Contents
JON — Chapter 70
Overview
Jon seeks aid from Queen Selyse to rescue thousands at Hardhome, but she refuses, and Melisandre warns his ships are doomed. Ramsay Bolton’s letter claims Stannis’s defeat and taunts Jon with demands.
Jon assigns Tormund to lead the Hardhome rescue while he rides for Winterfell, but a mutiny erupts at Castle Black: Wun Wun kills Ser Patrek amid chaos, and Bowen Marsh and others stab Jon “for the Watch.”
Summary
Jon Snow pleads with Queen Selyse to support a rescue of thousands starving at Hardhome. She refuses, insisting they should die and be “reborn,” while arranging political marriages among wildlings and her knights, including forcing Val to wed Ser Patrek. Melisandre intercepts Jon on the stairs, urging him to abandon the ranging, foretelling that all ships are lost. Jon rejects her counsel and continues planning.
Back at the armory, Ghost is agitated and Mormont’s raven shrieks “Snow.” Jon consults Bowen Marsh and Othell Yarwyck, who again oppose helping Hardhome. As a storm deepens, Jon relocates prisoners from buried ice cells and ignores the corpses. Tormund returns with fewer men than promised. A shaken Clydas delivers a letter addressed “Bastard.”
Ramsay Bolton’s message claims Stannis and his host are destroyed, boasts of Lightbringer, alleges Mance Rayder is caged, and demands Stannis’s queen, daughter, Melisandre, Val, the “wildling prince,” and Reek. Jon, accepting some truth in the taunts, decides to change plans.
In the Shieldhall, Jon announces that Tormund will lead the Hardhome rescue while he will ride south. He reads Ramsay’s letter; the hall erupts. Jon stresses the Watch will not break vows, asking volunteers to accompany him personally. Many free folk answer; Marsh and Yarwyck slip away.
Departing to inform the queen, Jon hears a scream at Hardin’s Tower. He finds Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun, wounded and enraged, tearing apart Ser Patrek of King’s Mountain. Jon orders steel sheathed and has Leathers calm the giant, but in the confusion Wick Whittlestick slashes Jon’s neck. Bowen Marsh and other brothers close in, weeping, and stab Jon repeatedly “for the Watch.” Jon collapses into the snow, feeling only the cold.
Who Appears
- Jon SnowLord Commander; plans Hardhome rescue, receives Ramsay’s taunt, assigns Tormund, vows to ride south, and is stabbed in a mutiny.
- Queen Selyse FlorentRefuses aid to Hardhome; arranges marriages with wildlings; intends to wed Val to Ser Patrek.
- Melisandre of AsshaiWarns Jon that all ships will be lost; hints at foreseen answers; later departs Shieldhall quietly.
- Tormund GiantsbaneReturns with warriors; agrees to lead the Hardhome ranging; supports Jon’s call for volunteers.
- Bowen MarshOpposes aiding Hardhome; leads conspirators and personally stabs Jon, saying “For the Watch.”
- Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun (Wun Wun)Giant wounded in a clash; kills Ser Patrek in a furious, confused outburst at Hardin’s Tower.
- Ser Patrek of King’s MountainQueen’s knight betrothed to Val; attacks Wun Wun and is brutally killed by the giant.
- Wick WhittlestickSteward conspirator who first slashes Jon’s neck during the mutiny.
- Othell YarwyckFirst Builder; derides using wildlings; leaves Shieldhall before the mutiny.
- ClydasSteward who delivers Ramsay Bolton’s ominous letter to Jon.
- LeathersFree folk trainer; reports arrivals; tries to calm Wun Wun in the Old Tongue.
- BorroqWildling skinchanger with a giant boar; challenges Jon in Shieldhall about riding south.
- Gerrick KingsbloodWildling groomed as ‘king’ by Selyse; his daughters promised to queen’s knights.
- Axell FlorentQueen’s hand; presents Gerrick; supports Selyse’s marriage plans.
- GhostJon’s direwolf; unusually agitated before the mutiny.
- Mormont’s ravenAgitated, crying “Snow,” foreshadowing turmoil.