A Song of Ice and Fire - A Chapter a day discussion

1-Davos’ cell is quite hot, and I forgot it was said Dragonstone’s cells built on the stones of hell. His cough got worse, and he had a fever. But Maester Pylos took care of him, gave him milk of the poppy, and maybe the master used leeches as well. Davos thought he was in a really low cell, he got no light, and only distinguished day from night because of his gaolers. He talked to them, but they didn’t answer. Even though he was stronger and well feed, it was hard not hearing a human voice, and not see the sun for so long.

2-Davos knew they were keeping him alive, and though maybe they planned to burn him. I didn’t think so, why made him feel stronger instead of burning him as soon as they caught him? But with Melisandre you never know, so I was still a little scared.

3-Melisandre went to see him, and she might take the torch away. Davos didn’t want so, but he didn’t beg, which I liked. She said Stannis’ fire burned too low, and might die if she had a shadow again. Melisandre said he could serve his king, his fire was not low. He refused. I am really liking how honest Davos is all the time, I am liking him a lot more this time.

4-He still believes in the Seven, and Melisandre told him to open his eyes and see there is one war between the only two gods there is. She mentions a lot of opposites, including ice and fire of course. She associated light with fire and darkness with ice, and she called the last one Other, which of course made me think of the Others at the Wall. She asks Davos on which side he is, and he replies honestly, his heart is full of doubts. She knows he said the truth, although he always says it.

5-He asks who betrayed him, hoping it wasn’t Salladhor, but he was the only one who knew. Melisandre told him she saw it in the flames. She also said the battle would have been different if she was there, but it was a lesson for Stannis. It bothers me she said so, like all those deaths were just for a lesson. Melisandre said Stannis was Azor Ahai reborn, the bleeding star has come and gone, and he would be born again amidst smoke and salt to wake dragons out of stone. Like the first time, this reminded me a lot to Daenerys. She doesn’t explain who this Azor Ahai is, but the first time I thought he had something to do with her god, and that’s why she went to Stannis. I guess she so it in the flames.

6-Melisandre knew Davos didn’t believe her, and when she went she left the torch, which I liked. I liked her more in this chapter, but maybe it had to do with her talking and not burning people alive. Before she went, she told Davos he had served her god before, and would do it again. He didn’t like that, and I didn’t totally understand it the first time, but I’m glad I get it a lot more this time. It seems Davos won’t underestimate her god again, considering all the things she told him.

7-Axell Florent brought a new traitor who ended up in Davos’ cell. I don’t think all the other ones are full though. The man was the King’s Hand, Alester Florent, and Axell called him traitor. He told Davos a lot of things, his nephew and Davos’ son both burned in the Fury. Alester said the war was lost that day. Stannis lost his fleet, and most of his lords, the ones who had the most to offer were the Florents. The Hand tried to make peace, he wrote a letter he planned to send to Tywin, and they called it treason. The terms were Stannis would give up his claim to the throne, would take back Joffrey is a bastard, he would be Lord of Dragonstone and Storm’s End and Shireen was to marry Tommen. Alester said Stannis wasn’t in his right mind, and all the talk of stone dragons didn’t help. I wonder what happened in Summerhall. But Davos knew Stannis, he knew he would die a king and would never marry his daughter to a bastard. He told Alester he would not make peace without Stannis’ leave, and Alester cried. I think he was doing the right thing though.

Your point 7, yeah, I kind of agree with you. Stannis is being too strict. This is the best he can get, better than where he was at before, but Melisandre is speaking poison in his ears. That woman doesn't care about men. She cares about her god, a true zealot, which is very dangerous.

1. So Davos is in prison at Dragonstone for conspiring to kill Melisandre. It is a warm dungeon, getting warmer the further down you go. It doesn’t help he’s sick with fever, but Maester Pylos fixes him up. He also gets to eat well, though there’s no sunlight down here. He keeps track of time by the meals they give him. The gaolers won’t tell him anything, but he’s pretty sure that if they wanted him dead they’d have done it by now. It must get pretty boring talking to yourself for days on end.

2. Melisandre, of all people, comes to visit him. She threatens to snuff out the torchlight, leaving him in total darkness, and he is reduced to pleading with her not to do that, ugh, this woman. She wants him to accept R’hllor and of course Davos cannot lie, he still doesn’t believe in this god. He calls her the mother of darkness; she gave birth to a shadow. Zomg! She boldly says Stannis’ fire is getting too low and she could use Davos’ life-fire if he comes to her bedchamber. She could pleasure him there...creepy fertility rituals, much? She says there are only two gods in this world: R’hhlor and the Great Other whose name must not be spoken. One of his titles is Soul of Ice; I find it funny because the Stark great sword is called Ice. This woman does not believe in greys. She respects him at least for being honest with her. She says the Other’s servants often hide their black hearts in gaudy light, “so R’hllor gives his priests the power to see through falsehoods.” Seems like she’s talking about herself. She says the battle on the Blackwater failed because she wasn’t there. Right, because Azor Ahai needs her to win his battles for him...

3. Davos doesn’t deny her power. According to her, nobody betrayed him; she saw his intentions to kill her in the flames. He’s glad Salladhor Saan did not betray him. I never thought he would.

4. Three days later they throw another man in prison with him. He swears he’s no traitor. It’s Alester Florent, who was Stannis’ Hand. I guess he’s not anymore, lol. Now both Hands are locked up. Alester believes in the Lord of Light yet they still threw him in prison. I guess since this man was supposed to command the naval battle and lost, that’s his crime here? Oh, he apparently said Stannis would never sit the Iron Throne. It’s treason to say that here. Lord Alester tells Davos Lord Celtigar bent the knee to Joffrey and Lord Velaryon died with his ship. She burned Lord Sunglass... Stannis only has House Florent on his side now. He was only trying to restore peace, according to Lord Alester.

5. So we find out who Lord Tywin was writing to, Lord Alester, for a possible peace treaty. I guess Stannis and Melisadnre didn’t like that. He even proposed they wed Shireen to Prince Tommen. They’ve been talking about waking a great stone dragon and Lord Alester thinks it’s pure madness (every time I look at that I think of the movie Mulan, lol). I guess not all the Florents are that gullible. Davos says small wonder Stannis refused to go through with this. He will not drop his honor to Tywin, especially when he believes in his cause. He’d rather die a king than bend the knee as a lord. Davos says he is still the king’s man; he will make no peace without Stannis’ leave