Editing Jon Snow (section)

==Recent Events==
===''A Game of Thrones''===
[[File:Magali Villeneuve JonSnowGhostpuppy.jpg|thumb|350px|Jon finds [[Ghost]], by Magali Villeneuve © Fantasy Flight Games]]

Jon accompanies his father, Lord [[Eddard Stark]], his brothers [[Robb Stark|Robb]] and [[Bran Stark|Bran]], his father's [[ward]] [[Theon Greyjoy]], and others from [[Winterfell]] to the execution of [[Gared]], a deserter from the [[Night's Watch]]. On their way back to Winterfell, Jon and Robb race ahead and find a litter of [[direwolf]] pups. When Eddard states that killing the pups quickly would forestall a painful and slow death, Jon points out that there are five pups—one for each of Eddard's legitimate children—and the direwolf is the sigil of [[House Stark]], indicating that they must be meant to have the wolves. The comparison only works out because Jon is not claiming a pup for himself, and Eddard gives in. As they leave, Jon discovers an [[w:albino|albino]] pup, cast away from its litter. He claims the pup for his own,{{Ref|AGOT|1}} eventually naming it "[[Ghost]]."{{ref|AGOT|5}}

Because he is a [[bastard]], Jon is not allowed sit with his siblings and the royal children during [[Feast in honor of King Robert's visit to Winterfell|the feast]] welcoming King [[Robert I Baratheon]] and the royal family to the [[north]], and instead sits with the [[squire]]s, further down the room. At the feast, Jon speaks with his uncle, [[Benjen Stark]], the [[First Ranger]] of the Night's Watch. When Benjen suggests that the Watch could use a man as observant as Jon, Jon quickly requests to accompany him to the [[Wall]] when he leaves, as even a bastard can rise to a position of honor there. Benjen is hesitant about having Jon join at such a young age, resulting in an argument that causes Jon to storm out. Outside, he runs into [[Tyrion Lannister]], the youngest brother of Queen [[Cersei Lannister]], who counsels him to "never forget [[bastard|what you are]]" and tells Jon to make it his strength instead.{{Ref|AGOT|5}}

Although hesitant about it at the feast, Benjen eventually approaches [[Luwin]], telling the [[maester]] that Jon had expressed interest in joining the Night's Watch. When Lord Eddard decides to accept the position as [[Hand of the King]] at [[King's Landing]], his wife, [[Catelyn Stark]], refuses to allow Jon to remain at Winterfell while Eddard is away. As Eddard feels he cannot take Jon south with him, Luwin suggests the Night's Watch for Jon, and Eddard eventually agrees. Catelyn is pleased, because as a member of the Watch Jon will never father children who might contest her grandchildren's inheritance of Winterfell.{{ref|AGOT|6}}

[[File:Lucas Durham Aryas gift.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Jon gives [[Needle]] to [[Arya Stark]], by Lucas Durham © Fantasy Flight Games]]
The decision for him to go to the Wall leaves Jon angry in the days before he is set to leave.{{Ref|AGOT|8}} After Bran falls from the [[First Keep]], the departure day is postponed, but a fortnight after Bran's accident Jon and Benjen are ready to leave Winterfell. Jon says his last goodbyes, first to the comatose Bran, then to Robb, and finally to [[Arya Stark|Arya]], to whom he gives a small, slender sword which they name [[Needle]].{{Ref|AGOT|10}}

On his way to the Wall, Jon quickly becomes disillusioned with the Night's Watch, after meeting [[Yoren]], a so-called [[wandering crow]], and his new recruits. During the journey, Jon befriends Tyrion Lannister, who had decided to travel further north to see the Wall for himself.{{Ref|AGOT|13}} 

At [[Castle Black]], Jon first remains aloof and distant, making no friends; he scorns his fellow recruits, who return the feeling, resenting him due to his attitude. Days after their arrival, Benjen leaves to lead a ranging, and while Jon requests to accompany him, Benjen refuses to allow it, leaving Jon angry. After a fight between Jon and several other recruits, Jon speaks with [[Donal Noye]], the [[armorer]] at Castle Black, who points that Jon has been a bully to the other recruits. When a letter arrives from Winterfell informing Jon that Bran, though crippled, has awoken and will live, Jon is ecstatic, and when he returns to the Common Hall, he offers his fellow recruits advice on their swordplay.{{Ref|AGOT|19}} Jon begins spending some of his time assisting Donal in the [[armory (Castle Black)|armory of Castle Black]].{{ref|AGOT|26}}

Jon soon becomes a natural leader, mentor, and friend to most of his fellow trainees, earning him the enmity of the [[master-at-arms]], Ser [[Alliser Thorne]]. When [[Samwell Tarly]] arrives at the Wall, Jon reaches out to him, and helps him to be accepted by the majority of the recruits, even threatening [[Rast]] with Ghost to prevent him from further bullying Sam.{{Ref|AGOT|26}}{{Ref|AGOT|41}}

[[File:Amokajonsnow.jpg|thumb|350px|Jon Snow with [[Ghost]] and [[Longclaw]], by Roman Papusev ©]]
As new recruits are about to arrive at Castle Black, eight recruits, including Jon, are chosen to take their vows. Sam is not chosen, and Jon realizes that it will only be a matter of time that Sam will be hurt or killed in training without his friends present to protect him. Jon visits Maester [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] and asks if Aemon will persuade [[Jeor Mormont]], the [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]], to take Sam from training and allow him to take his vows, pointing out that Sam, due to his ability to write, read, and do math, would make a good personal [[steward]] for Aemon.{{Ref|AGOT|41}} This earns Jon the enmity of [[Chett]], Aemon's steward.{{Ref|ASOS|prologue}} Aemon promises to consider it.{{Ref|AGOT|41}} Sam finds Jon the next day, informing him that he too is allowed to take his vows, and has been appointed Aemon's personal steward. Jon expects to be raised to the [[ranger]]s, but is angered when he is appointed to the [[stewards]] instead, with [[Bowen Marsh]] informing Jon that Lord Commander Mormont has requested him as his personal steward. Sam points out to Jon that Mormont has given him the position in order to groom him for command, which quells his anger.{{ref|AGOT|48}}

Jon and Sam decide to say their vows at the [[weirwood grove]] located north of the Wall. After they have said the words, Ghost returns with the severed hand of [[Jafer Flowers]],{{Ref|AGOT|48}} alerting the men of the corpses of Jafer and [[Othor]]. The two corpses are brought back to Castle Black, where Jon is informed of the death of King Robert and the [[Arrest of Eddard Stark|arrest of his father]], Lord Eddard. Alliser mocks Jon and his father, calling him a "a [[traitor]]'s bastard", and Jon attacks him with a dagger, but he is stopped by his friends. Jon is  placed under arrest until the Watch officers can decide what to do with him, with Lord Commander Mormont expressing his disappointment. That night, the two bodies they had found north of the Wall rise from the dead. When one [[wight]], Othor, attacks Lord Commander Mormont, Jon intervenes, saving Jeor's life,{{Ref|AGOT|52}} though he seriously burns his hand in the process. In gratitude, Jeor gives Jon [[Longclaw]], the [[Valyrian steel]] bastard sword of [[House Mormont]], for which he has a white stone wolf head sculpted as the new pommel in honor of Jon.{{Ref|AGOT|60}}

Though he is now a sworn brother of the Night's Watch, Jon becomes torn between the Watch and his former family when he learns from Sam that Robb has marched south with an army. Maester Aemon explains to Jon the difficulty of keeping true to the Night's Watch's vows at times. Among other examples, Aemon cites the deaths of most of his relatives at the end of [[Robert's Rebellion]], causing Jon to realize Aemon is a [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]].{{Ref|AGOT|60}} Nonetheless, after Eddard's execution, Jon tries to desert and join Robb's army, even though the penalty for deserting the Night's Watch is death. However, his new friends bring him back, and save him from this fate.{{Ref|AGOT|70}}

The next day, Lord Commander Mormont chastises him for running, and Jon agrees to fully commit to the Watch. He accepts his place as Jeor's squire and prepares for the journey [[beyond the Wall]] which Mormont plans to lead.{{Ref|AGOT|70}}

===''A Clash of Kings''===
Jon's old bedchamber at Winterfell is given to [[Walder Frey (son of Jammos)|Big Walder]] and [[Walder Frey (son of Merrett)|Little Walder Frey]], the [[Fosterage|wards]] of Catelyn Stark.{{Ref|ACOK|4}}

The Night's Watch prepares for the [[great ranging]] north to investigate the [[haunted forest]], after the disappearances [[beyond the Wall]] of several rangers, including [[Benjen Stark]]. Jon brings his direwolf, [[Ghost]]. Jon fetches [[Samwell Tarly]] for Lord Commander [[Jeor Mormont]], who has been waiting for maps of the lands further north. Jeor and Jon discuss his hand, which still troubles him, but is slowly getting better. They discuss Maester Aemon, and Jeor reveals that Aemon had [[Great Council of 233 AC|once been offered the Iron Throne]], but instead had decided to remain a maester, and the throne passed to his younger brother, [[Aegon V Targaryen]]. Jeor points out the similarities between Jon and Aemon in having a brother for king; Jon reassures the Lord Commander that, like Maester Aemon, he too will keep his vows.{{Ref|acok|3}}

[[File:M.Luisa Giliberti jon ygritte.jpg|thumb|350px|Jon meets [[Ygritte]] in the [[Skirling Pass]], by M.Luisa Giliberti ©]]

The ranging party passes through several [[wildling]] villages, including [[Whitetree]], but find no hint of any wildling presence.{{Ref|ACOK|13}} They then stop at [[Craster's Keep]], where they learn that the normally anarchic wildlings are uniting under a [[Mance Rayder]], the [[King-beyond-the-Wall]]. Though the youths are commanded not to speak to Craster's daughters, the pregnant [[Gilly]] approaches Jon after encouragement from Sam. She asks to join Jon when they leave Craster's Keep, but Jon refuses her, and later scolds Sam for ever having given her the idea.{{Ref|ACOK|23}}

After reaching the [[Fist of the First Men]], Ghost leads Jon to a mound where the direwolf digs up an [[old warhorn]] and a cache of [[dragonglass]] wrapped in an old cloak of the Night's Watch.{{Ref|ACOK|34}} Jon distributes these items among his sworn brothers. After the arrival of [[Qhorin Halfhand]] with the men from the [[Shadow Tower]], Jon is picked by Qhorin to accompany one of the three scouting parties into the mountains.{{Ref|aCoK|43}} Jon grows a beard after leaving the Fist.{{ref|ACOK|51}}{{ref|ACOK|68}}

In the [[Skirling Pass]], Qhorin's party comes across a group of [[wildling]] sentries, and Jon is one of those assigned to take them out. He kills one of the man, but discovers his second target is a woman. Jon instead decides to take prisoner the girl, who is called [[Ygritte]]. He reveals he is the bastard son of [[Eddard Stark]], and during the night, Ygritte tells Jon the story of "[[Bael the Bard]]," a song which insinuates that, through Bael, the Starks too have wildling blood. Later, Qhorin orders Jon to kill her, but Jon secretly lets her go instead. Before she leaves, Ygritte informs Jon that Mance Rayder would accept him, if he wanted to join the free folk.{{Ref|aCoK|51}} Jon tells Qhorin about this, who confirms that Mance would be willing, and tells Jon that Mance had been a man of the Night's Watch himself once. When he dreams that night, Jon sees through the eyes of [[Ghost]], and witnesses thousands of wildlings, and [[giant]]s and [[mammoth]]s, before being attacked by an eagle. Jon informs the group, who recognize Jon for a [[warg]]. They later see the eagle, and when they find a wounded Ghost, Qhorin decides they return to the [[Fist of the First Men]].{{Ref|ACOK|53}}

With the enemy following them, Qhorin orders [[Dalbridge]] to stay behind to defend the others,{{Ref|ACOK|53}} while [[Ebben]] and [[Stonesnake]] are sent forth to reach the First is great haste, leaving only Qhorin and Jon. The Halfhand commands Jon to join the wildlings when they are discovered, and to do whatever they ask. When the wildling band led by [[Rattleshirt]] finds them, Jon yields, and the wildlings require him to kill Qhorin to proof his loyalty to them. With the help of Ghost, Jon kills Qhorin, and the wildlings agree to bring him to Mance Rayder.{{Ref|ACOK|69}}

===''A Storm of Swords''===
[[File: Marc Simonetti Jon Ygritte.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Jon Snow and [[Ygritte]] in the [[Cave near Greyguard|grotto]], by Marc Simonetti ©]]
[[Rattleshirt]] brings Jon to meet [[Mance Rayder]]. Telling Mance that he had been poorly treated at [[Winterfell]] because he is a [[bastard]], Jon convinces the [[King-Beyond-the-Wall]] that his desertion from the [[Night's Watch]] is sincere. During their conversation, Jon learns Mance's plans to invade the [[Seven Kingdoms]].{{Ref|ASoS|7}} While traveling to the [[Fist of the First Men]], Jon's clean-shaven face is scratched by [[Orell|Orell's eagle]]. Jon and the [[free folk]] see the aftermath of the [[fight at the Fist]].{{ref|ACOK|15}}

Mance has Jon and [[Ygritte]] join [[Styr]] and [[Jarl]] for their mission south of the [[Wall]].{{ref|ASOS|15}} Jon falls in love with Ygritte,{{ref|ASOS|26}} breaking his vow of chastity by sharing a tent{{ref|ASOS|15}} and sleeping together in a [[cave near Greyguard]].{{ref|ASOS|26}} Jarl falls to his death when Styr's party climbs the Wall,{{ref|ASOS|30}} and the survivors descend at [[Greyguard]] and enter the [[Gift]].{{ref|ASOS|41}}

Jon hesitates between betraying Ygritte or leaving the Night's Watch, eventually realizing that he must escape and warn [[Castle Black]] of the upcoming attack. When Jon refuses Styr's orders to kill an old man at abandoned [[Queenscrown]], Ygritte kills the man instead. The wildlings are then attacked by the direwolf [[Summer (direwolf)|Summer]], unaware that it is due to the efforts of Jon's half-brother [[Bran Stark]], who is hidden in the village's tower. Jon manages to escape in the confusion on a horse, but not before taking an arrow in the leg.{{Ref|ASoS|41}}

Meanwhile, [[Robb Stark]], the [[King in the North]], marches from [[Riverrun]] to the [[Twins]] for the wedding of Lord [[Edmure Tully]] to [[Roslin Frey]]. Robb believes his siblings Bran, [[Rickon Stark|Rickon]], and [[Arya Stark]] are dead, and he does not want [[Winterfell]] and the [[north]] to fall into [[House Lannister]]'s hands following [[Tyrion Lannister]]'s marriage to [[Sansa Stark]]. Against the objections of his mother, [[Catelyn Stark]], Robb legitimizes Jon as his heir, according to a semi-canon source.{{ref|AWOIAF|Robb Stark}} Robb's decision is witnessed at [[Hag's Mire]] by Catelyn, Edmure, [[Galbart Glover]], Lord [[Jason Mallister]], Lady [[Maege Mormont]], and Lord [[Jon Umber]].{{ref|ASOS|45}} Robb and Catelyn are then betrayed by Lords [[Walder Frey]] and [[Roose Bolton]] in the [[Red Wedding]].{{ref|ASOS|51}}

[[Edric Dayne]], Lord of [[Starfall]] and a member of the [[brotherhood without banners]], tells Arya that he is Jon's [[milk brother]], as they shared the same [[wet nurse]], [[Wylla]], a servant at [[Starfall]]. Edric tells Arya that Wylla is Jon's mother.{{ref|ASOS|43}}

A barely-conscious Jon warns [[Mole's Town]] and Castle Black of the planned attack, and is tended to by Maester [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]]. [[Grenn]] and the maester gently break the news to Jon that Bran and Rickon have [[capture of Winterfell|allegedly died]] at the command of [[Theon Greyjoy]].{{Ref|ASoS|48}} After Jon recuperates, he helps [[Donal Noye]] in the [[attack on Castle Black‎‎|defense of Castle Black]] against Styr's raiders. All of the raiders are killed, including Ygritte, who dies in a grief-stricken Jon's arms after having been shot with an arrow by another Night's Watch brother.{{Ref|ASoS|55}}

[[File:Battle of Castle Black by Giliberti.jpg|thumb|350px|Jon at the [[battle of Castle Black]], by M.Luisa Giliberti ©]]

When Mance attacks, Donal has Jon command from atop the Wall while the blacksmith descends to defend the gate. After Donal is killed by [[Mag Mar Tun Doh Weg]], Jon reluctantly takes command of the Wall's defenses, after prompting from Master Aemon. Jon successfully holds the Wall against overwhelming odds for several days.{{ref|ASOS|64}}

Upon the arrival of Ser [[Alliser Thorne]] and Lord [[Janos Slynt]] at Castle Black, Jon is arrested for his earlier defection and thrown in an [[ice cell]], where he is threatened with execution for his desertion and the murder of [[Qhorin Halfhand]].{{Ref|ASoS|69}} After Aemon vouches for Jon's honor and capability during the wildling attack, Alliser and Janos realize they cannot have Jon hanged due to his popularity on the Wall. They therefore force him to make an assassination attempt on Mance during a parley, hoping he will be killed there instead. During the negotiations, Mance states that he has the [[Horn of Winter]], which he claims will cause the Wall to collapse. He reveals that he only had the wildlings attack the Wall not to conquer, but to escape the [[Others]]. The King-Beyond-the-Wall then offers Jon the Horn of Winter if the Night's Watch allows the wildlings to safely pass through to south of the Wall, but Mance states that they will not yield to the lords or their laws. Before Jon can attack Mance or destroy the Horn, however, the knights of [[Stannis Baratheon]] and rangers of [[Cotter Pyke]] appear. During the [[battle beneath the Wall]], Jon guards Mance's tent while [[Val]] helps her sister [[Dalla]] give birth.{{Ref|ASoS|73}}

Jon's defense of the Wall earns him popular support and his release from imprisonment. Jon meets with Stannis, who tells him that if he recognizes Stannis as king, he will legitimize [[Eddard Stark]]'s son and make him Jon Stark, [[Lord of Winterfell]], and marry him to Val in order to gain support of the [[north]] and the free folk. Jon is overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and grief for his dead siblings, admitting to himself that becoming Lord of Winterfell was something he always desired, and that he was always envious of [[Robb Stark]] for his legitimate birthright.{{ref|ASOS|76}} When Jon suddenly experiences Ghost's hunger, he is joyous to realize his direwolf has returned from beyond the Wall. Jon realizes that if he bends the knee to Stannis he would then have to allow [[Melisandre]], Stannis's [[red priest]]ess, to burn the [[heart tree]] in the [[godswood of Winterfell]].{{ref|ASOS|79}}

Meanwhile, due to the efforts of [[Samwell Tarly]], an unknowing Jon has been offered as a compromise candidate between rival factions for the post of [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]],{{Ref|ASoS|78}} as [[Jeor Mormont]] had been slain in the [[mutiny at Craster's Keep]].{{ref|ASOS|33}} After Jon refuses Stannis's offer, he learns he has been elected the 998th Lord Commander in a landslide vote, to his own disbelief.{{Ref|ASoS|79}}

===''A Feast for Crows''===
[[File:Josu-hernaiz-lord-commander-josu-hernaiz.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Lord Commander Jon Snow, by Josu Hernaiz ©]]
Jon takes up residence in [[Donal Noye]]'s old quarters by the [[armory (Castle Black)|armory]], and he institutes mandatory archery practice for all black brothers at [[Castle Black]].{{ref|AFFC|5}} Fearing that [[Melisandre]] might burn Maester [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] and the infant of the captured [[Mance Rayder]] for their royal blood, Jon secretly swaps [[Aemon Steelsong|Mance's son]] with [[Monster|Gilly's son]]. Jon sends [[Samwell Tarly]] to the [[Citadel]] to train as Castle Black's next maester, sending Aemon, [[Gilly]], Mance's child, and [[Dareon]] with Sam.{{ref|AFFC|5}}{{ref|ADWD|7}}

In [[King's Landing]], Queen Regent [[Cersei Lannister]] is outraged to learn of Jon's appointment as [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]], as he is Eddard Stark's son. The [[small council]] agrees that Jon must be removed from command, as he has given [[Stannis Baratheon]] shelter. Grand Maester [[Pycelle]] suggests informing the Watch that the crown will send no more men to the [[Wall]] until Jon is removed. Cersei is delighted with [[Qyburn]]'s suggestion to send a hundred recruits with secret orders to remove Jon.{{Ref|AFFC|17}} She plots to send Ser [[Osney Kettleblack]] to carry out the plan,{{Ref|AFFC|17}}{{Ref|AFFC|39}}{{Ref|AFFC|43}} but both Osney and Cersei are imprisoned by the [[Faith of the Seven]] before these plans can come to fruition.{{Ref|AFFC|43}}

When Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] offers that Ser [[Brynden Tully]] join the Night's Watch to end the [[siege of Riverrun]], Brynden refuses, citing the distrust of his niece [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn]] for Jon.{{ref|AFFC|38}}

===''A Dance with Dragons''===
[[File:Lukasz Jaskolski Execution II.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Lord Commander Snow beheads [[Janos Slynt]], by Jaskolski ©]]

Lord [[Godric Borrell]] tells Lord [[Davos Seaworth]] that according to tales of the [[Vale of Arryn|Vale]], Jon's mother was a fisherman's daughter who had helped Lord [[Eddard Stark]] reach the [[Three Sisters]] during [[Robert's Rebellion]].{{ref|ADWD|9}} [[Arya Stark]] overhears people speaking of Jon at [[Ragman's Harbor]] in [[Braavos]].{{ref|ADWD|45}}

Jon cedes the [[Nightfort]] to King [[Stannis Baratheon]], whose men also occupy [[Castle Black]]. Jon is continually harassed by the [[queen's men]], such as Ser [[Godry Farring]]{{ref|ADWD|3}} and Ser [[Clayton Suggs]].{{ref|ADWD|17}} Advising Jon to keep [[Ghost]] close, the [[red priest]]ess [[Melisandre]] warns Jon against "daggers in the dark."{{ref|ADWD|3}}

Jon rebukes all demands from Stannis to settle his men within the [[Gift]], claiming that the land and the other unoccupied castles along the Wall belong to the [[Night's Watch]]. Jon remembers the parting words of Maester [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] to "kill the boy and let the man be born," the same advice Aemon had given when his younger brother ascended the [[Iron Throne]] as [[Aegon V Targaryen]].{{Ref|ADWD|7}} Jon reads part of the book left for him by Aemon, the ''[[Jade Compendium]]''.{{ref|ADWD|10}}

Jon orders [[Janos Slynt]], who had participated in the beheading of Lord Eddard,{{ref|ASOS|65}} to garrison the abandoned [[Greyguard]], but Janos refuses. After Janos continues to refuse the Lord Commander, Jon orders him hanged for his insubordination. Jon then recalls the laws of the [[First Men]] and his father, however, and instead beheads Janos himself, using [[Longclaw]] to carry out the sentence. This increases Stannis's respect for Jon and cements his new position.{{Ref|aDwD|7}} Jon sends his friends from Castle Black, ordering [[Grenn]] and [[Pypar]] to [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea|Eastwatch]] and [[Halder]] and [[Todder]] to the [[Shadow Tower]].{{ref|ADWD|10}} 

Stannis refuses Jon's request to spare the captive Mance. As Melisandre burns the [[King-Beyond-the-Wall]], Jon has his men kill Mance with arrows to end his suffering.{{ref|ADWD|10}} Stannis orders the captive [[Rattleshirt]] to serve Jon. When Stannis plans to attack the [[Dreadfort]], Jon convinces him to instead seek the help of the [[northern mountain clans]].{{ref|ADWD|17}} Stannis marches west and is able to secure the allegiance of the clans, greatly augmenting his own strength.{{ref|ADWD|26}}

[[File:Katherine Dinger JonSnow&Mel.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Jon and [[Melisandre]], by Katherine Dinger © Fantasy Flight Games]]
Jon delivers supplies to the free folk at [[Mole's Town]],{{ref|ADWD|21}} and sends ranging parties north of the Wall. Rattleshirt defeats Jon in a sparring match. When news arrives that [[Ramsay Snow|Ramsay Bolton]] is to marry Jon's half-sister, [[Arya Stark]], Melisandre informs Jon she has had a vision of a girl on a dying horse making for Castle Black.{{ref|ADWD|28}} Melisandre reveals that she had changed the appearances of Mance and Rattleshirt with a [[glamor]], so that Stannis actually executed Rattleshirt and that Mance has been serving Jon. Mance is sent to secretly rescue Arya,{{ref|ADWD|31}} although the conspirators do not know that [[Wedding of Ramsay Bolton and Arya Stark|Ramsay's bride at Winterfell]] is actually [[Jeyne Poole]].{{ref|ADWD|37}} After the [[fight by Deepwood Motte]], Stannis begins his [[march on Winterfell]].{{ref|ADWD|42}}

While leading recruits to swear their vows in the [[haunted forest]], Jon finds a small group of wildlings and the giant [[Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun]] at the [[weirwood grove]], and he brings them back to Castle Black.{{ref|ADWD|35}} In order to learn more about [[wight]]s, Jon consigns the corpses of dead wildlings in Castle Black's ice cells, hoping they will rise but be safely imprisoned.{{ref|ADWD|35}}{{ref|ADWD|39}} Jon sends the wildling [[Val]] to treat with [[Tormund Giantsbane]], and he intends to garrison abandoned castles with wildlings. Jon wants to name [[Satin]] as his [[steward]] and squire, and he sends his friend [[Eddison Tollett]] to [[Long Barrow]]. Lord Steward [[Bowen Marsh]], First Builder [[Othell Yarwyck]], and Septon [[Cellador]] are opposed to or worried by many of Jon's actions.{{ref|ADWD|39}}

After Stannis's wife, Queen [[Selyse Baratheon]], arrives at Castle Black from Eastwatch, Jon negotiates with [[Tycho Nestoris]], an envoy of the [[Iron Bank of Braavos]]. Jon agrees to a loan so the Watch can purchase food and supplies and hire ships.{{ref|ADWD|44}}

When a wearied girl arrives at Castle Black, Jon is surprised to learn it is not his sister Arya, but instead [[Alys Karstark]], who is fleeing a forced marriage to [[Cregan Karstark]]. Her uncle only desires her because she is heir to [[Karhold]].{{ref|ADWD|44}} When Cregan arrives with reinforcements to claim Alys, Jon has them thrown in an ice cell. Jon [[Wedding of Sigorn and Alys Karstark|arranges a marriage]] between Alys and [[Sigorn]], establishing [[House Thenn]]. Jon orders [[Cotter Pyke]] to rescue wildlings at [[Hardhome]]. Alys informs Jon that [[Arnolf Karstark]] plans to betray Stannis, so Jon has [[Clydas]] send a [[raven]] to [[Deepwood Motte]] in an attempt to warn the king.{{ref|ADWD|49}}

[[File:Betrayal at the wall by jbcasacop.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Mutiny at Castle Black|Betrayal at the Wall]] by JB Casacop © Fantasy Flight Games]]

Jon treats with Tormund when Val brings the wildling leader to Castle Black. The Lord Commander tries to convince [[Torghen Flint]] and [[Brandon Norrey]] of the necessity of allowing Tormund's wildlings to pass through the Wall.{{ref|ADWD|53}} Tormund leads over three thousand wildlings south.{{ref|ADWD|58}}

Jon intends to rescue Cotter at Hardhome, but he is interrupted by a [[Bastard Letter|taunting letter]] from Ramsay which claims that Stannis has been defeated and Mance captured. Jon relinquishes command of the ranging, and announces his intention to ride south against [[House Bolton]]. He does not order the Night's Watch to fight with him, but asks both wildlings and black brothers alike to join him of their own volition. Most wildlings in the [[Shieldhall]] agree to support him, but Jon's decision causes great discontent within the Watch's upper leadership. In the confusion resulting from Wun Wun's killing of Ser [[Patrek of King's Mountain]], Jon is attacked in the [[mutiny at Castle Black]]. While stabbing the Lord Commander, Bowen Marsh and [[Wick Wittlestick]] state "for the Watch."{{ref|ADWD|69}}