Editing Jon Snow (section)

===''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}}