The She-Wolves of Winterfell

[Azizal]

Given the new Stark Family Tree (http://edelweiss-assets.abovethetreelin ... lowres.pdf)

We can guess at who the five "She-Wolves" are going to be. The background on this is that the 4th Dunk and Egg novella is supposed to be set in Winterfell, and the setting is that the current Lord is dying (Beron) and the women are basically in charge, for whatever reasons. Possibly just because they were better at leading, but this was also during the time of Dagon Greyjoy's rebellion (that's why Lord Beron Stark is dying) so it is likely enough that the adult male Starks are all off at war. Lord Beron's heir would be Donnor, and Donnor apparently died without issue or having been married. I'm going to guess he died fighting the Ironborn as well.

So looking at the tree, we can narrow it down. It's too bad the birth orders are not sequential. Either Berena or Alysanne (sisters to Artos/Donnor/Willam etc) could be old enough to have influence. There are Arsa, Arrana and Aregelle from the previous generation. I'm assuming neither of the Lorra Royces are a She-Wolf, though I could see Beron's wife being one, given that she birthed *eight* Starks. She was probably a bit of a minor celebrity.

The war has been going on for some time, it seems, and it is the North's entire focus. This would help explain why these daughters were old enough to be married off, but not.

Going another generation back to grandmother aged women, Aregelle and Arrana's mother Serena could be alive, or her sister Sansa.

So that's only 7 or 8 candidates for the 5 spots, and I'm guessing Sansa didn't live very long (never married makes a young death more likely) so she's a thin candidate.

[jom]

Where did you get that .pdf? Wow...nice find.

Anyway, I wish I knew this stuff as well as some of you. I've only read thru the main series once completely and am now on my 2nd go around and I'm about 1/3 of the way through DwD...and all Dunk and Egg novels once....all just in the last year! I love the books because you learn some new each time through because you just can't possibly catch everything. Then when you watch the TV show it confuses it a bit but you catch on after awhile.

This World book it gonna be great...can't wait for it....it looks stunning.

One question here: Is the timeline for this Book 4 of D and E still within the lifetime of "Old Nan"? Would she be there at Winterfell then or is she not quite that OLD? Just curious.

jom

[Azizal]

There's a decent chance Old Nan is the one who Bran sees kissing what appears to be Ser Duncan in one of his weirwood visions, so she could be there indeed, yes.

She first arrives at Winterfell to care for who appears to be Ned's grandfather's older half-brother. His name is Brandon, and he dies very young. Thus, Edwyle eventually becomes lord of Winterfell, eventually passing to his son Rickard, and then of course, Ned.

[sinsonte]

What a celebrity Lorra Royce should be that she could've married her own son!! Martin has to explain.

[Azad]

I also think this story may involve the Skagos rebellion that's been mentioned. The timeline fits (IIRC)

Prior to TWOIAF, i speculated that the Stark male line may have ended, which lead to a marriage pact with the Skags to put an end to the rebellion. Now, that seems to not be the case, unless the family tree is deliberately hiding some secret.