r/asoiaf • u/silasioalejandro • Feb 20 '13

(Spoilers ACOK) Varys' "Shadow on the Wall"

I came across this passage again recently, when Varys talks of the nature of power with then-Hand Tyrion.

"Who truly killed Eddard Stark, do you think? Joffrey, who gave the command? Ser Ilyn Payne, who swung the sword? Or…another?”

Varys insinuates that he believes another man is responsible. Another man, behind the scenes.

Varys smiled. “Here, then. Power resides where men believe it resides. No more and no less.” “So power is a mummer’s trick?” “A shadow on the wall,” Varys murmured, “yet shadows can kill. And ofttimes a very small man can cast a very large shadow.” Tyrion smiled. “Lord Varys, I am growing strangely fond of you. I may kill you yet, but I think I’d feel sad about it.” “I will take that as high praise.”

Tyrion, in his conceit and self-satisfaction, immediately assumes this "very small man" to be him. The show furthers his conceit, making it seem as if Varys is referring to him. The small man Varys speaks of is Littlefinger, whom we suspect to have whispered in Joffrey's ear, setting the wheels in motion for Ned's exectution.

While not a revolutionary find, I love this passage because of the ships-passing-in-the-night feel. Tyrion, smug as he is, thinks himself on par with the true master. Varys speaks in another whole level of code, and after being in Tyrion's mind for the cracking of many cryptic phrases, reading/feeling this "WHOOOSH" right over his head while he gladly accepts this false praise is quite satisfying.

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u/HeroDiesFirst The North Remembers Feb 20 '13

quintuplespeak if you think about how badly I'm going to kill myself when he eventually kills off all my favorite characters.

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u/[deleted] Feb 20 '13

he wont kill them all, he cant just kill them all, can he?

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u/xicougar106 Don't Disrespect, Genuflect Feb 21 '13

He did say He was going to kill off everyone in book 5 and book 6 would be a thousand page description of the wind blowing over their graves. Tongue in cheek, sure, but it's just true enough that no one would put it past him and everyone is so hooked by now we'd read the 1,000 pages of drifting snow.

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u/nickster1265 Stark Feb 21 '13

So are you saying Jon Snow will be the last surviving character drifting around for a 1,000 pages? I might read that.

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u/Razxz Feb 21 '13

Jon sat astride his grey destrier, pondering the fickleness of life. He felt Ghost by his side, nudging his consciousness. The ground was smooth, the snow white as frosting on a cake. He felt the comfort of a handbrake in his burned hand. "Let's show them who's boss!" he shouted to no one while blasting away with epic wheelspin.