Mega Prologue POV Chapters: Development to their Current Form (Spoilers Extended)
Background
In this post I thought it would be interesting to take a look at GRRM's development of the Dornish/Ironborn chapters from what originally was a 200+ page Mega-Prologue to what we have currently.
If interested: ASOIAF drafts- Chapter Structures by u/gsteff
Ironborn
We have the following from GRRM's 2003/2004 drafts (bolded = likely part of the Mega Prologue):
| Aeron | Asha | Victarion |
|---|---|---|
| The Prophet | The Kraken's Daughter | The Iron Captain |
| The Drowned Man | Asha II (partially written) | The Reaver (aka The King's Brother) |
| Aeron III (partially written) | Asha III (unwritten) | unwritten (Victarion dies) |
Dornish
We have the following from GRRM's 2003/2004 drafts (bolded = likely part of the Mega Prologue):
| Arianne | Arys Oakheart | Areo Hotah |
|---|---|---|
| The Queenmaker | The Soiled Knight | The Captain of the Guards |
| The Princess in the Tower | Arys II (partially written) | Areo II (unwritten) |
If interested: The Mega-Prologue revealed at last! & Excavating the Mega-Prologue by u/Mithras_Stoneborn
Ironborn
"Published" version (obviously TWoW could change):
| Character | Aeron | Asha | Victarion |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFFC | The Prophet | The Kraken's Daughter | The Iron Captain |
| The Drowned Man | The Reaver | ||
| ADWD | The Wayward Bride | The Iron Suitor | |
| The King's Prize | Victarion | ||
| The Sacrifice | |||
| TWOW | The Forsaken | Asha Fragment? | Victarion |
Dorne
"Published" version (obviously TWoW could change):
| Character | Arianne Martell | Arys Oakheart | Areo Hotah |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFFC | The Queenmaker | The Soiled Knight | The Captain of the Guards |
| The Princess in the Tower | |||
| ADWD | The Watcher | ||
| TWOW | Arianne I | ||
| Arianne II |
The Ironborn
- I am guessing that the Aeron III that was partially written was the Forsaken and that it was originally written to take place in Slaver's Bay (with Aeron revealed to be in the bowels of the Silence the entire time) before GRRM split the Ironborn plotline
- The partially written Asha II/unwritten Asha III has branched out into 4-5 chapters. If interested: Revisiting the Asha Fragment
- Victarion's planned death at the end of his unwritten 3rd (and only non prologue) chapter has branched out into 4-5 chapters as well. If interested: "A Corpse at the Prow of a Ship": A Look at a Changed Plotline and the Effect on a Vision
The Dornish
I asked if we were going to Dorne in DoD, and GRRM said "Yes. Briefly." I guess that means we're gonna see at least a few more Dornishmen. -SSM, Mysterious Galaxy Signing: 8 Nov 2000
- Both of Arianne's TWoW chapters were originally a part of TWoW then moved to ADWD then back to TWoW
- Ser Arys Oakheart was originally supposed to surrender with Arianne. I am going to guess he would have died in his unwritten chapter (potentially fighting Balon Swann)
The two main differences I recall from that draft are that Arys Oakheart surrenders along with Arianne rather than getting killed, and that Boros Blount is described looking increasingly ill and dies by the end of the partial manuscript (I think Cersei wonders about poisoning -- remember, Jaime made him food taster for Tommen -- but the description of what was happening to him suggested GRRM intended readers to understand that he was suffering from congestive heart failure). - Elio's comments about the Jan 2004 outline
If interested: "Eternal Shame": Thoughts on an Abandoned Plotline in Dorne
- Our favorite "Camera that Rides" had an unwritten second chapter, that may/may not have ended up as The Watcher
The Future
This post is a few years old, but I went and looked at all of the The Confirmed Chapters that GRRM has at least worked on for TWOW.
- At least two Asha chapters (including the "fragment"), GRRM actually believes he has read multiple:
Of late I have been visiting with Cersei, Asha, Tyrion, Ser Barristan, and Areo Hotah -SSM, Writing, Reading, Writing: 22 June 2020
and:
I've already read a number of chapters from TWOW on various conventions – I think, two Arianne chapters, a Sansa chapter, an Arya chapter and a couple of different Victarion chapters, I'm not sure what I read or haven't read, I think I've read some Asha Greyjoy chapters, all of this is a lot of chapters. -SSM, St. Petersburg Interview
- GRRM wouldn't confirm if The Forsaken was Aeron's last chapter:
With the use of the word "the", are you implying that there will only be one Damphair chapter in WINDS?
GRRM: No. -SSM, The Damphair Chapter: 13 June 2016
and while this could be regarding Samwell's POV, GRRM has been to Oldtown multiple times:
I’ve also paid a visit to Dorne, and dropped in to Oldtown a time or three. In addition to turning out new chapters, I’ve been revising some old ones (some very old)… including, yes, some stuff I read at cons ages ago, or even posted online as samples. -SSM, Back to Westeros: 8 Nov 2020
- Victarion is another character that GRRM believes to have worked on/read numerous chapters (including the partially "published" Victarion I):
I've already read a number of chapters from TWOW on various conventions – I think, two Arianne chapters, a Sansa chapter, an Arya chapter and a couple of different Victarion chapters. -SSM, St. Petersburg Interview
and:
I am spending the days in Westeros with my pals Mel and Sam and Vic and Ty. -SSM, Back to Westeros: 8 Nov 2000
- Arianne has a third potential chapter mentioned (Arianne I,II are both available):
Which means the Arianne chapters can be returned to WINDS, where I had 'em originally. It also means that I don't have to write that third Arianne chapter and the complementary chapter from the other POV... not yet, anyway... which moves DANCE two chapters closer to completion. -SSM, Dancing in Circles: 27 June 2010
- GRRM mentioned at least one more Areo Hotah POV on numerous occasions:
Will Areo Hotah return as a POV character and do you plan to add one or more Dornish POV characters besides Arianne and Areo?
GRRM: I have no plans to add additional Dornish POV. Yes, Areo Hotah will continue as a POV. -SSM, A Taste of This, A Taste of That: 11 May 2016
and:
Of late I have been visiting with Cersei, Asha, Tyrion, Ser Barristan, and Areo Hotah -SSM, Writing, Reading, Writing: 22 June 2020
and while this could be with regards to Arianne (I doubt it), GRRM paid a visit to Dorne:
I’ve also paid a visit to Dorne, and dropped in to Oldtown a time or three. In addition to turning out new chapters, I’ve been revising some old ones (some very old)… including, yes, some stuff I read at cons ages ago, or even posted online as samples. -SSM, Back to Westeros: 8 Nov 2020
If interested: Death of the Mega-Prologue POVs
TLDR: Just a quick look at the Ironborn/Dornish chapters that GRRM originally planned as part of his abandoned mega-prologue (~200 pages). Some characters died sooner (Arys Oakheart) while others had a "death chapter" get spread out into several more chapters.
Posted May 10, 2025, 1:40 PM UTC