Westeros

There are a number of more or less obvious differences between Ms. Kate Dickie and Lady Lysa Arryn. Firstly, Kate is blonde. Yeah, I know. And it makes you look twice, as in “am I in the right queue?” Another major difference has to do with her mouth. Kate’s mouth only knows about smiling; a mirthful, joyous laughter that can be heard at quite some distance emerging from it. Lysa, she was not too much into the “being happy” attitude. Finally, Kate Dickie is not a jealous, tortured soul full of regret who breastfeeds her eight-year-old son. At least not that day, as far as I know.

Since my back was already pretty mauled, I chose to kneel opposite the Lady Lysa, much to her surprise. While she greeted me and I prepared my recording thingies we engaged in some small talk, mostly my going all “OMG YOUR SCOTTISH ACCENT IS SO CUTE!” and Kate going “OMG I NEVER REALIZE I HAVE AN ACCENT!” We were kind of shouting, yes.

MARINO: Hi Kate, thank you for being here (wherever here is now!) There is this famous sentence which Jaime Lannister utters, “the things I do for love”, to justify his actions. Does Lysa feel the same?

It occurred to me that being thrown down the Moon Door is no laughing matter, but since I have no actual experience, I chose not to press the matter further. I know nothing!

M: In “A Game of Thrones”, positive feelings, such as love, often get twisted in such ways there comes a point you wonder whether they are still something good or have turned into something else, do you agree?

MARINO: So you believe in the end Lysa depends on what others think of her, and with her being so isolated…

Sudden burst of laughter!

And lo and behold! There was an actual GREEN MAN behind me. I can’t remember the details about this extraordinary being because my brain felt as if drowning in a keg of milk of the poppy, but yeah, a green man behind me! I could only say “I’ll be real quick.”

M: Now that Lysa’s story is over, what would you wish for his son Robyn in the next seasons?

Robert/Robyn Arryn being raised by Littlefinger? Sounds like a plan! Why, surely the little fellow will grow into a very nice and sane and poised gentleman after getting the “Petyr Baelish’s School for Spoiled Heirs” treatment.

M: As a mother, just like Cersei, do you think Lysa and she have something in common in how fiercely they protect their children regardless of anything else?

M: Lysa is a deranged character and you are a most pleasant person! How did you manage to portray such a character keeping her human despite her getting so intense at times?

M: Thank you so much for your time, Kate!

I could glimpse the shadow of disappointment cross her face, for she surely would have wanted to spend more quality time with me, answering all manner of brainy questions and stuff… No, not really; no doubt she was eager to meet the mysterious green man! Oh, how I regret not having taken a picture of such wonder!

M: Oh my god…

Standing up proved to be harder than I would have anticipated, and the wonderful Ms. Dickie almost started to her feet to help me out, may the Old Gods and the New bless her. It all felt very silly, my struggling against gravity with the grace of an old fat auroch.

“Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…”

About the Author

Marino Santirso is a biped hailing from Northern Spain who writes, translates and edits words for companies such as… can’t really tell you. He collaborated in the Spanish edition of “A Dance with Dragons” and is in charge of the Spanish versions of the “A Game of Thrones” LCG and board games. He loves Dorne because “Ser Arthur Dayne had a magic sword” and “OMG the Red Viper is almost a Maester!” He also likes to stick his finger into béchamel sauce when no one is watching and won’t probably be allowed to write anything else for anyone else anywhere ever. He is a gentle soul; please handle with care.