re: GoT "Middle Ground" Thread - Between Seasons Discussion ***Spoilers Possible***

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The weirwood is a species of deciduous trees found all over Westeros. The five-pointed leaves and the sap of weirwoods are blood-red, while the smooth bark on their wide trunks[1] and wood are bone white[2]. Most weirwoods have faces carved into their trunks. This was done by the Children of the Forest in ancient days, and is now done by the freefolk as well as other descendants of the First Men. In some cases sap has collected in the crevices of the carved faces, giving the trees red eyes which have even been know to drip sap as if the trees were crying[1]. Weirwoods are considered sacred to the followers of the Old Faith. The Children of the Forest are said to have carved faces in the weirwoods during the dawn Age, before the coming of the First Men across the narrow sea. It is said that through the faces the old gods watch over the followers and bear witness to important events. The Greenseers of the children of the forest can see through the eyes of weirwoods. Since trees have no sense of time, the Greenseer can see into the past or present when looking through the eyes of a tree.
Weirwoods grow wild in the forest. After the First Men took up the Old Faith they created godswoods within their castle walls and villages where a single weirwood, known as a heart tree, was planted so the gods could be worshiped.
Weirwoods are used to bear witness to important ceremonies such as marriages. It said that it is impossible to lie in the presence of a weirwood. An enormous weirwood with a gaping mouth grows in the village of Whitetree beyond the Wall with a trunk that is eight feet wide[3].

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