Varys and Littlefinger – Season 2

Varys and Littlefinger have a private conversation in an interesting—and illuminating—scene from season two, not long after the Battle of the Blackwater. Littlefinger stands before the Iron Throne, cutting his finger on one of the swords it’s made of; sensing Varys behind him, he turns, and the pair trade barbs hidden behind Cheshire grins. Lord Varys reminds us that Littlefinger was named Lord of Harrenhal—a dubious honor, since every house that has held the cursed castle has died out in violent or otherwise unpleasant circumstances.

In return, Littlefinger gloats that he has chosen Tywin Lannister to be his ally, while Varys chose the “mutilated” Imp (who was recently injured in the Battle of the Blackwater). In hindsight, there’s a ton of interesting foreshadowing going on here: Tywin is dead, while Tyrion and Varys are in positions of power with Daenerys; Littlefinger cut his finger on the Iron Throne, and his ambitions toward it are revealed to Sansa in season six. Even though Cersei took Harrenhal away from Littlefinger after he switched sides, will he perhaps share the cursed fate of all the lords who’ve previously held it?