Chapter Ten - Jon 3 - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

Jon watches as Mance Rayder and the Horn of Joramun are consigned to the flames. Stannis displays Lightbringer and the free folk are invited to come through the Wall, to bend the knee, and to get a bowl of onion soup. Mackelly and Simon fear that Stannis is not earning their loyalty.

Chapter Review:
Jon Snow watches as Mance Rayder is dragged to his death. The former Brother of the Night’s Watch and King Beyond the Wall is a broken man desperately pleading for his life and disavowing his kingship. He’s put in a cage above a pit of kindling. Melisandre brings forth the Horn of Joramun, which if blown would have brought down the Wall and let the enemy in. She burns it in the pit, and the flames reach up to Mance.

Acting on Jon’s orders, several of his men loose shafts to put their former brother out of his misery. As the smell of burning flesh fills the courtyard, Stannis unsheathes Lightbringer, brighter than ever, and the gate through the Wall is opened. The Free Folk are allowed through - the promise of soup and safety from the terrors of winter convince most. But some resist.

Stannis has them burn weirwood branches to show their conversion from the Old Gods to R'Hllor and to take the knee before him. All this was against Jon’s advice. But Stannis is more interested in loyalty than love.

Later, Jon discusses with Clydas the passage that Aemon left for Jon, which describes Lightbringer’s heat. Stannis' sword is cold. Is straight arrow Stannis resorting to subterfuge?

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch.
Stannis Baratheon - Surviving brother of dead King Robert Baratheon, claims the Iron Throne because Cersei’s children are not Robert’s.
Melisandre - Red Woman of Ashaii. Priestess of R’Hellor, the Lord of Light.
Maester Aemon - Elderly, blind maester of the Night’s Watch.
Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night’s Watch.
Ser Alliser Thorne - Senior member of the Night’s Watch.
Mance Rayder - King Beyond the Wall, a former brother of the Night’s Watch.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 7:00 Character Recap
• 7:20 Chapter Summary
• 14:32 General Discussion
• 55:59 Background Information
• 58:18 Comparison with the TV Show
• 1:00:12 Pedantry Corner
• 1:02:12 News and Notes
• 1:04:37 Conclusion