, a story we agree to tell each other over and over, until we forget that it's a lie.Lord Varys: But what do we have left, once we abandon the lie? Chaos? A gaping pit waiting to swallow us all.Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish: Chaos isn't a pit. Chaos is a ladder. Many who try to climb it fail and never get to try again. The fall breaks them. And some, are given a chance to climb. They refuse, they cling to the realm or the gods or love. Illusions. Only the ladder is real. The climb is all there is. By George R R Martin Littlefinger Baelish Realm Chaos Petyr

Catelyn wanted to run to him, to kiss his sweet brow, to wrap him in her arms so tightly that he would never come to harm ... By George R R Martin Catelyn Brow Harm Wanted Run

Most deserve to be forgotten. The heroes will always be remembered. The best." "The best and the worst." So one of us is like to live in song. "And a few who were a bit of both. Like him." He tapped the page he had been reading. "Who?" Ser Loras craned his head around to see. "Ten black pellets on a scarlet field. I do not know those arms." "They belonged to Criston Cole, who served the first Viserys and the second Aegon." Jaime closed the White Book. "They called him Kingmaker. By George R R Martin Forgotten Deserve Remembered Heroes Ten

Ser Loras lusts for glory as real men lust for women, the least the gods can do is grant him a death worthy of a song. By George R R Martin Loras Ser Women Song Glory

The past remains the past. We can learn from it, but we cannot change it. By George R R Martin Past Remains Learn Change

Some instinct made her lift her hand and cup his cheek with her fingers. The room was too dark for her to see him, but she could feel the stickiness of the blood, and a wetness that was not blood. "Little bird," he said once more, his voice raw and harsh as steel on stone. Then he rose from the bed. Sansa heard cloth ripping, followed by the softer sound of retreating footsteps.When she crawled out of bed, long moments later, she was alone. She found his cloak on the floor, twisted up tight, the white wool stained by blood and fire. The sky outside was darker by then, with only a few pale green ghosts dancing against the stars. A chill wind was blowing, banging the shutters. Sansa was cold. She shook out the torn cloak and huddled beneath it on the floor, shivering. By George R R Martin Blood Fingers Instinct Made Lift

Nothing bores me more than books where you read two pages and you know exactly how it's going to come out. I want twists and turns that surprise me, characters that have a difficult time and that I don't know if they're going to live or die. By George R R Martin Bores Books Read Pages Characters

He was no dragon, Dany thought, curiously calm. Fire cannot kill a dragon By George R R Martin Dany Dragon Thought Curiously Calm

He might as well wish for another thousand men, and maybe a dragon or three. By George R R Martin Men Thousand Dragon

At the last, Viserys looked at her. "Sister, please ... Dany, tell them ... make them ... sweet sister ... " When the gold was half-melted and starting to run, Drogo reached into the flames, snatched out the pot. "Crown!" he roared. "Here. A crown for Cart King!" And upended the pot over the head of the man who had been her brother. The sound Viserys Targaryen made when that hideous iron helmet covered his face was like nothing human. His feet hammered a frantic beat against the dirt floor, slowed, stopped. Thick globs of molten gold dripped down onto his chest, setting the scarlet silk to smoldering ... yet no drop of blood was spilled. He was no dragon, Dany thought, curious calm. Fire cannot kill a dragon. By George R R Martin Sister Looked Viserys Dany Crown

His anger was a terrible thing when roused. Viserys called it waking the dragon. By George R R Martin Roused Anger Terrible Thing Viserys

Let me tell you something about wolves, child. When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives. In winter, we must protect one another, keep each other warm, share our strengths. So if you must hate, Arya, hate those who would truly do us harm. By George R R Martin Child Wolves Arya Hate Blow

We shall serve him lies and Arbor gold, and he'll drink them down and ask for more. By George R R Martin Arbor Gold Serve Lies Drink

I try to make the readers feel they've lived the events of the book. Just as you grieve if a friend is killed, you should grieve if a fictional character is killed. You should care. If somebody dies and you just go get more popcorn, it's a superficial experience isn't it? By George R R Martin Killed Book Make Readers Feel

Sansa sat with her hands folded in her lap, watching with a strange fascination. She had never seen a man die before. She ought to be crying too, she thought, but the tears would not come. Perhaps she had used up all her tears for Lady and Bran. It would be different if it had been Jory or Ser Rodrik or Father, she told herself. The young man in the blue cloak was nothing to her, some stranger from the Vale of Arryn whose name she had forgotten as soon as she heard it. And now the world would forget his name too, Sansa realized; there would be no songs sung for him. That was sad. By George R R Martin Lap Watching Fascination Sansa Sat

You were small, but far-famed. We were in Oldtown at your birth, and all the city talked of was the monster that had been born to the King's Hand, and what such an omen might foretell for the realm.""Famine, plague, and war, no doubt." Tyrion gave a sour smile. "It's always famine, plague, and war. Oh, and winter, and the long night that never ends.""All that," said Prince Oberyn, "and your father's fall as well. Lord Tywin had made himself greater than King Aerys, I heard one begging brother preach, but only a god is meant to stand above a king. You were his curse, a punishment sent by the gods to teach him that he was no better than any other man.""I try, but he refuses to learn." Tyrion gave a sigh. "But do go on, I pray you. I love a good tale.""And well you might, since you were said to have one, a stiff curly tail like a swine's. By George R R Martin King Plague Famine Small Farfamed

You realize I had half my guard out searching for you?" Eddard Stark said when they were alone. "Septa Mordane is beside herself with fear. She's in the sept praying for your safe return. Arya, you know you are never to go beyond the castle gates without my leave.""I didn't go out the gates," she blurted. "Well, I didn't mean to. I was down in the dungeons, only they turned into this tunnel. It was all dark, and I didn't have a torch or a candle to see by, so I had to follow. I couldn't go back the way I came on account of the monsters. Father, they were talking about killing you! Not the monsters, the two men. They didn't see me, I was being still as stone and quiet as a shadow, but I heard them. They said you had a book and a bastard and if one Hand could die, why not a second? Is that the book? Jon's the bastard, I bet. By George R R Martin Realize Half Guard Searching Stark

He was curiously calm. Men were supposed to go mad with grief when their children died, he knew. They were supposed to tear their hair out by the roots, to curse the gods and swear red vengeance. So why was it that he felt so little? The boy lived and died believing Robert Baratheon his sire. Jaime had seen him born, that was true, though more for Cersei than the child. But he had never held him. "How would it look?" his sister warned him when the women finally left them. "Bad enough Joff looks like you without you mooning over him." Jaime yielded with hardly a fight. The boy had been a squalling pink thing who demanded too much of Cersei's time, Cersei's love, and Cersei's breasts. Robert was welcome to him. And now he's dead. By George R R Martin Cersei Calm Supposed Curiously Robert

I have taught my Margaery what comely is worth, I hope. Less than a mummer's fart. By George R R Martin Margaery Worth Hope Taught Comely

Your brother Jaime keeps losing battles. He gave Sansa an angry look, as if it were her fault. He's been taken by the Starks and we've lost Riverrun and now her stupid brother is calling himself a king.The dwarf smiled crookedly. All sorts of people are calling themselves kings these days. By George R R Martin Jaime Battles Losing Brother Sansa

I've lost a hand, a father, a son, a sister, and a lover, and soon enough I will lose a brother. And yet they keep telling me House Lannister won this war. By George R R Martin Hand Father Son Sister Lover

I am not going to get into it myself, except to say(1) if I am writing "boy fiction," who are all those boys with breasts who keep turning up by the hundreds at my signings and readings?and(2) thank you, geek girls! I love you all. By George R R Martin Writing Fiction Readings Geek Girls

It was a woman's voice, high and sweet, with a strange music in it like none that he had ever heard and a sadness that he thought might break his heart. Bran squinted, to see her better. It was a girl, but smaller than Arya, her skin dappled like a doe's beneath a cloak of leaves. Her eyes were queerlarge and liquid, gold and green, slitted like a cat's eyes. No one has eyes like that. Her hair was a tangle of brown and red and gold, autumn colors, with vines and twigs and withered flowers woven through it. "Who are you?" Meera Reed was asking.Bran knew. "She's a child. A child of the forest. By George R R Martin Voice High Sweet Heart Eyes

He pushed himself to his feet. "Don't lie, Sansa. I am malformed, scarred, and small, but ... " she could see him groping " ... abed, when the candles are blown out, I am made no worse than other men. In the dark, I am the Knight of Flowers." He took a draught of wine. "I am generous. Loyal to those who are loyal to me. I've proven I'm no craven. And I am cleverer than most, surely wits count for something. I can even be kind. Kindness is not a habit with us Lannisters, I fear, but I know I have some somewhere. I could be ... I could be good to you. By George R R Martin Feet Pushed Sansa Loyal Lie

Mhysa!" a brown-skinned man shouted out at her. He had a child on his shoulder, a little girl, and she screamed the same word in her thin voice. "Mhysa! Mhysa!"Dany looked at Missandei. "What are they shouting?""It is Ghiscari, the old pure tongue. It means 'Mother.'"Dany felt a lightness in her chest. I will never bear a living child, she remembered. Her hand trembled as she raised it. Perhaps she smiled. She must have, because the man grinned and shouted again, and others took up the cry. "Mhysa!" they called. "Mhysa! MHYSA!" They were all smiling at her, reaching for her, kneeling before her. "Maela," some called her, while others cried "Aelalla" or "Qathei" or "Tato," but whatever the tongue it all meant the same thing. Mother. They are calling me Mother. By George R R Martin Mhysa Dany Brownskinned Mother Child

Forward, intending to give the boy a reassuring pat on the shoulder or mutter some word of apology. He never saw the wolf, where it was or how it came at him. One moment he was walking toward Snow and the next he was flat on his back on the hard rocky ground, the book spinning away from him as he fell, the breath going out of him at the sudden impact, his mouth full of dirt and blood and rotting leaves. As he tried to get up, his back spasmed painfully. He must have wrenched it in the fall. He ground his teeth in frustration, grabbed a root, and pulled himself back to a sitting position. "Help me," he said to the boy, reaching up a hand. And suddenly the wolf was between them. He did not growl. The damned thing never made a sound. He only looked at him By George R R Martin Forward Back Intending Apology Give

His blood is bad. He needs to be leeched. The leeches suck away the bad blood, all the rage and pain. No man can think so full of anger. By George R R Martin Blood Bad Leeched Pain Anger

Daenerys, I am thrice your age," Ser Jorah said. "I have seen how false men are. Very few are worthy of trust, and Daario Naharis is not one of them. Even his beard wears false colors." That angered her. "Whilst you have an honest beard, is that what you are telling me? You are the only man I should ever trust? By George R R Martin Ser Jorah Daenerys Age Thrice

No". Tyrion's voice was hoarse. "Sansa is no longer yours to torment. Understand that, monster." Joffrey sneered. "You're the monster, Uncle" "Am I?" Tyrion cocked his head. "Perhaps you should speak more softly to me, then. Monsters are dangerous beasts, and just now kinds seem to be dying like flies. By George R R Martin Tyrion Sansa Uncle Monster Hoarse

Sansa felt as though she were in a dream. "Joffrey is dead," she told the trees, to see if that would wake her. He had not been dead when she left the throne room. He had been on his knees, though, clawing at his throat, tearing at his own skin as he fought to breathe. The By George R R Martin Sansa Dream Joffrey Felt Dead

I am loyal to my beloved Joffrey. (Sansa)No doubt. As loyal as a deer surrounded by wolves. (Tyrion)Lions, she whispered without thinking. By George R R Martin Joffrey Sansa Tyrion Lions Beloved

Sweet one," her father said gently, "listen to me. When you're old enough, I will make you a match with a high lord who's worthy of you, someone brave and gentle and strong. This match with Joffrey was a terrible mistake. That boy is no Prince Aemon, you must believe me." "He is!" Sansa insisted. "I don't want someone brave and gentle, I want him. We'll be ever so happy, just like in the songs, you'll see. By George R R Martin Sweet Gently Listen Father Match

They are children, Sansa thought. They are silly little girls, even Elinor. They've never seen a battle, they've never seen a man die, they know nothing. Their dreams were full of songs and stories, the way hers had been before Joffrey cut her fathers head off. Sansa pitied them. Sansa envied them. By George R R Martin Sansa Children Thought Elinor Joffrey

My father was a traitor," Sansa said at once. "And my brother and lady mother are traitors as well." That reflex she had learned quickly. "I am loyal to my beloved Joffrey." "No doubt. As loyal as a deer surrounded by wolves." "Lions," she whispered, without thinking. She glanced about nervously, but there was no one close enough to hear. By George R R Martin Sansa Father Lions Joffrey Loyal

Once she had loved Prince Joffrey with all her heart, and admired and trusted her his mother, the queen. They had repaid that love and trust with her father's head. Sansa would never make that mistake again. By George R R Martin Prince Joffrey Heart Mother Queen

Go Ahead, call me all the names you want," Sansa said airily. "You won't dare when I'm married to Joffrey. You'll have to bow and call me Your Grace." She shrieked as Arya flung the orange across the table. It caught her in the middle of the forehead with a wet squish and plopped down into her lap."You have juice on your face, Your Grace ," Arya said. By George R R Martin Ahead Sansa Grace Airily Call

The truth is, I wanted to watch you for a time before pledging you my sword. To make certain that you were not ... "" ... my father's daughter?" If she was not her father's daughter, who was she?" ... mad," he finished. "But I see no taint in you.""Taint?" Dany bristled."I am no maester to quote history at you, Your Grace. Swords have been my life, not books. But every child knows that the Targaryens have always danced too close to madness. Your father was not the first. King Jaehaerys once told me that madness and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Every time a new Targaryen is born, he said, the gods toss a coin in the air and the world holds its to see how it will land. By George R R Martin Father Truth Wanted Watch Pledging

How I have yearned for the sound of your sweet voice," Tyrion sighed to her. "How I have yearned to have that eunuch's tongue pulled out with hot pincers," Cersei replied. By George R R Martin Tyrion Voice Yearned Sound Sweet

Summer is the time for squabbles. In winter, we must protect one another, keep each other warm, share our strengths. By George R R Martin Summer Squabbles Time Winter Warm

Harwin's eyes went from her face to the flayed man on her doublet. "How do you know me?" he said, frowning suspiciously. "The flayed man ... who are you, some serving boy to Lord Leech?"For a moment she did not know how to answer. She'd had so many names. Had she only dreamed Arya Stark? "I'm a girl," she sniffed. "I was Lord Bolton's cupbearer but he was going to leave me for the goat, so I ran off with Gendry and Hot Pie. You have to know me! You used to lead my pony, when I was little."His eyes went wide. "Gods be good," he said in a choked voice. "Arya Underfoot? Lem, let go of her.""She broke my nose." Lem dumped her unceremoniously to the floor. "Who in seven hells is she supposed to be?""The Hand's daughter." Harwin went to one knee before her. "Arya Stark, of Winterfell. By George R R Martin Arya Flayed Doublet Man Stark

I was with her when she died," Ned reminded the king. "She wanted to come home, to rest beside Brandon and Father." He could hear her still at times. Promise me, she had cried, in a room that smelled of blood and roses. Promise me, Ned. The fever had taken her strength and her voice had been faint as a whisper, but when he gave her his word, the fear had gone out of his sister's eyes. Ned remembered the way she smiled then, how tightly her fingers had clutched his as she gave up her hold on life, the rose petals spilling from her palm, dead and black. After that he remembered nothing. They had found him still holding her body, silent with grief. The little crannogman, Howland Reed, had taken her hand from his. By George R R Martin Ned Died King Reminded Promise

Dany "Bring me that book I was reading last night." She wanted to lose herself in the words, in other times and other places. The fat leather-bound volume was full of songs and stories from the Seven Kingdoms. Children's stories, if truth be told; too simple and fanciful to be true history. All the heroes were tall and handsome, and you could tell the traitors by their shifty eyes. Yet she loved reading them all the same. Last night she had been reading of the three princesses in the red tower, locked away by the king for the crime of being beautiful. When her handmaiden brought the book, dany had no trouble finding the page where she had left off, but is was no good. She found herself reading the same passage half a dozen times. "Ser Jorah gave me this book as a bride's gift, the day I we'd Khal Drogo" She played at at being a queen, yet sometimes she felt like a scared little girl. By George R R Martin Bring Reading Book Dany Night

Sooner would be better than later, and now would be better than sooner. - Tyrion By George R R Martin Tyrion Sooner

I dreamed ... in the black of night a man asks all the questions he dare not ask by daylight. For me, the past years, only one question has remained. Why would the gods take my eyes and my strength, yet condemn me to linger on so long, frozen and forgotten? What use could they have for an old done man like me? ... I remember, Sam. I still remember.Remember what?Dragons, Aemon whispered. By George R R Martin Dreamed Man Sam Dragons Daylight

You would not believe half of what is happening in King's Landing, sweetling. Cersei stumbles from one idiocy to the next, helped along by her council of the deaf, the dim, and the blind. I always anticipated that she would beggar the realm and destroy herself, but I never expected she would do it quite so fast. It is quite vexing. I had hoped to have four or five quiet years to plant some seeds and allow some fruits to ripen, but now ... it is a good thing that I thrive on chaos. What little peace and order the five kings left us will not long survive the three queens, I fear.-Littlefinger By George R R Martin Landing Sweetling Half Happening Littlefinger

If I were you? I would go west instead of east. Land in Dorne and raise my banners. The Seven Kingdoms will never be more ripe for conquest than they are right now. A boy king sits the Iron Throne. The north is in chaos, the riverlands a devastation, a rebel holds Storm's End and Dragonstone. When winter comes, the realm will starve. And who remains to deal with all of this, who rules the little king who rules the Seven Kingdoms? Why, my own sweet sister. There is no one else. My brother, Jaime, thirsts for battle, not for power. He's run from every chance he's had to rule. My uncle Kevan would make a passably good regent if someone pressed the duty on him, but he will never reach for it. The gods shaped him to be a follower, not a leader." Well, the gods and my lord father. "Mace Tyrell would grasp the sceptre gladly, but mine own kin are not like to step aside and give it to him. And everyone hates Stannis. Who does that leave? Why, only Cersei. By George R R Martin Kingdoms Rules King Dorne Gods

I buried him with mine own hands, in a place he showed me once when I was a squire at Storm's End. No one shall ever find him there to disturb his rest." He looked at Jaime defiantly. "I will defend King Tommen with all my strength, I swear it. I will give my life for his if need be. But I will never betray Renly, by word or deed. He was the king that should have been. He was the best of them. By George R R Martin End Storm Hands Buried Mine

How could I not love him, after that? That is not to say that I approved of all he did, or much enjoyed the company of the man that he became ... but every little girl needs a big brother to protect her. Tywin was big even when he was little." She gave a sigh. "Who will protect us now?"Jaime kissed her cheek. "He left a son.""Aye, he did. That is what I fear the most, in truth."That was a queer remark. "Why should you fear?""Jaime," she said, tugging on his ear, "sweetling, I have known you since you were a babe at Joanna's breast. You smile like Gerion and fight like Tyg, and there's some of Kevan in you, else you would not wear that cloak ... but Tyrion is Tywin's son, not you. I said so once to your father's face, and he would not speak to me for half a year. Men are such thundering great fools. Even the sort who come along once in a thousand years. By George R R Martin Jaime Love Tywin Big Protect

If ... if certain things should come to pass, I will send word to each of you. Things can change quickly in the game of thrones. By George R R Martin Things Pass Thrones Send Word

Things can change quickly in the game of thrones. Words are wind, and the wind is always blowing at the Wall. By George R R Martin Things Thrones Change Quickly Game

For there are other times when I think that I have always been here, that I was born here some endless age ago. And the memories are all false ones, sent to make me hurt the more. By George R R Martin Ago Times Born Endless Age

It's really irritating when you open a book, and 10 pages into it you know that the hero you met on page one or two is gonna come through unscathed, because he's the hero. This is completely unreal, and I don't like it. By George R R Martin Hero Book Unscathed Irritating Open

A man of the Night's Watch lives his life for the realm. Not for a king, nor a lord, nor the honor of this house or that house, neither for gold nor glory nor a woman's love, but for the realm, and all the people in it. A man of the Night's Watch takes no wife and fathers no sons. Our wife is duty. Our mistress is honor. And you are the only sons we shall ever know. By George R R Martin Night Realm Watch Man Lives

I never liked Gandalf the White as much as Gandalf the Grey, and I never liked him coming back. I think it would have been an even stronger story if Tolkien had left him dead. By George R R Martin Gandalf Grey White Back Coming

I'm a strong believer in telling stories through a limited but very tight third person point of view. I have used other techniques during my career, like the first person or the omniscient view point, but I actually hate the omniscient viewpoint. None of us have an omniscient viewpoint; we are alone in the universe. We hear what we can hear ... we are very limited. If a plane crashes behind you I would see it but you wouldn't. That's the way we perceive the world and I want to put my readers in the head of my characters. By George R R Martin Omniscient Viewpoint Person Point View

Six of the young cupbearers were playing some child's game as he entered, sitting in a circle on the floor as they took turns spinning a dagger. When it wobbled to a stop they cut a lock of hair off whichever of them the blade was pointing at. By George R R Martin Entered Sitting Dagger Young Cupbearers

And then the years were gone, and he was back at Winterfell once more, wearing a quilted leather coat in place of mail and plate. His sword was not made of wood, and it was Robb who stood facing him, not Iron Emmett.Every morning they had trailed together, since they were big enough to walk; Snow and Stark, spinning and slashing about the wards of Winterfell, shouting and laughing, sometimes crying when there was no one else to see. They were not little boys when they fought, but knights and mighty heroes. "I'm Prince Aemon the Dragonknight," Jon would call out, and Robb would shout back, "Well, I'm Florian the Fool." Or Robb would say, "I'm the Young Dragon," and Jon would reply, "I'm Ser Ryam Redwyne."That morning he called it first. "I'm Lord of Winterfell!" he cried, as he had a hundred times before. Only this time, this time, Robb had answered, "You can't be Lord of Winterfell, you're bastard-born. My lady mother says you can't ever be the Lord of Winterfell. By George R R Martin Winterfell Robb Lord Jon Wearing

The only wolves we got to fear are the ones wear manskin, By George R R Martin Manskin Wolves Fear Wear

Half-truths are worth more than outright lies. By George R R Martin Halftruths Lies Worth Outright

Oberyn wanted vengeance for Elia. Now the three of you want vengeance for him. I have four daughters, I remind you. Your sisters. My Elia is fourteen, almost a woman. Obella is twelve, on the brink of maidenhood. They worship you, as Dorea and Loreza worship them. If you should die, must El and Obella seek vengeance for you, then Dorea and Loree for them? Is that how it goes, round and round forever? I ask again, where does it end?" Ellaria Sand laid her hands on the Mountain's head. "I saw your father die. Here is his killer. Can I take a skull to bed with me, to give me comfort in the night? Will it make me laugh, write me songs, care for me when I am old and sick? By George R R Martin Vengeance Elia Oberyn Dorea Wanted

Drifting snowflakes brushed her face as light as lover's kisses, and melted on her cheeks. At the center of the garden, beside the statue of the weeping woman that lay broken and half-buried on the ground, she turned her face up to the sky and closed her eyes. She could feel the snow on her lashes, taste it on her lips. It was the taste of Winterfell. The taste of innocence. The taste of dreams. By George R R Martin Taste Face Drifting Kisses Cheeks

Above him loomed a grotesque fat man [ ... ] His bedrobe was large enough to serve as a tourney pavilion, but its loosely knotted belt had come undone, exposing a huge white belly and a pair of heavy breasts that sagged like sacks of suet covered with coarse yellow hair. By George R R Martin Man Pavilion Undone Exposing Hair

After the brightness of the morning, the interior of the pavilion seemed cool and dim. Stannis seated himself on a plain wooden camp stool and waved Davos to another. "One day I may make you a lord, smuggler. If only to irk Celtigar and Florent. You will not thank me, though. It will mean you must suffer through these councils, and feign interest in the braying of mules.""Why do you have them, if they serve no purpose?""The mules love the sound of their own braying, why else? And I need them to haul my cart. By George R R Martin Morning Dim Brightness Interior Pavilion

In the songs all knights are gallant, all maids are beautiful, and the sun is always shining. By George R R Martin Gallant Beautiful Shining Songs Knights

You don't feel your wounds then, or the ache in your back from the weight of the armor, or the sweat running down into your eyes. You stop feeling, you stop thinking, you stop being you, there is only the fight, the foe, this man and then the next and the next and the next, and you know they are afraid and tired but you're not, you're alive, and death is all around you but their swords move so slowly, you can dance through them laughing. Battle fever. By George R R Martin Stop Armor Eyes Feel Wounds

The day before last, Jon had made the mistake of wishing he had hot water for a bath. "Cold is better," she had said at once, "if you've got someone to warm you up after. The river's only part ice yet, go on."Jon laughed. "You'd freeze me to death.""Are all crows afraid of gooseprickles? A little ice won't kill you. I'll jump in with you to t'prove it so.""And ride the rest of the day with wet clothes frozen to our skins?" he objected."Jon Snow, you know nothing. You don't go in with clothes.""I don't go in at all," he said firmly, just before he heard Tormund Thunderfist bellowing for him (he hadn't, but nevermind). By George R R Martin Jon Bath Made Mistake Wishing

There was one knight," said Meera, "in the year of the false spring. The Knight of the Laughing Tree, they called him. He might have been a crannogman, that one." "Or not." Jojen's face was dappled with green shadows. "Prince Bran has heard that tale a hundred times, I'm sure." "No," said Bran. "I haven't. And if I have it doesn't matter. Sometimes Old Nan would tell the same story she'd told before, but we never minded, if it was a good story. Old stories are like old friends, she used to say. You have to By George R R Martin Meera Knight Spring Year False

There is a savage beast in every man, and when you hand that man a sword or spear and send him forth to war, the beast stirs. By George R R Martin War Stirs Beast Man Savage

The way the world is made. The truth is all around you, plain to behold. The night is dark and full of terrors, the day bright and beautiful and full of hope. One is black, the other white. There is ice and there is fire. Hate and love. Bitter and sweet. Male and female. Pain and pleasure. Winter and summer. Evil and good." She took a step toward him. "Death and life. Everywhere, opposites. Everywhere, the war. By George R R Martin Made World Full Plain Behold

My life was writ in red, in blood and wine. By George R R Martin Red Wine Life Writ Blood

I have a gift for you," the dwarf said to Bran. "Do you like to ride, boy?" Maester Luwin came forward. "My lord, the child has lost the use of his legs. He cannot sit a horse." "Nonsense," said Lannister. "With the right horse and the right saddle, even a cripple can ride." The word was a knife through Bran's heart. He felt tears come unbidden to his eyes. "I'm not a cripple!" "Then I am not a dwarf," the dwarf said with a twist of his mouth. "My father will rejoice to hear it." Greyjoy laughed. By George R R Martin Dwarf Bran Gift Ride Cripple

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. By George R R Martin North South Journey West East

I am Cersei of House Lannister, a lion of the Rock, the rightful queen of these Seven Kingdoms, trueborn daughter of Tywin Lannister. And hair grows back. By George R R Martin Lannister Rock Kingdoms Cersei House

Here, m'lord." She put her hands over his eyes from behind. "Can you guess what I'm wearing?""Nothing?""Oh, you're so smart," she pouted, snatching her hands away. "How did you know?""You're very beautiful in nothing"."Am I?" She said. "Am I truly?""Oh yes.""Then shouldn't you be fucking me instead of talking? By George R R Martin Mlord Hands Put Eyes Wearing

Men will always underestimate you, he said, and their pride will make them want to vanquish you quickly, lest it be said that a woman tried them sorely. Let them spend their strength in furious attacks, whilst you conserve your own. Wait and watch, girl, wait and watch. By George R R Martin Men Quickly Sorely Wait Watch

Catelyn had never liked this godswood.She had been born a Tully, at Riverrun far to the south, on the Red Fork of the Trident. The godswood there was a garden, bright and airy, where tall redwoods spread dappled shadows across tinkling streams, birds sang from hidden nests, and the air was spicy with the scent of flowers. By George R R Martin Tully Trident Riverrun Red Fork

He drew the dagger and laid it on the table between them; a length of dragonbone and Valyrian steel, as sharp as the difference between right and wrong, between true and false, between life and death. By George R R Martin Valyrian Steel Wrong False Death

The day was grey and bitter cold, and the dogs would not take the scent. By George R R Martin Cold Scent Day Grey Bitter

Slowly the shapes around her took on form. Huge empty eyes stared at her hungrily through the gloom, and dimly she saw the jagged shadows of long teeth. She had lost the count. She closed her eyes and bit her lip and sent the fear away. When she looked again, the monsters would be gone. Would never have been. She pretended that Syrio was beside her in the dark, whispering in her ear. Calm as still water, she told herself. Strong as a bear. Fierce as a wolverine. She opened her eyes again. The monsters were still there, but the fear was gone. By George R R Martin Eyes Slowly Form Shapes Fear

Day followed day, and night followed night, until Dany knew she could not endure a moment longer. She would kill herself rather than go on, she decided one night ... Yet when she slept that night, she dreamt the dragon dream again. Viserys was not in it this time. There was only her and the dragon. Its scales were black as night, wet and slick with blood. Her blood, Dany sensed. Its eyes were pools of molten magma and when it opened its mouth, the flame came roaring out in a hot jet. She could hear it singing to her. She opened her arms to the fire, embraced it, let it swallow her whole, let it cleanse her and temper her and scour her clean. She could feel her flesh sear and blacken and slough away, could feel her blood boil and turn to steam, and yet there was no pain. She felt strong and new and fierce. And the next day, strangely, she did not seem to hurt quite as much. By George R R Martin Night Dany Blood Longer Day

Varys gave a long weary sigh, the sigh of a man who carried all the sadness of the world in a sack upon his shoulders. "The High Septon once told me that as we sin, so do we suffer. If that's true, Lord Eddard, tell me ... why is it always the innocents who suffer most, when you high lords play your game of thrones? Ponder it, if you would, while you wait upon the queen. And spare a thought for this as well: The next visitor who calls on you could bring you bread and cheese and the milk of the poppy for your pain ... or he could bring you Sansa's head. "The choice, my dear lord Hand, is entirely yours. By George R R Martin Sigh Varys Shoulders High Gave

Another day done" - he would sigh - "and who knows what the morrow will bring us, eh, Dunk? By George R R Martin Dunk Sigh Day Morrow Bring

And here's another order. From this day forth, you will not call yourself a craven. You've faced more things this past year than most men face in a lifetime. By George R R Martin Order Craven Lifetime Day Call

By the time Jon Snow signed the parchment the Braavosi drew up, both of them were half-drunk and quite unhappy. Jon thought that a good sign. By George R R Martin Snow Braavosi Unhappy Jon Time

The beginning of her story is lost to us, with the memory of the world from which she sprang. The end? The end is not yet, and when it comes we shall not know it. We have only the middle, or rather a piece of that middle, the smallest part of the legend, a mere fragment of the quest. By George R R Martin Sprang Beginning Story Lost Memory

Nor I. There was a time that I would have given my right hand to wield a sword like that. Now it appears I have, so the blade is wasted on me. Take it." Before she could think to refuse, he went on. "A sword so fine must bear a name. It would please me if you would call this one Oathkeeper. One more thing. The blade comes with a price. By George R R Martin Time Hand Wield Sword Blade

Who knows more of gods than I? Horse gods and fire gods, gods made of gold with gemstone eyes, gods carved of cedar wood, gods chiseled into mountains, gods of empty air ... I know them all. I have seen their peoples garland them with flowers, and shed the blood of goats and bulls and children in their names. And I have heard the prayers, in half a hundred tongues. Cure my withered leg, make the maiden love me, grant me a healthy son. Save me, succor me, make me wealthy ... protect me! Protect me from mine enemies, protect me from the darkness, protect me from the crabs inside my belly, from the horselords, from the slavers, from the sellswords at my door. Protect me from the Silence." He laughed. "Godless? Why, Aeron, I am the godliest man ever to raise sail! You serve one god, Damphair, but I have served ten thousand. From Ib to Asshai, when men see my sails, they pray. By George R R Martin Gods Protect Make God Godless

Even in the wolfswood, you never found more than two or three of the white trees growing together; a grove of nine was unheard of. The forest floor was carpeted with fallen leaves, bloodred on top, black rot beneath. The wide smooth trunks were bone pale, and nine faces stared inward. The dried sap that crusted in the eyes was red and hard as ruby. By George R R Martin Wolfswood Found White Trees Growing

Turtles have always been my sigil, I suppose. When I was a kid, growing up in Bayonne, NJ, I lived in a federal housing project, and we were not allowed to have a dog or cats. The only pets I could have were turtles. So, I had an entire toy castle filled with dime-store turtles. I gave them all names, and since they were living in a toy castle, I decided they were all knights and kingsand I made up stories about how they killed each other and betrayed each other and fought for the kingdom. So, Game of Thrones, actually began with turtles. I decided later to recast it with actual human beings. By George R R Martin Turtles Sigil Suppose Bayonne Toy

His voice was like the cracking of ice on a winter lake, and the words were mocking By George R R Martin Lake Mocking Voice Cracking Ice

A cold wind was blowing from the north, and it made the trees rustle like living things. By George R R Martin North Things Cold Wind Blowing

They betrayed me. But they saved me. But they lied. - Daenerys By George R R Martin Betrayed Daenerys Lied Saved

He said." Jojen frowned. "This ... Coldhands?""That wasn't his true name," said Gilly, rocking. "We only called him that, Sam and me. His hands were cold as ice, but he saved us from the dead men, him and his ravens, and he brought us here on his elk.""His elk?" said Bran, wonderstruck."His elk?" said Meera, startled."His ravens?" said Jojen."Hodor?" said Hodor."Was he green?" Bran wanted to know. "Did he have antlers?"The fat man was confused. "The elk?""Coldhands," said Bran impatiently. "The green men ride on elks, Old Nan used to say. Sometimes they have antlers too. By George R R Martin Bran Elk Coldhands Ravens Antlers

Arya lifted her gaze from the dead man and his dead dog. Jaqen H'ghar was leaning up against the side of the Wailing Tower. When he saw her looking, he lifted a hand to his face and laid two fingers casually against his cheek. By George R R Martin Dead Arya Dog Tower Gaze

Oxtail soup, summer greens tossed with pecans, grapes, red fennel, and crumbled cheese, hot crab pie, spiced squash, and quails drowned in butter. By George R R Martin Grapes Oxtail Soup Summer Pecans

Schemes are like fruit, they require a certain ripening. By George R R Martin Schemes Fruit Ripening Require

One of the big breakthroughs, I think for me, was reading Robert A. Heinlein's four rules of writing, one of which was, 'You must finish what you write.' I never had any problem with the first one, 'You must write' - I was writing since I was a kid. But I never finished what writing. By George R R Martin Robert Heinlein Write Writing Breakthroughs

If only they were truly ants, wee could step on them and crush them. By George R R Martin Ants Wee Step Crush

Han is only in it for the money, he makes that plain right from the start ... which makes it all the more thrilling when he returns at the end of Star Wars to put that rocket up Darth Vader's butt. (Oh, and he DOES shoot first in the cantina scene, no matter how George Lucas retcons that first movie.) By George R R Martin Han Money Start Makes Plain

A good act does not wash out the bad, nor a bad act the good. Each should have its own reward. By George R R Martin Good Act Bad Wash Reward

In the black hour before dawn, they stopped to let the horses drink and fed them each a handful of oats and a twist or two of hay. "We are not far from the place the wildlings died," said Qhorin. "From there, one man could hold a hundred. The right man." He looked at Squire Dalbridge.The squire bowed his head. "Leave me as many arrows as you can spare, brothers." He stroked his longbow. "And see my garron has an apple when you're home. He's earned it, poor beastie." He's staying to die, Jon realized.Qhorin clasped the squire's forearm with a gloved hand. "If the eagle flies down for a look at you...""...he'll sprout some new feathers. By George R R Martin Dawn Hay Squire Black Hour

Fiction is lies; we're writing about people who never existed and events that never happened when we write fiction, whether its science fiction or fantasy or western mystery stories or so-called literary stories. All those things are essentially untrue. But it has to have a truth at the core of it. By George R R Martin Fiction Stories Lies Writing People

Ned was clad in a white linen doublet with the direwolf of Stark on the breast; his black wool cloak was fastened at the collar by his silver hand of office. Black and white and grey, all the shades of truth. By George R R Martin Stark Ned Breast Office White

He could help you, He can do sums, and he knows how to read and write. I know Chett can't read, and Clydas has weak eyes. Sam read every book in his father's library. He'd be good with the ravens too. Animals seem to like him. Ghost took to him straight off. There's a lot he could do, besides fighting. The Night's Watch needs every man. Why kill one, to no end? Make use of him instead. By George R R Martin Read Sums Write Chett Clydas

The septons preach about the seven hells. What do they know? Only a man who's been burned knows what hell is truly like" ... She was sad for him, she realized. Somehow, the fear had gone away. The silence went on and on, so long that she began to grow afraid once more, but she was afraid for him now, not for herself. She found his massive shoulder with her hand. "He was no true knight," she whispered to him. By George R R Martin Septons Preach Afraid Hells Hell

Besides, his father and uncles were old, and the old lords were like that; they took their dusty feuds to the grave, forgetting nothing and forgiving less. By George R R Martin Grave Forgetting Father Uncles Lords

Bran knew. "She's a child. A child of the forest." He shivered, as much from wonderment as cold. They had fallen into one of Old Nan's tales. "The First Men named us children," the little woman said. "The giants called us wok dak nag gran, the squirrel people, because we were small and quick and fond of trees, but we are no squirrels, no children. Our name in the True Tongue means those who sing the song of the earth. Before your Old Tongue was ever spoken, we had sun our songs ten thousand years." Meera said, "You speak the Common Tongue now." "For him. The Bran boy. I was born in the time of the dragon, and for two hundred years I walked the world of men, to watch and listen and learn. I might be walking still, but my legs were sore and my heart was weary, so I turned my feet for home." "Two hundred years?" said Meera. The child smiled. "Men, they are the children. By George R R Martin Tongue Child Men Children Knew

I will hurt you for this. I don't know how yet, but give me time. A day will come when you think yourself safe and happy, and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth, and you'll know the debt is paid. By George R R Martin Hurt Time Happy Mouth Paid

After my name day feast, I'm going to raise a host and kill your brother myself. That's what I'll give you, Lady Sansa. Your brother's head."A kind of madness took over her then, and she heard herself say, "Maybe my brother will give me your head. By George R R Martin Feast Brother Lady Sansa Day

As for 'too much description,' well, opinions differ. We write the books we want to read. And I want to read books that are richly textured and full of sensory detail, books that make me feel as if I am experiencing a story, not just reading it. Plot is only one aspect of telling a tale, and not the most important one. It is the journey that matters, not how fast you arrrive at the destination.That's my view, anyway. Others writers differ, of course. There are hundreds of books where everything is subordinate to advancing the plot, some of them quite fine, but my work has never been about that, and never will be. By George R R Martin Books Description Opinions Read Differ

What were you doing to that cat, boy?" Myrcella asked again, sternly. To her brother she said, "He's a ragged boy, isn't he? Look at him." She giggled."A ragged dirty smelly boy," Tommen agreed.They don't know me, Arya realized. They don't even know I'm a girl. Small wonder; she was barefoot and dirty, her hair tangled from the long run through the castle, clad in a jerkin ripped by cat claws and brown roughspun pants hacked off above her scabby knees. You don't wear skirts and silks when you're catching cats. Quickly she lowered her head and dropped to one knee. Maybe they wouldn't recognize her. If they did, she would never hear the end of it. Septa Mordane would be mortified, and Sansa would never speak to her again from the shame. By George R R Martin Boy Ragged Dirty Cat Sternly

Would that some could find the courage to help themselves. Craster sprawls in his loft even now, stinking of wine and lost to sense. On his board below lies a sharp new axe. Were it me, I'd name it Answered Prayer' and make an end. By George R R Martin Find Courage Prayer Craster Stinking

He liked how it felt too, pulling himself up a wall stone by stone, fingers and toes digging hard into the small crevices between. He always took off his boots and went barefoot when he climbed; it made him feel as if he had four hands instead of two. He liked the deep, sweet ache it left in the muscles afterward. He liked the way the air tasted way up high, sweet and cold as a winter peach. He liked the birds: the crows in the broken tower, the tiny little sparrows that nested in cracks between the stones, the ancient owl that slept in the dusty loft above the old armory. Bran knew them all. Most of all, he liked going places that no one else could go, and seeing the grey sprawl of Winterfell in a way that no one else ever saw it. By George R R Martin Pulling Fingers Felt Wall Toes

There was part of me that wanted to see the world and travel to distant places, but I could only do it in my imagination, so I read ferociously and imagined things. By George R R Martin Places Imagination Things Part Wanted

The title was but a courtesy due him as a council member; Varys was lord of nothing but the spiderweb, the master of none but his whisperers. By George R R Martin Varys Member Spiderweb Whisperers Title

We have a new king now," Cersei Lannister replied. "Lord Eddard, when last we spoke, you gave me some counsel. Allow me to return the courtesy. Bend the knee, my lord. Bend the knee and swear fealty to my son, and we shall allow you to step down as Hand and live out your days in the grey waste you call home. By George R R Martin Cersei Lannister Replied Bend King

And if I'm guilty of having gratuitous sex, then I'm also guilty of having gratuitous violence, and gratuitous feasting, and gratuitous description of clothes, and gratuitous heraldry, because very little of this is necessary to advance the plot. But my philosophy is that plot advancement is not what the experience of reading fiction is about. If all we care about is advancing the plot, why read novels? We can just read Cliffs Notes.A novel for me is an immersive experience where I feel as if I have lived it and that I've tasted the food and experienced the sex and experienced the terror of battle. So I want all of the detail, all of the sensory things - whether it's a good experience, or a bad experience, I want to put the reader through it. To that mind, detail is necessary, showing not telling is necessary, and nothing is gratuitous. By George R R Martin Guilty Gratuitous Plot Experience Violence

I dreamed of you and a dead dragon, Egg's brother Daeron said to him. A great beast, huge, with wings so large they could cover this meadow. It had fallen on top of you, but you were alive and the dragon was dead. And so he was, poor Baelor. Dreams were a treacherous ground on which to build. By George R R Martin Egg Daeron Dreamed Brother Dead

Catelyn had not eaten today. Perhaps that had been unwise. She told herself that there had been no time, but the truth was that food had lost its savor in a world without Ned. 'When they took his head off, they killed me too. By George R R Martin Catelyn Today Eaten Ned Unwise

Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come. By George R R Martin Night Gathers Begins Watch Nights

The cold gods," she said. "The ones in the night. The white shadows. By George R R Martin Gods Cold Night Shadows White

That made her laugh until she screamed. "Mad," someone said, "she's lost her wits," and someone else said, "Make an end," and a hand grabbed her scalp just as she'd done with Jinglebell, and she thought, No, don't, don't cut my hair, Ned loves my hair. Then the steel was at her throat, and its bite was red and cold. By George R R Martin Hair Screamed Mad Made Laugh

Sleep on your stone pillow, and let the gulls peck out your eyes while the crabs feast on your flesh. You've feasted on enough of them, you owe them. By George R R Martin Sleep Pillow Flesh Stone Gulls

Be certain," Catelyn told her son, "or go home and take up that wooden sword again. You cannot afford to seem indecisive in front of men like Roose Bolton and Rickard Karstark. Make no mistake, Robb-these are your bannermen, not your friends. You named yourself battle commander. Command. By George R R Martin Catelyn Son Karstark Told Home

All that weeping makes me want to slap her," he complained, "and I can scarce sleep for her sobbing." You would weep as well if you had a son and lost him, Sam almost said. He could not blame Gilly for her grief. Instead, he blamed Jon Snow and wondered when Jon's heart had turned to stone. Once he asked Maester Aemon that very question, when Gilly was down at the canal fetching water for them. "When you raised him up to be the lord commander," the old man answered. By George R R Martin Complained Sobbing Gilly Jon Weeping

They have been with you every day, my lord. Sansa prays quietly, but Arya ... " He hesitated. "She has not said a word since they brought you back. She is a fierce little thing, my lord. I have never seen such anger in a girl. By George R R Martin Day Lord Arya Sansa Quietly

Will you joust today, my lord?" she asked him. Clegane's voice was thick with contempt. "Wouldn't be worth the bother of arming myself. This is a tournament of gnats." The king laughed. "My dog has a fierce bark. Perhaps I should command him to fight the day's champion. To the death." Joffrey was fond of making men fight to the death. By George R R Martin Today Lord Joust Asked Death

The pale pink light of dawn sparkled on branch and leaf and stone. Every blade of grass was carved from emerald, every drip of water turned to diamond. Flowers and mushrooms alike wore coats of glass. Even the mud puddles had a bright brown sheen. Through the shimmering greenery, the black tents of his brothers were encased in a fine glaze of ice. So there is magic beyond the Wall after all. By George R R Martin Stone Pale Pink Light Dawn

An artist has an obligation to tell the truth. [ ... ] that the true horrors of human history derive not from orcs and Dark Lords, but from ourselves. We are the monsters. (And the heroes too). Each of us has within himself the capacity for great good, and great evil. By George R R Martin Truth Artist Obligation Lords Dark

I see the faces of slaves. I free you. Take off your collars. Go if you wish, no one shall harm you. If you stay, it will be as brothers and sisters, husbands and wives." The black eyes watched her, wary, expressionless. "I see the children, women, the wrinkled faces of the aged. I was a child yesterday. Today I am a woman. Tomorrow I will be old. To each of you I say, give me your hands and your hearts, and there will always be a place for you." She By George R R Martin Slaves Faces Free Collars Wary

Who'd want to kill the likes of you?" "My lord father, for one. He's put me in the van." "I'd do the same. A small man with a big shield. You'll give the archers fits. By George R R Martin Kill Father Lord Van Shield

I'd let his whole khalasar fuck you if need be, sweet sister, all forty thousand men and their horses too if that was what it took to get my army ... By George R R Martin Sweet Sister Army Khalasar Fuck

It took all her strength not to weep. She had been weeping too much of late. It was unseemly, she knew, but she could not seem to help herself; the tears would come, sometimes over a trifle, and nothing she did could hold them back. By George R R Martin Weep Strength Late Weeping Unseemly

Must I say it, ser? You call me love, yet you refuse me, when I have most desperate need of you. Is it so wrong of me to want a knight to keep me safe? - Arianne By George R R Martin Ser Arianne Love Call Refuse

Slavery is not the same as rain," she insisted. "I have been rained on and I have been sold. It is not the same. No man wants to be owned. By George R R Martin Slavery Rain Insisted Sold Rained

I swear it by earth and water,"said the boy in green."I swear it by bronze and iron," his sister said."We swear it by ice and fire," they finished it together.Bran groped for words. Was he supposed to swear something back to them."May your winters be short and your summers bountiful,"he said. By George R R Martin Swear Water Green Iron Said

The hand does not argue with the head. By George R R Martin Head Hand Argue

The sound of their voices mingled with the whicker of horses, the clank of steel, and the groaning hinges of the great bronze gates to make a strange and fearful music. In the sept they sing for the Mother's mercy but on the walls it's the Warrior they pray to, and all in silence. By George R R Martin Horses Steel Music Sound Voices

Lord Petyr," Ned called after him. "I ... am grateful for your help. Perhaps I was wrong to distrust you." Littlefinger fingered his small pointed beard. "You are slow to learn, Lord Eddard. Distrusting me was the wisest thing you've done since you climbed down off your horse. By George R R Martin Petyr Ned Lord Called Eddard

Whites were bright as fresh-fallen snow, yellow shone like gold, reds turned to flame, but the shadows were so black they looked like holes in the world. By George R R Martin Whites Snow Yellow Gold Reds

Black Wind was Asha's longship. He had not seen his sister in ten years, but that much he knew of her. Odd that she would call it that, when Robb Stark had a wolf named Grey Wind. "Stark is grey and Greyjoy's black," he murmured, smiling, "but it seems we're both windy. By George R R Martin Asha Wind Longship Stark Grey

Bran tore his eyes away from the monster. That was when he noticed the bundle in Robb's arms. He gave a cry of delight and moved closer. The pup was a tiny ball of grey-black fur, its eyes still closed. It nuzzled blindly against Robb's chest as he cradled it, searching for milk among his leathers, making a sad little whimpery sound. Bran reached out hesitantly. "Go on," Robb told him. "You can touch him." Bran By George R R Martin Robb Monster Bran Tore Eyes

I admire Tolkien greatly. His books had enormous influence on me. And the trope that he sort of established - the idea of the Dark Lord and his Evil Minions - in the hands of lesser writers over the years and decades has not served the genre well. It has been beaten to death. The battle of good and evil is a great subject for any book and certainly for a fantasy book, but I think ultimately the battle between good and evil is weighed within the individual human heart and not necessarily between an army of people dressed in white and an army of people dressed in black. When I look at the world, I see that most real living breathing human beings are grey. By George R R Martin Tolkien Evil Greatly Admire Book

You don't just have people who wake up in the morning and say, "What evil things can I do today, because I'm Mr. Evil?" People do things for what they think are justified reasons. Everybody is the hero of their own story, and you have to keep that in mind. If you read a lot of history, as I do, even the worst and most monstrous people thought they were the good guys. We're all very tangled knots. By George R R Martin Evil People Today Things Wake

Does he think to scare me? Arya kissed him where his nose should be and plucked the grave worm from his eye to eat it, but it melted like a shadow in her hand. The yellow skull was melting too, and the kindliest old man that she had ever seen was smiling down on her. "No one has ever tried to eat my worm before," he said. "Are you hungry, child?"Yes, she thought, but not for food. By George R R Martin Scare Eat Worm Arya Hand

No doubt he was smiling. He smiled a lot, as if the world were a secret joke that only he was clever enough to understand. By George R R Martin Smiling Doubt Lot Understand Smiled

I know nothing, Ygritte, he [Jon Snow] thought, and perhaps I never will (465). By George R R Martin Ygritte Thought Jon Snow

Don't call me Lord Snow."The dwarf lifted an eyebrow. "Would you rather be called the Imp? Let them see that their words can cut you and you'll never be free of the mockery. If they want to give you a name take it make it your own. Then they can't hurt you with it anymore. By George R R Martin Snow Lord Eyebrow Call Dwarf

The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard," Jaime returned with cold courtesy. "I might ask the same of you, my lady." "Lady? I'm no lady. I'm the queen." "My sister will be surprised to hear that." "Lord Ryman crowned me his very self." She gave a shake of her ample hips. "I'm the queen o' whores." No, Jaime thought, my sweet sister holds that title too. Ser By George R R Martin Kingsguard Commander Lady Jaime Courtesy

When the three of them stepped off the ferry on the north bank, a drunken camp follower offered to pleasure Strongboar with her mouth. "Here, pleasure my friend," Ser Lyle said, shoving her toward Ser Ilyn. Laughing, the woman moved to kiss Payne on the lips, then saw his eyes and shrank away. By George R R Martin Strongboar Ser Bank Mouth Pleasure

Have you noticed that the rain stopped the instant I had a roof above me? It will start again now that I'm back out. Gods and dogs alike delight to piss on me. - Dolorous Edd By George R R Martin Noticed Rain Stopped Instant Roof

Trays of pastries from his castle kitchens, cream swans and spun-sugar unicorns, lemon cakes in the shape of roses, spiced honey biscuits and blackberry tarts, apple crisps and wheels of buttery cheese. By George R R Martin Trays Kitchens Cream Unicorns Lemon

Foes and false friends are all around me, Lord Davos. They infest my city like roaches, and at night I feel them crawling over me." The fat man's fingers coiled into a fist, and all his chins trembled. "My son Wendel came to the Twins a guest. He ate Lord Walder's bread and salt, and hung his sword upon the wall to feast with his friends. And they murdered him. Murdered, I say, and may the Freys choke upon their fables. I drink with Jared, jape with Symond, promise Rhaegar the hand of my own beloved granddaughter ... but never think that means I have forgotten. The north remembers, Lord Davos. The north remembers, and the mummer's farce is almost done. My son is home. By George R R Martin Lord Davos Foes False Friends

I drink with Jared, jape with Symond, promise Rhaegar the hand of my own beloved granddaughter ... but never think that means I have forgotten. The north remembers, Lord Davos. The north remembers, and the mummer's farce is almost done. By George R R Martin Jared Symond Rhaegar Jape Promise

She should be more frightened herself, she knew. She was only ten, a skinny girl on a stolen horse with a dark forest ahead of her and men behind who would gladly cut off her feet. Yet somehow she felt calmer than ever had in Harrenhal. The rain had washed the guard's blood off her fingers, she wore a sword across her back, wolves were prowling through the dark like lean grey shadows, and Arya Stark was unafraid. Fear cuts deeper than swords, she whispered under her breath, the words that Syrio Forel had taught her, and Jaqen's words too, valar morghulis. By George R R Martin Knew Frightened Dark Harrenhal Words

Serving men cleared away the swan, hardly touched. Cersei beckoned for the sweets. "I hope you like blackberry tarts." "I love all sorts of tarts." "Oh, I've know that for a long while. Do you know why Varys is so dangerous?" "Are we playing riddles now? No." "He doesn't have a cock." "Neither do you." And don't you just hate that, Cersei? ""Perhaps, I'm dangerous too. You, on the other hand, are as big a fool as every other man. That worm between your legs does half your thinking. By George R R Martin Serving Swan Touched Cersei Men

I had written three books [Games of Throne], at that point, and each one of them was better than the other. At a certain point, as the books were doing well, I started getting interest from Hollywood, from various producers and studios who were initially interested in doing a feature film. I met with some of those people and I had phone conversations with some of those people, but I didn't see it being done as a feature film. By George R R Martin Games Throne Point Film Books

Some men want whores on the eve of battle, and some want gods. Jon wondered who felt better afterward. By George R R Martin Battle Gods Men Whores Eve

She walked fast, to keep ahead of her fear, and it felt as though Syrio Forel walked beside her, and Yoren, and Jaqen H'ghar, and Jon Snow. By George R R Martin Yoren Hghar Snow Syrio Forel

She never forgets a slight, real or imagined. She takes caution for cowardice and dissent for defiance. And she is greedy. Greedy for power, for honour, for love. By George R R Martin Slight Real Imagined Forgets Greedy

Cersei wondered what it would feel like to kiss another woman. Not lightly on the cheek, as was common courtesy amongst ladies of high birth, but full upon the lips. Taena's lips were very full. She wondered what it would feel like to suckle on those breasts, to lay the Myrish woman on her back and push her legs apart and use her as a man would use her. By George R R Martin Cersei Feel Kiss Wondered Woman

The queen smiled as she lay her head upon the pillow. When I kissed her cheek, I could taste the salt of her tears. By George R R Martin Pillow Queen Smiled Lay Head

Tyrion smiled. "Lord Stannis has sailed from Dragonstone." Cersei bolted to her feet. "And yet you sit there grinning like a harvest-day pumpkin? By George R R Martin Tyrion Smiled Lord Dragonstone Stannis

Cersei will send men after you, I have no doubt. You might do well to take another name." "Another name? Oh, certainly. And when the Faceless Men come to kill me, I'll say, 'No, you have the wrong man, I'm a different dwarf with a hideous facial scar. By George R R Martin Cersei Doubt Send Men Faceless

Each night before sleep, she murmured her prayer into her pillow. "Ser Gregor," it went. "Dunsen, Raff the Sweetling, Ser Ilyn, Ser Meryn, Queen Cersei. By George R R Martin Ser Sleep Pillow Dunsen Gregor

I thought that I was the Warrior and Cersei was the Maid, but all the time she was the Stranger, hiding her true face from my gaze. "Pray for me, if you like," he told his cousin. "I forgotten all the words. By George R R Martin Maid Stranger Warrior Cersei Hiding

Though neither Queen Cersei nor Queen Margaery was amongst them, their presence could be felt poisoning the air, like ghosts at a feast. By George R R Martin Queen Cersei Margaery Air Feast

It was astonishing to see how angry Cersei could wax over accusations she knew perfectly well to be true. By George R R Martin Cersei True Astonishing Angry Wax

Truly, sister, you were born to be a widow. (Tyrion to Cersei) By George R R Martin Sister Widow Tyrion Cersei Born

I am a knight - " "So I've noted. Tell me - did Cersei have you knighted before or after she took you into her bed?" The flicker in Lancel's green eyes was all the admission Tyrion needed. So Varys told it true. Well, no one can ever claim that my sister does not love her family. By George R R Martin Knight Noted Cersei Lancel Tyrion

When I commented that you seemed a poor sort of monster, your sister said, 'He killed my mother,' and twisted your little cock so hard I thought she was like to pull it off. You shrieked, but it was only when your brother Jaime said, 'Leave him be, you're hurting him,' that Cersei let go of you. 'It doesn't matter,' she told us. 'Everyone says he's like to die soon. He shouldn't even have lived this long.' By George R R Martin Monster Mother Commented Poor Sort

I will teach them what it means to put a lion in a cage, Cersei thought. By George R R Martin Cersei Cage Thought Teach Put

Weese," she would whisper, first of all. "Dunsen, Chiswyck, Polliver, Raff the Sweetling. The Tickler and the Hound. Ser Gregor, Ser Armory, Ser Ilyn, Ser Meryn, King Joffrey, Queen Cersei." - Arya Stark, A Clash of Kings By George R R Martin Ser Weese Dunsen Chiswyck Polliver

Cersei is as gentle as King Maegor, as selfless as Aegon the Unworthy, as wise as Mad Aerys. By George R R Martin Maegor Unworthy Aerys King Aegon

Cersei Lannister: I shall wear this as a badge of honor.Robert Barathon: Wear it in silence or I'll honor you again. By George R R Martin Lannister Barathon Wear Cersei Badge

Sansa lowered her head. "The blood frightened me.""The blood is the seal of your womanhood. Lady Catelyn might have prepared you. You've had your first flowering, no more."Sansa had never felt less flowery. "My lady mother told me, but I ... I thought it would be different.""Different how?""I don't know. Less ... less messy, and more magical."Queen Cersei laughed. "Wait until you birth a child, Sansa. A woman's life is nine parts mess to one part magic, you'll learn that soonenough ... and the parts that look like magic often turn out to be messiest of all. By George R R Martin Sansa Head Blood Lowered Lady

Purple with rage, the king lashed out, a vicious backhand blow to the side of the head. She stumbled against the table and fell hard, yet Cersei Lannister did not cry out. Her slender fingers brushed her cheek, where the pale smooth skin was already reddening. On the morrow the bruise would cover half her face. "I shall wear this as a badge of honor," she announced. "Wear it in silence, or I'll honor you again," Robert vowed. By George R R Martin Purple Rage Head King Lashed

Love was a surer route to the people's loyalty than fear By George R R Martin Love Fear Surer Route People

I am told that removing the head from the body is often mortal. Cersei By George R R Martin Mortal Cersei Told Removing Head

The longer Cersei waits, the angrier she'll become, and anger makes her stupid. I much prefer angry and stupid to composed and cunning. By George R R Martin Cersei Waits Stupid Longer Angrier

Ser Gregor the Mountain," she said softly. "Dunsen, Raff the Sweetling, Ser Ilyn, Ser Meryn, Queen Cersei." It made her feel queer to leave out Polliver and the Tickler. And Joffrey too. By George R R Martin Ser Mountain Gregor Dunsen Softly

Purple sky. The maester stood on the windswept balcony outside his chambers. It was here the ravens came, after long flight. Their droppings speckled the gargoyles that rose twelve feet tall on either side of him, a hellhound and a wyvern, two of the thousand that brooded over the walls of the ancient fortress. When first he came to Dragonstone, the army of stone grotesques had made him uneasy, but as the years passed he had grown used to them. Now he thought of them as old friends. The three of them watched the sky together with foreboding. The maester did not believe in omens. And yet ... old as he was, Cressen had never seen a comet half so bright, nor yet that color, that terrible color, the color of blood and flame and sunsets. He wondered if his gargoyles had ever By George R R Martin Purple Color Sky Maester Gargoyles

You are a free man now, and Ygritte is a free woman. What dishonor if you lay together?""I might get her with child.""Aye, I'd hope so. A strong son or a lively laughing girl kissed by fire, and where's the harm in that?"Words failed him for a moment. "The boy ... the child would be a bastard.""Are bastards weaker than other children? More sickly, more like to fail?""No, but-""You are bastard born yourself. And if Ygritte does not want a chile, she will go to some woods witch and drink a cup o' moon tea. You do not come in to it, once the seed is planted."I will not father a bastard. By George R R Martin Free Woman Ygritte Man Aye

My own heroes are the dreamers, those men and women who tried to make the world a better place than when they found it, whether in small ways or great ones. Some succeeded, some failed, most had mixed results ... but it is the effort that's heroic, as I see it. Win or lose, I admire those who fight the good fight. By George R R Martin Dreamers Heroes Men Women Make

Joff loves me and the queen does too, she said so. By George R R Martin Joff Loves Queen

A queen loves where she must not where she will. By George R R Martin Queen Loves

Think of it. We know truth for the cruel instrument it is. Beauty is infinitely preferable to truth. We invent beauty. Faiths, political movements, high ideals, belief in love and fellowship. All of them are lies. We tell those lies, among others, endless others. We improve on history and myth and religion, make each more beautiful, better, easier to believe in. Our lies are not perfect, of course. The truths are too big. But perhaps someday we will find one great lie that all humanity can use. By George R R Martin Lies Truth Beauty Cruel Instrument

His sister liked to think of herself as Lord Tywin with teats, but she was wrong. Their father had been as relentless and implacable as a glacier, where Cercei was all wildfire, especially when thwarted. By George R R Martin Lord Tywin Teats Wrong Sister

Dothraki hooves had torn the earth and trampled the rye and lentils into the ground, while arakhs and arrows had sown a terrible new crop and watered it with blood. Dying horses lifted their heads and screamed at her as she rode past. Wounded men moaned and prayed. Jaqqa rhan moved among them, the mercy men with their heavy axes, taking a harvest of heads from the dead and dying alike. After them would scurry a flock of small girls, pulling arrows from the corpses to fill their baskets. Last of all the dogs would come sniffing, lean and hungry, the feral pack that was never far behind the khalasar. By George R R Martin Dothraki Ground Blood Hooves Torn

The proudest city in all the world was gone in an instant, its fabled empire vanished in a day, the Lands of the Long Summer scorched and drowned and blighted. By George R R Martin Lands Long Summer Instant Day

I had these cheap alien toys and I made up stories for them. They were space pirates. They didn't have names so I made up names. These were the first stories I wrote. Even as a little kid I was thinking about torture. By George R R Martin Made Cheap Alien Toys Stories

A man will win one tourney, and fall quickly in the next. A slick spot in the grass may mean defeat, or what you ate for supper the night before. A change in the wind may bring the gift of victory." He glanced at Ser Jorah. "Or a lady's favor knotted round an arm." Mormont's face darkened. "Be careful what you say, old man. By George R R Martin Tourney Win Fall Quickly Man

Beware," the woman in the red lacquer mask said. "Of whom?" "Of all. They shall come day and night to see the wonder that has been born again into the world, and when they see they shall lust. For dragons are fire made flesh, and fire is power. By George R R Martin Beware Woman Red Lacquer Mask

They had woken him as they had her, pounding on his door in the black of night to yank him rudely from his dreams. Were they good dreams, brother? Do you dream of sunlight and laughter and a maiden's kisses? I pray you do. Her own dreams were dark and laced with terrors. By George R R Martin Pounding Dreams Woken Door Black

And when you have it, what then? Some secrets are safer kept hidden. Some secrets are too dangerous to share, even with those you love and trust. By George R R Martin Secrets Hidden Share Trust Safer

She should be on a hill somewhere, under a fruit tree, with the sun and clouds above her and the rain to wash her clean. By George R R Martin Tree Clean Hill Fruit Sun

I want to live forever in a land where summer lasts a thousand years. I want a castle in the clouds where I can look down over the world. I want to be six-and-twenty again. When I was six-and-twenty I could fight all day and fuck all night. What men want does not matter. Winter is almost upon us, boy. And winter is death. I would sooner my men die fighting for the Ned's little girl than alone and hungry in the snow, weeping tears that freeze upon their cheeks. No one sings songs of men who die like that. As for me, I am old. This will be my last winter. Let me bathe in Bolton blood before I die. I want to feel it spatter across my face when my axe bites deep into a Bolton skull. I want to lick it off my lips and die with the taste of it on my tongue. By George R R Martin Die Winter Years Men Live

I write from this tight third-person viewpoint, where each chapter is seen through the eyes of one individual character. When I'm writing that character, I become that character and identify with that character. By George R R Martin Character Viewpoint Write Tight Thirdperson

Ned's mouth tightened in anger. "Nor will I. Leave it be, Robert, for the love you say you bear me. I dishonored myself and I dishonored Catelyn, in the sight of gods and men. By George R R Martin Ned Anger Robert Mouth Tightened

One voyage to the East and a man could live as rich as a lord until the end of his days. When he'd been younger, Davos had dreamed of making such voyages himself. But the years went dancing by like moths around a flame, and somehow the time had never been quite right. By George R R Martin East Days Man Live Rich

Sobbing, Sam took another step. This is the last one, the very last, I can't go on, I can't. But his feet moved again. One and then the other. They took a step, and then another, and he thought, They're not my feet, they're someone else's, someone else is walking, it can't be me. By George R R Martin Sam Sobbing Step Feet Thought

The young woman went to rummage in a sideboard and came back to the table with a stout cook's knife. But instead of using it to cut the fruit, she showed the point to each of the men in a meaningful way, then tucked the blade into her kirtle. They By George R R Martin Knife Young Woman Rummage Sideboard

Wine makes all things possible. GEORGE R. R. MARTIN, The Mystery Knight A cold wind was blowing from the north, and it made the trees rustle like living things. GEORGE R. R. MARTIN, A Game of Thrones Nothing burns like the cold. GEORGE R. R. MARTIN, A Game of Thrones Laughter is poison to fear. By George R R Martin George Martin Game Wine Thrones

There are two kinds of writers. There are architects and gardeners. The architects do blueprints before they drive the first nail. The gardeners just dig a hole and plant the seed and see what comes up. By George R R Martin Writers Kinds Architects Gardeners Nail

The world's nothing but a mean bully, that's a fact. Even when you've big misfortunes threatening to drop on your head, small ones still take every chance to prick your toes. By George R R Martin Bully Fact World Head Small

Crabs feast on your flesh. You've feasted on enough of them, you By George R R Martin Crabs Flesh Feast Feasted

When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground. By George R R Martin Thrones Die Play Game Win

A hound will die for you, but never lie to you. And he'll look you straight in the face. By George R R Martin Hound Die Lie Face Straight

Five Aegons had ruled the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. There would have been a sixth, but the Usurper's dogs had murdered her brother's son when he was still a babe at the breast. If he had lived, I might have married him. Aegon would have been closer to my age than Viserys. By George R R Martin Westeros Kingdoms Ruled Usurper Viserys

The boys were going to a place that none had ever been before, to serve an order that had been the enemy of their kith and kin for thousands of years, yet Jon saw no tears, heard no wailing mothers. These are winter's people, [ ... ] tears freeze upon your cheeks where they come from. By George R R Martin Jon Years Heard Mothers Tears

She don't speak," said the big man in the yellow cloak. "You bloody bastards cut her throat too deep for that. But she remembers." He turned to the dead woman and said, "What do you say, m'lady? Was he part of it?" Lady Catelyn's eyes never left him. She nodded. By George R R Martin Speak Cloak Big Man Yellow

My old grandmother always used to say, Summer friends will melt away like summer snows, but winter friends are friends forever. By George R R Martin Summer Friends Snows Forever Grandmother

This is not Winterfell', he told him as he cut his meat with fork and dagger. 'On the Wall, a man gets only what he earns. You're no ranger, Jon, only a green boy with the smell of summer still on you. By George R R Martin Winterfell Dagger Told Cut Meat

I take no joy in mead nor meat, and song and laughter have become suspicious strangers to me. I am a creature of grief and dust and bitter longings. There is an empty place within me where my heart was once. By George R R Martin Meat Joy Mead Song Laughter

Love didn't just happen to us. We built it slowly over the years, stone by stone. For you, for your brothers and sisters, and for all of us. It's not as exciting as secret passion in the woods, but it is stronger. It lasts longer. By George R R Martin Love Happen Stone Years Built

As Daenerys Targaryen rose to her feet, her black hissed, pale smoke venting from its mouth and nostrils. The other two pulled away from her breasts and added their voices to the call, translucent wings unfolding and stirring the air, and for the first time in hundreds of years, the night came alive with the music of dragons. By George R R Martin Daenerys Targaryen Feet Hissed Pale

My featherbed is deep and soft,and there I'll lay you down,I'll dress you all in yellow silkand on your head a crown.For you shall be my lady love,and I shall be your lord.I'll always keep you warm and safe,and guard you with my sword.And how she smiled and how she laughed, the maiden of the tree.She spun away and said to him, no featherbed for me.I'll wear a gown of golden leaves,and bind my hair with grass,But you can be my forest love,and me your forest lass. By George R R Martin Featherbed Loveand Forest Dress Laughed

The ground was so far below him, he could barely make it out through the grey mists that whirled around him, but he could feel how fast he was falling, and he knew what was waiting for him down there. Even in dreams, you could not fall forever. He would wake up in the instant before he hit the ground, he knew. You always woke in the instant before you hit the ground. By George R R Martin Ground Falling Knew Barely Make

If the day ever comes when you're tempted to sell me out, remember this, Bronn - I'll match their price, whatever it is. I like living. By George R R Martin Bronn Remember Price Day Tempted

Bronn said. He was near a shadow himself; bone thin and bone hard, with black eyes and black hair and a stubble of beard. By George R R Martin Bronn Bone Black Hard Beard

Chiggen grinned, showing yellow teeth, and swallowed the raw meat in two bites. "Tastes well bred." "Better if you fry it up with onions," Bronn put in. By George R R Martin Chiggen Grinned Showing Teeth Bites

Bronn himself, who'd only smiled that insolent dark smile of his and afterward said, "They'll kill for that knighthood, but don't ever think they'll die for it."Tyrion had no such delusion. By George R R Martin Tyrion Bronn Knighthood Delusion Smiled

No man threatens His Grace in the presence of the Kingsguard." Tyrion Lannister raised an eyebrow. "I am not threatening the king, ser, I am educating my nephew. Bronn, Timett, the next time Ser Boros opens his mouth, kill him." The dwarf smiled. "Now that was a threat, ser. See the difference? By George R R Martin Kingsguard Grace Ser Man Threatens

Tell me, Bronn. If I told you to kill a babe ... an infant girl, say, still at her mother's breast ... would you do it? Without question?Without question? No. The sellsword rubbed thumb and forefinger together. I'd ask how much. By George R R Martin Bronn Question Babe Girl Breast

Make no mistake, dwarf. I fought for you, but I do not love you' 'It was your blade I needed' Tyrion said, 'not your love. By George R R Martin Dwarf Make Mistake Tyrion Love

Tyrion: My gentle sister seems to have mistaken me for Ned Stark.Bronn: I hear he was taller.Tyrion: Not after Joff took off his head. By George R R Martin Tyrion Ned Joff Starkbronn Tallertyrion

He found Podrick Payne asleep in a chair outside the door of the solar, and shook him by the shoulder. "Summon Bronn, and then tun down to the stables and have two horses saddled." (Tyrion). The squire's eyes were cloudy with sleep. "Horses". (squire)"Those big brown animals that love apples, I'm sure you've seen them. Four legs and a tail. But Bronn first." (Tyrion) By George R R Martin Podrick Payne Tyrion Solar Shoulder

Old Nan nodded. 'In that darkness, the Others came for the first time,' she said as her needles went click, click, click. 'They were cold things, dead things, that hated iron and fire and the touch of the sun, and every creature with hot blood in its veins. They swept over holdfasts and cities and kingdoms, felled heroes and armies by the score, riding their pale dead horses and leading hosts of the slain. All the swords of men could not stay their advance, and even maidens and suckling babes found no pity in them. They hunted the maids through frozen forests, and fed their dead servants on the flesh of human children.' (p240) By George R R Martin Click Nodded Dead Things Darkness

I love you too, sweet sister. But you're a fool. A beautiful golden fool. By George R R Martin Sweet Sister Fool Love Beautiful

He was a good man ... No. He was a great man. A maester of the Citadel, chained and sworn, and Sworn Brother of the Night's Watch, ever faithful. When he was born they named him for a hero who had died too young, but though he lived a long long time, his own life was no less heroic. No man was wiser, or gentler, or kinder. At the Wall, a dozen lords commander came and went during his years of service, but he was always there to counsel them. He counseled kings as well. He could have been a king himself, but when they offered him the crown he told them they should give it to his younger brother. How many men would do that? He was the blood of the dragon, but now his fire has gone out. He was Aemon Targaryen. And now his watch is ended. By George R R Martin Man Sworn Good Brother Watch

Oldtown," Maester Aemon wheezed. "Yes. I dreamt of Oldtown, Sam. I was young again and my brother Egg was with me, with that big knight he served. We were drinking in the old inn where they make the fearsomely strong cider." He tried to rise again, but the effort proved too much for him. After a moment he settled back. "The ships," he said again. "We will find our answer there. About the dragons. I need to know. By George R R Martin Maester Aemon Oldtown Wheezed Sam

There is no shame in loving. If your septons say there is, your seven gods must be demons. In the isles we know better. Our gods gave us legs to run with, noses to smell with, hands to touch and feel. What mad cruel god would give a man eyes and tell him he must forever keep them shut, and never look at all the beauty in the world? Only a monster god, a demon of the darkness. By George R R Martin Loving Shame Gods God Septons

I will remember, Your Grace, said Sansa, though she had always heard that love was a surer route to the people's loyalty than fear. If I am ever a queen, I'll make them love me. By George R R Martin Grace Sansa Remember Fear Love

I am too old a soldier to believe that. Hoster will be chiding me about the Redwyne girl even as we light his funeral pyre, damn his bones. By George R R Martin Soldier Redwyne Hoster Pyre Damn

I seldom fling children from towers to improve their health. By George R R Martin Health Seldom Fling Children Towers

Knights die in battle," Catelyn reminded her. Brienne looked at her with those blue and beautiful eyes. "As ladies die in childbed. No one sings songs about them. By George R R Martin Catelyn Knights Battle Die Reminded

The last lesson we must learn before we don our maester's chains. The glass candle is meant to represent truth and learning, rare and beautiful and fragile things. It is made in the shape of a candle to remind us that a maester must cast light wherever he serves, and it is sharp to remind us that knowledge can be dangerous. Wise men may grow arrogant in their wisdom, but a maester must always remain humble. The glass candle reminds us of that as well. Even after he has said his vow and donned his chain and gone forth to serve, a maester will think back on the darkness of his vigil and remember how nothing that he did could make the candle burn ... for even with knowledge, some things are not possible. By George R R Martin Maester Candle Lesson Learn Don

What sort of moths eat chainmail? By George R R Martin Chainmail Sort Moths Eat

After the deep, warm nothingness, there was no pleasure in recalling who he was. Without coming fully awake, he nonetheless felt the weight of his own being settling on his heart. Despair and anger and the constant gnawing worry sounded in his mind like a man in the next room clearing his throat. By George R R Martin Deep Warm Nothingness Pleasure Recalling

Snow, the boy is called," Pycelle said unhelpfully. "I glimpsed him once at Winterfell," the queen said, "though the Starks did their best to hide him. He looks very like his father." Her husband's by-blows had his look as well, though at least Robert had the grace to keep them out of sight. By George R R Martin Pycelle Snow Called Unhelpfully Boy

You never knew Lyanna as well as I did Robert, you saw her beauty, but not the iron underneath By George R R Martin Robert Lyanna Beauty Underneath Knew

Desmond ushered the man inside. He was stooped and ugly, with an unkempt beard and unwashed clothes, yet Father greeted him pleasantly and asked his name."Yoren, as it please m'lord. My pardons for the hour." He bowed to Arya. "And this must be your son. He has your look.""I'm a girl," Arya said, exasperated. If the old man was down from the Wall, he must have come by way of Winterfell. "Do you know my brothers?" she asked excitedly. "Robb and Bran are at Winterfell, and Jon's on the Wall. Jon Snow, he's in the Night's Watch too, you must know him, he has a direwolf, a white one with red eyes. Is Jon a ranger yet? I'm Arya Stark." The old man in his smelly black clothes was looking at her oddly, but Arya could not seem to stop talking. "When you ride back to the Wall, would you bring Jon a letter if I wrote one?" She wished Jon were here right now. He'd believe her about the dungeons and the fat man with the forked beard and the wizard in the steel cap. By George R R Martin Jon Arya Wall Man Winterfell

I'm a huge fan of Tolkien. I read those books when I was in junior high school and high school, and they had a profound effect on me. I'd read other fantasy before, but none of them that I loved like Tolkien. By George R R Martin Tolkien Huge Fan High School

Theron's rather inchoate manuscript Strange Stone postulates that both fortress and seat might be the work of a queer, misshapen race of half men sired by creatures of the salt seas upon human women. These Deep Ones, as he names them, are the seed from which our legends of merlings have grown, he argues, whilst their terrible fathers are the truth behind the Drowned God of the ironborn. By George R R Martin Strange Stone Theron Queer Misshapen

Nothing but this: I did not do it. Yet now I wish I had ... I wish I had enough poison for you all. You make me sorry that I am not the monster you would have me be, yet there it is. By George R R Martin Poison Make Monster

Black Pearl was the most famous courtesan of all. "She's descended from the dragons, that one," the woman had told Cat. "The first Black Pearl was a pirate queen. By George R R Martin Pearl Black Famous Courtesan Cat

The white horse and the black one wheeled like lovers at a harvest dance, the riders throwing steel in place of kisses. By George R R Martin Dance Kisses White Horse Black

The smell of food made him realize how ravenous he was. There was hot bread and honey, a bowl of pease porridge, a skewer of roast onions and well-charred meat. He sat by the tray, pulled apart the bread with his hands, and stuffed some into his mouth. By George R R Martin Smell Food Made Realize Ravenous

Now you know " the crow whispered as it sat on his shoulder. "Now you know why you must live." "Why " Bran said not understanding falling falling. "Because winter is coming. By George R R Martin Shoulder Crow Whispered Sat Bran

My brother is undoubtedly arrogant," Tyrion Lannister replied. "My father is the soul of avarice, and my sweet sister Cersei lusts for power with every waking breath. I, however, am innocent as a little lamb. Shall I bleat for you? By George R R Martin Tyrion Lannister Arrogant Replied Brother

We Lannisters do have a certain pride," said Tyrion Lannister."Pride?" Catelyn snapped. His mocking tone and easy manner made her angry. "Arrogance, some might call it. Arrogance and avarice and lust for power.""My brother is undoubtedly arrogant," Tyrion Lannister replied. "My father is the soul of avarice, and my sweet sister Cersei lusts for power with every waking breath. I, however, am innocent as a little lamb. Shall I bleat for you?" He grinned. By George R R Martin Pride Lannister Tyrion Arrogance Avarice

Drinkwater had a swagger to him, a confidence bordering on arrogance. He never seemed ill at ease, and even when he did not speak the language, he had ways of making himself understood. By George R R Martin Drinkwater Arrogance Swagger Confidence Bordering

Historical fiction is not history. You're blending real events and actual historical personages with characters of your own creation. By George R R Martin History Historical Fiction Creation Blending

As well ask what good is life, what good is death? If the day comes when you would find me again, give that coin to any man from Braavos, and say these words to him - valar morghulis. By George R R Martin Good Life Death Braavos Give

Free folk don't follow names, or little cloth animals sewn on a tunic," the King-Beyond-the-Wall had told him. "They won't dance for coins, they don't care how your style yourself or what that chain of office means or who your grandsire was. They follow strength. They follow the man. By George R R Martin Free Tunic Follow Folk Cloth

She could feel tendrils spreading through her chest, like fingers of fire coiling around her heart, and on her tongue was a taste like honey and anise and cream, like mother's milk and Drogo's seed, like red meat and hot blood and molten gold. It was all the tastes she had ever known, and none of them ... and then the glass was empty. By George R R Martin Drogo Chest Heart Cream Seed

He'd only taken the black after he'd lost an arm at the siege of Storm's End. By George R R Martin End Storm Black Lost Arm

Lady, I have never been a hero, no Ryam Redwyne or Barristan the Bold. I've won no tourneys, no renown in war ... but I was a knight once, and you have helped me remember what that meant. My life is a poor thing, but it is yours. By George R R Martin Bold Lady Ryam Redwyne Barristan

Lord Rodrik was seldom seen without a book in hand, be it in the privy, on the deck of his Sea Song, or whilst holding audience. Asha had oft seen him reading on his high seat beneath the silver scythes. He would listen to each case as it was laid before him, pronounce his judgment ... and read a bit whilst his captain-of-guards went to bring in the next supplicant. By George R R Martin Song Rodrik Sea Lord Hand

Gold is sweet, but life is sweeter, By George R R Martin Gold Sweet Sweeter Life

You will die a dozen deaths, boy, and every one will hurt ... but when your true death comes, you will live again. The second life is simpler and sweeter, they say. By George R R Martin Boy Hurt Die Dozen Deaths

The man is as useless as nipples on a breastplate. By George R R Martin Breastplate Man Useless Nipples

Look at these oafs, Ned. My wife insisted I take these two to squire for me, and they're worse than useless. Can't even put a man's armor on him properly. Squires, they say. I say they're swineherds dressed up in silk." Ned only needed a glance to understand the difficulty. "The boys are not at fault," he told the king. "You're too fat for your armor, Robert. By George R R Martin Oafs Ned Robert Armor Useless

Promise me, she had cried, in a room that smelled of blood and roses. Promise me, Ned. The fever had taken her strength and her voice had been faint as a whisper, but when he gave her his word, the fear had gone out of his sister's eyes. Ned remembered the way she had smiled then, how tightly her fingers had clutched his as she gave up her hold on life, the rose petals spilling from her palm, dead and black. After that he remembered nothing. By George R R Martin Promise Ned Cried Room Smelled

Earth and water, soil and stone, oaks and elms and willows, they were here before us all and will still remain when we are gone. By George R R Martin Earth Water Soil Stone Oaks

IT IS SAID with truth that every building is constructed stone by stone, and the same may be said of knowledge, extracted and compiled by many learned men, each of whom builds upon the works of those who preceded him. What one of them does not know is known to another, and little remains truly unknown if one seeks far enough. By George R R Martin Stone Knowledge Extracted Men Truth

If I could wish the Kingslayer back in chains I would. You freed him without my knowledge or consent ... but what you did, I know you did for love. For Arya and Sansa, and out of grief for Bran and Rickon. Love's not always wise, I've learned. It can lead us to great folly, but we follow our hearts ... wherever they take us. Don't we, Mother? By George R R Martin Kingslayer Back Chains Love Sansa

[as for evolution] ... cutting out the sections [on the subject] is preferrable if the portions are not thick enough to cause damage to the spine of the book as it is opened and closed in normal use. When the sections needing correction are too thick, paste the pages together being careful not to smear portions of the book not intended for correction. By George R R Martin Evolution Sections Book Portions Thick

He was a bee in a stone honeycomb, and someone had cut off his wings. By George R R Martin Honeycomb Wings Bee Stone Cut

There was this to be said for weddings over battles, at least; it was less likely that someone would cut off your nose. By George R R Martin Battles Nose Weddings Cut

Lord Rodrik Harlaw was neither fat nor slim; neither tall nor short; neither ugly nor handsome. His hair was brown, as were his eyes, though the short, neat beard he favored had gone grey. All in all, he was an ordinary man, distinguished only by his love of written words. By George R R Martin Rodrik Harlaw Short Lord Slim

He was obsessed not only with the acquisition of knowledge, but with its retention. By George R R Martin Knowledge Retention Obsessed Acquisition

I'm fond of all my characters so every time one doesn't make the cut I'm a little disappointed although I understand it. By George R R Martin Fond Characters Time Make Cut

Give me sweet lies, and keep your bitter truths. By George R R Martin Give Lies Truths Sweet Bitter

His desire was as deep and boundless as the sea, but when the tide receded, the rocks of shame and guilt thrust up as sharp as ever. Sometimes the waves would cover them, but they remained beneath the waters, hard and black and slimy. By George R R Martin Sea Receded Desire Deep Boundless

Balon is dead! The king is dead! Yet a king will come again! For what is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger! A king will rise! By George R R Martin Dead King Balon Die Harder

She has never seen a dwarf before, he realized, much less a dwarf without a nose. He made a face, and stuck his tongue out, and the girl began to cry.'What did you do to her?' Duck asked.'I blew her a kiss. All girls cry when I kiss them. By George R R Martin Dwarf Realized Nose Kiss Face

His companion was older, clean-shaved, with a lined ascetic face. His hair had been pulled back and tied in a knot behind his head. "Small men oft feel a need to prove their courage with unseemly boasts," he declared. "I doubt if he could kill a duck." Tyrion shrugged. "Fetch the duck." "If you insist." The rider glanced at his companion. The brawny man unsheathed a bastard sword. "I'm Duck, you mouthy little pisspot." Oh, gods be good. "I had a smaller duck in mind." The big man roared with laughter. "Did you hear, Haldon? He wants a smaller Duck! By George R R Martin Duck Cleanshaved Older Face Lined

Tarly, when I was a lad half your age, my lady mother told me that if I stood about with my mouth open, a weasel was like to mistake it for his lair and run down my throat. If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, beware of weasels. By George R R Martin Tarly Age Open Throat Lad

Varys appeared not long after Lord Jacelyn had left. "Men are such faithless creatures," he said by way of greeting. Tyrion sighed. "Who's the traitor today?" The eunuch handed him a scroll. "So much villainy, it sings a sad song for our age. Did honor die with your fathers? By George R R Martin Lord Jacelyn Varys Left Men

They laughed at him, but they didn't know, they didn't know about all the nice things he had. No one knew. No one. Only someday he'd see somebody different, somebody to give his things to, somebody who would give him all their things. Yes. He'd like that. He'd know her when he saw her. He'd know just what to say. By George R R Martin Things Laughed Nice Give Knew

We're setting up mechanisms where we can kill human beings with drones and missiles where you're sitting at a console and pressing the button. We never have to hear their whimpering, or hear them begging for their mother, or dying in horrible realities around us. I don't know if that's necessarily such a good thing. By George R R Martin Button Setting Mechanisms Kill Human

Robb got to his feet slowly and sheathed his sword, and Catelyn found herself wondering whether her son had ever kissed a girl in the godswood. Surely he must have. She had seen Jeyne Poole giving him moist-eyed glances, and some of the serving girls, even ones as old as eighteen ... he had ridden in battle and killed men with a sword, surely he had been kissed. There were tears in her eyes. She wiped them away angrily. By George R R Martin Catelyn Robb Godswood Surely Sword

All the color had been leached from Winterfell until only grey and white remained. The Stark colors. Theon did not know whether he ought to find that ominous or reassuring. Even the sky was grey. The eyes of the bride were brown. Big and brown and full of fear. By George R R Martin Winterfell Remained Leached White Grey

Beneath it his skin was milky white, serene and unlined, ready to begin anew, ready for the world to write upon it. By George R R Martin Ready Beneath White Serene Unlined

Did not quite believe it himself, when he woke up thinking surely this was some mad dream. By George R R Martin Dream Woke Thinking Surely Mad

Go down into the crypts. When I woke, I told him to take me down, to see if Father was truly there. At first he didn't know what I was saying, but I got him to the steps by telling him to go here and go there, only then he wouldn't go down. He just stood on the top step and said 'Hodor,' like he was scared of the dark, but I had a torch. It made me so mad I almost gave him a swat in the head, like Old Nan is always doing." He saw the way the maester was frowning and hurriedly added, "I didn't, though. By George R R Martin Crypts Father Hodor Woke Told

Orell had been slain by the turncloak crow Jon Snow, and his hate for his killer had been so strong that Varamyr found himself hating the beastling boy as well. He had known what Snow was the moment he saw that great white direwolf stalking silent at his side. One skinchanger can always sense another. Mance should have let me take the direwolf. There would be a second life worthy of a king. He could have done it, he did not doubt. The gift was strong in Snow, but the youth was untaught, still fighting his nature when he should have gloried in it. By George R R Martin Snow Jon Varamyr Orell Slain

Dywen now, he says we need to learn to ride dead horses, like the Others do. He claims it would save on feed. How much could a dead horse eat? By George R R Martin Dywen Dead Learn Ride Feed

I am the blood of the dragon, she thought. If they are monsters, so am I. By George R R Martin