In AGoT, chapter 35, Eddard IX, Littlefinger takes Ned to Chataya’s brothel to see Robert’s youngest bastard child. After the interview, as they ride away, Ned’s thoughts become introspective:
“For the first time in years, he found himself remembering Rhaegar Targaryen. He wondered if Rhaegar had frequented brothels; somehow he thought not.”
This is a puzzling thought, since a closer look reveals that not only has Ned thought of Rhaegar recently, he thinks of him frequently. There are six previous sustained thoughts or conversations about Rhaegar in prior Eddard POV chapters. That means in seven out of nine of his POV chapters to that point, Ned thinks about or mentions Rhaegar. So what’s going on here?
It has been noted that Ned never seems to have a negative thought about Rhaegar. This is used to support the idea that Ned knows that Rhaegar was not the kidnaping rapist Robert thinks he was. This particular thought actually goes a long way in that department– Ned compares Robert to Rhaegar and Robert comes up wanting. Since we know that Ned himself is not the type to frequent brothels (to Petyr Baelish’s evident glee– he delights in making Ned uncomfortable by taking him to these places, as we see on two separate occasions) we can assume that with this particular comparison he is thinking of Rhaegar as a man of honor like himself.
To review Ned’s previous thoughts and conversations about Rhaegar is revealing and gives a clear picture of how Ned perceives Rhaegar. Beginning in AGoT, chapter 4, Eddard I, when Ned and Robert are in the Winterfell crypts visting Lyanna’s tomb, Robert is overcome with emotion and tells Ned:
“I vowed to kill Rhaegar for what he did to her.”
“I Dreamed a Dream” - A Dragon Age song
Here it is! My Dragon Age version of “I Dreamed and Dream,” from “Les Misérables.” This isn’t really a “Fereldan” song, like most of my others, something the people in the game might actually sing. Instead, it’s the sort of thing that might appear in a Dragon Age musical. ;)
The song is sung from the point of view of a female Cousland, about half-way through the Blight. It might not apply to all Couslands, but should apply to a great many of them; this is not a Rhianna-specific song. New lyrics and vocals by me, with a backing track by the Paris Singers. Please listen to this through headphones or good speakers; it doesn’t sound right through my laptop speakers. And many thanks to Defira and Distinguisaur for the beta. <3
I Dreamed a Dream (Cousland Version)
I dreamed a dream in time gone by
My home, my family in Highever
I dreamed that love would never die
And we would always be togetherThen, I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
I was no poor and helpless maid
The teyrn’s daughter’s life was fatedBut the soldiers came at night
Howe’s betrayal soft as thunder
As he torn our world apart
And Duncan turned my dream to taintHe dragged me out against my will
A blood-filled chalice held my future
A dream so dark it haunts me still
When I awoke, the darkspawn cameAnd still I dream an end there’ll be
Darkspawn and dragon slain together
But there are dreams I can’t unsee
And they have left me changed foreverI had a dream my life would be
So different from this void I’m living
So different now from what it seemed
The Blight has killed the dream I dreamed
For my 10,000th post, have a remix of my cover of “In Uthenera,” from the Dragon Age video game. The backing track comes directly from the game; I recorded the vocals in Garage Band. Newly remixed in Logic Pro. Enjoy!
This is a traditional elven song of unknown origin.
In Uthenera
Hahren na melana sahlin
Emma ir abelas
Souver’inan isala hamin
Vhenan him dor’felas
In uthenera na revas
Vir sulahn’nehn
Vir dirthera
Vir samahl la numin
Vir lath sa’vunin
Translation:
Elder your time is come
Now I am filled with sorrow
Weary eyes need resting
Heart has become grey and slow
In waking sleep is freedom
We sing, rejoice
We tell the tales
We laugh and cry
We love one more day
A master post of all my Dragon Age songs can be found on my blog.
Fereldan Dirge by Heretherebdragons
Another song to accompany “Unshaken by the Darkness.” This is a funeral dirge sung by Queen Anora, Rhianna Cousland and Delilah Howe at King Maric’s wake, after he disappears at sea. Many thanks to Defira and Defira Sibling the Younger for giving me their beta advice.
My version is reworked from the traditional English “Lyke-Wake Dirge,” my favorite version of which was recorded by the Reclaiming Collective. The original lyrics are written in the Yorkshire dialect, so I’ve included translations* at the bottom for a few words that might be unfamiliar. (I recommend listening through headphones or real speakers. On my computer at least, some of the harmonies sound strange through my laptop speakers).
***
This ae nighte, this ae nighte
Every nighte and all
Fire and fleet and candle-lighte
Maker receive thy soulWhen thou from hence away art past
Every nighte and all
To Whinny-moor thou com’st at last
Maker receive they soulIf ever thou gave’st hosen or shoon
Every nighte and all
Sit thee down and put them on
Maker receive they soulIf hosen or shoon thou ne’re gave’st nane
Every nighte and all
The whinnies shall prick thee to the bare bane
Maker receive thy soulFrom Whinny-moor when thou art past
Every nighte and all
To City o’ Black thou com’st at last
Maker receive thy soulIf ever thy gave of thy silver and gold
Every nighte and all
In City o’ Black thou find’st foothold
Maker receive thy soulIf silver and gold thou ne’er gave’st nane
Every nighte and all
Down thou’st fall where Darkspawn remain
Maker receive thy soulFrom City o’ Black when thou art past
Every nighte and all
To Andraste’s Pyre thou com’st at last
Maker receive thy soulIf ever thou gave’st meat or drink
Every nighte and all
The fire shall never make thee shrink
Maker receive thy soulIf meat or drink thou ne’re gave’st nane
Every nighte and all
The fire shall burn thee to the bare bane
Maker receive thy soulThis ae nighte, this ae nighte
Every nighte and all
Fire and fleet and candle-lighte
Maker receive thy soul***
*This ae night - this one night
Fire and fleet - hearth and home
Whinnies - A thorny shrub
Hosen and shoon – stockings and shoes
nane - none
bane – boneA downloadable copy of this, along with my other Dragon Age recordings, can be found here.
This is a medley of two traditional songs (Rose Red, and Oh, Poor Bird) along with some original material (In the Greenwood). I have also written new lyrics for Rose Red, so it tells the story of a young woman who is pursued by a lecherous nobleman, and coerced into a marriage which does not end well for her. It’s a song that people in Ferelden commonly learn in childhood.
I’m posting it today because not only is this relevant to events in “Unshaken by the Darkness,” but it also seems appropriate in honor of Anne Boleyn, on the anniversary of her death.
Arrangement, vocals, accompaniment and additional lyrics by me. Recorded in Logic Pro (this is my first attempt at synthesizing instrumentation in that program, so please forgive me if it’s a bit rough).
Rose Red/In the Greenwood/Oh, Poor Bird
Rose, Rose, Rose, Red
Will I ever see thee wed?
I will marry at thy will, sire
At thy will.Rose, Rose, Rose, Blue
You must promise to be true
I shall give my love to you, sire
My love to youRose, Rose, Rose, White
Come and be my love tonight
I’ll lay with thee at thy will, sire
At thy willIn the greenwood, flowers grow
Reaching for the sun
‘Till creeping vines do all entwine
And pull those fair flowers downDing dong, ding dong
Wedding bells on a warm summer morn
I’ll come with you far from my home, sire
Far from my homeIn the greenwood flowers grow
Blooming bright and gay
All until the winter’s chill
Steals their life awayRose, Rose, Rose Red
Funeral dirge sung for the dead
On a pyre dear Rose lies her head, sire
Sung for the deadOh poor bird, why art thou
Flying in the shadows of this dark hour?
“I belong with my brother”
