As even the most casual student of literature knows, the first words of a great novel are generally expected to be loaded with import and meaning.
Frequently, the main themes of the story are touched on, and sometimes meta-clues about the work itself are found there too. Obviously trees and the horrors that are hidden in their lore are a major component of ASOIAF, so it makes sense that this is one of the first ideas presented to us.
One of the horrors hidden in the weirwood lore seem to be the Others, and this truth is fairly well spelled out in the prologue. This is fire of the gods shit, in other words, a confrontation with an otherworldly power which man was for the most part not meant to tussle with.
We see it with Beric Dondarrion and Lady Stoneheart and Coldhands, and we will see it again soon with Jon and perhaps others, no pun intended. Okay, well maybe a little bit pun intended. The wildlings are all dead. He swallowed. I was back in Winterfell. I saw my father. Do not seek to call him back from death. So from Azor Ahai reborn to young Brandon Stark, the idea of raising the dead is a major deal — and we see a lot of it in this prologue, of course.
Rusted and Ravi were also kind enough to review this essay beforehand and offer their input, so thanks guys.
