Disclaimer: Possible spoilers ahead
Direwolves. The coolest creatures in "Game of Thrones" beside Dragons, the White Walkers, and whatever Sir Robert is. The hype around the Khaleesi’s Dragons might be real, but it’s easy to forget about creatures that existed since the age of old Valyria when Aegon was playing with chaos in our beloved Seven Kingdoms. Now that we’re into the sixth season, and five books too, we know a little more about these furry death monsters since their first appearance. Let’s take a look at the Direwolves that have become such an important part of this show.
Robb Stark’s Grey Wind:
Robb, the King in the North, son of Eddard Stark, and heir to Winterfell. There’s not much he wasn’t able to do with Grey Wind by his side. The wolf was his companion, his bannerman (or should I say bannerwolf), and a formidable weapon by his side. Robb intimidates his enemies, wins over his allies, and defeats great armies because of Grey Wind. But the honor of the Starks led him to marry a Westerling, a southern woman carrying his child. Her fear of Grey Wind led Robb to chain his beloved wolf in a pen, and he wasn’t there to protect the boy leader during the events of the Red Wedding. As soon as Robb separated from his wolf, both their deaths seemed imminent.
Sansa Stark’s Lady:
Woe to Sansa and her ways. Her Lady was sacrificed when she was but a pup, with Sansa causing her death. Yes, it’s true, it was vile Joffrey who played his hand, but Lady’s fate was sealed the moment the Starks headed south. When Sansa turned away from the Stark ways, her wolf paid the price. And with Lady’s death, Sansa’s northern values died too.
Arya Stark’s Nymeria:
Our beloved Arya’s wolf was quite the counterpart to her wild, adventurous self. Forced to flee to the woods after her attack on Joffrey to protect Arya, Nymeria has be roaming the Riverlands, with her own pack of over two hundred normal, regular sized wolves. And as Arya continues her adventures, growing through every episode and turn of the page, so does Nymeria with her pack in the Riverlands.
Bran Stark’s Summer:
Oh my sweet summer’s child. Bran and Summer’s connection is perhaps the deepest among all the Stark children (trueborn and bastards alike). He is his wolf, and his wolf is him. Bran owes his life to Summer, and they both share a bond of loyalty that is unmatched in the cruel world of Westeros. Bran and Summer’s spirits are so alike that they can co-exist in one body, as the mind of the boy and the mind of the wolf come together as one.
Rickon Stark’s Shaggydog:
Poor Rickon, that’s all I’ll say and leave it that. His story of a child growing with a wild beast by his side leaves much to be explored. And as Rickon’s growth plays a bigger role in the story, so will Shaggydog’s.
Jon Snow’s Ghost:
The bastard and the runt. Jon Snow, the ice in A Song of Ice and Fire, is a character that we all love and adore. But the show and the books haven’t developed his character enough to have him truly deserve our love and adoration. His relationship with Ghost is his biggest selling point though. Out of all the Stark children, the bastard stays true to the Stark ways. And that is admirable in a character so devoid of life.
The Direwolf is the symbol of House Stark, and George R. R. Martin’s story constantly foreshadows the deeper connection between this noble house and their pets. True, the Khaleesi has her Dragons, but even they don’t have as many symbolic clues as the direwolves do throughout this story.
