Difference between revisions of "A Clash of Kings-Chapter 23"

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Jon almost collides into Ottyn Wythers as he is leaving. Outside he finds tents have gone up all over the compound. He finds Dolorous Edd and tells him of the requests. Dolorous Edd states that the commander will get it back buried in his skull. When Dolorous Edd hears that the commander wants wine as will he says that Craster, drunk, will only cut off an ear when he attempts to slay them. When Jon tells Dolorous Edd that Smallwood says that Craster is their friend, he says the difference between wilding that are our friends and enemies is the friends bury use in secret graves.
 
Jon almost collides into Ottyn Wythers as he is leaving. Outside he finds tents have gone up all over the compound. He finds Dolorous Edd and tells him of the requests. Dolorous Edd states that the commander will get it back buried in his skull. When Dolorous Edd hears that the commander wants wine as will he says that Craster, drunk, will only cut off an ear when he attempts to slay them. When Jon tells Dolorous Edd that Smallwood says that Craster is their friend, he says the difference between wilding that are our friends and enemies is the friends bury use in secret graves.
  
Jon hears a shout of fear as he finished up feeding the horses. He finds Ghost with two rabbits confronting a 15 year old woman. Jon tells her that Ghost will not hurt her. He asks her if he is once of Craster’s daughters and is told she is now his wife. She had been hoping to breed the rabbits. Jon can tell that Ghost had gone after the caged rabbits; he must have been hungry. He would pay for them but had no money, so he tells her that the [[Nigth's Watch]] will make good. She calls him lord and he responds he is no lord. Then ranger [[Lark]] the Sisterman tells her that he is Lord Snow himself, and then tells her that the wolf is looking hungry. Jon tells Lark the he is scaring only to have Chett tell him Lark is warning her. The girl then remembers she is not to talk to them. Chett then tells Jon that he would not be so bold without Ghost around; Chett lost is position as Maester [[Aemon]]’s steward because of Jon. When Lark joins in about Jon being a coward without his wolf he leaves.
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Jon hears a shout of fear as he finished up feeding the horses. He finds Ghost with two rabbits confronting a 15 year old woman. Jon tells her that Ghost will not hurt her. He asks her if he is once of Craster’s daughters and is told she is now his wife. She had been hoping to breed the rabbits. Jon can tell that Ghost had gone after the caged rabbits; he must have been hungry. He would pay for them but had no money, so he tells her that the [[Night's Watch]] will make good. She calls him lord and he responds he is no lord. Then ranger [[Lark]] the Sisterman tells her that he is Lord Snow himself, and then tells her that the wolf is looking hungry. Jon tells Lark the he is scaring only to have Chett tell him Lark is warning her. The girl then remembers she is not to talk to them. Chett then tells Jon that he would not be so bold without Ghost around; Chett lost is position as Maester [[Aemon]]’s steward because of Jon. When Lark joins in about Jon being a coward without his wolf he leaves.
  
 
It takes a while for Jon to find Sam, and it is actually Ghost that finds him under a rock outcrop. Ghost had given Jon the second rabbit, and Jon shows Sam and then tells him that the commander wants him to create a map. Jon proceeds to cook the scrawny rabbit over a fire. It smelled wonderful and the other rangers gave them envious looks. As they eat Sam asks if Craster is as they say: a savage. After Sam leaves with the quill and parchment, Jon falls asleep think that maybe the commander will learn something that will lead them to Uncle Benjen.  
 
It takes a while for Jon to find Sam, and it is actually Ghost that finds him under a rock outcrop. Ghost had given Jon the second rabbit, and Jon shows Sam and then tells him that the commander wants him to create a map. Jon proceeds to cook the scrawny rabbit over a fire. It smelled wonderful and the other rangers gave them envious looks. As they eat Sam asks if Craster is as they say: a savage. After Sam leaves with the quill and parchment, Jon falls asleep think that maybe the commander will learn something that will lead them to Uncle Benjen.  

Revision as of 00:23, 19 March 2013

Jon III
A Clash of Kings chapter
AClashOfKings.jpg
POV Jon
Place Craster's Keep
Page 260 UK HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
Jon II
Catelyn II  ← Jon III →  Theon II

Jon IV

The Night's Watch finally finds people at Craster's Keep. Craster has been a friend to the ally, but he has an unsavory reputation. Jon Snow discovers that Craster marries his daughters and gives his young sons to the Cold Gods. Jon gets the opportunity to talk to one of Craster’s wives, Gilly, about this, and learns that the Cold Gods have bright blue eyes like the wights that attacked the Jeor Mormont. The next day Jon rides with the Lord Commander. Jon tells the commander about Carster’s sons and daughters and learns that the commander knew. Then the commander tells him the Craster told them that Mance Rayder is gathering his people at Frostfangs.

Synopsis

Jon Snow is riding beside a grumpy Lord Commander with and equally soaked and grumpy raven on his shoulder. There had been six days of rain, and the ground was treacherous; Jon thinks how Pypar and Todder would be sitting near the fire in the common room. The Lord Commander is relieved when he hears Jarmen Buckwell’s horn—there are still people at Craster's Keep. They have so far passed through seven villages without seeing anybody. Jon had heard many tales about Craster. Thoren Smallwood swore he was a friend of the watch, though he had an unsavory reputation: Dywen says he is a kinslayer, liar, raper, craven, and slaver. The Lord Commander tells Jon to spread the word down the column that he wants no trouble with Craster’s women, and the men will mind their hands and minimize talking with the women.

As he rides down the line, he finally comes to Sam with the baggage. The ravens are very unruly, and Sam states that they hate the rain men. Sam states he is doing alright, but wet, and when he is told that Craster’s Keep is just ahead he tells Jon that Eddison Tollett says Craster marries his daughters, only follows his own laws, and that Dywen told Grenn he has black blood. Also, that his mother is a wilding that laid with a ranger. Sam almost continued with calling Craster a bastard, but Jon continued for him, and says he has heard the word before. Jon finally makes it to the rear to give word to Ser Ottyn Wythers, who considers it welcome news; he had always looked tired, but the rain has made him look much worse.

On the way back up the column Jon cuts through the woods. When he hears rustling, he thinks it is Ghost, but it is Dywen and Grenn. Jon gives them the news that Craster is alive, and discussion turns to how many wives he has. Then Ghost is loping beside Jon’s horse. Jon rides ahead to the keep.

When he gets to the keep he is totally under-impressed. He had not expected a stone castle, but what he found he would have called a midden heap. Inside the compound he sees a little naked girl pulling carrots, and two women tie a pig for slaughter. He can hear Chett’s hounds barking being answered by the bark of Craster’s dogs. Some of the dogs break off when they see Ghost, while others growl and Ghost ignores them. Jon estimates that only 30 and maybe 50 may get to sleep in the hall, but not their 200. Dolorous Edd has been entrusted with the commander’s mount and tells Jon that he is to join the commander in the hall, but the wolf should stay outside.

Inside the squalid, foul smelling hall, there are already two dozen rangers, including Jarman Buckwell and Thoren Smallwood. Jon thinks how he had looked forward to seeing the wonders beyond the wall—it was a pity Pypar and Todder were missing this. Craster is the only one sitting in a chair, even the commander had to sit on a bench, and seeing him Jon thinks of Old [[Nan]’s tales of wildings drinking blood from human skulls. He overhears Craster say he has not seen Brandon Stark for three years. In the background shabbily dressed women prepare the food and pass out beer while a dozen puppies and a pig sulk around. Mormont tells Crater that Ben was searching for the vanished Ser Waymar Royce, Gared and Will. Craster recalls the three men, but does not where they went. He does complain that his wives made cow eyes at too young Ser Waymar who was too proud to sleep under his roof. The commander tells about the villages they found abandoned, wights that attacked him at Castle Black. Craster feigns ignorance, but one of his wives recognizes the truth in the tale by the look of horror on her face. He also refuses the offer of an escort back to the Wall, saying he is of the free folk. He even has his wife confirm that this is their place, Craster keeps them safe, and it is better to die free. Jarmen Buckwell asks about Craster’s king, Mance Rayder, and Craster states that Free Folk have no need of kings, and that when one of Mance’s men arrived to tell him he had to leave his keep and grovel at Mance’s feet. He sent the man back without his tongue.

Craster then tells the commander that they can sleep on the floor, but he will only feed 20. Mormont tells him that the roof would be welcome, and they have food and wine which they will share. Craster expresses particular interest in the wine and then adds that any man that lays a hand on one of his wives loses his hand. Mormont agrees, but does not look pleased. Craster now asks if Mormont has a man that can draw maps, and Jon steps forward stating that Sam likes maps. Mormont tells Jon to get Sam with quill and parchment and also bring the Mormont’s axe as a guest gift. Craster notes that Jon Snow has the look of a Stark, and is told that he is Mormont’s steward and squire. When Craster hears the name Snow, understands that Jon is a bastard, and states that a man that wants to bed a woman should marry her like he does, and then tells Jon to do his service.

Jon almost collides into Ottyn Wythers as he is leaving. Outside he finds tents have gone up all over the compound. He finds Dolorous Edd and tells him of the requests. Dolorous Edd states that the commander will get it back buried in his skull. When Dolorous Edd hears that the commander wants wine as will he says that Craster, drunk, will only cut off an ear when he attempts to slay them. When Jon tells Dolorous Edd that Smallwood says that Craster is their friend, he says the difference between wilding that are our friends and enemies is the friends bury use in secret graves.

Jon hears a shout of fear as he finished up feeding the horses. He finds Ghost with two rabbits confronting a 15 year old woman. Jon tells her that Ghost will not hurt her. He asks her if he is once of Craster’s daughters and is told she is now his wife. She had been hoping to breed the rabbits. Jon can tell that Ghost had gone after the caged rabbits; he must have been hungry. He would pay for them but had no money, so he tells her that the Night's Watch will make good. She calls him lord and he responds he is no lord. Then ranger Lark the Sisterman tells her that he is Lord Snow himself, and then tells her that the wolf is looking hungry. Jon tells Lark the he is scaring only to have Chett tell him Lark is warning her. The girl then remembers she is not to talk to them. Chett then tells Jon that he would not be so bold without Ghost around; Chett lost is position as Maester Aemon’s steward because of Jon. When Lark joins in about Jon being a coward without his wolf he leaves.

It takes a while for Jon to find Sam, and it is actually Ghost that finds him under a rock outcrop. Ghost had given Jon the second rabbit, and Jon shows Sam and then tells him that the commander wants him to create a map. Jon proceeds to cook the scrawny rabbit over a fire. It smelled wonderful and the other rangers gave them envious looks. As they eat Sam asks if Craster is as they say: a savage. After Sam leaves with the quill and parchment, Jon falls asleep think that maybe the commander will learn something that will lead them to Uncle Benjen.

He wakes to dawn, and Ghost was gone. Everything is coated in a fine ice glaze, and Jon thinks of his sisters, and how Sansa would call this enchantment. He hears his name called and finds the girl with the rabbits wearing Sam’s cloak. She asks him if he is the king’s brother, and he tells her he is his half-brother. Jon is concerned about Craster, but Gilly tells him her father drank too much and will sleep most of the day. She then asks him about King’s justice; she wants to leave. Craster should not even notice since he has 19 wives. She continues that she is pregnant. It will not be too bad if it is a girl since Craster will let her grow up and marry her, but if it is boy, he will give it to the gods; Nella has told her that she had had six boys. She continues by telling Jon that when the white cold comes (the Cold Gods) he give the boys, and if has been coming more often, so he had to give the sheep, which are now gone. Next it will be the dogs. The Cold gods come at night, and are white shadows. Jon thinks about the two dead men, and asks the color of their eyes and is told they are bright blue. She tells him that she knows that he did not take of Craster’s hospitality, so Jon is not bound to Craster, and asks to be taken just to the Wall and Jon tells her that they are going the other direction, and that it is for the old crow to decide, not him. Disappointed, she leaves.

He joins Dywen, Grenn and Hake for breakfast. Dywen claims he had three of the woman that night. He is not believed. Jon asks if Sam slept in the hall, and is told that it was impossible to sleep with the hard ground, the ill-smelling rushes, and the snoring, particularly the snoring of Brown Bernarr. Jon soon excuses himself to attend to the Lord Commander.

On the way, he passes by the scouts, and Jarman Buckwell’s tells him to keep a good edge on his sword since they will be needing it soon enough. When he enters the all, the commander’s Raven announces his presence with a request for corn. When the commander asks, Jon tells him the rain has stopped but it is cold. Mormont tells him to saddle his horse for he plans to leave within the hour. Mormont tells Jon that there is some food, but Jon declines, deciding he will not take of Craster’s hospitality.

He finds Sam behind the hall with Gilly. She quietly leaves and Sam tells Jon he was hoping he could do something for Gilly and Jon asks what he could have done, wrap her in a cloak and take her with them. Sam admits Jon is right, but she is afraid, and maybe when the came back. Jon states the commander will not let them take one of Craster’s wives. Jon then quickly excuses himself because he has to groom and saddle the horses.

As he rides alongside Mormont Jon tells how Craster has no sons or sheep. Mormont admits the Craster gives his sons to the wood, and tells Jon that all the rangers know, but will not talk of it. If he could have Mormont states he would have taken the boys, they could raise them to the black, but the wildings serve crueler gods. Mormont then asks if Jon spoke to one of Craster’s wives, and Jon admits to this. Then Mormont tells Jon that if he had his way, with Craster is sprawled out drunk and the new axe below, one of the wives could easily kill him. However, the Night' Watch need him, and the keep has been responsible for saving many ranger lives. Mormont can tells Jon wants to say something, and tells him to. Jon states how his father has stated that a brutal or unjust bannerman shames his liege lord. Mormont tells Jon that Craster is his own man and has sworn no vows.

After Jon tells Mormont that Buckwell had told him that he would need is sword, Mormont tells how Craster told them that Mance Rayder is gathering his people at Frostfangs, a cruel, inhospitable, a wilderness of stone and ice. Mormont expects Mance to invade the realm. Jon mentions thatRaymun Redbeard in the time of his grandfather's grandfather, and before that Bael the Bard had invaded the realm. Mormont admits this, adding more names including Joramun, who blew the Horn of Winter to wake the giants, but the watch is not only a shadow of itself, Winterfell is weak with Robb Stark marching south. This is a great opportunity for the wildings. Their only choice is to find Mance Rayder and stop him.

References and Notes