HBO has dropped a whopper of a teaser for their massive hit, Game of Thrones.  It’s called “The Cold Winds Are Rising”, and it does give one a chill or at least a frisson of anticipation! I can't believe we have four more months to wait for the next season! We talked about the show last week in connection with the dvd release of season one and I sincerely hope it prompted those who are unfamiliar to go take a look. This teaser is just that, a tease. Its unseen narrator is Stannis Baratheon, younger brother of slain King Robert Baratheon (played in season one by Mark Addy). How do I know that's Stannis you might ask? For one, I recognized Stephen Dillane’s voice and I know he’s been cast as Stannis Baratheon, but two, the storyline is available all over the web if anyone cares to find it and Stannis is returning from wherever he’s been to claim his birthright, despite the many who stand in his way, like his younger brother Renly, for instance.

Stannis isn't very congenial, and isn't very well-liked. He is counseled by the mysterious and dangerous Lady Melisandre, a priestess of a new and powerful religion who isn't afraid to use her mystical powers to Stannis's gain.

Dillane starred as Thomas Jefferson in HBO’s miniseries John Adams, he also played Merlin in 2004’s King Arthur (with Clive Owen and Keira Knightley), among other things. He’s another chameleon-like actor that makes one say “Oh! He’s that guy.”

Speaking of Lady Melisandre, we don’t see her here, but she’ll be played by Dutch actress(and another chameleon) Carice van Houten (Valkyrie, Repo Men, Black Book) and she's probably the most-talked-about new character of the second season. As mysterious as she is dangerous and known as the "Red Priestess," Melisandre worships the 'Lord of Light,' a deity known as R'hllor, through whom she can apparently perform feats of magic. Melisandre almost never leaves Stannis’ side. She'll do anything to get him the Iron Throne.

We showed you a behind-the-scenes featurette for season two in which the creators talk about the world of Game of Thrones and it also gives brief glimpses of some of the new characters. Since we’ve got until April to wait, I’ll be back to talk about the others when we get another teaser.  (See what I did there? I teased you about a teaser… Hey, it’s Monday…)