A Game of Thrones, Chapter 70, Jon
Summary
Jon decides that he needs to join Robb and avenge with him the death of Ned. Samwell tries to stop him but he’s unsuccessful. His friends catch up with him and they manage to convince him to come back. They make it back to the Wall before the dawn. When Jon resumes his duties he discovers that Lord Commander knows everything about his attempt to escape and that he doesn’t hold it against him.
Quotes
“You said the words,” Pyp reminded him. “Now my watch begins, you said it. It shall not end until my death.”
“I shall live and die at my post, ” Grenn added, nodding.
“You don’t have to tell me the words, I know them as well as you do.” He was angry now. Why couldn’t they let him go in peace? They were only making it harder.
“I am the sword in the darkness, ” Halder intoned.
“The watcher on the walls, ” piped Toad.
Jon cursed them all to their faces.
“Do you think they chose me Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch because I’m dumb as a stump, Snow? Aemon told me you’d go. I told him you’d be back. I know my men… and my boys too. Honor set you on the kingsroad… and honor brought you back.”
“My friends brought me back,” Jon said.
“Did I say it was your honor?”
“I ordered a watch kept over you., You were seen leaving. If your brothers had not fetched you back, you would have been taken along the way, and not by friends. Unless you have a horse with wings like a raven. Do you?”
“No.” Jon felt like a fool.
“Pity, we could use a horse like that.”
Commentary
Love is the bane of honor, the death of duty.
When I first read those words I thought they were silly, that it can’t be true. That love pushes us to keep the honor and duty. After a serious thinking I was forced to agree with Maester Aemon. Love does not help us keep our honor. It makes sure that we do everything in our power to protect our loved ones and when protection is not possible we go avenge them. This has nothing to do with honor or duty.
This is exactly what is happening with Jon. The love for his father was stronger than bonds of honor and duty. Jon felt that if he had stayed on the Wall he would be disrespecting the memory of his Father, as if he forgot about him, as if he was nothing to him. I can totally understand his decision to run.
His near-successful escape had to happen though. Only going through with it and then realizing that he was not alone in his attempt to rush back to the old life made him understand that it’s “part of the job”. Aemon told him before, but Jon had to go through it himself.
The thing I liked particularly in this chapter was the way Lord Commander dealt with the entire thing. The Old Bear let it happen, announced it to Jon and managed to not alienate him by doing so. I was very impressed by their conversation. And I loved the joke about a flying horse. 
Tags: Jon
