( Read more... )CHARACTERCharacter Name: Jeyne Westerling
Character Age: 17
Canon: A Song of Ice and Fire
Canon Point: A Feast For Crows (when the Lannisters take Riverrun)
World Description: N/A
History: WikiPersonality: The most prominent and observed trait of Jeyne's is her kindness. She is seen as a gentle creature in the books, not only by the Starks but also by the Lannisters. Despite being from a rival house, Jeyne genuinely cares for Robb and his family, as well as his people, wanting to do well by them. She tends to Robb during his injury, after he had stormed the Crag and taken her father prisoner. When Black Walder attempts to kill Jeyne, insulted by her marriage to Robb, Jeyne persuades her husband to spare the man, rather than execute him. She wishes no ill will on anyone and tries to be a good wife and queen, rather than allowing the war and house politics to interfere.
She's often anxious, mainly concerned for Robb's well being and the stress that he suffers as king. She witnessed first hand the grief and pain he suffered, her attempts to comfort him being the impetus for their marriage, as well as the Red Wedding. Her worries are so obvious that it leads to Catelyn Stark to council and persuade Jeyne to be patient and understanding. However, it comes out in other ways as well, including her wariness around Grey Wind, Robb's direwolf, due to her witnessing his violence during the storming of the Crag. Most of her anxiety, however, is channeled towards those that she loves, wanting to find ways to protect them and keep them safe.
She can be extremely naive and innocent. Despite knowing her family's sworn duty to the Lannisters, Jeyne ignores that obligation to marry Robb Stark. During the course of her marriage, Jeyne doesn't seem to understand the gravity of the situation or that she has linked her family to rebellion, specifically to a house that opposes her father's liege lord. She also seems to think little about the vow that Robb has broken on her behalf. She focuses instead on being a good wife and queen, ignoring the dangerous situation that she has placed herself in. She trusts her mother, someone who had worked actively to marry her daughter to a Lannister, to be supportive of her choice of husband. She takes the potions her mother gives her without question. Even her acts of kindness can be seen as naive. Knowing that Black Walder wants to kill her, she still urges Robb to forgive him, leading to the man playing a part in the Red Wedding. Unlike Catelyn or even her mother, Jeyne doesn't consider the danger she faces or the intrigue she needs to survive. She instead focuses in on her feelings for Robb and their happiness together. This leaves her open for attack, leading her to misjudge her family's motives.
Despite being kind and sweet, Jeyne can show a temper and a measure of rebellion. One of the most notable instances is when she rips her clothes in an act of defiance, openly mourning the loss of her husband. Her crown (which Robb had made for her) had been taken away by her mother, rather than accept her mother's harsh dismissal of her feelings, Jeyne publicly mourned Robb. She states that she loves him, even in the presence of Jaime Lannister (the son of the Lord of Casterly Rock, the house that Jeyne's family is sworn to). She stands firm by her feelings, unafraid of what the response would be.
Jeyne is noted to be intelligent and wise. She is observant enough to recognize that something is amiss when Robb rides off to visit the Twins and attend the wedding of his uncle to one of the Frey daughters, (this leading to the Red Wedding). She begs him not to leave, even crying at their parting. She asks him to keep Grey Wind with him, knowing that the wolf would keep him safe. She has a number of skills outside of observation, one of them being her ability to nurse and care for someone who is injured. She is tasked with looking after Robb during his injury, showing a level of capability and understanding of how to nurse someone back to health and basic first aid.
Although it is not explicitly stated, Jeyne shares a loving relationship with her family. Her brother, Raynald, sides with Robb Stark and shows him affection, as though they were real brothers. This is likely stemming from the relationship that Jeyne and Raynald share naturally, leading Raynald to befriend Robb on her behalf. Her father shows concern for Jeyne's safety during the siege of Riverrun and, as heartless as it was, Jeyne's mother arranged the Red Wedding on her daughter's behalf, wanting to secure a pardon for her. She trusted her mother enough to take potions that she offered, believing them to aid fertility, though they turned out to prevent pregnancy. She showed a great desire to have a family with Robb, actively trying to conceive. She even makes an effort to befriend and become close to Catelyn Stark, despite Catelyn's wariness of Jeyne.
Jeyne exists outside the realm of politics and war. She and Robb come from opposing houses, yet she didn't let that influence her opinion of him. She willingly loved him, no matter the danger and war waged against her house. She wanted to be a good wife and queen, trying her best to ease the burden felt by Robb and his forces. In the end, the Red Wedding affected her as much as it did the Stark forces, but she didn't let it defeat her spirit. She remained true to Robb, even in death.
Inventory: Nothing but the clothes on her back, torn and shredded as a sign of mourning for her husband.
Abilities: Jeyne was very limited in her upbringing, much of her education focused on being a proper noblewoman and wife. She is skilled at sewing and embroidery, running a household and the basics about Westerosi houses (mottos, sigils, etc.) She knows basic first aid and care, having tended to Robb when he was injured, though it's nothing on the level of maesters. She's relatively unskilled and unprepared for a world where she needs to survive on her own, but that's what makes her a perfect target for the games the gods play.
Flaws: Jeyne is very naive and trusting. She underestimated the driving force of politics and games of intrigue when she married Robb. She didn't look into or consider why her mother would push her to tend to the wounded king, who had just laid siege on their keep. Instead of recognizing that her mother was hoping Robb would take advantage of Jeyne, Jeyne instead ended up falling into her mother's trap. She didn't realize that her mother's potions were actually keeping her from becoming pregnant and trusted that her mother was fully supportive of the marriage, rather than conspiring with Tywin behind Robb's back. She trusted her family completely and discounted her mother's ambitions, which she had grown up witnessing.
She can be temperamental under the right circumstances, particularly when her emotions are already strained. She attacked her mother and fought her when she tried to take Jeyne's crown. She lashes out vocally at Robb's death, insisting (even in front of Tywin's son) that she loved him, even going so far as tearing her nice clothes as an act of mourning. She expresses frustration with her situation as Robb shuts her out and she feels a wedge between them due to his burden of kingship. It takes Catelyn advising her to calm her and remind her to be patient.
She can be impulsive. Her entire marriage was an impulse, brought on by Robb's desire to preserve her honor after the two fell into bed together. She often reacts first and thinks later, a particular moment when she rode after Robb while he was marching towards the Twins. He had said goodbye to her twice before, but she chased after him, begging to be allowed to come as well. This caused a delay for Robb and left him irritated that he had to calm her down again and say goodbye once more. Even tearing her clothes was an impulsive action, not taking into consideration what her mother might do to retaliate or how the Lannisters would act.
She would definitely argue that Robb's death is on her hands, as the only reason he married her was to protect her good name after she lost her virginity. This lead to him breaking his previous betrothal and alliance with the Freys, placing Robb in the camp of the enemy and allowing Jeyne's mother to spy on him, which ended with his death. While not directly involved, it was due to her that he died.
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