No One Sword / Powerlessness of the Individual

Opening in A Clash of Kings, No One Sword relates to a slew of minor themes like Powerful Individual, Individual in Office and Assassination, around who can and can't do what and why.

71 AGOT Jon IX: "Your brother is in the field with all the power of the north behin him. Any one of his bannerman commands more swords than you'll find in all the Night's Watch. Why do you imagine that they need your help? Are you such a mighty warrior, or do you carry a grumkin in your pocket to magic up your sword? 783 No One Sword

A Clash of Kings

84 ACOK 11 Davos I: Salladhor Saan tells Davos the story of the making of The Red Sword of Heroes after Melisandre's Lightbringer pageant.

95 ACOK 22 Bran III: Ned told Bran he only survived fighting Ser Arthur Dayne because of the aid of Howland Reed. Law of the Sword

96 ACOK 23 Catelyn II: " If I am not safe in the heart of Lord Caswell's castle, with my own host around me, one sword will make no matter...not even your sword, Brienne." 350 Renly comments on Brienne's inability to defend him. No One Sword

100 ACOK 27 Arya VI: Arya is glad they took Needle because otherwise she would try to kill The Mountain and be killed herself. 417

113 ACOK 40 Catelyn V: Catelyn warns Brienne against seeking out Stannis to avenge Renly.

"Stannis has a great host around him and his own guards sworn to keep him safe"

" I am not afraid of his guards. I am as good as any of them. I should never have fled." 561 No One Sword

127 ACOK 54 Jon VII: (counter-example) The Hound fended off thirty peasants to defend Sansa,

We see how warging advantages scouts with examples of Orell's eagle scouting for the wildlings and Ghost via Jon for the Night's Watch. The idea that a lone wolf can more casually traverse a far greater distance and with more stealth shows how poor at scouting a large ranging party has to be. Powerful Individual

133 ACOK 60 Tyrion XIII: Though Tyrion assumes the chain began to rise the moment Stannis's flagship passed, we know from Davos's recentl chapter, that the men on the ground made a different and better call. Tyrion also presumes to redirect the trebuchets, and micromanages. It's a good thing his orders are either never delivered or not heeded due to Joffrey's command. Joffrey is to catapult the Antler Men, but this causes the bridge of ships. No One Sword

135 ACOK 62 Tyrion XIV: Tyrion boards the bridge of ships, though it is not a strategic move. Did he think he'd stop the men crossing himself? No One Sword

A Storm of Swords

144 ASOS 1 Prologue: Chett knows he has no chance of escaping alone so assembles a party of men he recuits for what can do for cause. Small Paul is to kill Mormont. The wildlings have gathered for safety in numbers, as well. No One Sword

145 ASOS 2 Jaime I: Jaime assumes all he has to do is shed Brienne and he's free. If he can make contact with Lannister soldiers still in the area, he won't have to travel to King's Landing to be restored to his former position. But he's so vulnerable alone. Every extra sword helps. Brienne is wroth at the assumption she can't protect him, but is foolish to think she could defend against an army or even a small raiding party like the one they do encounter. She tells Jaime she's as good a sword as he is, but one sword is only one sword. No One Sword

147 ASOS 4 Arya I: Arya wields an army of hundreds of wolves through warging Nymeria. Powerful Individual

155 ASOS 12 Jaime II: Jaime tries to convince the boy at the Inn of the Kneeling Man that a crossbow is a coward's weapon and easily overpowered, recommending spear or maul. However, the boy doesn't aim to become a soldier, only defend against bad men at the inn.

158 ASOS 15 Catelyn II: Lady Sybell was able to take Robb by pretending to be taken by him. Powerful Individual