‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 4 Premiere: What 'Two Swords’ Means And The History Of The Missing Lannister Greatsword

The “Game of Thrones” season 4 premiere, “Two Swords,” features a very important moment to open the new season. Tywin Lannister is seen handling Ice, Ned Stark’s greatsword, to be re-forged into two new greatswords for House Lannister. The significance goes beyond eliminating one last remnant of House Stark as the Lannisters have been missing their own greatsword for a long time.

Valyrian steel has been used to create some of the most powerful swords in Westeros, forged with magic with incredibly sharp blades, and the knowledge to create new Valyrian steel has been lost. As such, the few greatswords made of Valyrian steel are rare, coveted and represent the legacy of a House.

Ice was owned by Ned Stark and is the greatsword of House Stark. Ice is sheathed in a direwolf scabbard and in the “Game of Thrones” series was seen in the season 1 premiere, "Winter is Coming," when Ned used it to execute a deserter from the Night’s Watch.

In the “Game of Thrones” season 4 premiere, Tywin says how he brought the best blacksmiths to King’s Landing to re-forge Ice into two new greatswords. For the Lannisters, the chance to have two Valyrian steel greatswords comes as a massive relief as they have been looking to replace their long-lost greatsword.

Brightroar, House Lannister’s Valyrian greatsword, was lost hundreds of years ago when Tommen II went on an expedition to the ruins of Valyria but never returned. Tywin’s youngest brother, Gerion, went to search for Brightroar but, like Tommen II, it is believed he did not survive the trip.

In “A Storm of Swords,” the two newly forged greatswords are described in detail, each sword has black and red markings running throughout the blade, but the swords look like standard steel swords in the “Game of Thrones” series. In “Two Swords,” Jaime has not yet named his sword and the status of the second swords has yet to be revealed by Tywin.

Another piece of Valyrian steel is in the possession of Jon Snow. Longclaw is a bastard sword, slightly smaller than a greatsword, belonged to Lord Jeor Mormont and given to Jon as a gift for saving his life in the first season.