Re-reading Song of Ice and Fire

Chapter 41, Jon
Summary
Jon and seven of his friends finish their training. Sam is not one of them. When they celebrate the end of the training Jon realizes that Sam is afraid. Without their protection he’s going to be a victim again. Jon doesn’t want to let that happen. He decides to go to Maester Aemon and ask him for help for Sam. He says that Samwell should be moved to Stewards. Maester says that he will think about it.

Quotes

Once he swore his vow, the Wall would be his home until he was old as Maester Aemon. “I have not sworn yet,” he muttered. He was no outlaw, bound to take the black or pay the penalty for his crimes. He had come here freely, and he might leave freely… until he said the words.

“The Lord Commander listens to you,” Jon told him. “And the wounded and the sick of the Night’s Watch are in your charge.”
“And is your friend Samwell wounded or sick?”
“He will be,” Jon promised, “unless you help.”

Maester Aemon closed his eyes, and for a brief moment Jon was afraid that he had gone to sleep. Finally he said, “Maester Luwin taught you well, Jon Snow. Your mind is as deft as your blade, it would seem.”

Commentary

Jon has doubts about saying the words, finally and once and for all leaving his past behind. Once the swords of Night’s Watch vow are spoken he is going to be a Black Brother until the day he dies. The bastard in him wakes and he remembers the facts. Those were his half brothers back in Winterfell and Lady Catelyn would never let him be the part of the family, would never let him be as close as he was with his Night’s Watch brothers.

Jon also feels responsible for Sam and although he’s happy that his training is done, he fears what could happen to his friend. Not knowing where to go, he visits Maester Aemon and in a very clever way presents his argument. By doing so he manages to achieve three things. He helps Sam to finish the training faster, makes enemies of two Maester’s stewards (he says that Sam would be able to help Aemon better than they can, because he can read and count) and finally brings his sharp wit to Aemon’s attention. This midnight meeting probably changed his assignment from rangers to stewards.

Chapter 26, Jon
Summary
When Jon and the rest of the recruits train in the courtyard new person arrives. Samwell Tarly was sent to the Wall by his father when it was obvious that he’s not the fighter the father wanted his heir to be. Sam is fat and scared of everything. Boys immediately judge him and don’t hide their dislike. Ser Alister makes one of the recruits brutally beat Sam. Jon stands in his defense. Alister makes him fight three opponents in hopes of getting him beat up as well, but Jon is joined by two of his new friends. The three of them defend Sam.

After the training Jon gets to know Sam, finds out his story, how his father gave him a choice of being killed on the hunt or joining the Night’s Watch. Jon decides to help the boy. He talks and threatens everyone into not hurting Sam on the training.

Quotes

Ser Alister had often sent two foes against him, but never three. He knew he would likely go to sleep bruised and bloody tonight. He braced himself for the assault.
Suddenly Pyp was beside him. “Three to two will make for better sport,” the small boy said cheerfully. He dropped his visor and slid out his sword. Before Jon could even think to protest, Grenn had stepped up to make a third.

“I’ve never had a friend before.”
“We’re not friends,” Jon said. He put a hand on Sam’s broad shoulder. “We’re brothers.”

Commentary

Jon starts to build relationship between the Night’s Watch recruits. Donal’s words got through to him. His new friends, Pyp and Grenn, decide to stand up to Ser Alister when Jon defies him defending Sam.

Samwell Tarly is not a character reader likes right from the beginning. He’s introduced as a complete craven, boy without a spine, a coward. Jon is able to see through that though, feel compassion for the kid who was abused all his life, tried to be shaped into someone he had no interest in becoming. And seeing that, he accepts the newcomer as his “brother”, contemplating the wisdom of his Uncle’s words.

Chapter 19, Jon
Summary
Jon practices swordplay under the eye of Ser Alister Thorne. He’s mercilessly beating boys sent against him, even the ones older and stronger than him. The other boys hate him and call him Lord Snow, a nickname Ser Alister gave him. After the practice four bigger boys come to bully Jon, they call his mother a whore, Jon starts a fight. All this is interrupted by old smith, Donal Noye, who then gives Jon a hard speech about getting along with his new brothers or sleeping with a dagger near his bed.

Quotes

“The bastard hamstrung you, opened your empty skull, and cut off your hand.
Or would have, if these blades had an edge. It’s fortunate for you that the Watch needs stableboys as well as rangers.”

“Lord Snow wants to take my place now.” He sneered. “I’d have an easier time teaching a wolf to juggle than you will training this aurochs.”
“I’ll take that wager, Ser Alliser,” Jon said. “I’d love to see Ghost juggle.”

Commentary

Another stage of transformation. Jon is finding out that life on the Wall is much more difficult than he had thought. He is surprised that in Castle Black Benjen Stark is no longer his uncle, he’s the First Ranger and he will treat Jon just like everyone else. Whatever Jon wants to accomplish, he needs to earn it. Jon is bitter, he hates the world and he hates the people, who didn’t tell him what life on the Wall really was.

On top of that Jon seems to have made enemy of pretty much everyone around. The new recruits hate him because he was raised with noble born children and even though he’s younger and weaker, he’s undefeated with the sword in hand. His new master of arms, Ser Alister, hates him, although that doesn’t say much, because he hates everyone. Jon is miserable.

Chapter 10, Jon
Summary
Jon comes to Bran to say his goodbye, he’s leaving for wall with Benjen Stark. Catelyn is not pleased and unleashes her anger on Jon. After leaving Bran’s chambers Jon meets with Robb and goes to meet Arya. He gives her a sword he asked Mikken to make.

Quotes

“Jon,” she said. He should have kept going, but she had never called him by his name before. He turned to find her looking at his face, as if she were seeing it for the first time.
“Yes?” he said.
“It should have been you,” she told him.

“First lesson,” Jon said. “Stick them with the pointy end.”

Commentary

By this chapter I knew that characters in the book are not idealized, that they are real characters in fantasy setting, capable of cruelty few authors decide to write into their stories. Even so, I was deeply hurt by how Catelyn treated Jon. Mad with helplessness and anger for the bastard Cat tells him that it should have been him dying, not her precious son. Incredibly cruel thing to say.

Jon’s goodbye with Arya and Robb is a bit less shaking. Robb treats his half brother with respect. The bond between the bastard and Arya is even stronger. Ned’s younger daughter is more willing to follow Jon’s footsteps than her sisters.

Chapter 5, Jon
Summary
Everyone in Winterfell attends the great feast. Jon is situated far away from the trueborn children and enjoying the rare moments when being a bastard is a blessing. With no one to watch him he gets drunk on the summerwine. Jon asks Benjen Stark, who arrived from the Wall just for the feast, to take him when he’s leaving Winterfell. He wants to join the Night’s Watch. Jon becomes angry when Ben refuses. He makes a scene and leaves the feast. Outside Jon meets Tyrion Lannister, the Imp. Jon doesn’t want to admit it, but there is a bond building between the two rejects.

Quotes

“Let me give you some counsel, bastard,” Lannister said. “Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not.”

Commentary

In this chapter we’re following Jon, Ned Stark’s bastard. Again he’s alienated, seated far away from his half-brothers and sisters. He knows that Catelyn was afraid that his presence could offend the royal family.

Jon gets drunk and his true feelings float to the surface when he speaks to Benjen Stark. He wants to be more than a bastard and he thinks that joining Night’s Watch is better than being in the House where every day reminds him that he’s not as good as his siblings. In anger he lets his guard down and shows how he feels about bastards.