Once Jon Snow arrived at Castle Black he told all he’d learned to Donal Noye, who’d
taken command of the watch after the an undead army wiped out much of their forces beyond
the wall, and a mutiny at Craster’s Keep which left Jeor Mormont and many others dead.
Jon then learned that his Bran and Rickon stark had been killed by the traitor Theon
Greyjoy in Winterfell.
And while Theon had actually killed 2 other boys, Jon believed his brothers were dead.
Devastated, Jon has no choice but to continue on, helping his people defend the wall from
Wildling attack.
Jon was even left in command of their forces when Donal Noye led a party to defend the
gate, sacrificing themselves to kill the giant mag mar tun doh weg.
The Night’s Watch emerged victorious in the battle of castle black but at a cost of
many lives, including Ygritte who died in Jon’s arms,
Yet despite all of Jon Snow’s accomplishments, most of his allies at the Watch were now dead.
And so when Alliser Thorne returned from his trip South with Janos Slynt and a number of
recruits, they had Jon arrested.
Claiming he’d betrayed them by joining the Wildlings and killing Qhorin Halfhand.
However given Jon’s popularity with even Maester Aemon speaking on his behalf execution
was not an option, so after some time in an ice cell, Jon was sent on a suicide mission
beyond the wall to prove his loyalty, where he was ordered to call a meeting with the
wildlings and assassinate Mance Rayder.
During their conversation, Mance offered to give the Watch the legendary horn of winter,
which he claimed had the power to destroy the wall, in exchange for allowing them passage
into the south to escape the approaching white walkers.
Yet while they were speaking, King Stannis Baratheon arrived in the North, following
his defeat at the Battle of Blackwater Bay.
Having lost most of his army in the War of the Five Kings in the south, he now focused
his attention on the North, hoping to gain legitimacy and a base of power by saving the
Night’s Watch from the invading Wildling army.
The undisciplined wildling warriors quickly broke when faced with an organized cavalry
force, and so Mance was arrested, while Jon Snow returned to Castle Black and given an
offer by Stannis.
In exchange for bending the knee to the one true king of westeros, Jon would be named
a legitimate son of Eddard Stark, and given the Lordship of Winterfell when they took
it back from the Boltons.
Jon was greatly tempted by this offer but ultimately refused to abandon his vows and
stayed at the wall.
Further, thanks to the political maneuvering of Samwell Tarly, Jon Snow was elected 998th
Lord Commander of the Night Watch, chosen as a compromise candidate by rival factions.
Although Lord Commander Snow was grateful to Stannis for his help, allowing him to remain
at the wall for a time to house his men, Jon refused to commit fully to Stannis, claiming
the Night’s Watch must continue to remain neutral in the wars of the south.
He does however offer some personal advice, telling Stannis to seek support amongst the
mountain clans of the North, who had great respect for Eddard Stark and would be honored
by a visit from a king.
Fearing the plans of the king’s red priestess Melisandre, Jon sent all those with kingsblood
away, with Maester Aemon and Mance Rayder’s newborn baby travelling south to Old Town
alongside Samwell Tarley and the wildling girl Gilly.
*However Jon worked with Melisandre to hide the identity of Mance who they sent on a secret
mission south to rescue Arya Stark who was rumored to be at winterfell.
However in truth the girl was Jeyne Poole, an old friend of Sansa who was posing as Arya.
*Sma would train to be maester In order to keep this secret, they burned
the wildling Rattleshirt while he was glamoured to look like Mance Rayder.
In the south rumors about Jon Snow made their way to the capital.
Before the death of Robb Stark at the Red Wedding, he named Jon his heir, but having
been killed soon after, few ever learned of this decision.
In King’s Landing, Cersei Lannister and her people devised a plan to send 100 infiltrators
to the Night’s Watch to assassinate Jon Snow, but her plans fell apart before she
could even begin.
In the north Jon took bold actions to prepare for Winter and the coming war.
He recruited Wildlings into the Watch, appointing some to positions of authority gaining their
trust.
He also began repairs on ruined castles, sending men to man the wall in as many areas as possible,
organized supply routes, negotiated a loan with the Iron Bank, and sent a party to Hardhome,
to gather the remaining Wildlings and bring as many as possible to the Wall.
Though many of these actions were wise and forward thinking, the Men of the Watch grew
uneasy with his leadership.
And while some remain loyal, many begin to question his decisions.
When Janos Slynt refused an order, Jon Snow executed him personally, remembering his father’s
words that the man who passes the sentence must swing the sword.
Later when Lady Alys Karstark came to the wall seeking refuge from a forced marriage
to her uncle, Jon arranged a marriage to sigorn, magnar of the Thenn, creating a new noble
family in House Thenn.
However everything fell apart, when Jon received the a letter claiming to have come from Ramsay
Bolton, stating that Stannis was defeated and Mance Rayder was dead.
He then demanded Jon’s fealty while also insulting him and calling him a bastard.
Although the authorship of the letter was not verified, Jon Snow was convinced he must
act, declared to all that he was leave the Watch with a volunteer army of Brothers and
Free Folk, to march against the Bolton and retake Winterfell.
This however was a clear violation of their vows, leaving many to turn against their Lord
commander.
Later that night, Jon heard screaming and ran to see the giant Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun killing
Ser Patrek of Kings Mountain, seeing the star of his sigil hanging above, covered in blood.
Bowen Marsh, who had been Jon’s friend and adviser, then led a group of brothers to use
this distraction to their advantage, whispering “for the watch” as they stabbed him with
their daggers.
Left to die in a pool of his own blood, Jon’s last word before losing consciousness, was
“Ghost”, in reference to his direwolf.