A Song of Ice and Fire - A Chapter a day discussion

1-They are still in the Skirling Pass, and they walk by night so the shadows cover them, Jon saw the sense in that and I do too. I thought Ygritte said Mance would take Jon just to survive, but Qhorin seems to think he actually would take him.

2-Qhorin told Jon Mance liked wildling songs and women, and Jon could tell they were friends. I forgot Mance was a wildling, and he went back. I liked Qhorin said the wildlings were as clever and quick as they were, but had no discipline. Once I watched an interview done to George R. R. Martin, and one question that I can’t quite remember was about the wildlings, and it was something about if they could be humans; the autor said they were people, and I don’t know how the person who asked that question could think they weren’t, they just live on the other side of the Wall and have different customs. Anyway, Mance loved the wild more than the Wall, and Qhorin said he was the best and worst they had, he never followed orders. Jon said he was like Mance in that aspect.

3-So, Qhorin asked him why he didn’t kill her, and Jon said because he saw no evil in her eyes. I really like Qhorin, he said he didn’t need her dead, he would have sent other of the rangers to do so. Qhorin said to lead men you must know them, and told Jon he knew him better than he did that morning. He seems like a good observer.

4-Jon called for Ghost, but he went to haunt. Jon slept, and dreamed of five direwolves, when there should be six (I am guessing the missing one is Lady). He lost their scent, and missed them. Aw! He heard the weirwood shouted his name, but it was more like a silent shout, and I don’t quite imagine it. The weirwood had the face of his brother, and had three eyes. *SPOILERS FOR A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE* (view spoiler)[I am sure the first time I had no idea this was Bran, or that he could be, even though at this point we know about the three eyes and the crow. It’s crazy you really learn what’s going on in the fifth book. I love that! (hide spoiler)]. He smelled other scents, and then death. Interesting to say the least. His brother told him to open his eyes, and he was suddenly back in the Skirling Pass.

5-He saw thousands of people, and giants on mammoths, which is crazy. An eagle attacked him, and Jon woke up, shouting. His black brothers came, and told him not to shout. Jon told Qhorin about his dream, and I LOVED no one laughed or said something rude. And I love how Jon seemed quite calm about learning he is a warg. And his brothers didn’t mind too much as well. I really love that.

6-It was getting dark, and Ghost wasn’t back. Jon feared he got really hurt from that eagle. They saw an eagle watching them, and Jon told himself surely it wasn’t the same. I think Qhorin thought it was the same though, and that’s why they later go back, not further.

7-Ghost is back, and hurt but not too badly. I really liked Qhorin helped the wolf while Jon whispered in his ear to calm him. You can tell he really loves Ghost.

8-So, they went back, Qhorin said they had been seen, and said the right man could hold a hundred from that point they were in. Squire Dalbridge was staying to die, Jon realised, which is really sad and brave of Dalbridge. He asked for all the arrows they could spare before they went.

9-They spotted something moving, and then heard a horn. Qhorin said they were coming. How can a chapter end like this? This should not be allowed, lol, the first time I was freaking out.

Your point 1, I did think it was interesting how Qhorin seems to believe Mance would take Jon in. But I assumed Qhorin knew Mance well, since they were friends so I didn't question it.

Your point 2, wtf? Of course they're humans!

1. Squire Dalbridge is said to have the keenest eyes in the Night’s Watch, and he can use the bow like it’s no one’s business. I don’t remember hearing about him earlier. I wonder if he’s one of the hundred that came from the Shadow Tower.

2. Ghost occasionally perks his ears and looks behind them. Jon thinks Ghost hears shadowcats but it’s probably wildlings. They would attack living men!

3. Interesting Qhorin says shadows are friends to men in black. Based off earlier chapters I have a rotten opinion of shadows now.

4. I like that it is Jon who first speaks to Qhorin about the girl and not Qhorin. I also like that Qhorin reminds him he’s no lord.

5. So Qhorin and some of the others were friends of Mance Rayder. He says Mance loved wildling music, and their women, lol, sounds like he’s a raper or something. Mance supposedly deserted them for a girl. I forgot Mance was wildling born, taken as a child when some raiders were killed. Leaving the Shadow Tower to him was like going home. He says he was their best ranger, and only fools like Thoren Smallwood despise wildlings. I find that interesting for him to say, like he doesn’t hate wildlings himself yet he kills them all the time. Qhorin says wildlings are just as brave as they are, just as strong, quick, and clever, but they have no discipline. *SPOILER FOR A STORM OF SWORDS* (view spoiler)[I think this is the key to the problem with the men on the Wall. They don’t have much discipline either, so what makes them better than wildlings? Especially when they kill their own leaders...most of them came to the Wall as thieves, murderers, and rapers right from the get-go. I’ll bet not half the wildling encampment are as bad as that! (hide spoiler)] Qhorin says they never learned how to obey. Well you can’t exactly fault them on that. It’s not like they had a chance to learn.

6. Jon admits he let the girl go. Qhorin doesn’t seem surprised. Jon says his father didn’t believe in using headsmen to execute people. He did it himself. But when Jon looked into her eyes he didn’t see any evil there, though he knew she is the enemy. Qhorin says the other two were the same and he killed them, but Jon says that’s different. They were armed and would have blown the horn. But the girl was, and is still, unarmed...for now, anyway!

7. I like how Qhorin corrects Jon, saying he didn’t command Jon to kill her; he told him to do what needed to be done. Now he knows what kind of a man Jon Snow is. :) Qhorin specifically chose his men according to what he needed: Stonesnake to scale a mountain, Squire Dalbridge to shoot an enemy from afar, and Ebben to make a man give up his secrets. I wonder what his practical purpose for Jon is?

8. Instead of spooning again, Ghost runs off to hunt. Jon hopes he’s not going to try to take down a shadowcat; even for a direwolf that’s dangerous. Shadowcats must be pretty vicious then if they can take down a fucking direwolf!

9. Jon dreams of direwolves tonight. He probably gets these dreams every night like Bran does, same as Arya. Robb and Rickon as well. Poor Sansa lost her direwolf. :( Jon sees five when there should be six, and they’re all scattered. Interesting he feels a deep ache of incompleteness. Awe. He misses his pack!

10. I absolutely love the part in his dream where he can hear Bran speaking through to him, through the weirwood. Interesting Jon was looking for Summer and not Bran the boy. The tree is actually growing! The face on the tree is his brother’s. He has three eyes. Interesting through the tree Jon can smell the boy, the wolf, warm earth and stone and death. The death scares him. I think he can smell where Bran is! Bran tells him not to be afraid. He likes it in the dark (stark contrast from Melisandre!), no one can see you in the dark but you can see them, but only if you open your eyes. *SPOILER FOR UPCOMING CHAPTERS IN A CLASH OF KINGS* (view spoiler)[I think I cried the first time I read this because I thought this means Bran is dead and he’s communicating with Jon in the afterlife. So glad that doesn’t happen! (hide spoiler)] The tree touches Jon and suddenly he can see exactly where Ghost is. That’s pretty cool, I think! Ghost is looking down into a valley full of wildlings. They’re in the thousands, but it’s not really an army, nor a village. It’s everyone come together. He even sees giants and mammoths for the first time!

11. Suddenly Ghost is attacked by a great winged eagle and Jon wakes, screaming for Ghost, waking the party. Ebben tells him to shut up, does he want the wildlings to hear them? Jon tries to calm down but he still feels the pain and tells himself it was only a dream. But Qhorin and Stonesnake take his dream seriously. Now we know why Qhorin wanted him! It seems Jon’s also a warg, a shape-changer, and I’ll bet he means to use it to his advantage. Ghost found the wildling encampment for them.

12. Jon feels like a fool to talk about his dream but they take it seriously, no one laughs at him. I like this: “Dead men walk and the trees have eyes again. Why should we balk at wargs and giants?” Very true!

13. I laughed when Squire Dalbridge asks if his dreams will come true too and says Jon can keep his mammoths, he wants his women.

14. Jon is frightened of the idea of his dreams coming true. He’s worried for Ghost, remembering the pain, and still he hasn’t returned. They set out again, taking all day. They spot an eagle far off. The men don’t like how the bird can see them but it’s too far away and they’ll never shoot it down from here, so they press on.

15. Finally Jon spots Ghost who was hiding between two boulders, injured, but not dead. They all help heal Ghost, I like that. :) It’s strange how even now the direwolf makes no sound, though he’s not happy with the alcohol on his wounds. He’ll be okay, no real harm done.

16. Qhorin tells them to go back, the eagle spotted them. The others seem confused too but don’t argue. It’s not said, but Qhorin hints the eagle is a warg too. A wildling can see them.

17. They stop where the two dead wildlings landed and Qhorin tells Dalbridge to guard them from as many wildlings as possible. Dalbridge tells them to take care of his horse, indicating he doesn’t intend to come back. That’s brave! In the morning they see the eagle and hear the horn blow and know they’re coming for them. I feel so bad for Jon’s companions! Ygritte said Mance would spare him but not the others. Even if Jon killed Ygritte the eagle would still have spotted them, though. Fucking eagle. *SPOILER FOR A STORM OF SWORDS* (view spoiler)[He gets it in the end of SoS, so I’m happy, lol. (hide spoiler)]

I was surprised too someone could say they are not. They just live on the other side of the Wall!

About your point 1, I think he came with Qhorin.

*SPOILER FOR A STORM OF SWORDS* (view spoiler)[You are right! I didn't think about it, but they don't have discipline either. Clearly not all men are like Qhorin, and that shows when they kill Mormont. Even if shit was going down and they were all scared and all, I don't think it was a good idea to kill him. (hide spoiler)]

*SPOILER FOR UPCOMING CHAPTERS IN A CLASH OF KINGS* (view spoiler)[Aw Vicki! I don't remember crying when I thought Bran was dead, but I was really sad. I never thought Bran was communicating from the other side, it was an interesting idea, considering you thought he was dead. Bran did speak with Ned when he was dead though, so it makes sense you thought of it! (hide spoiler)]

In your point 17, I laughed at "fucking eagle". I hate it too, lol.

*SPOILER FOR UPCOMING CHAPTERS IN A CLASH OF KINGS* (view spoiler)[I think at some point I cheated and flipped through the pages to find Bran had one last chapter, lol, but I am pretty sure I cried when Bran was talking to Jon through his dream. I don't cry often, by the way. I might have been PMSing! lol (hide spoiler)]

*SPOILERS FOR A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE* (view spoiler)[Haha I did in in A Storm of Swords, I refused to believe Arya was dead. I don't think I ever cried with this series so far, but I do tend to cry, mostly with books and movies. My life doesn't move me apparently, lol. (hide spoiler)]