A Game of Thrones, Chapter 60, Jon
Summary
Jon speaks with Mormont few days after the incident with the undead. The Old Bear presents him with his family Valyrian steel sword and tells him that he sent Ser Alister Thorne away. Jon finds out through Sam that Robb is leading an army into the battle. Maester Aemon summons him and talks to him about the ties with the family that need to be severed when joining Night’s Watch.
Quotes
“Jon, did you ever wonder why the men of the Night’s Watch take no wives and father no children?” Maester Aemon asked.
Jon shrugged. “No.” He scattered more meat. The fingers of his left hand were slimy with blood, and his right throbbed from the weight of the bucket.
“So they will not love,” the old man answered, “for love is the bane of honor, the death of duty.”
“Three times the gods saw fit to test my vows. Once when I was a boy, once in the fullness of my manhood, and once when I had grown old. By then my strength was fled, my eyes grown dim, yet that last choice was as cruel as the first. My ravens would bring the news from the south, words darker than their wings, the ruin of my House, the death of my kin, disgrace and desolation.”
“My father was Maekar, the First of his Name, and my brother Aegon reigned after him in my stead. My grandfather named me for Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, who was his uncle, or his father, depending on which tale you believe. Aemon, he called me…”
“Aemon… Targaryen?” Jon could scarcely believe it.
Commentary
Even though this is a different POV character, even though it happens thousands of leagues away, this chapter is a direct continuation of the message last Ned chapter brings. Love and honor don’t go well together. Love is the bane of honor says Aemon Targaryen, the one that had to watch his whole family killed in Robert’s rebellion. Definitely interesting twist to the story.
Not too long ago I was talking with a friend of mine, who’s also Song of Ice and Fire enthusiast, about Maester Aemon. We were discussing if Robert knew that there is one more Targaryen alive in Seven Kingdoms. I was convinced that the King knew about Aemon, but he didn’t care. As the Maester said himself, that was who he was once, not anymore. Now I’m not sure about that. There is no evidence that Rober knew about Aemon. Regardless though, I don’t think that he would harbor the same hatred towards the man who was so dedicated to his new life that he didn’t leave the wall when his family was hunted down.
Tags: Jon
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:44 am
I think he didn’t knew, too. He wouldn’t have killed him if he knew, but at least complained about that fact once or twice.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Regardless, we agree that he wouldn’t go after Aemon to the Wall.