The Magic in the Opening 4 Battles of TWoW

There were a lot of cliffhangers at the end of A Dance with Dragons. Those will be resolved very early. I’m going to open with the two big battles that I was building up to, the battle in the ice and the battle at Meereen—the battle of Slaver’s Bay. And then take it from there.

Background

While it is often discussed how there are 2 major battles opening TWoW (that were cut from ADWD) that GRRM intends to cut back and forth between, I often state there are actually 4 (The Battles of Ice (outside Winterfell) and Fire (Slaver's Bay)) as well was the fan named Battles of Blood (off the coast of Oldtown and/or Oldtown) and Steel (attack on Storm's End and/or battle after the attack on Storm's End).

If interested: Thoughts on the "Four Major Battles" at the Beginning of TWOW

As readers we have some "confirmed" information about some of these battles, as well as enough foreshadowing, etc. to at least be confident on certain elements of these battles. In this post I wanted to focus on the magic that is going to take place in these battles as several of them will have a "magical component" quite early.

Battle of Ice (Magical Event: The Showdown at the Tree)

Before the Battle of Ice begins, Stannis' army is holed up in a Crofter's Village (three days' ride from Winterfell) where his army expects him to kill Theon to answer for his crimes. The problem Stannis faces is that "half" his army wants Theon to be burned (followers of R'hllor) while there are unbelievers who just want him dead.

As we see at the end of TWOW, Theon I, Asha presents another solution:

"Then do the deed yourself, Your Grace." The chill in Asha's voice made Theon shiver in his chains. "Take him out across the lake to the islet where the weirwood grows, and strike his head off with that sorcerous sword you bear. That is how Eddard Stark would have done it. Theon slew Lord Eddard's sons. Give him to Lord Eddard's gods. The old gods of the north. Give him to the tree."

And suddenly there came a wild thumping, as the maester's ravens hopped and flapped inside their cages, their black feathers flying as they beat against the bars with loud and raucous caws. "The tree," one squawked, "the tree, the tree," whilst the second screamed only, "Theon, Theon, Theon."-TWOW, Theon I

Knowing what we know about Bran/Bloodraven, Ravens, sacrifice and weirwoods, there are so many options here. (If interested: Stannis/Theon & The Weirwood Tree in the Crofters' Village)

One thing I will note is that due to the "Asha Fragment" the liklihood of Asha replacing Theon as the sacrifice is pretty low.

Battle of Fire (Magical Event: Blowing of the Dragonhorn)

From the released TWoW chapters (which could always be changed) we know that the Ironborn arrive as the battle is raging (TWOW, Barristan II) and seem about to blow the horn (TWOW, Victarion I)...

Keep in mind GRRM is cutting back and forth between battles but as the battle ends (and the real battle begins (power vacuum in Meereen with Dany gone) begins):

The green beast was circling above the bay, banking and turning as longships and galleys clashed and burned below him, but it was the white dragon the sellswords were gawking at. Three hundred yards away the Wicked Sister swung her arm, chunk-THUMP, and six fresh corpses went dancing through the sky. Up they rose, and up, and up. Then two burst into flame. -TWOW, Tyrion II

and then:

By the time Plumm and his companions came galloping back from the camp of the Girl General, the white dragon had flown back to its lair above Meereen. The green still prowled, soaring in wide circles above the city and the bay on great green wings. -TWOW, Tyrion II

and:

“The bleeding star bespoke the end,” he said to Aeron. “These are the last days, when the world shall be broken and remade. A new god shall be born from the graves and charnel pits.” Then Euron lifted a great horn to his lips and blew, and dragons and krakens and sphinxes came at his command and bowed before him. “Kneel, brother,” the Crow’s Eye commanded. “I am your king, I am your god. Worship me, and I will raise you up to be my priest.” -TWOW, The Forsaken

Not sure what exactly or for who, but something is happening with Rhaegal that horn.

Battle of Blood

Due to some the Forsaken, this battle probably seems the most magical. At a minimum we likely see some krakens pulling ships under:

"And krakens off the Broken Arm, pulling under crippled galleys," said Valena. "The blood draws them to the surface, our maester claims. There are bodies in the water. -TWOW, Arianne I

with Euron attempting a giant blood sacrifice/ritual (he has priests, king's blood, etc.), it could fail (like Summerhall) or it could unleash some type of beast.

Later on there exists the chance we could see a Euron Greyjoy vs. Leyton Hightower (aka the Man in the High Castle)

Battle of Steel

Unlike the first three battles, I don't see any magical influence in the Golden Company's attack on the token force outside and Storm's End (I think they take both by surprise through "GUILE" aka the colors of the golden company look just like Stannis' banners)

Afterwards Young Griff plans to meet Mace Tyrell in the field for battle outside Storm's End (after Mace returns from Margaerys' trial in KL).

You really have to stretch to draw magic into this plotline (The Seven want Young Griff as King Aegon VI, the storm god/rain affecting the terrain/battle, etc.

Worth noting: Bran/Bloodraven can access any of these weirwood/heart trees.

TLDR: Of the 4 battles happening relatively early in TWoW, 3 of them have a pretty important magical event involved (The Showdown/Sacrifice at the Weirwood precursing the Battle of Ice), (The Dragonhorn in the Battle of Fire) and (Euron's ritual sacrifice attempt in the Battle of Blood). While the Battle of Steel has the least/no magical influence.