I have been spending a lot of time recently trying to figure out what exactly Melisandre's powers are. Even after she's appeared in all of these books, we still are not sure.
Let's review what we know...
1.) Confirmed powers
-Can read the flames (albeit imperfectly)
-Shadowbabies
-Can cast some kind of illusion spell on Mance/Rattleshirt.
-ALSO has an array of essentially parlor tricks that she is willing to use to manipulate/deceive people for "the greater good", like changing the color of fire
2.) Beliefs
-Believes in the war between R'hllor and the Great Other.
-Believes that Stannis is Azor Ahai reborn AND the Prince that is Promised
-Believes the associated prophecies (including dragons from stone?)
-Believes that Stannis is now wielding Lightbringer (probably)
Specifically, I am interested in the leeches of king's blood that Melissandre credited with the deaths of the three kings. Did they really do anything? Reading through it again, I get the feeling that Melissandre SAW the three kings dying in her flames, knew Stannis would not be willing to sacrifice Edric Storm straight up, and used this to manipulate him into allowing her to sacrifice him for a prophecy/spell she truly believes in, that of awakening dragons from stone.
Just something fun to ponder.
****ing Melisandre man, still an enigma.
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##Alec
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