Asoiaf Thoughts - Tumblr Posts
Do you think that the Red Keep is haunted (In the books of course), like Harrenhal is said to be? I need someone to discuss ASOIAF lore and concepts with but I don’t have anyone so I’m asking here 😩 I like to imagine that since the Targaryens who are a more magical family built and lived in it for 300 years, the castle would be more susceptible to be affected by all the atrocities and events that have gone on there. The dead all leaving behind an imprint, their spirits and memories haunting the place, echoes of memories from a time long past.
I can imagine some random servant jumping out of their skin as they pass the throne room, later swearing up and down that they saw a figure sitting impaled on the Iron throne, blood dripping down to the floor, but that it disappeared in the blink of an eye. Another one swears they saw a young woman with silver hair standing dangerously close on a windowsill, but that it was too far away to make out who. A woman wearing a dark gown and long black veil is seen lurking around the corners, but her back is always turned to the observer and she slinks away into thin air before anyone has the chance to catch up to her. A woman in a green dress, chains rattling about her wrists as she runs down the corridors. The distant laughter of a little girl running after her black cat. Pounding and clattering behind heard from the Maidenvault at night, despite it being empty at the time. A little girl with silver hair in a white nightgown walking around the halls, looking for her mother to tell her she’s cold. A woman with a long braid being seen amongst the mist of the training yard early in the mornings, when no one else is there, practicing her swordplay. People swearing they saw the fearsome shadow of a dragon flying overheard, even a hundred years after their deaths. If you look at them out of the corner of your eyes, you could catch the portraits of the former Targaryens following your every move, their gazes burning into you. A woman dressed in red and black, crown on her head, seen walking the corridors at night and leaving trails of blood behind her. Hues of green fire illuminating windows of empty rooms as seen from outside, distant yells echoing through the corridors, screaming to burn them all. Worst of all is the little girl in a ragged red dress, hair matted and tangled, body emaciated and eye sockets empty, unspeakable creates crawling all over her tattered body, seen peeking out from behind the corners.
I don’t think it’s actually haunted like this since there’s nothing in canon to support it, but I love the idea so much!
Anon I absolutely love this idea!! I'm a huge fan of horror and this just totally speaks to me! I have to admit, I kinda wish GRRM would go more into the gothic horror themes he has in some parts of the story. The Targaryens definitely have a lot of potential for some great horror stories. I would love to see like a fanfic that focuses on something like this.
I think the idea of Dany encountering spirits of her ancestors when she goes to Dragonstone would be awesome. Especially since she's already had visions of her family members (except Rhaella), so it'd be interesting to see her actually interact with them as she is now.
Jon also has some great potential for horror, especially after his resurrection. Like he could have a connection to the dead and be able to see ghosts or something. I feel like him being literally haunted by Ygritte and Jeor could have some great angst potential.
I could totally see the same thing happening with some of the other houses. I feel like the Starks are a pretty obvious answer, what with their connection to the Others and the Old Gods. Plus Bran is basically already living some gothic shit.
Arya though, I could definitely see her encountering ghosts in the Trident when she returns to Westeros. I think her connection to the Faceless Men could definitely lend some great horror themes, especially if combined with ghostly encounters.
One family that definitely has some major horror vibes is the Boltons. Like the family being haunted by the spirits of their skinned enemies. Guards in the dungeons hearing screaming from unoccupied cells; prisoners having surprise cellmates. The ghost of Roose Bolton hanging over Ramsay slowly driving him to insanity (well more than he already is).
Related to that, Theon also is someone who, like Bran, already has some major gothic horror themes. However, there's still so much more we could lean into. Like him literally being haunted by Robb, Balon, and his brothers. Maybe meeting the original Reek during his time as Ramsay's prisoner.
I think there's soo much potential for this idea anon! These are all just some surface ideas, but I would love to talk about this more lmao!
rich to say arya is not romantic when she has her tiny cute personal set of morals affection and way of loving someone not based on stories songs or physical feature but more like the way she spends time with someone opens up and gets to know them and vice versa. arya didn't have female friends or someone so close only to her which could share with her stories of knights in armour to save her. she made her own way and is her own knight in armour which really finishes the need for someone to find her only if she can too. arya's love for her father ned to rather bring him flowers and ruin her dress rather than wait for someone to bring her flower and tuck it behind her ear... is so unique and different. she also being bullied or made fun of her facial features given names, would never resort to do the same or like someone purely of their face. she likes outcasts and different people. gendry and jon snow are again good examples. she sees interacts and changes opinions about anyone so she isn't fixated or stubborn. she forgets and let goes too. also if someone like arya who has more ample suitable personality which fulfills the "family duty honor" mantra of her house, more than catelyn, or any other starks, she has more dedication loyalty nobility and love for her people and even her friends like hotpie & weasel, SO how can we or should i say arya antis conclude the same arya would or can not love someone in romantic passionate all loving way or manner too if she does....same for just some friends? arya is also young so this leaves large space to cover and see how grrm steers her story in future but she is the most unique female character bent away from traditionally feminine roles of love and duty. she carves her own path. her gesture of bringing flowers for ned and keeping jon's gift of needle so close to her shows she also finds stability and security and protection in material or physical comforts. arya also has drastically diff love language if we overall notice. she spends time with ppl and doing acts of service or physical work is more of her way to tell someone she is fine with them then just relying on verbal sweet affirmations. love and romance are so broad. and arya strives to like and protect any animal individual or hobby of hers. hard to believe she CANNOT love or find love.