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Lots of spoilers for Game of Thrones, Season 7 Episode 6, "Beyond the Wall" here:

After Daenerys escapes from the Night king, the undead army pulls the fallen dragon out of the lake. To achieve this, they use chains.
Where do they have tons of chains from? Would that imply that the Night King has a "base" (or castle or whatever) somewhere? If they can't enter water or have troubles entering the water:

Who organized the chains

and put them on the dragon?

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  • 1
    Relevant on MTVSE: How did Wights get a chain?
    – Aegon
    Aug 22, 2017 at 12:45
  • Let us continue this discussion in chat.
    – Edlothiad
    Aug 22, 2017 at 13:03
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    I think it's a plot hole. Metal is very scares north of the wall. The wildlings make "armor" out of bone. An ax could buy you and your men shelter at Craster's keep. So huge metal chains just lying around are highly unlikely.
    – Dima
    Aug 22, 2017 at 14:24
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    We do know that the white walkers can use ice to make things -- scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/158743/…
    – user87732
    Aug 22, 2017 at 17:00
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    You could just ask why the Night King didn't re-animate Viserion and let him get out of the lake himself. He doesn't have to physically touch corpses as we know from Hardhome. Aug 24, 2017 at 21:48

1 Answer 1

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The same question was asked and answered on our sister site Movies &TV. I am using the answers there to inspire my own here.


The answer provides evidence that the lake on which the scene takes places seems to have old structures there. This would indicate a previous settlement, most likely by the Night's Watch during the construction of the Wall. Iron forging is only known south of the wall, and therefore makes it unlikely to be a Free Folk settlement. The purpose of this settlement was possibly to be an ice farm during the construction of the wall. If chains were used (and subsequently abandoned) this gives us one option for the Army of the Dead to obtain the chains.


A second option is that the chains came from Hardhome

Hardhome sits on a sheltered bay and has natural harbour deep enough for the biggest ships afloat. Wood and stone are plentiful near there. The waters teem with fish, and there are colonies of seals and sea cows close at hand. A great cliff looms above the settlement, pocked with cave mouths.

Hardhome was close to becoming the only true town north of the Wall.

If Hardhome was supporting trade and large ship, it is likely they would have chains at the docks for anchors, cargo loading, or other maritime activities. Since the Army of the Dead has recently sacked that settlement, they may have also found chains there.


One method I generally discount is that the chain was made from ice. While it is known the White Walkers have certain ice magic to create their swords and spears, these weapons are rough looking and blueish in color. The chain does not share these qualities.


Now how they got the chains on... I think it is as simple as the dead cannot swim properly and sink. However, since they are dead already they can still move. Basically the same as what the crew of the Black Pearl did in Pirates of Caribbean.

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  • I personally believe the second option is more likely. Especially given it's description and the show shows them attacking it. However, we know nothing for certain and probably wont find out.
    – TheLethalCarrot
    Aug 23, 2017 at 13:26
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    In addition to these points it is also important to realize that the Night King set a trap. He trapped them and just happened to have both spears for killing the dragons and chains to retrieve them. While he may not have known for sure that dragons existed still and were coming they existed the last time the white walkers attacked and he was hoping to get one this time. Maybe he understood that their best hope at survival was someone coming with a dragon to rescue them. I don't think he knows about the squabbling down south... He is just making moves and counter moves to better his hand.
    – Odin1806
    Aug 24, 2017 at 2:42
  • @Skooba Any indication as to how they put them on the dragon?
    – vanguard2k
    Aug 24, 2017 at 7:22
  • @vanguard2k added to my answer... they stole the idea from Disney :P
    – Skooba
    Aug 24, 2017 at 13:17
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    ..which hints at NK being a greenseer IMO. Bring on season 8!! Aug 29, 2017 at 2:32

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