Brienne's Upcoming Dilemma (Spoilers Extended)
So far the character to best exemplify what a true knight is (at least to me) isn't a knight, and that is Brienne.
Brienne initially hates Jaime and everything he stands for, but because GRRM is such an amazing writer, she is going to face some of the same issues he did.
Brienne judges Jaime initially for his actions:
"Why did you take the oath?" she demanded. "Why don the white cloak if you meant to betray all it stood for?" -ASOS, Jaime II
and:
"Your oaths are worthless. You swore an oath to Aerys." -ASOS, Jaime III
and is there for Jaime and Catelyn's conversation:
"How can you still count yourself a knight, when you have forsaken every vow you ever swore?"
Jaime reached for the flagon to refill his cup. "So many vows . . . they make you swear and swear. Defend the king. Obey the king. Keep his secrets. Do his bidding. Your life for his. But obey your father. Love your sister. Protect the innocent. Defend the weak. Respect the gods. Obey the laws. It's too much. No matter what you do, you're forsaking one vow or the other." He took a healthy swallow of wine and closed his eyes for an instant, leaning his head back against the patch of nitre on the wall. "I was the youngest man ever to wear the white cloak."
"And the youngest to betray all it stood for, Kingslayer." -ACOK, Catelyn VII
What I find fascinating is that Jaime broke his vows and slayed a madman:
"Aerys . . ." Catelyn could taste bile at the back of her throat. The story was so hideous she suspected it had to be true. "Aerys was mad, the whole realm knew it, but if you would have me believe you slew him to avenge Brandon Stark . . ."
"I made no such claim. The Starks were nothing to me. I will say, I think it passing odd that I am loved by one for a kindness I never did, and reviled by so many for my finest act. At Robert's coronation, I was made to kneel at the royal feet beside Grand Maester Pycelle and Varys the eunuch, so that he might forgive us our crimes before he took us into his service. As for your Ned, he should have kissed the hand that slew Aerys, but he preferred to scorn the arse he found sitting on Robert's throne. I think Ned Stark loved Robert better than he ever loved his brother or his father . . . or even you, my lady. He was never unfaithful to Robert, was he?" Jaime gave a drunken laugh. "Come, Lady Stark, don't you find this all terribly amusing?"
"I find nothing about you amusing, Kingslayer." -ACOK, Catelyn VII
Brienne currently has sworn numerous vows to Lady Catelyn = Lady Stoneheart:
The tall girl knelt awkwardly, unsheathed Renly's longsword, and laid it at her feet. "Then I am yours, my lady. Your liege man, or . . . whatever you would have me be. I will shield your back and keep your counsel and give my life for yours, if need be. I swear it by the old gods and the new."
"And I vow that you shall always have a place by my hearth and meat and mead at my table, and pledge to ask no service of you that might bring you into dishonor. I swear it by the old gods and the new. Arise." As she clasped the other woman's hands between her own, Catelyn could not help but smile. How many times did I watch Ned accept a man's oath of service? She wondered what he would think if he could see her now. -ACOK, Catelyn V
So both of them swore vows to characters who were or later evolved into "madness".
And while we know that the word Brienne said to Lady Stoneheart was sword it should be noted that in the instance she basically reaffirmed her oath and vows to Lady Stoneheart.
And while Jaime/Brienne are currently facing some big issues on Survivor: The Brotherhood Without Banners, Brienne will surely come face to face with same decision that Jaime mentions to Balon Swann about his brother:
"It's not Ser Donnel the Constant who concerns me. It's you." Jaime leaned forward. "What will you do if brave Ser Donnel gives his sword to yet another usurper, and one day comes storming into the throne room?
And there you stand all in white, between your king and your blood. What will you do?"
"I . . . my lord, that will never happen."
"It happened to me," Jaime said.
"My lord." Ser Balon drew himself up. "On my sword, on my honor, on my father's name, I swear . . . I shall not do as you did."
Jaime laughed. "Good. Return to your duties . . . and tell Ser Donnel to add a weathervane to his shield." -ASOS, Jaime VIII
So in summary GRRM wrote us right back to a place where Brienne is going to have to choose between her love for a person as compared to the vows she swore. Obviously some other factors could come into play, but I cant wait to read Brienne understanding Jaime's decision about Aerys more (even if we don't have a confirmed Brienne TWOW chapter yet).
And while Brienne exemplifies a "true knight" and I hope makes the most honorable decisions she can make, I can't help but think about a couple other quotes that fit here as well:
"Justice." Thoros smiled wanly. "I remember justice. It had a pleasant taste. Justice was what we were about when Beric led us, or so we told ourselves. We were king's men, knights, and heroes . . . but some knights are dark and full of terror, my lady. War makes monsters of us all." -AFFC, Brienne VIII
and:
"With your sword. Oathkeeper, you call it? Then keep your oath to her, milady says." -AFFC, Brienne VIII
TLDR: Nothing groundbreaking, I just love how Brienne' story arc and decisions will mirror Jaime's with regards to oaths
Posted Jun 1, 2020, 12:53 PM UTC