Marillion

Marillion
World of Westeros
Season(s)	1
Appeared in	4 episodes (see below)
First seen in	"Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things"
Last seen in	"Fire and Blood"
Portrayed by	Emun Elliott

"The boar's great tusks, they boded ill,
for good King Robert's health.
And the beast was every bit as fat,
as Robert was himself.
But our brave King cried, 'Do your worst,
I'll have your ugly head,'
You're nowhere near as murderous as
the lion in my bed."
King Robert lost his battle,
and he failed his final test,
The lion ripped his balls off,
And the boar did all the rest."

―Marillion

Marillion is a recurring character in the first season. He is played by guest star Emun Elliott and debuts in "Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things." Marillion is a singer in the Seven Kingdoms. He has his tongue cut out by Ser Ilyn Payne on the orders of King Joffrey Baratheon for writing and performing a limerick about Joffrey's parents.

Biography

Background

Marillion is a troubadour and singer wandering the Seven Kingdoms and selling his skills in return for bed, board and coin.

Season 1

Marillion is entertaining the patrons of the Crossroads Inn when Catelyn Stark and Ser Rodrik Cassel arrive. His offer to perform for them is rebuffed, as are his attempts to impress Tyrion Lannister when he arrives. He witnesses the Lady Catelyn taking Tyrion prisoner with the help of some of her father's bannermen.

Sensing the potential for a great song or story, he decides to accompany Catelyn's party as it travels to the Eyrie. He works on a song about Tyrion's capture along the way. He survives an attack by the hill tribes and reaches the Eyrie safely with the rest of the party.

Marillion begs that he be spared the punishment

Marillion travels back to King's Landing and is brought before King Joffrey for performing a song mocking the late King Robert and Queen Cersei at a local tavern. Joffrey asks whether Marillion prefers to keep his fingers or his tongue, and after a pause of shock says that every man needs hands. Joffrey orders Ser Ilyn Payne, the royal executioner, to remove Marillion's tongue. The guards seize him, and Payne cuts out his tongue in front of the horrified court.

Appearances

Template:Season One Appearances

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Marillion is a talented musician but also arrogant: he's both vain about his skills and his good looks. He is searching for a lord or lady who will be his patron. Marillion remains in the Eyrie as a favorite of Lysa Arryn after Catelyn's departure. Soon the entire Vale grows to hate him, except Lysa and her son, mainly because he sexually harasses the maids. Anyone who complains to Lysa about him gets fired. He sings Robin to sleep every night, and tweaks the noses of Lysa's suitors with verses that mock their foibles. Lysa showers him with gold and gifts; costly clothes, a gold arm ring, a belt studded with moonstones, a fine horse. She has even given him her late husband's favorite falcon. It all serves to make Marillion unfailingly courteous in Lysa's presence, and unfailingly arrogant outside it.

Marillion is present at the wedding of Lysa and Petyr Baelish. After the bedding he gets drunk and tries to rape Sansa Stark. Lothor Brune, who has been given orders from Petyr Baelish to watch Sansa, prevents this and wounds Marillion. The maids in the Eyrie do not have Lothor Brune to defend them from Marillion's unwanted advances, though. Sansa wonders why the gods would have given such a lovely voice to such a wicked man.

After Lysa has seen Petyr kissing Sansa, she has Marillion bring Sansa to her. She blames Sansa and threatens to throw her through the Moon Door. To prevent them from being heard, Marillion plays the harp and sings, totally indifferent to Sansa's pleadings. Just as Sansa almost falls, Petyr arrives. He saves Sansa and reassures Lysa. Then he throws Lysa through the Moon Door, calls the guards and tells that Marillion killed Lysa.

Marillion is thrown into a sky cell and is tortured by Mord. His eyes are plucked and several of his fingers are cut. Finally he breaks down and confesses that he killed Lysa in presence of lord Nestor Royce and other nobles from the Vale. Since many hate Marillion, they have no reason to doubt his false words and to suspect Petyr. Later, Sansa assures Robin that Marillion has died, although she did not actually see him die but heard that from Petyr. Robin insists that he can still hear Marillion singing at night, though.

In the show, the bard who gets mutilated at the order of King Joffrey for the song about King Robert, the boar and the lions, is an unnamed character in the books.

According to George R.R. Martin, the character was not named after the band, which he had never heard of prior to writing the first book.

See also

• Marillion on A Wiki of Ice and Fire(MAJOR spoilers from the books)