A Song of Ice and Fire, #3
A Storm of Swords
by George R. R. Martin
Contents
CHAPTER 69: JON
Overview
Exhausted defenders at the Wall repel Mance Rayder’s turtle when Jon Snow drops frozen gravel barrels, saving the outer gate. That night, Janos Slynt arrives from Eastwatch, seizes authority, and convenes a hostile hearing. With Rattleshirt’s incriminating tale, Slynt brands Jon an oathbreaker and orders him to an ice cell.
Summary
Jon Snow and a handful of weary brothers endure relentless wildling pressure as axes and saws fell trees for Mance Rayder’s siege. Watching through Maester Aemon’s Myrish eye, Jon notes Dalla’s near term, Val’s presence, Tormund and his sons working, and Varamyr with his shadowcat. The wildlings finish a wheeled, hide-covered battering ram—the turtle—aimed to shelter axemen at the gate.
When the turtle advances, Jon orders fire arrows, scorpions, and catapults, but wet hides blunt flame and bolts. Anticipating the assault, Jon deploys a stratagem: barrels of crushed stone pre-frozen into solid masses. As the turtle reaches the Wall, Grenn, Owen, Kegs, and others push the frozen barrels over. They smash through the turtle’s front, splintering the frame and routing the men beneath, saving the gate for the day.
After assigning Pyp the watch, Jon descends for brief rest aided by dreamwine. He wakes at night to be seized by Eastwatch men and brought before Maester Aemon, Septon Cellador, Ser Wynton Stout, Ser Alliser Thorne, and Janos Slynt, who declares himself in command until Bowen Marsh returns.
Slynt accuses Jon of oathbreaking, desertion, and bedding a wildling. Jon admits loving Ygritte but insists he infiltrated the wildlings on Qhorin Halfhand’s orders. Rattleshirt is produced, battered but defiant, and claims Jon begged for his life and personally slew Qhorin after a wolf ripped the ranger apart.
Jon maintains Qhorin commanded him to do whatever was asked, expecting to be forced to kill him. Maester Aemon defends Jon’s valor and leadership in holding the Wall after Donal Noye’s death, but Slynt dismisses it, denigrates the Starks, and pronounces Jon for an ice cell. Provoked by Ser Alliser’s taunts, Jon grabs Thorne by the throat before Eastwatch men pull him off, sealing Slynt’s charge that Jon is a wildling sympathizer.
Who Appears
- Jon SnowCommands the Wall’s defense; destroys the turtle with frozen gravel; later accused by Janos Slynt and ordered to an ice cell.
- Janos SlyntArrives from Eastwatch, claims command, conducts a hostile hearing, and orders Jon confined for desertion and oathbreaking.
- Ser Alliser ThorneSupports Slynt, mocks Jon, accuses him of treachery; is throttled briefly by Jon during the confrontation.
- Maester AemonDefends Jon’s loyalty and leadership, recalling his role in holding the Wall after Donal Noye’s death.
- Rattleshirt (Lord of Bones)Brought in fettered; testifies that Jon slew Qhorin to join the wildlings, incriminating Jon.
- Pyp (Pypar)Keeps morale with japes; helps defend the Wall; left in charge of the watch while Jon rests.
- GrennAssists Jon; helps push frozen gravel barrels that smash the turtle.
- Owen the OafHelps operate engines and roll frozen barrels to crush the turtle.
- KegsMans scorpions; helps tip frozen barrels to destroy the turtle.
- SatinOn the Wall’s defense; fires quarrels at fleeing wildlings after the turtle breaks.
- HorseSpots the turtle’s advance; aids with rocks and keeps Jon from leaning out dangerously.
- MullyDrops rocks on wildlings; assists in the Wall’s defense during the turtle assault.
- Septon CelladorNotes Jon took vows before a heart tree; present at the hearing.
- Ser Wynton StoutElderly knight present during the proceeding, largely passive.
- Ser GlendonEastwatch man who seizes Jon and kicks Rattleshirt; enforcer for Slynt.
- Tormund GiantsbaneSeen assisting with the turtle’s preparation and directing work in the wildling camp.
- DallaMance’s partner, heavily pregnant; seen tending a fire outside the king’s tent.
- ValDalla’s sister; seen milking a goat near Mance’s tent.
- Varamyr SixskinsWildling skinchanger observed walking with his shadowcat near the camp.