4,000 wildlings will come through the wall today. As hostages come through, Jon takes Tormunds son Dryn as his page. Jon says the Horn of Joramun was burned, Tormund says they never found the real horn
Wildlings ring their camps with fire to keep back the Others. They get everyone through by nightfall.
He gets a letter from Cotter Pyke at Hardhome, Braavosi would only take women &chdren, he is stranded, “dead things in the wood and the water”
Discussions with Tormund start off rough, but they come to terms. In 3 days the 4000 wildlings will come through the gate
Val offers to play the role of Princess &help Jon. They go to Queen Selyse, who is displeased at the compromise. Shireen‘s greyscale upsets Val, she wants the baby moved away from Shireen, calling her the dead girl
Many of the Brothers do not support Jon‘s plan
He remembers again the prophecy
Melisandre leads the prayer as Alys & the Magnar of Thenns are wed.
After Alys had arrived, Jon took Cregan Karstark& his men prisoner.
Melisandre has been unable to see Stannis or Mance in the flames, all she sees is Jon, “daggers in the dark”
He speaks with Cregan, &joins the feast, but seeing it he worries about shortages. Alys, a woman wed now, with a wildling army plans to take back the Karhold.
Val returns w/Tormund
Jon meets Queen Selyse, Princess Shireen &Tycho from the Iron Bank. Selyse demands to stay at Nightfort feeling Eastwatch will be attacked &unsafe for Shireen
Tycho tells Jon that Lannisters have stopped making payments, the debt is owned by the Iron Throne &whoever sits on it. Jon makes a deal for Tycho‘s ships &gold to feed men until spring
Ser Axell asks to see Val
A highborn girl arrives on a dying horse. His hopes build as he thinks of Arya..
Jon goes beyond the Wall to take new recruits to the weirwood. Wildlings are camped nearby, Jon says he does not want battle here, most of them are wounded, Jon encourages them to shelter at the Wall but they heard wildlings were burned. He curses Melisandre &promises them safety
He has a letter from Stannis telling of Bolton‘s plans for Arya & Winterfell. Jon tries to reconcile Arya‘s situation with Melisandre‘s vision &what he is doing to help
Stannis has marched South while Jon travels to the freefolk at the Wall, but the food shortages bring short tempers. Jon sets his terms, reminds them of their common enemy &has 63 recruits. But they still need training &feeding.
The Wall will run out of food if they have to keep feeding Stannis‘s men &wildlings. Jon has no immediate solution so they cut back rations. Rattleshirt has been bound to Melisandre. Jon advises on battleplans, he draws the line at arming them. Stannis again implores Jon to take his fathers name &Winterfell. He declines. Jon send Stannis to the mountain clans for more men &after the ironmen at Deepwood Motte. Wildlings will stay at the Wall.
Mance is brought forth, Jon‘s pleas for his life have been unheeded. Mance, along with the horn, is burned. Stannis &Melisandre make a show of power to the Freefolk, enticing them to “come in to the light”. Most do, though some run for the woods.
Later, Jon admires Val &reflects that he could have had her, Winterfell &his fathers name. He makes his rounds. Climbs into bed thinking this will be his lot until the end of his days.
Gilly comes to see Jon, he talks to her about Dalla &Mance‘s son. She begs Jon to save him, he says he can‘t but that SHE can. She cries that she will take both, but Jon says that won‘t work. He promises if Dalla‘s boy burns, her son will die too
He speaks with Sam, Sam &Aemon are being sent South as well while he repeats a mantra inspired by Aemon
He commands Slynt to Greyguard where wildlings climbed the Wall. Slynt refuses. Jon takes his head.
Ghost is locked away due to the skinchanger‘s boar, highly agitated
He‘s run out of people to give him counsel who don‘t have an agenda.
They move Cregan Karstark from his cell, the dead men have stayed dead. 2mo
Wun Wun has killed a knight, Melisandre‘s prophecy unfolds. He calls for Ghost -still locked away - &feels the Cold. 2mo