Editing Jon Snow (section)

===''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}}