A Game of Thrones-Chapter 60

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Jon VIII
A Game of Thrones chapter
AGameOfThrones.jpg
POV Jon
Page 544 US HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
Jon VII
Catelyn IX  ← Jon VIII →  Daenerys VII

Jon IX

Jon, who is having nightmares of fighting a Wight with his father’s face, is presented with the House Mormont Valyrian steel sword by Lord Commander Mormont. Jon attempt to refuse, but the commander tells him is it a little enough thing for a life. After leaving the commander, Jon gets a message that Maester Aemon wants to see him. The maester knows that Jon is divided by family loyalties, and tell him that he also had to resist the pull of family loyalties since he is Aemon Targaryen, son of King Maekar.

Synopsis

Jon responds that he is well when asked by Lord Commander Mormont. A Wight had tried to kill the Lord Commander, and the Lord Commander’s beard had been burned, and the commander had hacked the rest off. Jon had been so badly burned that one hand is swathed in bandages halfway to the elbow, and has been given Milk of the poppy for the pain; the Maester Aemon has stated it will be as good as new except for the scars. When he could sleep, the nightmares have been somehow the worse; the corpse he fought had his father’s face.

The search has found no sign of his uncle. Two of the Wights had been bad, and they have only encountered two, but both the commander and Maester Aemon are sure there are more. The other Wright had been hacked to pieces, but not before killing Ser Jaremy Rykker and four other men (this is later in the chapter). Cutting off its head had killed it.

Jon states there was a bird last night, saying he was hoping there was something about his father. The commander tells Jon that he would have told him if there was a message about his father; Ser Barristan Selmy has been relieved from the Kingsguard and is now wanted for treason, and had killed two Gold Cloaks; City Watch of King's Landing. It was stupid to send Gold Cloaks against a knight with the renown of Ser Barristan the bold. He goes on to say that they have white shadows in the woods, an undead stalking the halls, and a boy sitting on the throne. Grand Maester Pycelle had not included any included any news about Jon’s sisters—they only tell them what they want them to know. Jon thinks that he is only told what they want him to know—he has heard nothing of his brother Robb Stark in the south. Mormont brings out a sword, telling him that he will be ready for this. Jon is puzzled and is told to take the sword. He recognizes it as being a bastard sword (hand and a half sword) of Valyrian steel; the sword named Longclaw and has been in the Mormont family for years. The Old Bear had the pommel reworked to look like a wolfshead. Jon had dreamed of doing great deeds, and when he saves his father’s life, his father placed Ice in his hand s, but he knew it was a folly, and the memory shames him since it was not his birthright. Jon does not feel that he deserves this sword, and attempts to decline, but Mormont tells him he had earned it with is quick thinking in using fire, which quickly consumed the Wright, and saving his life. Jon accepts but thinks the Mormont is not his father—Eddard Stark is—and he dreams of Ice. When he is told its name, Jon states that wolves have claws.

Mormont tells Jon that Ser Endrew Tarth from the Shadow Tower, who will assume the duties of Master at Arms, will have to work on his two handed strokes; Ser Alliser has been sent to King's Landing with Jafer Flowers’s hand to attempt to get the boy king’s attention. The commander goes on to note that a message with an anointed high-born knight should be get more attention than that from an old crow, and it puts a thousand leagues between Jon and Ser Allister. Then the commander tells Jon that this does not mean that he approves of Jon’s actions: it takes a man to wield this sword and expects Jon to act the part. Jon agrees thinking again that it is not the blade he would have chosen, but a fine blade, and he is also freed from Ser Allister. Then the commander asks if Jon’s hand is healed enough to resume his duties and Jon states it is. Jon is sent to get the commander’s meal. As he walks he sees the guards smile, one man commenting on the sword’s quality, and another telling him he earned it. Jon is angry but cannot say why.

Outside his friends are waiting for him, wanting to see the sword. He quickly leaves them stating he has to get the commander’s supper. He was deeply affected by facing the Wright, not seen the pale glow of the blue eyes, or the cold of the fingers, nor do they know of the fighting in the Riverlands. Ghost is lying beside the door to his room. He thinks back to when he had found the direwolf hidden against the snow. He shows Ghost the pommel of the swords, stating it is him. Then Sam arrives. He does not want to see the blade, stating he had seen his father’s Valyrian steel blade, and it was so sharp he feared he might hurt one of his sisters. He then announces that Maester Aemon wants to see him. He is puzzled since it is not time for his bandages to be changed and then he accuses Sam of telling him that Sam told him. Sam tells Jon that he thinks that the maester knew anyway, that he sees things. He tells Sam that he will find him himself.

Clydas is helping the maester in the rookery when Jon arrives, and the maester tells Clydas that Jon will assist him and for Clydas to leave, and tells Jon to give the ravens the meat from a bucket. As they work, the maester explains that other birds can be trained to carry messengs, but that the Night's Watch prefers ravens. Then he tells Jon that sworn brothers do not wed, because love is the bane of honor and duty, and the Night's Watch cannot afford men with divided loyalties; they must be committed to defending the realm from darkness to the north. He tells Jon that a day comes in every man’s life when he must choose between his vows of duty and his loyalty toward his family. Jon insists that Aemon doesn’t know what it feels like to be forced into this situation, but the maester tells him that his vows have been tested three times. He reveals to Jon that he is actually Aemon Targaryen, son of King Maekar and grandson to King Daeron the Good. And he has kept his vows, and lived with the choice most of his life.

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References and Notes