#the night's watch

[winterprince601]

the best thing about jon and sam's friendship is that aside from their core shared identity of being alienated within a classist patriarchal society, they have Nothing in common. sam spends the whole first jon chapter of acok nerding out over the sociopolitical signifance of a bunch of old maps and jon's response is "litcherally why does it matter as long as the rivers are in the same place, you sweet fool" they're like the medieval equivalent of nerd who likes lotr and jock who likes evanescence forming a deep affection on the basis of no one else understanding them.

[laurellerual]

Ahh I saw requests were open again and I love your work so much!!! It would be really cool to see Jon is Essos style clothing and Daenerys in Northern style clothing. A little clothing swap between the two 🙈🫶🏼

[jonsnowunemploymentera]

Randomly thinking about grrm’s deconstruction of knighthood in asoiaf and how ironic it is that the Night’s Watch - an organization known to be half full of murderers, rapists, thieves, and all sorts of criminals - is essentially in charge of defending all of humanity when shit hits the fan. Like westeros just scrambled ‘the lowest of the low’ together into a penal colony in the far north and is totally fine depending on them for their survival; though tbf, i guess part of it has to do with expecting these societal ‘others’ to give their not so valuable lives for the good of the realm, who really cares if they live or die because they’re out of sight and out of mind. And it’s kinda funny too when we factor in the kingsguard because it’s a far more respected institution than the NW presently, but it too has its fair share of monsters. Quite a few men of the kingsguard have been morally bankrupt individuals, and we even see how the men of the KG sometimes forget other people they should be responsible for because their one priority is the king (we see what happens when you put the people of the realm first and then are ostracized by it a la Jaime tho there’s more to it). Missing the forest for the tree is something both institutions share, making them quite similar. So it’s interesting how grrm flips the fantasy classic of the black knight vs the white knight. The black knight is often anti-heroic, if not straight up villainous, and is often made to be diametrically opposed to the valiant and ever good white knight. But asoiaf has white and black knights both be shown of great virtue and great vice. The white knights in this story really are no better than the black knights. I’d love to see how these two entities could intersect, i.e., what happens when a white knight eventually changes his cloak for a black one (*cough* Jaime *cough*) and how that falls into grrm’s deconstruction of the romance of chivalry, the extent of personal heroism, and perceived knightly virtue. Welp I don’t even know what point I’m trying to make anymore, I just wanted to talk about the KG and the NW because they’re really cool.

[queen-helaenas-pet-spider]

TWOW Jon Snow @ The Night’s Watch If He Wakes Up And Can't Instantly Spot His Femboy Steward/Squire And Their Puppy:

[turtle-paced]

Do we know why Gared didn't get back to castle black? If this was done by GRRM to prevent anyone from knowing about the threat too early, he could have them all killed beyond the wall (Ned could execute someone else and Bran's chapter would be more or less the same). Doesn't it seem somewhat odd that Gared, an experienced black brother for decades, ends up half mad from fear and a deserter? Contrast with Waymar Royce, the young inexperienced commander who ends up dying bravely by the others, and Will, an eye witness to the horror, who nevertheless gets Waymar's broken sword as evidence and seems ready to report back.

"And the man breaks. "He turns and runs, or crawls off afterward over the corpses of the slain, or steals away in the black of night, and he finds someplace to hide. All thought of home is gone by then, and kings and lords and gods mean less to him than a haunch of spoiled meat that will let him live another day, or a skin of bad wine that might drown his fear for a few hours. The broken man lives from day to day, from meal to meal, more beast than man. Lady Brienne is not wrong. In times like these, the traveler must beware of broken men, and fear them . . . but he should pity them as well." Brienne V, AFFC

[asongofstarkandtargaryen]

Jon discovering dying Ygritte is a very sad scene. And it gives the lovers the chance to have a final intimate moment...

...until you remember that Jon couldn't move well on his own ( with his injury) and a couple of parallels above he describes Satin not only helping him get down to the yard but also move around.

So while Jon and Ygritte have their farewell scene somewhere nearby Satin is standing looking like this:

[knightofthenewrepublic]

[jozor-johai]

The State of the Wall at the end of ADWD

Jon spends all of ADWD stationing men all over the Wall at different castles. Some are Night’s Watchmen, some are Free Folk, some are Stannis’ men, borrowed to inflate the ranks.

Bowen Marsh, among others, complains that Jon has set up a potentially sticky situation:

When he conferred Oakenshield on Tormund Giantsbane and Queensgate on Morna White Mask, Marsh pointed out that Castle Black would now have foes on either side who could easily cut them off from the rest of the Wall.

How true is this? How right is Bowen about strategic imbalances here?

I believe, following the Jon Snow murder, we’re going to see the Free Folk and the Night’s Watchmen divide again; Jon was the glue holding the two together, and now he’s gone. But since Jon settled them in various castles along the Wall, we need to work out the strategic layout of each of these positions in the event of such a split.

To start, I’m going to argue that in typical GRRM fashion, the lede is being buried here. After breaking down the state of the Wall at the end of ADWD, it’s not so much a matter of Castle Black being surrounded, it’s that the entire Wall is going to be split into two parts… with the Nightfort in the center. Coincidence? In this case, I don’t believe in coincidence.

I hope this makes sense visually, because I needed a visual.

I’ll go into more specific detail for each of these castles, but this is the point: except for Castle Black and Eastwatch, every castle lined up to fall on the side of the Night’s Watch is west of the Nightfort, and every castle primed to fall on the side of the Free Folk is east of the Nightfort.

Since the Nightfort is going to be the seat of King Stannis and Queen Selyse, their home base will be geographically attempting to do what Stannis’ cause is trying to do politically: negotiate stability with the Night’s Watch on one side and the Free Folk on the other.

A breakdown of every castle below the cut

Westwatch-by-the-Bridge

This is never mentioned in the main text, and only appears on maps. This is potentially garrisoned by Night’s Watchmen, but there is no strict textual evidence.

The Shadow Tower

One of three that’s manned prior to ADWD, so there’s a history of intra-Wall politics already at play here.

Denys Mallister cast the votes of the Shadow Tower watchmen for Jon Snow at the end of ASOS, but their relationship has been slightly more strained over the course of ADWD; Mallister regularly requests more men to resist the threat of the Weeper, but Jon has few men to spare. 

As of the start of TWOW, two of Jon’s friends are at the Shadow Tower, Halder and Toad. Halder carved the Ghost pommel on Longclaw, and both Halder and Toad are part of the group that tries in vain to remain close friends with Jon once he’s Lord Commander. These two might fall on the side of the Night’s Watch if the lines of conflict are drawn there, or they might remain loyal specifically to Jon if that remains an option for them.

Additionally, the Shadow Tower has ten wildlings that Jon sent over that he collected from Mole’s Town. While these are young boys and untrained, they are likely to either break for Jon or for the wildlings, depending on where the lines of conflict are drawn; in any case, they are unlikely to remain loyal to the Night’s Watch in Jon’s absence. However, being so outnumbered, I don’t know how much impact they will have.

Additionally, this is explicitly and directly relevant for a potential conflict about the Wildlings crossing—Mallister says he believes the Weeper is gathering a host to force the Bridge of Skulls again, and threaten the Shadow Tower. Bowen Marsh, at Castle Black, was injured at the previous attack at the Bridge of Skulls, and the Weeper has very visibly and brutally killed three rangers and returned their heads on spikes to Castle Black. Tensions will likely be especially high between Free Folk and Night’s Watchmen with the possibility of the Weeper attempting another assault.

Sentinel Stand

Like Westwatch, this is never mentioned in the main text, and only appears on maps. This is potentially garrisoned by Night’s Watchmen, but there is no strict textual evidence.

Greyguard

A fun fact about Greyguard: Jeor wants to man Greyguard during the events of ACOK, but Qhorin convinces them to garrison Stonedoor instead; as a result, Greyguard is unmanned when Jon, Ygritte, and the wildlings climb the Wall, and they descend into Westeros from Greyguard. 

This is also where Janos Slynt fatally refuses to go.

As of TWOW, Greyguard is manned with thirty men: ten from Castle Black, ten from the Shadow Tower, and ten of Stannis’ men. Following the death of Janos Slynt, Greyguard is captained by an experienced Shadow Tower watchman. 

Additionally, Jon commands that some of the free folk from Mole’s Town to be sent to Greyguard as needed, though it’s unknown how many are sent.

If there’s a divide in loyalties here, the captain of Greyguard is a Night’s Watchman and, presumably, a loyal Shadow Tower man, so they may be ordered on the side of wherever Mallister falls, or his prior loyalty may lead them to break from their post and defend the Bridge of Skulls if necessary. There are also the 10 men from Stannis’ forces, but it’s hard to say what political influence they’ll have.

Stonedoor

Jon intends Stonedoor to be manned by a wildling force: he settles the abandoned castle on Soren Shieldbreaker, who is meant to leave with the wayns as soon as they return from Greenguard; Borroq the skinchanger is to accompany him.

However… as of the last chapter of ADWD, both Sorren and Borroq are still at Castle Black—the castle, right now, is still totally unmanned. Both are present in the shieldhall when Jon reads the Bastard Letter, so as of the end of ADWD, they have not actually made it to their intended seat.

Othell Yarwyck claims that the woods around Stonedoor are filled with boars, and fears Borroq leading a boar army. While we have no reason to believe Borroq is as skilled as Varmyr in changing multiple animals at once, this is an interesting possibility to point out. Jon also notes that Ghost and Borroq’s boar seem at odds, so we may see Borroq get aggressive in a Wall fallout situation.

If this were manned, this castle would undoubtedly break away from the Watchmen faction, either joining up with a pro-Jon faction or else Tormund/a wildling faction. It would be outnumbered by Watchman castles on both sides, but it is potentially a defensible position. But that depends on how long Jon’s intentions hold following his death. If conflict breaks out right away, they may not make it to Stonedoor at all. 

Also, like other wildling commanders, Soren Shieldbreaker’s son is one of the hostages taken as Jon’s blood price for crossing the Wall; whether his son is at Castle Black, the Shadow Tower, or Eastwatch is unknown.

Hoarfrost Hill

Hoarfrost Hill is in a similar situation as Rimegate. In Jon’s final chapter, he intends to give this castle to a wildling commander. As of now, it’s unmanned.

When considering it, Jon’s suggestions are: Brogg, Gavin the Trader, the Great Walrus, Harle the Huntsman, Harle the Handsome, Blind Doss, and Ygon Oldfather, though most of Oldfather’s following is his family. Howd Wanderer is named but unlikely as a candidate because he walks alone. 

However, Bowen Marsh dislikes all of these suggestions as every one is, in his mind, a wildling criminal who deserves to hang. Jon dies before naming a party to move there, and thus it is still unmanned as of the very end of ADWD—though intended to have been a wildling post.

Icemark

Icemark appears to be manned similarly to Greyguard; both were manned together with the same intentions. If they were dealt with the same way, Icemark similarly has a force of 20 Night’s Watchmen and ten of Stannis’ men. It’s not explicitly stated, but it is possibly the same split of 10 Castle Black, 10 Shadow Tower, and 10 of Stannis’ men. Like Greyguard, the Shadow Tower, and Eastwatch, Icemark has also received an unknown small number of the free folk recruited from Mole’s Town. 

Icemark is commanded by Bedwyck, known as Giant, from Castle Black. Bedwyck survived the assault on the Fist of the First Men, so he understands the very real threat of the wights. During the mutiny at Craster’s Keep, Bedwyck stayed loyal and returned—so it’s possible he’s not a part of this mutiny, either, and may be still sympathetic to Jon’s cause. However, he survived the attack on the Bridge of Skulls too, so like Bowen Marsh he’s also seen the worst of the wildlings. 

This castle will likely break for the Night’s Watch, though like Greyguard there is a potential for a 2:1 split if Stannis’ men don’t align with the Watch’s intent.

The Nightfort

Jon gave the Nightfort to Stannis and his cause to make it the temporary seat of King Stannis. Queen Selyse is, so far, meant to be on her way to the Nightfort from Eastwatch. Currently, though, she’s still at Castle Black.

Since this is a prominent location in a number of scary stories—and is the location of the mysterious Black Gate—I think there’s a high likelihood we haven’t seen the last of this location and that we may see some more action go down here. 

Jon had sent Othell Yarwyck to oversee the repairs at the Nightfort to make it available for Queen Selyse to live in, and Queen Selyse arrives at Castle Black intending to make only a quick stop before continuing on to the Nightfort. 

As of Jon’s last chapter, Yarwyck has returned to say that though the castle is still largely a ruin, it is habitable, and Selyse can move in if she would like. He also notes that the castle is very isolated from the sea, should Selyse want to leave. I don’t think that detail is included for nothing: if things go sour at the Wall, Selyse in the Nightfort is going to be blocked in with no escape but north and south. 

At the end of the ADWD, though, Selyse is still at Castle Black. Like with Soren Shieldbreaker, it’s hard to say whether she manages to continue on to her intended destination further west, or if her path will be derailed by chaos at Castle Black. If we presume she makes it to the Nightfort, then that will undoubtedly be a Stannis stronghold, if not then the castle will be unmanned. 

Note this: from here on out, the castles are more heavily manned by Free Folk.

Deep Lake

Deep Lake is one of several castles Jon intends to man with free folk, under their own command. We don’t hear much concrete information about this, but it is apparently manned as of Jon XI, potentially by Halleck, brother of Harma Dogshead. (If he isn’t here, then he may be at Sable Hall). 

Doubtlessly, this will break to whatever side the free folk break to, presumably with Tormund.

Queensgate

Queensgate is also manned by wildlings, commanded by Morna White Mask. 

Like Soren Shieldbreaker, Morna’s son is a hostage of the Night’s Watch as part of Jon’s blood price for crossing the Wall. Whether her son is at Castle Black, the Shadow Tower, or Eastwatch is unknown. 

Marsh points out that between Queensgate and Oakenshield, Castle Black is easily cut off by wildlings on both sides—a detail I doubt was included in vain.

Castle Black

This has a lot going on, of course. As of the end of ADWD, Jon has just been killed, and here’s the issue: Jon has just spent the moments prior riling a host of volunteers to die for his cause… I think Bowen Marsh misjudged, because these are the worst possible conditions to make a martyr of someone in.

Following Jon’s death, this is the situation:

Immediately following the crossing of the Free Folk in Jon XI, Bowen Marsh clocks that the Free Folk will outnumber the Night’s Watchmen three to one. Some of these men have started to disperse throughout the Wall, but not much time has passed—most are still here, at Castle Black.

Even if the commanding force is the Night’s Watchmen, the majority here are wildlings… and this time, there are other commanders at Castle Black. Tormund is here, ready to go to war, because Jon requested it.

As far as fighting men specifically: Tormund has 60 fighting men there, which he has brought back from Oakenshield. Soren Shieldbreaker has all of his people with him, because they were supposed to leave for Stonedoor soon.

In the Shieldhall, just before Jon’s death, there are 200-300 men—and, as Jon notes, the Free Folk outnumber the Night’s Watchmen 5 to 1.

All in all, though this is a Night’s Watch seat, there are all the necessary ingredients to make Castle Black into the seat of the Free Folk; the numbers are on their side. And they’re surrounded.

Also, though, there is the third factor at Castle Black, the matter of Selyse and her Queen’s Men. Will they fight for the Watchmen? Will they attempt to keep peace with the Free Folk? Will they flee to the Nightfort to save their queen and leave the castle in chaos? We’ll have to see, but that decision may have lasting effects as well.

Oakenshield

Jon granted Oakenshield to Tormund Giantsbane, which is convenient: it’s perfectly central for Tormund to lead from, should the need arise.

As of the end of ADWD, Tormund has returned to Castle Black with sixty fighting men, presumably leaving even more still at Oakenshield. This will definitely be a key stronghold for the free folk if conflict divides the forces at the Wall.

Like the other commanders drawn from the Free Folk, Tormund’s son is a hostage, located now either at Castle Black, the Shadow Tower, or Eastwatch.

Woodswatch-by-the-Pool

Woodswatch is mentioned only once in the main series, in ASOS, and once on the ASOS map. It is not mentioned as one of the garrisoned castles, so it is presumably empty.

Sable Hall

Sable Hall is one of several castles Jon intends to man with free folk, under their own command. We don’t hear much concrete information about this, but it is apparently manned as of Jon XI, potentially by Halleck, brother of Harma Dogshead. (If he isn’t here, then he may be at Deep Lake). 

Like Deep Lake, this will doubtlessly break to whatever side the free folk break to, presumably with Tormund.

Rimegate

Rimegate is in a similar situation as Hoarfrost Hill. In Jon’s final chapter, he intends to give this castle to a wildling commander. As of now, it’s unmanned.

When considering it, Jon’s suggestions are: Brogg, Gavin the Trader, the Great Walrus, Harle the Huntsman, Harle the Handsome, Blind Doss, and Ygon Oldfather, though most of Oldfather’s following is his family. Howd Wanderer is named but unlikely as a candidate because he walks alone. 

However, Bowen Marsh dislikes all of these suggestions as every one is, in his mind, a wildling criminal who deserves to hang. Jon dies before naming a party to move there, and thus it is still unmanned as of the very end of ADWD—though intended to have been a wildling post.

Long Barrow

I feel sort of certain that Long Barrow has to matter somehow because we’ve been following updates on it frequently throughout ADWD. Jon has manned it with entirely spearwives, commanded by Iron Emmett, and with Dolorous Edd as chief steward. 

Iron Emmett is a watchman who was first at Eastwatch and later became the master-at-arms at Castle Black. He and Jon have had a tense run-in before—in ASOS, Jon fails to recognize Iron Emmett’s yield and attacks him brutally while sparring. However, that doesn’t immediately seem to get in the way of his loyalty to Jon; Emmett is the one to hold Slynt down for his execution. On the other hand, perhaps this is another up-close encounter with Jon’s brutality. In sending Iron Emmett to Long Barrow, Jon removes him from his post as master-at-arms and replaces him with the wildling Leathers. In short, it’s possible that Iron Emmett and Jon are close, or it may be possible that Emmett has reason to resent Jon’s leadership. 

Dolorous Edd, for that matter, is a loyal and longtime friend to Jon who seems unhappy with his current station as steward to the women at Long Barrow.

If there is any kind of split in loyalty at the Wall, Long Barrow would be an interesting situation to watch: the commander is likely most loyal to the Night’s Watch, and might hold some particular loyalties to Eastwatch in particular, but the people actually manning the castle will likely split for a wildling/Tormund faction. Dolorous Edd might remain loyal to Jon, or might remain loyal to the Watch and side with Iron Emmett against the spearwives. I hope he survives. 

For now, I’m considering Long Barrow to break for the Free Folk, considering the disparity in numbers, but Iron Emmett could make a surprise angle here.

The Torches

This is one of the handful of castles that appears only in maps and is never mentioned in the main series. This is potentially garrisoned by Night’s Watchmen, but there is no strict textual evidence.

Greenguard

Jon settles Greenguard with free folk under the command of Devyn Sealskinner. 

Like the other wildling commanders, Sealskinner’s son (or sons) is a hostage of the Night’s Watch now, either at Castle Black, the Shadow Tower, or Eastwatch.

Doubtlessly this castle will be loyal to a potential wildling/Tormund faction if there is a split at the Wall.

Eastwatch-by-the-Sea

Like the Shadow Tower, Eastwatch is one of the few castles manned prior to ADWD, and therefore one with a more-established political presence at the Wall. 

Cotter Pyke, the commander at Eastwatch, voted for Jon in the Lord Commander election. Since then, he’s had to host Queen Selyse prior to her departure the Nightfort, and apparently Eastwatch ultimately resented her presence, wanting to be rid of her and Axell Florent both.

Interestingly, Eastwatch has a lot of moving parts happening around it at the moment.

As of the end of ADWD, Cotter Pyke has left Eastwatch with a number of ships, some belonging to Tycho Nestoris and the Iron Bank, in order to retrieve a large host of wildlings stranded at Hardhome, apparently a four-day trip away by boat. This mission appears to be a failure, with “dead things” in the woods and the water. Pyke’s boat is taking water, so we may or may not see him return.

Meanwhile, Eastwatch’s interim commander is Glendon Hewett, which troubles Jon—Hewett was part of the Thorne/Slynt coalition before Jon became Lord Commander. If there end up being two groups of Night’s Watchmen—those pro-Jon and those anti-Jon—then Hewett’s Eastwatch will certainly be anti-Jon. In addition, should it ever matter, Mance might remember Glendon Hewett for beating him up while disguised as Rattleshirt. 

Meanwhile, all of the goods, gold, and trinkets that Jon claimed from Tormund’s wildlings when they crosses is being sent to Eastwatch to trade, ostensibly to cover the cost of feeding the free folk, though more accurately as a cover for the debts Jon has already incurred with the Iron Bank. 

Meanwhile, the giants and mammoths that could not cross the Wall with Tormund (because the mammoths could not fit) have been sent around to Eastwatch to cross by going around the Wall instead. 

So, at Eastwatch we have the wildling’s treasures, the giants and mammoths, and any survivors from Pyke’s excursion heading home, crossing paths under the watch of anti-Jon Watchman Glendon Hewett. 

If Stannis’ plan goes as intended, then Justin Massey should be crossing through Eastwatch as well on his way to Braavos—assuming he is not waylaid on the way by chaos at the Wall. 

Additionally, Melisandre suspects that one of her visions of a tide of blood around a tower is about a tragedy about to befall Eastwatch; this may or may not be the case. 

Whether or not Mel is right, Eastwatch is just waiting to turn: the giants are approaching from the North, the riches of the Wildlings are approaching from the west, just waiting to be reclaimed. If Cotter Pyke never returns, then their forces are forever depleted; if he does return, then he brings with him enough wildlings to overwhelm the Night’s Watchmen. Best of all, their leader is Glendon Hewett, a man who beat Mance and kicked Jon in the ribs—in other words, someone who might die without the Jon (or the reader, perhaps) feeling too badly about it. I predict Eastwatch might fall to the Free Folk if the story necessitated it.

In Conclusion

Not only does this collection of information show that there are so many more Free Folk forts than Night’s Watch ones, it’s almost a perfect split with the Free Folk on one side of the Nightfort and the Night’s Watch on the other—and I don’t think that’s a coincidence. It’s almost as though this is being hidden from us, because it appears, at first, as though it’s slightly less stark of a divide, but that’s illusory: Iron Emmett’s presence on the East is really a castle of the spearwives, and Soren Shieldbreaker’s intended castle on the west has yet to be actually settled—as of now, it’s unmanned.

As things actually are, we end ADWD with Jon martyred and the Free Folk in command of the eastern half of the Wall, the Night’s Watch on the west, and the Nightfort empty in the middle.

[atopvisenyashill]

I love the Night’s Watch chapters for a lot of reasons but a lot of it is the dynamic between all the boys Jon befriends - Sam, Pyp, Grenn, and poor Small Paul. Sam starts off very convinced that they’re going to leave him because he’s Jon’s brother, not theirs, except Grenn just point blank refuses to leave Sam behind, and Small Paul is insistent that he can carry Sam as well.

Grenn and Small Paul even refuse when given the okay to leave Sam by another brother!

When Jon wakes up at Castle Black, the first thing he does is reach out for his brothers, and Pyp holds his hand!!!

Jon is upset with Grenn for leaving Sam behind at Craster’s but Grenn doesn’t brush it off - he is crushed by what he did, and feels guilty as all hell, and Pyp has to try to cheer him up!

Jon smiles at their antics while they’re in the middle of a long siege/battle that is overwhelming them.

And then of course, when they’re all reunited, they are so adorable

The scene when Jon is chosen as Lord Commanded has so much Pyp, and my man Dolorous Edd being the funniest person in the room as usual

i just love them all so much!! they’re brothers!!!!!!

[evax3]

What is honor compared to a woman's love? What is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms… Wind and words. Wind and words. We are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love.

AND NOW MY WATCH BEGINS Chapter 9: The Fire That Burns Against The Cold

And, as always, lots of love to @st-clements-steps and @arielchelby for the wonderful beta work 💙

[thenorthsource]

Waymar Royce

The stars began to come out. A half-moon rose.

[…]

A shadow emerged from the dark of the wood. It stood in front of Royce. Tall, it was, and gaunt [...] Its armor seemed to change color as it moved; here it was white as new-fallen snow, there black as shadow, everywhere dappled with the deep grey-green of the trees. The patterns ran like moonlight on water with every step it took.

[...] "Come no farther," the lordling warned. His voice cracked like a boy's. He threw the long sable cloak back over his shoulders, to free his arms for battle, and took his sword in both hands. The wind had stopped. It was very cold.

The Other slid forward on silent feet. In its hand was a longsword [...] It was alive with moonlight, translucent, a shard of crystal so thin that it seemed almost to vanish when seen edge-on. [...]

Ser Waymar met him bravely. "Dance with me then." He lifted his sword high over his head, defiant. His hands trembled from the weight of it, or perhaps from the cold. Yet in that moment, Will thought, he was a boy no longer, but a man of the Night's Watch.

The Other halted. Will saw its eyes; blue, deeper and bluer than any human eyes, a blue that burned like ice. [...]

They emerged silently from the shadows, twins to the first. Three of them … four … five … Ser Waymar may have felt the cold that came with them, but he never saw them, never heard them. [...]

The pale sword came shivering through the air.

Ser Waymar met it with steel. When the blades met, there was no ring of metal on metal; only a high, thin sound at the edge of hearing, like an animal screaming in pain. [...]

Behind him, to right, to left, all around him, the watchers stood patient, faceless, silent, the shifting patterns of their delicate armor making them all but invisible in the wood. [...]

Again and again the swords met, [...] Ser Waymar was panting from the effort now, his breath steaming in the moonlight. His blade was white with frost; the Other's danced with pale blue light.

Then Royce's parry came a beat too late. The pale sword bit through the ringmail beneath his arm. The young lord cried out in pain. [...]

The Other said something in a language that Will did not know; his voice was like the cracking of ice on a winter lake, and the words were mocking.

Ser Waymar Royce found his fury [...] and he came up snarling, lifting the frost-covered longsword with both hands and swinging it around in a flat sidearm slash with all his weight behind it. The Other's parry was almost lazy.

When the blades touched, the steel shattered.

A scream echoed through the forest night, and the longsword shivered into a hundred brittle pieces, the shards scattering like a rain of needles. Royce went to his knees, shrieking, and covered his eyes. Blood welled between his fingers.

The watchers moved forward together, as if some signal had been given. Swords rose and fell, [...] Will closed his eyes. Far beneath him, he heard their voices and laughter sharp as icicles.

[…]

Will rose. Ser Waymar Royce stood over him. […] A shard from his sword transfixed the [...] pupil of his left eye.

[winterprince601]

no one:

literally not a single person in castle black:

sam and jon, within hours of knowing each other: here is my tragic backstory. oh my god our tragic backstories are narrative parallels. are we best friends? i think yes.

[laurellerual]

Samwell Tarly as the Page of Pentacles

A Tarot of Ice and Fire @toadpeee

[jonsnowunemploymentera]

There's something about this sequence of figures that gives me pause.

Those old histories are full of kings who reigned for hundreds of years, and knights riding around a thousand years before there were knights. You know the tales, Brandon the Builder, Symeon Star-Eyes, Night’s King … we say that you’re the nine-hundred-and-ninety-eighth Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, but the oldest list I’ve found shows six hundred seventy-four commanders […] Jon II, ADWD

GRRM is such a meticulous writer that I’m inclined to think there’s a reason why these three figures, in particular, are mentioned. And there’s a reason why they seem to culminate in Jon.

Brandon the Builder

Though Jon does not carry the Stark name, he carries their legacy, one that dates back to the Long Night. For he now holds the combined titles of King of Winter...

Jon is the only brother that remains to me. Should I die without issue, I want him to succeed me as King in the North.  Catelyn V, ASoS

“I am the Lord of Winterfell,” Jon screamed. Jon XII, ADWD

...and Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.

So Jon Snow took the wineskin from his hand and had a swallow. But only one. The Wall was his, the night was dark, and he had a king to face.  Jon XII, ASoS

Now he was a man grown and the Wall was his, yet all he had were doubts. He could not even seem to conquer those. Jon VII, ADWD

This combination of legacies—the Wall’s chief steward and a king in the north—coincidentally parallels the infamous Night’s King, who may or may not have been a Stark as well (but we’ll get to that later).

But more than leadership, Jon’s inheritance may lie in magic itself. The Wall, imbued with the magic that Brandon the Builder wove into its foundation, does more than stand as a barrier. It affects those who stay within its shadow, e.g., Maester Aemon and Melisandre. But no other character has as deep a connection to the Wall’s magical properties as Jon Snow:

“Every man who walks the earth casts a shadow on the world. Some are thin and weak, others long and dark. You should look behind you, Lord Snow. The moon has kissed you and etched your shadow upon the ice twenty feet tall.”  Jon glanced over his shoulder. The shadow was there, just as she had said, etched in moonlight against the Wall.  Jon VII, ADWD

The connection runs so deep that the Wall seems to reflect Jon himself, almost like a mirror:

Jon had given his chief captive the largest cell, a pail to shit in, enough furs to keep him from freezing, and a skin of wine. It took the guards some time to open his cell, as ice had formed inside the lock. Rusted hinges screamed like damned souls when Wick Whittlestick yanked the door wide enough for Jon to slip through. A faint fecal odor greeted him, though less overpowering than he'd expected. Even shit froze solid in such bitter cold. Jon Snow could see his own reflection dimly inside the icy walls. Jon X, ADWD

The Wall's dual properties—functioning as both a mirror and a shield—bring Serwyn of the Mirror Shield to mind, who is positioned as a narrative parallel to Symeon Star-Eyes.

Symeon Star Eyes

Like Brandon the Builder, Symeon Star-Eyes has been celebrated for thousands of years, even being co-opted by the Andals as a knight, despite living long before chivalry came to the Seven Kingdoms. This highlights a fascinating parallel with Jon, a knight who isn’t one in truth.

According to legend, Symeon lost his eyes (though we’re not told how), and afterwards, he placed star sapphires in the empty sockets.

“Symeon Star-Eyes,” Luwin said as he marked numbers in a book. “When he lost his eyes, he put star sapphires in the empty sockets, orso the singers claim. Bran, that is only a story, like the tales of Florian the Fool. A fable from the Age of Heroes.” The maester tsked. “You must put these dreams aside, they will only break your heart.”  Bran VII, AGoT

These sapphire eyes evoke creatures of ice, often distinguished by their blue eyes which shine as brightly as the stars. This includes the Others:

“What gods?” Jon was remembering that they’d seen no boys in Craster’s Keep, nor men either, save Craster himself.  “The cold gods,” she said. “The ones in the night. The white shadows.” […] “What color are their eyes?” he asked her. “Blue. As bright as blue stars, and as cold.” Jon III, ACoK

Their wights:

And suddenly Jon was back in the Lord Commander’s Tower again. A severed hand was climbing his calf and when he pried it off with the point of his longsword, it lay writhing, fingers opening and closing. The dead man rose to his feet, blue eyes shining in that gashed and swollen face. Ropes of torn flesh hung from the great wound in his belly, yet there was no blood. Jon III, ACoK

The corpse queen, who may or may not have been a female Other:

A woman was his downfall; a woman glimpsed from atop the Wall, with skin as white as the moon and eyes like blue stars. Bran IV, ASoS

And, the legendary ice dragons:

Of all the queer and fabulous denizens of the Shivering Sea, however, the greatest are the ice dragons. These colossal beasts, many times larger than the dragons of Valyria, are said to be made of living ice, with eyes of pale blue crystal and vast translucent wings through which the moon and stars can be glimpsed as they wheel across the sky. Whereas common dragons (if any dragon can truly be said to be common) breathe flame, ice dragons supposedly breathe cold, a chill so terrible that it can freeze a man solid in half a heartbeat. The Shivering Sea, The World of Ice and Fire

Given the scant information about him, we don’t know who—or what—Symeon Star-Eyes was. Yet, through his eyes, he holds a connection to the North and its ice magic, a legacy Jon has a share in.

Both Jon and Symeon Star-Eyes are Other-adjacent; Symeon with his blue eyes which shine as stars and Jon with his black armor made of ice.

“Snow,” an eagle cried, as foemen scuttled up the ice like spiders. Jon was armored in black ice […] Jon XII, ADWD

A shadow emerged from the dark of the wood. It stood in front of Royce. Tall, it was, and gaunt and hard as old bones, with flesh pale as milk. Its armor seemed to change color as it moved; here it was white as new-fallen snow, there black as shadow, everywhere dappled with the deep grey-green of the trees. The patterns ran like moonlight on water with every step it took. Prologue, AGoT

Holistically, Jon and Symeon’s associations with these creatures might be positioning them as figures with the ability to leverage northern magic—much like Bran the Builder and his ice Wall.

It’s quite intriguing how the Wall serves as a conduit through which Jon is linked to various elements of Northern mysticism. Symeon’s blue eyes are not only reminiscent of the Others but also share similarities with the Wall itself.

Finally he looked north. He saw the Wall shining like blue crystal [...] Bran III, AGoT

By the time Jon left the armory, it was almost midday. The sun had broken through the clouds. He turned his back on it and lifted his eyes to the Wall, blazing blue and crystalline in the sunlight. Even after all these weeks, the sight of it still gave him the shivers. Centuries of windblown dirt had pocked and scoured it, covering it like a film, and it often seemed a pale grey, the color of an overcast sky … but when the sun caught it fair on a bright day, it shone, alive with light, a colossal blue-white cliff that filled up half the sky.  Jon III, AGoT

Earlier, I noted that the Wall serves a dual function, acting as both a mirror and a shield for Jon. It was then that I referenced Ser Serwyn of the Mirror Shield.

Like Symeon Star-Eyes, Serwyn was a First Man whose legend was later co-opted by the Andals. Songs often portray him as a knight, though he existed long before knighthood came to Westeros. But Serwyn's legend goes even further, for later traditions cast him as a knight of the Kingsguard.

And besides the legendary kings and the hundreds of kingdoms from which the Seven Kingdoms were born, stories of such as Symeon Star-Eyes, Serwyn of the Mirror Shield, and other heroes have become fodder for septons and singers alike. Did such heroes once exist? It may be so. But when the singers number Serwyn of the Mirror Shield as one of the Kingsguard—an institution that was only formed during the reign of Aegon the Conqueror—we can see why it is that few of these tales can ever be trusted.The septons who first wrote them down took what details suited them and added others, and the singers changed them—sometimes beyond all recognition—for the sake of a warm place in some lord's hall. In such a way does some longdead First Man become a knight who follows the Seven and guards the Targaryen kings thousands of years after he lived (if he ever did).The legion of boys and youths made ignorant of the past history of Westeros by these foolish tales cannot be numbered. Ancient History: The Age of Heroes

Serwyn of the Mirror Shield’s most significant act was the slaying of the dragon Urrax, which he accomplished by blinding the beast.

Legend has it that during the Age of Heroes, Serwyn of the Mirror Shield slew the dragon Urrax by crouching behind a shield so polished that the beast saw only his own reflection. By this ruse, the hero crept close enough to drive a spear through the dragon’s eye, earning the name by which we know him still. Fire & Blood

Since Serwyn was a First Man who lived during the Age of Heroes, I doubt that Urrax was one of the fire-breathing dragons from the Valyrian Empire, which came to be much later. I wonder, then, if Urrax was an ice dragon—and if Serwyn struck out its crystal-blue eye.

I find it fascinating that Serwyn used a spear to remove a dragon’s eye, while Symeon Star-Eyes was said to wield a point-tipped staff. These weapons, both tied to the theme of sight, suggest a deeper connection between these figures, even if we don’t know exactly when they lived or if their paths intersected. What’s particularly telling is that Sam is cut off—by Jon, no less—before he can finish his thoughts on the distortion of history, and how much of it has been lost, obscured, or inaccurate…

Until we know more, we can only speculate. But the thread spins back to Symeon, whose eyes were as blue as the ice dragons’, and Jon Snow, who often compares his blue ice Wall to those legendary creatures.

The road beneath the Wall was as dark and cold as the belly of an ice dragon and as twisty as a serpent. Jon VIII, ADWD

The snowfall was light today, a thin scattering of flakes dancing in the air, but the wind was blowing from the east along the Wall, cold as the breath of the ice dragon in the tales Old Nan used to tell.  Jon X, ADWD

This links back to Serwyn, whose mirror shield, used to slay what may have been an ice monster, parallels Jon’s Wall of ice.

But Serwyn of the Mirror Shield is not the only narrative parallel to Symeon Star-Eyes. Many times, Symeon is mentioned alongside another knight, one who actually bore the white cloak of the Kingsguard: Prince Aemon the Dragonknight.

“True knights would never harm women and children.” The words rang hollow in her ears even as she said them.  “True knights.” The queen seemed to find that wonderfully amusing. “No doubt you’re right. So why don’t you just eat your broth like a good girl and wait for Symeon Star-Eyes and Prince Aemon the Dragonknight to come rescue you, sweetling. I’m sure it won’t be very long now.” Sansa V, ACoK

“Wylla.” Lord Wyman smiled. “Did you see how brave she was? Even when I threatened to have her tongue out, she reminded me of the debt White Harbor owes to the Starks of Winterfell, a debt that can never be repaid. Wylla spoke from the heart, as did Lady Leona. Forgive her if you can, my lord. She is a foolish, frightened woman, and Wylis is her life. Not every man has it in him to be Prince Aemon the Dragonknight or Symeon Star-Eyes, and not every woman can be as brave as my Wylla and her sister Wynafryd … who did know, yet played her own part fearlessly.  Davos IV, ADWD

There’s an intriguing duality of ice and fire in Symeon Star-Eyes being mentioned alongside the Dragonknight. Jon stands to inherit elements of both their legacies: as a First Man like Symeon, he has a connection to the ice magic of the North, and like Aemon the Dragonknight, he embodies the roles of Valyrian prince, a warrior of fire, and a commander of knights all at once.

This particular aspect of one hero having multiple faces, so to speak, lends itself to other fascinating groupings:

Dunk stared at the grassy lists and the empty chairs on the viewing stand and pondered his chances. One victory was all he needed; then he could name himself one of the champions of Ashford Meadow, if only for an hour. The old man had lived nigh on sixty years and had never been a champion. It is not too much to hope for, if the gods are good. He thought back on all the songs he had heard, songs of blind Symeon Star-Eyes and noble Serwyn of the Mirror Shield, of Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, Ser Ryam Redywne, and Florian the Fool. They had all won victories against foes far more terrible than any he would face. But they were great heroes, brave men of noble birth, except for Florian. And what am I? Dunk of Flea Bottom? Or Ser Duncan the Tall? The Hedge Knight

Through Aemon the Dragonknight and Ser Ryam Redwyne, we move beyond the mythical lone heroes of the Age of Heroes—such as Serwyn and Symeon Star-Eyes, who lived thousands of years ago—and into the more recent icons of Westeros’ history. As Lord Commanders of the Kingsguard and in Ryam’s case, Hand of the King, we see a balance of legendary heroism told through songs and the real-world responsibility of leading men. They highlight the dual—and often difficult—nature of heroism that requires both valor and duty.

And Jon himself looked toward Ser Ryam and the Dragonknight, heroes who inspired his childhood games and shaped his earliest ideals of heroism and valor.

Every morning they had trained together, since they were big enough to walk; Snow and Stark, spinning and slashing about the wards of Winterfell, shouting and laughing, sometimes crying when there was no one else to see. They were not little boys when they fought, but knights and mighty heroes. “I’m Prince Aemon the Dragonknight,” Jon would call out, and Robb would shout back, “Well, I’m Florian the Fool.” Or Robb would say, “I’m the Young Dragon,” and Jon would reply, “I’m Ser Ryam Redwyne.”  Jon XII, ASoS

This creates a fascinating roadmap for Jon, who right now needs to save the world as a warrior (Azor Ahai) and a commander (leader of the broader night’s watch—which encompasses all men, for all cloaks and banners turn black once darkness settles in). The way the individual legacies of Serwyn, Symeon Star-Eyes, Aemon the Dragonknight, and Ser Ryam Redwyne converge in Jon Snow suggests that his journey extends beyond mere physical labor in the coming mystical war from the North.

Ser Ryam’s reign was short-lived, and his abilities as a ruler are often questioned. While some may argue that his brief and flawed tenure mirrors Jon’s time as Lord Commander, this comparison feels misplaced. Context is key! Jon quickly follows in Ser Ryam’s footsteps as a leader, becoming Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch within a chapter. Thus, his role as ruler of the realm may still lie ahead. And this naturally leads us to the final figure in Sam's sequence of legends: the infamous Night’s King.

The Night’s King

So far, we’ve explored the parallels Jon shares with figures celebrated for their valor. But in Martin’s world, nothing is black and white. While Brandon the Builder and Symeon Star-Eyes are remembered as heroes, the Night’s King introduces a grey area—showing that reputation, especially over time, exists on a spectrum.

I often hesitate to position Jon as a Night’s King figure, largely because the fandom tends to approach this idea from a one-dimensional lens, often portraying him as a tyrannical villain. Such a framing completely misses the complexity of Jon's arc. He has always been a hero, and while he may forsake certain vows, like the Night’s King of legend, he does so out of necessity, not selfish ambition. His journey has been about redefining what it means to protect the realm, even if that means stepping outside the bounds of traditional 'honor'.

In ASoS, Jon begins to grasp the idea of a ‘bastard’s honor’—a flexible moral code that defies society’s rigid expectations. Like his father, who stained his honor to save his sister’s son, or Jaime Lannister, who became a kingslayer to protect King's Landing, Jon learns that true honor sometimes means defying societal norms. Doing the right thing may force him to break from the Night’s Watch’s rigid vows, especially when they no longer serve the greater good.

Jon’s evolving understanding of honor reaches a new complexity in ADWD, as he navigates what it means to lead a ‘neutral’ institution that ultimately relies on the southern lords for resources—especially the Boltons and Lannisters. The Boltons, who now occupy Winterfell, have betrayed the true meaning of the castle as a protector of the North. Winterfell—'where winter fell'—is in enemy hands, with the Boltons as human monsters in the South, mirroring the mythical threats Jon faces from the North. Meanwhile, the Lannisters, still claiming to be 'Protector of the Realm', have done more harm than good.

This balancing act between neutrality and political involvement reaches its breaking point in Jon’s final ADWD chapter, when he makes the fateful decision to march south against Ramsay Bolton. The result is mutiny and his assassination. But this is not where his story ends—he will return, and his resurrection will force him to reflect on what it truly means to be a ‘defender of the realm'. Jon's choice—a rejection of neutrality—will kickstart a decisive shift in his arc, as he begins to involve himself in the affairs of his Stark family, further linking him to the legacy of the Night’s King, who was likely a son of Winterfell as well.

As Jon was resolute in marching south in part due to Arya, so too was the Night’s King enticed to break his vows for a daughter of the North.

As the sun began to set the shadows of the towers lengthened and the wind blew harder, sending gusts of dry dead leaves rattling through the yards. The gathering gloom put Bran in mind of another of Old Nan’s stories, the tale of Night’s King. He had been the thirteenth man to lead the Night’s Watch, she said; a warrior who knew no fear. “And that was the fault in him,” she would add, “for all men must know fear.” A woman was his downfall; a woman glimpsed from atop the Wall, with skin as white as the moon and eyes like blue stars. Fearing nothing, he chased her and caught her and loved her, though her skin was cold as ice, and when he gave his seed to her he gave his soul as well. Bran IV, ASoS

Jon’s 'corpse queen' can take many forms, but Arya is the strongest parallel if we see her as a catalyst for major change.

While Arya is no Other, she shares Jon’s Northern roots and strong magical ties. In many ways, she’s a reimagined 'corpse queen'—a 'bitch from the seventh hell' who is becoming an agent of death, bonded to a direwolf named after a witch-queen.

But the theme of a woman presenting temptation to this king of the night doesn’t end with Arya, for Melisandre tempts Jon time and time again.

In the shadow of the Wall, the direwolf brushed up against his fingers. For half a heartbeat the night came alive with a thousand smells, and Jon Snow heard the crackle of the crust breaking on a patch of old snow. Someone was behind him, he realized suddenly. Someone who smelled warm as a summer day. When he turned he saw Ygritte. She stood beneath the scorched stones of the Lord Commander’s Tower, cloaked in darkness and in memory. The light of the moon was in her hair, her red hair kissed by fire. When he saw that, Jon’s heart leapt into his mouth. “Ygritte,” he said. “Lord Snow.” The voice was Melisandre’s. Surprise made him recoil from her. “Lady Melisandre.” He took a step backwards. “I mistook you for someone else.” At night all robes are grey. Yet suddenly hers were red. He did not understand how he could have taken her for Ygritte. She was taller, thinner, older, though the moonlight washed years from her face. Mist rose from her nostrils, and from pale hands naked to the night. “You will freeze your fingers off,” Jon warned. […] Jon glanced over his shoulder. The shadow was there, just as she had said, etched in moonlight against the Wall. A girl in grey on a dying horse, he thought. Coming here, to you. Arya. He turned back to the red priestess. Jon could feel her warmth. She has power. The thought came unbidden, seizing him with iron teeth, but this was not a woman he cared to be indebted to, not even for his little sister. […] “You do not believe me. You will. The cost of that belief will be three lives. A small price to pay for wisdom, some might say … but not one you had to pay. Remember that when you behold the blind and ravaged faces of your dead. And come that day, take my hand.” The mist rose from her pale flesh, and for a moment it seemed as if pale, sorcerous flames were playing about her fingers. “Take my hand,” she said again, “and let me save your sister.” Jon VI, ADWD

Melisandre, with her foreign magic and public sacrifices to her terrifying red god, is deeply mistrusted by the Night’s Watch brothers. And Jon’s growing association with her, as many suspect a sexual relationship, contributes to his rapidly declining reputation. Though he has thus far rejected Mel’s advances, Jon will come to realize through death that he should have leaned into her power. She warned him of 'daggers in the dark', but he ignored her and lost his life for it. Now, her blood magic may be the key to bringing him back, and it could be through this that Jon 'loses his soul'—just as the Night’s King did long ago—by becoming one of the undead.

But there is still a third woman who may take on the role of Jon’s 'corpse queen': Val, the wildling princess.

When they emerged north of the Wall, through a thick door made of freshly hewn green wood, the wildling princess paused for a moment to gaze out across the snow-covered field where King Stannis had won his battle. Beyond, the haunted forest waited, dark and silent. The light of the half-moon turned Val’s honey-blond hair a pale silver and left her cheeks as white as snow. She took a deep breath. “The air tastes sweet.” Jon VIII, ADWD

They look as though they belong together. Val was clad all in white; white woolen breeches tucked into high boots of bleached white leather, white bearskin cloak pinned at the shoulder with a carved weirwood face, white tunic with bone fastenings. Her breath was white as well … but her eyes were blue, her long braid the color of dark honey, her cheeks flushed red from the cold. It had been a long while since Jon Snow had seen a sight so lovely. Jon XI, ADWD

Unlike his aversion to Melisandre, Jon is drawn to Val. While Mel represents temptation toward a foreign power, Val is Jon’s anchor to the North—icy and rooted in the old magic. Interestingly, both are linked to royalty: Mel, once a slave, is seen as Stannis' true queen, while Val, a wildling, is still called a princess. In this way, both evoke the idea of the corpse queen—a woman outside Westerosi norms, yet still recognized as a queen.

Beyond his relationships with these women, Jon’s arc in Dance is a delicate balance between his duties as Lord Commander and the actions of a King in the North. By letting the wildlings south of the Wall and arranging marriage alliances, Jon blurs the lines of a neutral institution, fueling the black brothers’ dissatisfaction and leading to their mutiny. This duality within him—blurring the lines between the Watch, Winterfell, and the wildlings—parallels his growing association with the Night's King.

But unlike the Night’s King, who aligned with the Others and forsook his vows, Jon’s prophetic dream (Jon XII, ADWD) suggests he may have to become king to save the realm. This once again highlights the need for a more flexible moral code.

… and woke with a raven pecking at his chest. “Snow,” the bird cried. Jon swatted at it. The raven shrieked its displeasure and flapped up to a bedpost to glare down balefully at him through the predawn gloom. The day had come. It was the hour of the wolf. Soon enough the sun would rise, and four thousand wildlings would come pouring through the Wall. Madness. Jon Snow ran his burned hand through his hair and wondered once again what he was doing. Once the gate was opened there would be no turning back. It should have been the Old Bear to treat with Tormund. It should have been Jaremy Rykker or Qhorin Halfhand or Denys Mallister or some other seasoned man. It should have been my uncle. It was too late for such misgivings, though. Every choice had its risks, every choice its consequences. He would play the game to its conclusion. He rose and dressed in darkness, as Mormont’s raven muttered across the room. “Corn,” the bird said, and, “King,” and, “Snow, Jon Snow, Jon Snow.” That was queer. The bird had never said his full name before, as best Jon could recall. Jon XII, ADWD

Jon waking from this glimpse of destiny during the hour of the wolf speaks volumes. This period, marking the darkest part of the night before dawn, is a fitting symbol for Jon as he stands atop the Wall, battling the creatures of darkness. It also recalls Cregan Stark’s brief but pivotal tenure as Hand of the King, when he resettled the realm after a devastating war. How Jon’s own rule will unfold is uncertain—will he reign as King of Winter before stepping aside, in line with the Oak King and Holly King myth, or serve as regent to a young king, like Cregan and Ser Ryam did?

Whatever path he takes will redefine the legacy of the Night’s King. It will coincide with his role as a 'corn king'—a figure who symbolizes the cyclical turning of the seasons, from winter to spring, from death to life. Jon will be a force for good, a symbol of hope. This theme of renewal also connects him to Brandon the Builder, a figure defined by creation and the promise of new beginnings.

Jon’s journey could encompass many roles: the lone hero like Symeon Star-Eyes, the necessary but harsh leader during the Long Night like the Night’s King, or the creator of a new era like Brandon the Builder. His story will come full circle, and perhaps he will stand as the 1000th Lord Commander when it does, marking a new chapter in the legacy of the Watch—and the realm itself.

[classicasongoficeandfire]

Jon Snow Returns to Camp by Krista A. Leemhuis

[hewantshisbrideback]

Different Roads: Castle Black

So cold, he thought, remembering the warm halls of Winterfell, where the hot waters ran through the walls like blood through a man's body.There was scant warmth to be found in Castle Black; the walls were cold here, and the people colder. No one had told him the Night's Watch would be like this; no one except Tyrion Lannister. The dwarf had given him the truth on the road north, but by then it had been too late. Jon wondered if his father had known what the Wall would be like. He must have, he thought; that only made it hurt the worse. Even his uncle had abandoned him in this cold place at the end of the world. [...] Three days after their arrival, Jon had heard that Benjen Stark was to lead a half-dozen men on a ranging into the haunted forest. That night he sought out his uncle in the great timbered common hall and pleaded to go with him. Benjen refused him curtly. "This is not Winterfell," he told him as he cut his meat with fork and dagger. "On the Wall, a man gets only what he earns. You're no ranger, Jon, only a green boy with the smell of summer still on you." ❦ Jon III, A Game of Thrones