RozalynFrozen

Lesson #17 Apnea

Might do more on the whole holding your breath thing cause I think Rocky would find that weird asf

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Thank you to my wonderful beta readers!

@xushibeetle

@the-asexual-winter

hi!! okay, so i’m sure it all goes deeper than this, but the main theme of “Dark Boy™ rescues kidnaps Sweet Girl™ and brings her down into his dark underworld to the grief of her mother” is pretty applicable. Not only that, but there’s mention of a pomegranate directly in the text:

Grisel reappeared before he could say more, balancing a large platter. She set it down between them. There were apples and pears and pomegranates, some sad-looking grapes, a huge blood orange. The old woman had brought a round of bread as well, and a crock of butter. Petyr cut a pomegranate in two with his dagger, offering half to Sansa. “You should try and eat, my lady.”

“Thank you, my lord.” Pomegranate seeds were so messy; Sansa chose a pear instead, and took a small delicate bite. It was very ripe. The juice ran down her chin.

He offers her a pomegranate, but she refuses. GRRM has talked a lot about how the use of food in ASoIAF is intentional and methodical. There’s a huge meta about that somewhere, I can’t remember who made it or where I found it, but the writer pointed out that GRRM would use different meats to foreshadow upcoming battles or fruits to imply sexual situations, etc. This scene between Petyr and Sansa is no different.

The abduction and the offering of pomegranate seeds are definitely the tip of this iceberg, but there are some other bits and pieces that line up too - at least in my mind - e.g.

Before lonely Hades decides to steal a partner for himself, he tries the “official channels” and petitions Zeus to be granted one of his daughters as a bride (in one version Eros shoots him with his sharpest arrow to make sure a union w/ Persephone happens). Zeus tells his gloomy brother that he will be refused by the mother-in-law for sure, so ofc it’s best to just go around her. Similarly, Petyr petitions the Lannisters - Sansa’s de facto guardians during her “stay” in King’s Landing - to be granted her hand in marriage, but he gets refused, so he ends up “stealing her” from the Queen Mother.

Both Hades and Petyr return home with their abductees - to the underworld and to the Fingers, respectively. Both places are described as misty, gray, and dismal. Hades is the god that pulls the cosmic short straw, so to speak, and gets the least desirable dominion to rule over. He becomes god of the “lower world” and “warden of the shades”; Petyr is “lord of sheepshit and master of the drearfort”, as he puts it. Both end up in this position after rebelling against the Father.

Hades’ father, Kronos, first devours his son in an attempt to prevent this rebellion, but later vomits him back up. Lord Hoster has a destructive response to Petyr’s rebellious actions as well, and he, too, has digestive problems that end up causing his death. Hades fights in the Battle of the Gods that removes the titans (old gods) from power. Petyr discards his old family sigil that depicts a titan and crafts himself a new one, the mockingbird.

Hades is said to be inexorable, “pitiless in heart”, and his wrath terrible, making worshipers quite apprehensive of him (cf. how the people of Westeros are wary of the Stranger). He holds mortals to account and never forgets. Petyr doesn’t forget any misdeed committed against him, either, but his way of dispensing retribution is much less straightforward. Still, he’s clever, unyielding, ruthless, and (imo) intends to see that everybody receives (what he considers) their due one way or another. In the show, he specifically tells Sansa that there is no justice in the world unless they make it.

Hades is crafty and displays a possessive protectiveness towards his wife. It becomes clear when Pirithous sets his sights on Persephone and journeys to the underworld to take her. Feigning hospitality Hades traps him, binds him, and subjects him to everlasting punishment. Petyr’s sly cruelty towards Marillion echoes these actions. The singer who attempts to rape Sansa is tricked, then ends up being tortured and imprisoned.

Hades presides over funeral rights and the show offers a nice little parallel to this when we see Petyr delivering Ned’s remains, saying they belong in the crypts beneath Winterfell.

Hades is the “unseen one” who dwells in “a cloudy house of darkness”. GRRM describes Petyr as the “shadow player” of the game of thrones. Hades has his helmet of invisibility, Petyr his lowborn status and mask of geniality to hide him.

Hades is the “god of wealth” and “lord of the riches”, particularly the riches of the earth e.g. grain and precious metals. Petyr is filthy rich, he serves as Master of Coin, he loves silver, he has a reputation for finding gold whenever the Crown needs it, and he also stockpiles grain (among other things) to build even more wealth.

Likely due to his association w/ death, Hades is regarded as an infertile god. Petyr has no children, either, and the one he would have had was aborted by his foster father. He is also named Lord of Harrenhal - an allegedly cursed and haunted place often “credited” w/ ending family lines - and most of the lands that come w/ the title are said to be “littered with corpses”. In the show Varys also uses the title “king of the ashes” to refer to Petyr.

Mint is one of Hades’ sacred plants. Petyr loves mint, he likes to chew on it, and likely smells of it, too.

Persephone is the Maiden (Core), the Daughter, the Mistress, and is “sweet as honey” (Melitodes). Petyr repeatedly calls Sansa sweet and sweetling. He houses her in the Maiden’s Tower and they pretend she is his daughter (niece in the show version) to ward off any unwanted questions. She also plays the role of the mistress (receiving guests, instructing servants, looking after Robin, etc.) at the Eyrie that becomes their “domain”.

Persephone is the goddess of spring and the seasons. Sansa’s journey also parallels the seasonal change in Westeros. It’s summer when she’s still at home, then she moves to King’s Landing where Petyr first lays eyes on her, and autumn arrives when he steals her away. Then it’s winter when they are at the Eyrie together. Petyr plans to reveal her true identity which will aid her in reclaiming her home she dreams of returning to - a possible final destination in A Dream of Spring, perhaps, to complete the circle?

Hades is Persephone’s uncle, the brother of Demeter. Catelyn and Petyr grew up together and she considered him a brother too (he officially becomes Sansa’s uncle when he marries her aunt). Catelyn is deeply fond of and feels duty-bound to the fertile green lands of Riverrun, but she is also Lady Stoneheart bringing destruction upon all those who harmed her and her family. This again echoes Demeter, goddess of agriculture and the Mother whose pain and grief threaten to destroy the world after the abduction of her child.

Katie McGrath as Saskia De Merindol

THE VISCOUNT WHO LOVED ME (2000)

Epilogue.

brutus: