125 ACOK 52 Jon VI Winter Rose

The feud between north and south, raids and rangings indistinguishable at times, is the foolish, self-destruction of a single people divided by a border.

Father’s Son: R+L=J The chapter ends with Jon questioning why he won’t kill Ygritte and asking why he won’t if he’s Ned’s son. It may foreshadow that he isn’t Ned’s son. (The song o’ the winter rose indicates Lyanna and her vanishing with Rhaegar.) Jon is reconceiving of who he will be in action, separate from social pressures, as Qhorin has allowed him to make the decision, despite giving clear orders.

• In the darker ending to the song o’ the winter rose, “Thirty years later, when Bael was King-beyond-the-Wall and led the free folk south, it was young Lord Stark who met him at the Frozen Ford...and killed him, for Bael would not harm his own son when they met sword to sword.” 747

• Longclaw isn’t ice, but Jon intends to behead Ygritte in the manner he’s seen Ned do to deserters. “He could give her a quick, clean death, at least. He was his father’s son. Wasn’t he? Wasn’t he?” 749
  

  • Red Herring: Jon’s Mother Ashara Dayne?

  • The phrase “Some woman, most of them are” is used repeatedly. Jon says “Someone had said that to him once. He did not remember who.” 745 (Donal Noye? Tyrion?)

  • '“When Lord Stark returned from the battle and his mother saw Bael's head upon his spear, she threw herself from a tower in her grief.” 747

Why Does Jon Spare Ygritte?

• Commentary on the purpose of yielding (to ransom or enslave, as we see with Arya by the Godseye) not to spare with mercy.

• “She yielded“ is an excuse. She reminded him of Arya and was hardly older than himself. He couldn’t kill her, so asked ”Will you yield?“

• It seemed wrong. He’d been the predator.

• Her argument that they are of the same blood added weight to his decision.

Enemies But One Blood

• The Night’s Watch ranging parties are hardly different than the wildling scouting parties. How is it defense to range north of the Wall anyway? Wearing all black now makes them seem like thieves in the night and Jon describes himself as a predator.

• The song o’ the winter rose is told as proof the Starks have wildling blood. The Stark son was punished by the gods for unknowingly killing his father. It is wrong for northmen and wildings to be at war.

• Qhorin disapproves of Jon having spared Ygritte. To demonstrate this, he asks her “If I fell into the hands of your people and yielded myself, what would it win me?‘ ’A slower death than elsewise.’” 748 The tit-for-tat is the excuse or its continuation.

Worse Man/Predator vs. Peaceful People Those who do what it takes to live and thrive always make themselves vulnerable to predators.

• The fire (that keeps away Others?) attracts Night’s Watch rangers. The wildling scouts have made their location plain with their fire, so the Night’s Watch ranging party Jon is a member of will climb the cliff at to kill them, though it will be a long, cruel climb by night.

• Why the Night’s Watch wear black: In 44 Jon 14 Of Two Minds, Qhorin says it’s in grief, since their purpose is to die. Now, it seems they wear black to operate at night and it makes them seem like assassins. “The black brothers moved through black shadows amidst black rocks, working their way up a steep, twisting trail as their breath frosted in the black air.” 738

• “That same windbreak allowed the black brothers to crawl within a few feet of them, creeping along on their bellies until they were looking down on the men they must kill.

• The scouts will have a horn that must not be blown. “Afterward Jon could admire the courage of the wildling who reached first for his horn instead of his blade.” 742 He gave his life for his post, just as Night’s Watch men are supposed to.

It’s a good life, even if it’s a hard life.

• Jon feels safe with the rangers, sharing a bed with them as he had with his brothers at Winterfell because of the importance of not lighting a fire means no other heat than from brothers. 737 Though the Skirling Pass is cruel, Jon is not sorry he came because of the many moments of natural beauty. 738

Training the Young to Independence Means Trusting Them

• Qhorin names the number of men, not who will climb. Stonesnake and Jon volunteer.

• Stonesnake focuses on the mission, throwing the burning brand to communicate to Qhorin they’ve succeeded, where Jon defies by taking a dangerous captive. Jon comes across as foolish, Stonesnake as serious about them staying alive.

• Stonesnake knows to pushes the bodies off the cliff where they are devoured by shadowcats before they can reanimate.

• Stonesnake argues against Jon keeping Ygritte captive, suggesting killing her, but does not override Jon and kill her himself. When Jon starts to question her, Stonesnake participates.

• Qhorin allows Jon to choose what he will do with Ygritte, instructing him to kill her, but having the party leave saying “It will go easier for him if we do not watch.” 748 Ygritte then offers Jon a place in the wildling army, trying to convince him to turn his cloak.

Captives Are Dangers

• Ygritte warns to burn the bodies of the slain or face them again. But, her advice comes across as an attempt at sabotage and may have been one.

• Repeated reference to Ygritte’s teeth as menacingly white, suggesting her as a predator.

• Ygritte knows more of the land and its dangers than Jon does. She says the shadowcats won’t bother them and seems to be honest in her assessment, but Jon has his sword drawn against a non-existant enemy and she might have used that to advantage. Stealing a Wife

• Bael steals Lord Stark’s maiden daughter as proof he’s not craven.

• Ygritte will later claim Jon stole her.

It’s All In Where You’re Standing

• Ygritte tells Jon everything south of the Wall is the south to them. “...it’s all in where you’re standing.” 745

• Ygritte describes Bael the Bard as a great raider. “Stonesnake gave a snort. ‘A murderer, a robber, and a raper is what you mean.” 745 Ygritte says that’s in where you’re standing, too. Her description of the provocation Lord Stark gave Bael sounds like Bael had been raiding villages. Stark called Bael craven. So Bael infiltrated Winterfell.

• Which Brandon? Ygritte tells the story of a song. Jon asks for facts related to its historical accuracy. “This was Brandon the Daughterless.‘ Ygritte said sharply.” 746

• “ A bard’s truth is different than yours or mine.” 747 “All the maids love Bael in them songs he wrote.” 747

Winter Rose Lyanna Lord Stark’s daughter who bore the son of Bael the Bard. The Skirling Pass The feud between north and south because of the Wall Life that can survive in an inhospitable landscape

References to Arya and Bran during Jon’s climb to kill the men of the wildling outpost

• Rips open his thumbnail as Arya did just before the beheading.

• Jon hesitates to kill Ygritte because she reminds him of Arya.

Thinks of Bran’s climbing (not of his falling) and wishes he had such courage.

References Informs 124 Theon 4 Turncloaks

• The danger of holding a spearwife captive. Osha pledges fealty to Theon, then betrays him. Stonesnake warns Jon Ygritte will kill him given half a chance. She says she yields, but at swordpoint. 742

• References to flaying: “If he (Mance Rayder) knew they’d lit a fire, he’d flay the poor bastards.

• Informs previous chapter with story of Bael the Bard: hiding in crypts of Winterfell. Flaying is the gods’ punishment for kinslaying. “...the gods hate kinslayers even when they kill unknowing...One o’ his lords peeled the skin off him and wore him for a cloak.'” 747

• Also in this chapter: Wildlings Can’t Count Armies: When Jon asks Ygritte how many wildlings Mance Rayder has in the Frost Fangs, she says “Hundreds and thousands. More than you ever saw, crow.” 744 Jon thinks, she doesn’t know how many. Later, in Dance With Dragons, I think, Jon notes that Bowen Marsh’s count is of Tormund’s numbers is more accurate than Tormund’s and that Tormund has overestimated his numbers. Sygerrik: Mance later claims he has entered Winterfell posing as a bard multiple times, even gaining access to the Great Hall during the feast for King Robert when Jon could not. He even spoke to Jon once, and cites it as proof. Setup for his infiltration as Abel. Jon’s climb foreshadows him climbing the Wall.