Bend the Knee: A Song of Ice and Fire Podcast

Jon is training with Satin in the yard, when Melisandre arrives to take him before Stannis. The King does not believe Jon is a traitor, for he knew Janos Slynt as well as Ned Stark. Stannis knew Ned to be a man of honor, and trusts Jon, saying it was Jon who found the dragonglass dagger that Samwell Tarly used to kill the Other, and Jon who brought them the Horn of Winter and captured Mance’s son. At every step of Stannis' speech, Jon clarifies whom he credits with doing the actual deeds. Stannis asks Jon if there is honor in Mance Rayder, and the young man claims there is. The King speaks of the war that Melisandre has seen in her flames, and he confides that Jon may have a part in the upcoming battle. Stannis offers to legitimize Jon and name him Lord of Winterfell, a goal he considers especially important due to all the strife occurring in the North. Stannis intends to let the wildlings through the Wall, and settle them in the Gift, should they pledge fealty and accept the Lord of Light as their god. He also presumes to marry his loyal Lord of Winterfell to Val to solidify his peace with the wildlings, however Jon would have to adopt Stannis' faith and burn the godswood of Winterfell. Jon asks for time to consider the offer, and Stannis agrees.
Jimmy: https://www.youtube.com/@ChattingWithNutts
Matt's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/supergainsbros
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At Castle Black, Gilly is nursing both her own son as well as Mance Rayder's, as Dalla died giving birth. Sam and Gilly have recently returned to Castle Black, meeting up with Ser Denys Mallister and the men from the Shadow Tower. They also joined with Dywen, Edd and Giant, survivors from the Bridge of Skulls where Bowen Marsh held back the Weeper's advance. Sam is happy to be reunited with Jon, although he is wary of King Stannis's army being present at Castle Black. It was the king who defeated the wildlings, scattering their remnants back into the haunted forest. Val wants to bring her sister's baby to Mance, but Jon tells her that only Maester Aemon is permitted to see the imprisoned wildling king. Alone, Sam asks Jon, "Could there be honor in a lie, if it were told for a good purpose?" Sam is considering sending Gilly and her son to Horn Hill, with a letter claiming that he fathered the boy.
Jon reveals that Slynt still considers him a traitor, because he did not kill Mance as he was sent to do. Sam remembers swearing to Bran and Jojen Reed not to reveal to anyone, even Jon, that Bran is still alive. Coldhands' last words to Sam were, "Let the world believe the boy is dead. We want no seekers coming after us. Swear it, Samwell of the Night's Watch. Swear it for the life you owe me." And Sam has kept his vows to all three. Later, Sam considers the last vote for a new Lord Commander, with Ser Denys Mallister still leading, but no one near the majority. At dinner, Bowen Marsh withdraws his name from the voting, and backs Janos Slynt. When the votes are tallied that night, both Ser Denys and Cotter Pyke have lost votes, and Slynt has gained on both of them. Sitting with Grenn, Pyp and Dolorous Edd, Pyp suggests that if Sam were to persuade either Ser Denys or Cotter Pyke to set aside their quarrels and back the other, a new Lord Commander could be decided. Preferably one who would be beneficial to the Watch, so long as it was not Janos Slynt.

Jimmy: https://www.youtube.com/@ChattingWithNutts
Matt's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/supergainsbros
The reread will continue! Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/BendtheKneePodcast/
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If you'd like to support the show, gain access to additional WESTEROS content, or LISTEN LIVE then hit us up at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bendtheknee
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Jimmy: https://www.youtube.com/@ChattingWithNutts
Matt's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/supergainsbros
The reread will continue! Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/BendtheKneePodcast/
***BTK UPDATES*** Subscribe to our YouTube Page: http://www.youtube.com/c/BendtheKnee
If you'd like to support the show, gain access to additional WESTEROS content, or LISTEN LIVE then hit us up at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bendtheknee
EMAIL: [email protected] 
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Sandor Clegane and Arya Stark come to the inn at the crossroads. To Arya's dismay, she recognizes Polliver and the Tickler with a pimply squire. The squire tries to bait Sandor with insults about fleeing King's Landing and the room is tense. The Hound demands wine, which the innkeeper brings and Sandor gulps down. When Sandor claims the men-at-arms will torture the innkeep for his gold, the innkeep, his girls, and other patrons vacate the common room.
The Tickler tells Sandor what has happened in the realm, including Tyrion'smarriage, Joffrey's death, and Tyrion's imprisonment. He claims that Sansa Stark's sister (Arya) has been found and is to marry Ramsay Bolton, that Harrenhal has been taken by Gregor Clegane, that Riverrun is under siege by the Lannisters, and that Randyll Tarly has taken Maidenpool. He says only the Blackwoods are still holding out, and the Brackens are fighting them around Raventree Hall. 
The Tickler says Gregor would prefer that Sandor come back with them to Harrenhal, but when Sandor refuses, the Tickler throws a knife at him. Sandor, the Tickler, and Polliver all draw swords and begin to fight. The squire tries to join in but Arya throws a cup at him and knocks him down. Sandor is not fighting his best and Arya realizes he drank his wine too fast and is drunk. During the fight Arya stabs the squire in the belly and then sneaks up behind the Tickler. Repeating the questions he had once asked of his torture victims, Arya stabs the Tickler over and over again in a rage until Sandor stops her. The mortally-wounded squire asks for mercy. Sandor tells Arya to give him mercy, and asks if she remembers where the heart is. Arya recovers Needle, which was carried by Polliver, and kills the squire.
Sandor, seriously wounded, says Gregor must hold the ruby ford and that they will make for Saltpans and find a ship to the Vale. They leave the inn to travel on but the Hound is so wounded that he needs tending and they stop. The next day he is so weak that he falls out of his saddle. While he lies in a fevered sleep, Arya thinks about killing him. He wakes to see what she is contemplating and urges her to do it - to give him mercy - but Arya leaves him and rides on to Saltpans. 
Arya tries to find a boat that goes to the north but only finds the trading ship Titan's Daughter with Braavos as its destination. She does not have enough money to get on board, however. Arya shows the captain the coin she received from Jaqen H'ghar and says "valar morghulis", which causes him to give her both a cabin and passage.
Huge shoutout to FeedSpot for ranking us #7 on their Top 30 A Song of Ice and Fire Podcasts list — seriously, that’s awesome and we appreciate it big time. If you’re looking for more great ASOIAF content, definitely check out the full list over on FeedSpot and discover some other incredible creators in the space!
Jimmy: https://www.youtube.com/@ChattingWithNutts
Matt's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/supergainsbros
The reread will continue! Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/BendtheKneePodcast/
***BTK UPDATES*** Subscribe to our YouTube Page: http://www.youtube.com/c/BendtheKnee
If you'd like to support the show, gain access to additional WESTEROS content, or LISTEN LIVE then hit us up at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bendtheknee
EMAIL: [email protected] 
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Jon is taken out of his ice cell and brought once again before Janos Slynt, and told that only Maester Aemon is preventing Janos from hanging Jon. Janos reveals that he will give Jon one last chance to prove his innocence, sending him to meet Mance Rayder as an envoy, but Jon must kill the wildling king. Beyond the Wall, Jon meets Tormund who treats him with respect, almost as a friend. Jon is brought before Mance, and the king reveals that he is aware that the Night's Watch is nearly out of provisions and cannot hold out much longer.
Rayder then brings him to see the Horn of Winter, which Mance claims they found back in the Frostfangs, but only he and his trusted lieutenants knew about it. However, Mance does not wish to use the Horn, for if the songs can be believed, it will cause the Wall to collapse. The wildlings have come south not to conquer, but to escape the Others. Without the Wall, Mance’s people would find no safe haven, even in the south, and that is something he does not wish to happen. Mance offers Jon the Horn of Winter if the Night’s Watch will let his people pass the Wall and settle the lands to the south, although he will not abide the laws or taxes of the Seven Kingdoms. If the Watch refuses, Tormund Giantsbane will sound the Horn of Joramun in three days time.
However, the parley is interrupted, as the wildlings have come under attackfrom the east by rangers from Eastwatch. Mance believes that it must be Cotter Pyke, but a scout and Varamyr, who is skinchanged inside Orell's eagle, tell Mance there are more iron-clad attackers coming from the north and east. When Orell's eagle bursts into flames, Varamyr runs screaming from the fray. Harma Dogshead's raiders charge through the rangers, but they are overwhelmed by knights on heavy horse. Amongst their banners, Jon sees a seahorse, a field of birds, and a ring of flowers. Mance is surrounded and captured, and Harma's head is waved on a pole. After hearing the knights shout "Stannis!", Jon enters Mance’s tent where Dalla is giving birth with the assistance of Val.
Huge shoutout to FeedSpot for ranking us #7 on their Top 30 A Song of Ice and Fire Podcasts list — seriously, that’s awesome and we appreciate it big time. If you’re looking for more great ASOIAF content, definitely check out the full list over on FeedSpot and discover some other incredible creators in the space!
Jimmy: https://www.youtube.com/@ChattingWithNutts
Matt's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/supergainsbros
The reread will continue! Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/BendtheKneePodcast/
***BTK UPDATES*** Subscribe to our YouTube Page: http://www.youtube.com/c/BendtheKnee
If you'd like to support the show, gain access to additional WESTEROS content, or LISTEN LIVE then hit us up at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bendtheknee
EMAIL: [email protected] 
Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/bendtheknee

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy