Contents
JON — Chapter 36
Overview
Jon leads a risky oath-taking at the weirwood grove, discovers starving wildlings and a giant, and de-escalates a near fight to bring them safely to Castle Black along with two corpses for the ice cells. A letter from Stannis announces Deepwood Motte’s capture and a march on Winterfell, sharpening Jon’s doubts about Arya and his reliance on Melisandre and Mance.
Summary
With rare clear weather, Jon decides the time is right to take six recruits to the weirwood grove north of the Wall for their vows, despite Bowen Marsh’s warnings. Jon assembles an escort of seasoned rangers with dragonglass and brings Ghost, trusting the direwolf’s senses over caution.
On the way, Jon discusses tensions at Hardin’s Tower, his plan to reopen abandoned castles garrisoned by free folk, and the problem of the Magnar of Thenn. Near the grove, scouts report wildlings present, including a giant. Jon advances on foot to avoid bloodshed and, after a tense standoff, Leathers speaks the Old Tongue and convinces the giant to yield, invoking the shared sanctity of the trees.
Jon finds nine wildlings—two dead, several starving and frostbitten, a wounded Thenn, a Hornfoot man, and a mother with a child—who had fled Stannis’s rout and gathered to die. He promises safety at Castle Black and denies the burnings they feared. The recruits then kneel among the nine weirwoods and speak their vows; Jon prays for their strength and thinks of Arya and his duty.
The return is slow: the woman and elders ride double, the Hornfoot man and a crone are tied to garrons, and the two corpses are brought along at Jon’s insistence for the ice cells. At Castle Black, Jon assigns Leathers to manage the giant and sends the living for food and care, while securing the corpses against reanimation.
A letter from Stannis arrives: Deepwood Motte is taken with help from Alysane Mormont; northern forces rally; and Stannis plans to march on Winterfell to stop Roose Bolton and save Jon’s half sister from marriage to Ramsay. Jon weighs the risks, doubts Arya is truly there, and questions his reliance on Melisandre’s visions and Mance’s mission, feeling the weight of command and uncertainty.
Who Appears
- Jon SnowLord Commander; leads recruits to the grove, diffuses a clash with a giant, rescues wildlings, and weighs Stannis’s letter and Arya’s fate.
- GhostJon’s direwolf; scouts ahead, heightens Jon’s senses, and stands ready during the tense grove encounter.
- Iron EmmettMaster-at-arms; leads the escort, oversees recruits taking vows, questions hauling corpses back.
- Dolorous Edd TollettJon’s steward; assists preparations, opens the gate on return, provides sardonic commentary.
- Bowen MarshLord Steward; urges Jon not to go north for vows, citing danger and past losses.
- LeathersWildling recruit; speaks Old Tongue to calm the giant; later tasked to watch over him.
- Tom BarleycornRanger scout; spots the wildlings and giant at the grove; helps transport survivors back.
- Big LiddleRanger; flanks the advance to the grove and signals the Wall on return.
- SatinNew recruit; takes Night’s Watch vows at the grove and helps carry weak wildlings.
- HorseNew recruit; takes vows and helps bear wounded/elderly on the return.
- Unnamed giantStarving survivor at the grove; nearly fights the rangers, then yields and is brought to Castle Black.
- Wounded ThennWildling survivor in bronze; fears horses, limps back on foot with the column.
- Hornfoot manWildling with frostbitten bare feet; too injured to ride, tied to a garron.
- Woman with childWildling mother who feared burning by crows; accepts Jon’s protection for herself and her son.
- Stannis BaratheonVia letter: reports victory at Deepwood Motte, northern musters, and intent to march on Winterfell.