Initially we are with only Tyrion, Benjen Stark and Jon Snow. They split from the royal procession out of Winterfell and headed north where the procession went south. Later though, they meet up with Yoren, a brother of the night's watch, and two boy recruits. The boys are reported to be rapers, which dampens Jon Snow's perception of the Brotherhood being an honorable calling. This leads to tension between Jon and Tyrion, but then they joke about it later and seemingly get along fine.
In the beginning of the chapter, while heading through the tough northern terrain, Tyrion remarks about how the map was one thing and the land quite another. This is funny because of GRRM's notoriously bad estmations of distances, height, age, and also book release dates. It is, however, an accurate representation of cartography at this point in their fictional history - things aren't exactly as they are presented on paper. Nothing is to scale in ASOIAF, even invidual's representations of events, because everyone is an unreliable narrator.
Tyrion seems to take offense in how he's being treated by Benjen and Yoren during the ride north, thinking that they share a distace for Lannisters just as Ned does. I'm not sure if this is actually the case, or whether they are just hard men and do not spoil Tyrion like he's used to as the Queens brother. I don't see Jon being treated differently.
This is also the chapter in which we discover that Tyrion is a book worm. He says "a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge" in response to Jon asking why he reads so much. This sums up Tyrions character throughout the series, He doesn't have any physical advantages, so his wit and wisdom is what keeps him alive through the game of thrones.
The book that he happens to be reading is about dragon bones. He says that the Dothraki use them incrafting bows. They are said to be strong as steel yet lighter and more flexible. More, they're impervious to fire. It'd be interesting to see dragon bone used in other weapons/armor. Perhaps a dragon bone suit of armor or shield can be useful in flying and/or fighting dragons. Perhaps a melee weapon can be used to defeat the Others (lightbringer anyone?). I wonder if dragon bone is the same as obsidian like the daggers that Sam finds, and uses, to become the slayer.
He then goes on to tell Jon about his fascination with dragons since he was young (probably fueling all the Tyrion = secret Targ theories, which I hate). He reminisces about the last of the Targaryen dragons, and wonders if they were the last dragons everywhere (I think not, but we'll talk about that in a later chapter).
He thinks about the Field of Fire, which was a catastrophic loss for the Seven Kingdoms against Aegon Targaryen. In a shock and awe campaign, Aegon and his two sisters use their dragons against the forces of Mern of the Reach and Loren of the Rock, killing thousands. King Mern dies as well, but king Loren is spared and bends the knee. Amusingly, Tyrion is grateful for this as he would not have been born, and Tywin would not have had the chance to almost exterminate the Targaryens.
There is a strange moment towards the end where Jon loses his temper. Tyrion suggests that Jon imagines his mother and sister being harmed/burning just as he does. Jon gets very defensive and loud until Ghost attacks Tyrion when he gets too close. When Tyrion asks for a helping hand in getting up from the ground, Jon says "ask me nicely" almost sadistically, like he enjoys the power over Tyrion. It's most likely from the events that transpired before this, but it seems strange to me that he would act like that, especially becoming so defensive. This strange event seems to bond them though, as they get along and joke with each other afterward.
Tyrion seems to take offense in how he's being treated by Benjen and Yoren during the ride north, thinking that they share a distace for Lannisters just as Ned does. I'm not sure if this is actually the case, or whether they are just hard men and do not spoil Tyrion like he's used to as the Queens brother. I don't see Jon being treated differently.
This is also the chapter in which we discover that Tyrion is a book worm. He says "a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge" in response to Jon asking why he reads so much. This sums up Tyrions character throughout the series, He doesn't have any physical advantages, so his wit and wisdom is what keeps him alive through the game of thrones.
The book that he happens to be reading is about dragon bones. He says that the Dothraki use them incrafting bows. They are said to be strong as steel yet lighter and more flexible. More, they're impervious to fire. It'd be interesting to see dragon bone used in other weapons/armor. Perhaps a dragon bone suit of armor or shield can be useful in flying and/or fighting dragons. Perhaps a melee weapon can be used to defeat the Others (lightbringer anyone?). I wonder if dragon bone is the same as obsidian like the daggers that Sam finds, and uses, to become the slayer.
He then goes on to tell Jon about his fascination with dragons since he was young (probably fueling all the Tyrion = secret Targ theories, which I hate). He reminisces about the last of the Targaryen dragons, and wonders if they were the last dragons everywhere (I think not, but we'll talk about that in a later chapter).
He thinks about the Field of Fire, which was a catastrophic loss for the Seven Kingdoms against Aegon Targaryen. In a shock and awe campaign, Aegon and his two sisters use their dragons against the forces of Mern of the Reach and Loren of the Rock, killing thousands. King Mern dies as well, but king Loren is spared and bends the knee. Amusingly, Tyrion is grateful for this as he would not have been born, and Tywin would not have had the chance to almost exterminate the Targaryens.
There is a strange moment towards the end where Jon loses his temper. Tyrion suggests that Jon imagines his mother and sister being harmed/burning just as he does. Jon gets very defensive and loud until Ghost attacks Tyrion when he gets too close. When Tyrion asks for a helping hand in getting up from the ground, Jon says "ask me nicely" almost sadistically, like he enjoys the power over Tyrion. It's most likely from the events that transpired before this, but it seems strange to me that he would act like that, especially becoming so defensive. This strange event seems to bond them though, as they get along and joke with each other afterward.
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