Jenny of Oldstones
Jenny of Oldstones  | |
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 Jenny of Oldstones, by Rae Lavergne © | |
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| Alias | Lady Jenny[1] |
| Culture | Rivermen |
| Spouse | Prince Duncan Targaryen |
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Jenny of Oldstones was the wife of Duncan Targaryen, the Prince of Dragonflies.[2] There are many songs written about her, including Jenny's song, which the ghost of High Heart always wants to hear.[3]
Contents
Appearance and Character
Jenny is said to have been a strange and lovely girl[1] who wore flowers in her hair.[2]
Local villagers considered the wild Jenny a half-mad peasant, with some calling her a witch. She became popular with smallfolk throughout the Seven Kingdoms, however.[1][4]
History
Jenny claimed descent from long-vanished kings of the First Men.[1] The ruined castle of Oldstones was once the seat of House Mudd.[2]
Duncan Targaryen, the Prince of Dragonstone, met Jenny while traveling the riverlands in 239 AC. The prince loved Jenny so much he married her against the wishes of his father, King Aegon V Targaryen, breaking his betrothal to the daughter of Lyonel Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End. King Aegon tried to have the marriage undone, but Duncan refused to give Jenny up, ultimately relinquishing his rights to the Iron Throne for her. The outraged Lyonel led a short-lived rebellion. With his younger brother Jaehaerys becoming Prince of Dragonstone and the new heir, Duncan came to be called Prince of Dragonflies.[1]
Jenny was friends with a dwarf woman, a woods witch, whom she believed to be one of the children of the forest. The woman, whom Jenny brought to court, prophesied that the prince that was promised would be born from the line of Prince Aerys and Princess Rhaella Targaryen. When Prince Jaehaerys heard the prophecy he arranged a marriage between his two children.[5][1]
King Aegon and Prince Duncan were killed in the tragedy at Summerhall in 259 AC.[6] According to a song, Jenny danced with her ghosts in the hall of kings.[7]
When Catelyn Tully was twelve, she camped at Oldstones while traveling to Seagard with her father, Lord Hoster Tully. Catelyn and Petyr Baelish, her father's ward, pretended to be Jenny and Duncan, with Catelyn winding flowers in her hair.[2]
Recent Events
A Storm of Swords
The ghost of High Heart requests that Tom of Sevenstreams sing Jenny's song.[3]
While at Oldstones, Robb Stark recalls a song about Jenny.[2]
Tom sings about Jenny while waiting for Merrett Frey to arrive at Oldstones.[7]
A Feast for Crows
Among other sad songs, Marillion sings of Jenny and Prince Duncan Targaryen while imprisoned at the Eyrie.[8]
Quotes
The Prince of Dragonflies loved Jenny of Oldstones so much he cast aside a crown, and Westeros paid the bride price in corpses.[9]
—thoughts of Barristan Selmy
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 43, Arya VIII.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: House Baratheon.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 23, Daenerys IV.
- ↑ George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Jaehaerys II Targaryen.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 A Storm of Swords, Epilogue.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 10, Sansa I.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 67, The Kingbreaker.