A Song of Ice and Fire
is set primarily in the fictional Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, a
large, South American-sized continent with an ancient history
stretching back some twelve thousand years. A detailed history
reveals how seven kingdoms came to dominate this continent, and
then how these seven nations were united as one by Aegon the
Conqueror, of House Targaryen. Some 283 years after Aegon's
conquest, the Targaryens are overthrown in a civil war and King
Robert Baratheon, backed primarily by his friend Lord Eddard Stark
and foster father Lord Jon Arryn, takes the Iron Throne. The
novels, which begin fifteen years later, follow the fall-out from
this event across three major storylines, set not only in Westeros
but on the eastern continent as well. The first storyline, set in
the Seven Kingdoms themselves, chronicles a many-sided struggle for
the Iron Throne that develops after King Robert's death. The throne
is claimed by his son Joff
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rey, supported by his mother's powerful family, House Lannister,
but Robert's brother Stannis claims (correctly) that Robert's
children are illegitimate, and claims the throne himself, to a
less-than-enthusiastic response. Robert's youngest brother, Renly,
also claims the throne with the support of the extremely powerful
House Tyrell. Whilst these three claimants battle for the throne
itself, Robb Stark, Lord Eddard Stark's heir, is proclaimed King in
the North as the northmen and their allies in the Riverlands seek
to break away from the Iron Throne and rule themselves. Similarly,
Balon Greyjoy also claims the throne of his own region, the Iron
Islands, and likewise seeks independence. The War of the Five Kings
is the principal storyline in the second and third novels, with its
fall-out and repercussions affecting much of what follows. The
second storyline is set on the extreme northern border of Westeros.
Here, eight thousand years ago, a huge wall of ice and gravel was
constructed by spells and by hand to defend Westeros from the
threat of 'The Others', a semi-mythical race of ice creatures
living in the uttermost north. The 300-mile-long, 700-foot-tall
Wall is defended by the Sworn Brotherhood of the Night's Watch,
which by the time of the novels is badly under-strength and under
threat by the human 'wildlings' or 'free folk' who live to the
north. This storyline strand follows Jon Snow, bastard son of Lord
Eddard Stark, as he rises through the ranks of the Watch and learns
the true nature of the threat from the north. By the end of the
third volume, this storyline has become more entangled with the
civil war to the south as well. The third storyline is set on the
huge eastern continent and follows the adventures of Daenerys
Targaryen, the last (known) scion of House Targaryen and another
claimant to the Iron Throne. Daenerys's story shows her growing
rise to power, from a near-penniless wanderer to a powerful and
canny ruler who possesses the last living dragons. Though her story
is separated from the others by many thousands of miles, her stated
goal is to reclaim the Iron Throne. Although she is not known to
many in Westeros, the chaos of two civil wars in rapid succession
has led to much yearning among the smallfolk for the days of
stability under the Targaryens. Daenerys' storyline will return her
to Westeros before the end of the series. The eponymous Song of Ice
and Fire is mentioned only once in the series, in a vision Daenerys
sees in A Clash of Kings: 'He is the prince that was promised, and
his is the song of ice and fire', spoken by a Targaryen (probably
Daenerys's dead older brother Rhaegar Targaryen) about his infant
son named Aegon. It is implied that there is a connection between
the song, the promise, and Daenerys herself. This is established
more clearly in A Feast for Crows, when Aemon Targaryen identifies
Daenerys as the heir that was promised. The phrase 'ice and fire'
is also mentioned in the Reeds' oath of loyalty to Bran in A Clash
of Kings. However, the song and the promise are never mentioned
again, and the song itself remains a mystery.