Game of Thrones Chapter a Day Read: FIRST TIME READERS *Mod Note Post #1*

mariebeth

MOD NOTE: Rules here should be the same I think for the have not read the books TV thread maybe...... That said everyone here is assumed to have knowledge up to the current tv series, stay on topic !!!!! The thread is called a chapter a day so there really should be no need to discuss books 4 and 5 etc

As I said in the note in the other thread I welcome submissions on rules for posting here, it's your thread so if there are a set of rules agreed in addition to the usual forum charter I will uphold them






I'm just going to post the summary here, as I may not have much time to post the chapter summary tomorrow. Here it is, and happy reading & discussing.

Summary of Prologue


Night's Watch rangers Gared and Will and their commander Ser Waymar Royce are tracking a band of wildling raiders nine days north of the Wall. Gared is uneasy, but Ser Waymar makes light of his fears. Gared insists that they should turn back because, according to Will, the wildlings are dead. Ser Waymar asks Will again for the details of what he saw.



Will explains that he saw the wildlings' encampment. Their lean-to was covered by snow, they had no fire, and none of the wildlings moved the whole time he was watching. They were lying on the ground as if dead, but no blood was visible. There was also a woman up in a tree, but she didn't move either. Gared suggests the wildlings must have been killed by the cold, but Ser Waymar points out that the weather has not been cold enough to freeze men like that. He asks Will to lead them to the dead men.



With night falling, the rangers ride to the camp. Both Will and Gared sense something is wrong, but Ser Waymar mocks them again and commands Gared to stay behind to guard the horses. Gared suggest starting a fire, but Ser Waymar orders him not to. Gared comes close to drawing his sword, but acquiesces.
Will and Ser Waymar climb up the ridge, Ser Waymar much noisier than Will. When Will reaches his earlier vantage, he sees that the bodies are gone. Ser Waymar, walking upright, reaches the top of the ridge and stands in plain sight. Will warns Ser Waymar to get down, but Ser Waymar just laughs. After declaring that he will find the wildlings before returning to the Wall, Ser Waymar orders Will to climb back up the tree and look for fires.



Will reluctantly climbs a nearby tree. Below him, Ser Waymar challenges an unseen foe. Will thinks he sees a white shadow moving below, but is not sure. He is about to call down a warning, but stops, unsure. Waymar calls to Will with unease in his voice as he turns in a circle with his sword out. Then Ser Waymar asks about the sudden cold, which Will also feels.



A Shadow emerges from the woods, tall, gaunt, and white dappled with a gray green shimmer. Ser Waymar nervously commands the shadow to come no further and fights with it. Others appear among the trees. The Other's sword is made of inhumanly sharp translucent crystal. Waymar is able to check the blows until a parry comes a bit too late and the Other’s sword cuts through the mail under Ser Waymar’s arm. Ser Waymar screams “For Robert” and charges but as his blade strikes the Other's sword it shatters. One of the shards hits Waymar's left eye and he falls to his knees, blinded. All of the Others move in and slash at him mercilessly.



Will turns his head away for a long time before looking back to see that the Others are gone. Will climbs down, examines Royce's body, then picks up the knight's broken twisted sword. He decides to bring it back to show to their commanders, hoping Gared is still with the horses. Then Ser Waymar stands up, his remaining eye burning blue, and his hands go around Will's throat, his touch icy cold.

http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/A_Game_of_Thrones-Prologue

I'll be posting more in the 'have read the books' thread, but I'll aim to post a chapter summary in here every day as well.