Chapter Thirty-Eight - The Watcher - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

Areo Hotah watches as the skull of the Mountain is presented to Prince Doran Martell. Finally peace between Dorne and the Iron Throne, predicted no one, ever. Mackelly and Simon roll out the barbed wire and start digging the trenches.

Chapter Review:
In the Old Palace of Sunspear, Areo Hotah watches as Maester Caleotte delivers an ebony chest to Prince Doran Martell. Inside is the skull of Gregor Clegane, which Obara Sand places on a marble pedestal. Doran declares that “the Mountain rides no more.” Ser Balon Swann, there on behalf of Queen Cersei, is made uneasy by the spicy food, the politics, and Princess Arianne’s careful attention.

Cersei’s letter requests that Myrcella visit King’s Landing, with Trystane to accompany her and Doran to take Oberyn’s seat on the small council. Doran suggests they travel by ship, and Balon’s reluctance to travel by sea does not go unnoticed.

After the feast, Doran gathers Obara, Nymeria, Tyene, Arianne, Ellaria, and Hotah in his solar. Ellaria breaks at the Sand Snakes’ refusal to accept the end of the blood feud with the Lannisters, rejecting the endless cycle of vengeance. When she leaves, the Sand Snakes demand war, but Doran forces them to swear obedience before revealing that Cersei’s invitation is a trap meant to kill Trystane on the road. Instead of violating guest right by killing Swann, Doran assigns each Sand Snake a role: Obara will lead Swann to hunt Darkstar, Nymeria will escort Myrcella to court and take the small council seat, and Tyene will infiltrate the Sept of Baelor. Arianne will remain in Sunspear as his heir. As plans move forward, Dorne prepares to strike back its own way.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Areo Hotah - Captain in Prince Doran Martell’s service.
Prince Doran Martell - Infirmed ruler of Dorne.
Princess Arianne Martell - Princess of Dorne. Heir to her father Prince Doran.
Balon Swann - Knight of the Kingsguard. Sent to Dorne with the skull of the Mountain.
Princess Myrcella Baratheon - Oldest living child of Cersei and Jaime Lannister.
Gerold Dayne - Known as Darkstar. Knight of High Hermitage.
The Sand Snakes - Bastard daughters of Oberyn Martell, Doran’s younger brother.
Sunspear - Seat of House Martell.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 9:33 Character Recap
• 10:12 Chapter Summary
• 17:05 General Discussion
• 58:25 Background Information
• 59:48 Comparison with the TV Show
• 1:00:44 Pedantry Corner
• 1:01:35 News and Notes
• 1:03:52 Conclusion