Editing Mance Rayder (section)

===''A Storm of Swords''===
[[File:Mance Abel Val.jpg|thumb|350px|Mance playing the [[lute]], with [[Val]] in the background, by Amok ©]]

Mance has his followers dig in graves along the [[Milkwater]]{{ref|ASOS|48}} in search of the legendary [[Horn of Winter]], said to be capable of toppling the [[Wall]], but the horn is not found.{{Ref|ASOS|30}}

When [[Jon Snow]] meets with Mance in the Frostfangs under pretext of joining his campaign, the bard sings "[[The Dornishman's Wife]]". Jon mistakes the more distinctive [[Tormund]] and [[Styr]] as Mance.{{Ref|ASOS|7}} Mance sends Styr to climb the Wall and [[attack on Castle Black|attack Castle Black]] from the south.{{Ref|ASOS|26}} He sends Jon with Styr's group,{{Ref|ASOS|15}} but Jon escapes at [[Queenscrown]] and manages to warn the black brothers about the upcoming attack.{{Ref|ASOS|41}}

After Styr's attack fails,{{ref|ASOS|55}} Mance [[battle beneath the Wall|attacks the Wall]] with his main force. Despite his better numbers, the Night's Watch under command of Jon Snow are successful in keeping Mance's forces at bay.{{Ref|ASOS|64}}{{Ref|ASOS|69}} Aware of the low numbers of the Night's Watch, Mance eventually sends a request for a parley to Castle Black, requesting an envoy is sent to him. Ser [[Alliser Thorne]] and [[Janos Slynt]] send Jon, secretly tasking with assassinating the King-Beyond-the-Wall. Displaying a huge horn in his tent, Mance threatens to use the Horn of Winter if he is not allowed to pass through the gate. However, Mance reveals that the free folk, including his own people, have been hunted by the [[Others]] and their [[wights]], and are unable to stop them. His true aim therefore is not to destroy the Wall, but to use it as a shield against the Others.{{Ref|ASOS|73}}

During the parley, [[ranger]]s from [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]] and the southern force of [[Stannis Baratheon]] unexpectedly arrive. Although Mance personally leads a wedge of mounted free folk against them, the disorganized wildling army breaks once Mance's horse goes down.{{Ref|ASOS|73}} Mance's wife, [[Dalla]], goes into labor during the battle{{Ref|ASOS|73}} and dies giving birth to [[Aemon Steelsong|their son]].{{Ref|ASOS|76}} 

Mance himself is captured by Stannis and held captive at Castle Black, where his wounds are treated by Maester [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]].{{Ref|ASOS|75}} Stannis Baratheon speaks with him, but feels he has no other choice but to sacrifice Mance to [[R'hllor]]{{Ref|ASOS|76}} once he is strong enough.{{Ref|ASOS|75}} At Castle Black, Mance's son is given over to [[Val]], Dalla's sister, while the girl [[Gilly]] serves as his [[wet nurse]].{{Ref|ASOS|75}} Val requests to be allowed to see Mance and let him hold his son once.{{Ref|ASOS|75}} Jon Snow presents the request to Stannis Baratheon, but is denied.{{Ref|ASOS|76}}