A Song of Ice and Fire - A Chapter a day discussion

1-Jon had fever, his leg was hurting a lot and he couldn’t stop and rest, he had to get to the Wall before the Magnar. He wonders if some of his brothers went back, and thinks of Ygritte. Even though a few times in this chapter he believes it was wrong to love her and leave her, I still don’t think he loved her. Jon got to Mole’s Town, where he got a new horse, wine and bread, and worn the people about the wildlings, and told them to go to Castle Black.

2-When Jon got to Castle Black, no sentries were there, which is not a good sign. He found Donal Noye in the armory, and I liked he smiled despite everything. Jon told Noye he was with the wildlings because Qhorin told him. Noye told him the garrison was everywhere, and Jon could tell Mance tried to spread them making some of his men show up at different places. It’s not a bad plan, and it worked. Jon said there were 120 men coming from the south. Donal said there were 40 men there, most of them cripples and weak. They don’t have much to defend themselves.

3-Ser Wynton, a very old man was now the castellan, and basically did nothing because he was just too old. I guess they named him because he was the las knight there. Ghost wasn’t there. Noye took Jon to Maester Aemon, who said Jon could tell him everything once he was stronger, but Jon said some things anyway. He told about Qhorin’s orders and that he rode with wildlings. Aemon told him about Mormont’s dead by his own men, and of course it hit Jon. He finds out so many things he missed so suddenly though. About 12 men out of the 200 came back, a really low number. Aemon said Marsh was Lord Commander now, until the choosing. Jon thinks Ser Denys Mallister from the Shadow Tower and Pyke from Eastwatch by the Sea will be options. They hated each other, I can’t remember why.

4-Aemon made Jon drink milk of the poppy before he started taking care of the wound. Jon told about the Magnar and his 100 discipline men, and how Mance didn’t find the Horn of Winter. Interesting how Aemon stopped working for just a little when he heard. I wonder if he knows something. Jon mentioned Ygritte, so he explained he broke his vows with her, and even though he explained he was following orders and was weak I think they understood, and didn’t judge him. At least I got that impression, even the first time I read the book. Then Aemon burnt Jon’s wound with the knife, which sounded so damn painful.

5-Jon fain, and when he woke up Pyp and Grenn were there. It’s so nice to see them together again! They told him about Sam being called the Slayer and why, and how they had to leave him in Craster’s because he didn’t move. Jon thinks they shouldn’t have, they were his brothers. It was a tough situation though, they were risking their lives being there, and couldn’t move Sam. Jon’s friends tried to sound cheerful and said Sam might be alive, and they don’t know he is of course.

6-While Jon slept men were send to watch the kingsroad, men were watching south from the Wall, and Maester Aemon sent letter to Eastwatch by the Sea and Shadow Tower. Maester Aemon tells him he has to rest, but Jon can’t, they have to move and he asked if Winterfell was told about all this. Aemon tells him what happened, and how his brothers are dead. His friends told Jon his brothers and Winterfell were revenged; Bolton’s son killed the ironmen and it was said he was flaying Theon. Jon says it can’t be, he saw a grey wold back in Queenstown and the wolf knew him. Of course, he can’t think with what he just heard that wolf was Summer. It’s so sad, if he only knew! Finally, Jon has a very disturbing dream about Winterfell. He was in the hot pools with Ygritte, who was trying to kiss him, but he couldn’t because his father was there looking. Then Ygritte dissolved in the water, which turned red. *SPOILERS FOR UPCOMING CHAPTER IN A STORM OF SWORDS* (view spoiler)[Maybe this references Ygritte’s death. Ned was there though, and she dissolved in the water. I don’t think Jon can see the future, maybe he knew or was afraid about her dying. (hide spoiler)]