Winds of Winter

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The significance of the Red Wedding, its causation, and its aftermath will remain crucial in “The Winds of Winter,” as it was a pivotal event in both George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series and the TV show “Game of Thrones.” The deaths at the Red Wedding have profoundly influenced subsequent events, and this trend will persist in Martin’s sixth and penultimate book.

In the upcoming book “The Winds of Winter,” George R.R. Martin can potentially rectify a plot inconsistency he introduced in 2005’s “A Feast for Crows” regarding a character crucial to the Red Wedding, Jeyne Westerling. Although Robb Stark wed Talisa Maegyr on the TV series “Game of Thrones,” and she perished at the Twins while pregnant, in the books, he married Jeyne instead, who was absent from the wedding and therefore is still alive as we approach “The Winds of Winter.” The role of this surviving Jeyne has generated much discussion and speculation among fans, which Martin may clear up in the next installment.

The “Two Jeyne Westerlings” Theory Explained

There Are Differing Descriptions In A Song Of Ice & Fire

In the novel “A Feast for Crows,” when Jeyne Westerling returns after the Red Wedding event that was not depicted in “Game of Thrones”, certain aspects about her character emerge. During Jaime Lannister’s siege of Riverrun, he encounters Jeyne within the castle, and his perspective provides us with some remarks regarding her appearance.

Jeyne was a slender young girl, possibly around fifteen or sixteen years old, who tended to be clumsy rather than elegant. She possessed slim hips, small breasts like apples, a cascade of chestnut curls, and the gentle, deer-like brown eyes of a child. While she was undeniably cute for her age, Jaime concluded that she was not the type of girl to risk a kingdom over.

In itself, this may not appear particularly noteworthy, but it goes against the portrayal of Jeyne as described from Catelyn Stark’s perspective in “A Storm of Swords.” There, Jeyne was depicted differently through Catelyn’s point of view.

In my opinion, she was an undeniable beauty, her chestnut curls framing a face shaped like a cherished heart, and a demure smile that only added to her allure. Despite being slender, she possessed a figure with ample hips – a trait that suggested she would effortlessly bear children, at least in my observation.

The difference in how Jeyne’s hips were portrayed didn’t go unnoticed (since nothing escapes notice in “A Song of Ice and Fire”). This detail sparked discussion among readers, leading many to wonder if this was an intentional clue by Martin. Indeed, such discrepancy fueled speculation that the girl Jaime encountered at Riverrun might not have been the same one Robb had wed, suggesting a possible switch between them at some point, with the real Jeyne concealed from the Lannisters and Freys for safety.

Subsequently, it was suggested that Jeyne might have been carrying Robb’s child at the time of the Red Wedding. If true, this could explain why her character was secretly replaced. A child born to them would be the heir to the North, and those loyal to Robb would rally around him and Jeyne’s offspring, particularly if it was a son. The Lannisters would then face a new Stark threat (given the belief that Bran and Rickon were dead). However, this speculation turned out to be… merely an error.

GRRM Admitted His Mistake & Can Fully Fix It In The Winds Of Winter

Jeyne Is Confirmed To Return

The debate about Jeyne’s character is entertaining, but it seems likely that the discrepancies in her hip descriptions were just errors. Given the vast number of intricate characters Martin has created over an extended period, such oversights might be unavoidable.

  • At a Union Square book signing back in 2011, in support of A Dance with Dragons‘ release, Martin was reportedly asked by an attendee about Jeyne, and admitted it was a mistake [via Westeros.org].
  • Linda Antonsson, co-founder of Westeros.org, and a co-writer with Martin on The World of Ice and Fire, told Vulture they believe it was a mistake.
  • Subsequent editions of A Feast for Crows have removed the mention of Jeyne’s hips from Jaime’s POV entirely [via Imgur].

It appears quite evident that it was an error, but nothing has been definitively established or recognized as canonical. Instead, Martin set it firmly in one of his original books rather than a revised edition that not everyone may have access to. This is why the upcoming book, “The Winds of Winter,” becomes significant. According to Martin himself (as he announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2014; plans might have changed since then), Jeyne Westerling will make a reappearance in its prologue.

In Jeyne’s presence, any suggestion of Robb having an heir might be dismissed. However, if she isn’t our primary viewpoint character, we might receive a clear description that establishes her at Riverrun without a doubt – this is indeed the girl Robb wedded. Both Jeyne and her mother Sybell may continue to play significant roles (Sybell was deeply saddened by Robb’s demise, and she collaborated with the Lannisters).

It’s worth considering that The Winds of Winter might feature another Red Wedding-like event, as Lady Stoneheart and the Brotherhood without Banners could target attendees at an upcoming Lannister/Frey wedding. It’s plausible that Jeyne, who missed the first Red Wedding, could be present for this second one, and perhaps even encounter Catelyn, now in her undead form. This scenario could offer additional insights, but regardless, The Winds of Winter holds the potential to rectify the situation once and for all when it is finally published.

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2025-04-29 22:49