Although Jon Snow lost a fight to Karl Tanner, a man who had only two knives, and although
Jon Snow was outclasses by Styr, Magnar of Thenns, he fought well at the Battle of Bastards,
he killed a bunch of wights at Hardhome and he even killed a White Walker there. Later,
Jon killed a second White Walker north of the wall. So one of fans biggest gripes with
Game of Thrones Season 8 was that Arya Stark killed the Night King instead of Jon Snow,
which begs the question, who will kill the Night King in the books?
Technically, the night king doesn t exist in the books, at least, not yet, but there
are reasons to believe that he does exist and will he make an appearance in The Winds
of Winter. Link to that video above. But the focus today is on the big question: who will
the Night King in the Winds of Winter? Although George R.R. Martin has described
himself as more of a garderner than an architect in terms of how he allows his characters and
plots to grow and evolve as he gets to know them during the writing process, George R.R.
Martin has also said that clues to the ending of his story can be found in the very first
book. And and we know this to be true. After all, George R.R. Martin hinted at the eventual
Jon Snow reveal all the way back in Ned Stark s very first chapter. And George R.R. Martin
also used wordplay to hint at the Hodor reveal, all the way back in book 1.
In hindsight, George R.R. Martin also gave two major clues as to who will kill the night
king, as well as the specific move that will be used to do so. So here it is:
Loras Tyrell told Sansa that his brother Garlan is the better sword, but he is the better
lance. That was a direct callback to something that Jon told Benjen in Jon Snow s very first
chapter. Jon told benjen that Robb was better with
the lance, but he was better than Robb with the sword.
Of course, Jon was still a pup at that point of the story. That was in his very first chapter.
When he got up to the wall, Jon was able to kick the crap out of some untrained boys,
but ultimately, he didn t fight anyone at Craster s Keep, since he s not involved in
that scene in the books. Jon participated in the Battle at the Wall, but since he was
injured from Ygritte s arrow, he mostly used a bow and arrow himself. He didn t fight the
Hollywood type 1 on 1 that he had in the show. And Jon didn t go to Hardhome in the books,
so he hasn t killed any White Walkers, at least, not yet.
On top of that, he sparred Mance Rayder, and Maynce Rayder embarrassed him.
Jon did beat Iron Emmett in the training yard, but it wasn t a fair fight. Iron Emmett was
just sparring, whereas Jon lost control and he went all out. So that fight did not tell
the reader much. However, Jon has trained very often and hard
so as to get better. When Sam asked him why, Jon told him that his sword, Longclaw, is
Valyrian steel, but he was not. In other words, George R.R. Martin is definitely
setting up Jon for battle. But will he get good enough to defeat the Night King 1 on
1? Think about Ser Waymar Royce. Waymar fought
a White Walker in the prologue to book one. At the end of their fight, he found his fury,
yelling For Robert! He then lifted the longsword with both hands and swung it around in a flat
sidearm slash with all his weight behind it. But the Other s parry was almost lazy.
In other words, White Walkers, in the books, are very, very good. And presumably, the Night
King is even better. So Jon beating the Night King 1 on 1 it s laughable. That line about
Jon training to be valyrian steel will likely pay off when Jon faces the other bastard of
the North, Ramsay Bolton. And the line about becoming Valyrian steel may also be a nod
to the fact that Jon is a dragon. Jon s Valyrian. But the point is, there is no reason to believe
that anyone will be able to defeat the Night King 1 on 1 in the books. Not Jon Snow. And
not Arya. Arya is a little girl, who had some water
dancing lessons. There s no way that she will be able to defeat the Night King 1 on 1. But
it is very likely that Arya, the Night Wolf, will defeat him. First off, Arya has trained
as Blind Beth. So she is more prepared than most for the dark. A very useful skill to
have against the Night King, a man who brings the storm, a man who brings the darkness.
And Arya is not going to try to fight the Night King 1 on 1. Arya Stark of Winterfell,
otherwise known as the Night Wolf, is an assassin. An assassin who George R.R. Martin has teed
up to get the big kill with these clues here all the way back in book 1. In her second
chapter ever. What do we say to the god of death? Not today.
Not today. Tomorrow you will catch it.
All men are made of water. Did you know this? Pierce them, and the water leaks out, and
they die.