Benjen, Jon and Tyrion's party makes camp on their way north. They are joined by fresh recruits for the Watch, men who have been tied up. Tyrion says they are rapists. They were offered the choice of castration or the Wall. Most choose the knife. Tyrion asks Jon what he thinks of his new brothers. Changing the subject, Jon asks Tyrion why he reads so much. Tyrion replies that he is a dwarf and if he'd been born a peasant he'd probably been left in the woods to die. Alas, he was born a Lannister of Casterly Rock and things are expected of him. His father was  Hand of the King for twenty years until his brother killed that king. His brother Jaime has his sword and Tyrion has his mind, and a mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone. “That’s why I read so much, Jon Snow.” Tyrion and Jon share a wineskin as Jon reflects on Tyrion's words that the Night's Watch guards the realm only from grumkins and snarks and other mythical creatures. One of the new recruits, Rast, glares at Jon with hostility before the party eventually reach the Wall.

At Castle Black, Jon's expectations of the Night's Watch are soon disappointed. Instead of a brotherhood of noble warriors sworn to defend the realm from wildlings and White Walkers, he realizes the Watch is a dumping ground for criminals and wastrels. He earns the enmity of Ser Alliser Thorne, the Master-at-Arms in charge of training new recruits. Jon, however, humiliates his fellow recruits with his superior fighting skills, learned from Winterfell's Master-at-Arms over the course of many years. Thorne is disgusted at the poor performance of the others but has no praise for Jon either, dubbing him Lord Snow and describing him as "the least useless person here". Watching over the new recruits with Lord Commander Jeor  Mormont, Tyrion notes Thorne's stern and unusual ways, but Jeor doesn't care as he only requires Thorne to turn the "thieves and runaways" into men of the Night's Watch to which he then admits that it is going slowly. He asks Tyrion to deliver a message he’s just received to Jon Snow; It’s about his brother Bran. Tyrion asks if it’s good or bad news and Mormont responds, "Both."

Later on, Jon is confronted by several of the other recruits: Rast, Pypar and Grenn. They are angry with Jon for beating them in the training yard and breaking Grenn’s nose. When Jon says it’s an improvement, they grab him and prepare to beat him up, but are interrupted by Tyrion’s arrival. Tyrion scares them off by noting they have interesting faces which would look good decorating spikes on King’s Landing’s walls. Jon says that the other boys resent him for being better than him, but Tyrion says they resent him because he was brought up in a castle and trained by a proper, formidable master-at-arms. They were not so lucky: Pyp was sent to the Wall for stealing a wheel of cheese to feed his starving sister and Grenn was left outside a farmhouse at the age of three. Tyrion gives Jon the letter about Bran that informs that he has woken but has lost the use of his legs in the fall.

Some time later, Jon ascends to the top of the Wall via a wheel-and-pully lift. He joins his uncle  Benjen, who tells him he wanted to be there the first time Jon saw the view from the top of the Wall. Benjen says he is leaving, adding that there are “disturbing reports” from beyond the Wall  and he is going to investigate. When Jon inquires the nature of the reports, Benjen ominously describes them as “the kind I don’t want to believe.” Jon then asks to go with him, but Benjen refuses as Jon is not ready yet. Benjen adds that he is annoyed to find that Jon just expects he can go due to his relationship with Benjen, alluding to the fact that Jon is not protected by his name at the Wall. Benjen urges that “here on the Wall, a man only gets what he earns, when he earns it.” Benjen then informs Jon that they will talk more upon his return.

The following day, Jon is practicing in the courtyard at Castle Black again, but this time instead of humiliating the other boys he shows them their mistakes and what they are doing wrong. He quickly wins over Pyp and Grenn with his advice. Tyrion, watching from above the courtyard, approves. That evening, before departing for King's Landing, Tyrion fulfills an old ambition by climbing to the top of the Wall and urinating off the edge of it. He says a farewell to Jon and promises to carry his good wishes to Bran when he stops at Winterfell on the way back south. Jon is upset that Bran will never walk again but Tyrion points out that if you have to be a cripple, it’s good to be at least a rich cripple. He and Jon share a moment of fellowship before Tyrion departs for the capital.

Days later, Jon is continuing to help train Grenn and Pyp when they are interrupted by a new recruit: Samwell Tarly of Horn Hill, the son of the famous Lord Randyll Tarly. Samwell is fat, soft, pampered and spends most of his time studying as he’s interested in becoming a Maester some day. He nervously announces he has come to take the black. Samwell’s first practice fight goes very poorly as Alliser Thorne orders Rast to spar with him, but Sam immediately drops his sword and falls to the floor, screaming that he yields. Thorne has no time for his weakness tells Rast to keep hitting him until he gets up again and also directs the other recruits to attack 'Ser Piggy', but Jon Snow finds this cruel and unfair. Jon intervenes, pointing out he's yielded already. Annoyed, Thorne sets Grenn, Pyp and Rast on Jon simultaneously, but Jon beats all of them. Now infuriated, Thorne orders Jon and Sam to clean up the armory as that's all they are good for. He storms off with Rast. Jon, Grenn and Pyp interrogate the new arrival. Sam admits that he is a coward; he wanted to fight but could not face it. He thanks Jon for his help and leaves. Grenn is worried that if people saw them talking to Sam, they might think they are cowards as well. Pyp points out that Grenn is too stupid to be a coward. Grenn, unable to think of a good comeback, settles for chasing Pyp off with his sword.

Atop the Wall, Jon stands watch. He is joined by Samwell. Ser Alliser has ordered him to be Jon's new watch partner, although he warns Jon that he doesn't have good eyesight. He’s also not good with heights. Jon asks him what he is doing on the Wall since he is scared of everything. Sam says that on the morning of his eighteenth nameday, his father came to him and said that he was not worthy of his lands and title. He told Sam to take the black and forsake his inheritance. If he did not, they would have a hunt, and somewhere in the woods Sam's horse would throw him and leave him to die, or so he would tell Sam’s mother. Sam realizes that Ser Alliser will make him fight again tomorrow, and he tells Jon he won’t get any better. Jon notes that he can’t get any worse, and they share a laugh. The following day, Jon Snow joins Pyp and Grenn for lunch. Jon tells them that Sam is the same as all of them, someone who has no place in the world so he wound up at the Wall. He is their brother now and they will not hurt him again in the training yard, no matter what Thorne says. Pyp and Grenn agree, but Rast, overhearing, sneers at Jon’s kindness and says that the next time he is told to fight Sam, he will and will enjoy it. That night, Rast wakes up to find Jon's albino direwolf, Ghost, at his throat. Jon tells him that Sam will not be touched. Rast, scared, agrees. In the training yard, the next morning, Thorne sets Rast against Sam, but Rast only touches him with the flat of his blade. Thorne then sets Grenn against him. Grenn, going overboard, asks Sam to hit him. When Sam barely touches him, Grenn drops his sword and falls to the floor yelling that he yields. Thorne is furious and tells Jon that this is not a game. He is training them to save their lives when they are beyond the Wall with the sun going down, when they need to be men and not snivelling boys.

Some time later, Jon and Samwell clean the kitchens. Sam is annoyed that, although the Night’s Watch vows forbid fathering children or taking wives, many of the officers sneak off to the brothel in Mole's Town on a regular basis. Jon is surprised that he cares, but Sam says that although he’s fat, he still likes girls as much as Jon. He tells Jon he's never been with one. Jon surprises him by saying the same thing. He once tried with a beautiful prostitute but did not want to risk fathering a bastard, as his father did with him. They are interrupted by Thorne who asks them if they remember the last winter, almost a decade ago. Jon says yes. Alliser asks if it was cold at Winterfell with days they could never get warm, not matter how fires were lit. Thorne spent six months beyond the Wall during the last winter. It was supposed to be a two-week mission, but they were trapped by a storm. The horses died first and were eaten. That was easy. Later, when the men started dying, that was harder. Thorne says it is a shame they didn't have someone like Sam along. He’d have fed them for two weeks, and they'd have had his bones left over for soup. Thorne tells them that soon there'll be new recruits and Jon and Sam will be passed on to the Lord Commander for assignment. But they will not be ready and come the winter, they will die like flies.

Some time later, Jon and Samwell are standing watch atop the Wall. Sam informs Jon that he misses looking at girls, since he was not one for talking to them mostly. Jon then sees a horse return to the Wall without a rider. Down in the courtyard, to Jon's horror, he realizes it is his uncle Benjen’s horse. Afterwards, Lord Commander Jeor Mormont names the trainees as men of the Night's Watch. He hands out assignments, but to Jon's disgust he is being sent to the  stewards, not the rangers. He will work directly for the Lord Commander as his personal steward. His attempts to plead his case to Maester Aemon (who has selected Samwell as his own steward) are met with indifference. In private, Sam suggests to Jon that while this move was possibly orchestrated by Thorne to punish Jon, it is also an opportunity for Mormont to groom Jon directly for Lord Commander, come the time. Both are surprised when Pypar admits that he was sent to the Watch for refusing to give sexual favors to a lord, not for stealing a wheel of cheese to feed his sister. Pyp notes that there isn’t anything fair about being sent to the Wall.

Convinced, Jon and other worshipers of the Old Gods of the Forest say their oath of fealty in front of a heart tree  just inside the eaves of the Haunted Forest and are acknowledged as men of the Watch. Sam decided to take the oath with Jon, and shortly after Ghost finds a severed hand in the woods and brings it back to Jon. They then return to Castle Black with the two dead bodies in tow who are identified as members of Benjen's ranging party. Though the deceased appear to have been dead for some time, Sam astutely notes that the bodies do not smell like they have been rotting. Jon and the others urge Mormont to burn the bodies, but he refuses, wanting Maester Aemon to examine them. Jon is then summoned to Mormont's chambers as news has arrived of Eddard's arrest and imprisonment. When Jon asks for news of his father, Mormont tells Jon he has been arrested for treason. Jon is in disbelief and Mormont gives Jon the letter to read for himself. A devastated Jon attempts to leave before Mormont tells him not to do anything stupid and reminds him of the oath he has sworn to the Night's Watch. When Jon expresses concern for his sisters, Mormont replies he is sure they are unharmed. Afterwards, Alliser Thorne taunts Jon that his father is a traitor, calling him, "not just a bastard, a traitor's  bastard." Jon angrily charges at him with a knife and Thorne is only saved by Grenn and Pyp, who hold Jon back. Before leaving the room, Thorne insists that Jon will hang for his actions. Commander Mormont, who witnessed the incident, confines Jon to his quarters as punishment.

That night, Jon is roused by a whining Ghost scratching at the door. Sensing trouble, Jon and his direwolf head to the Lord Commander's chambers where Jon is confronted by a wight, the reanimated corpse of the dead Night's Watchman. Though Jon is able to stab the wight through the chest with his sword, the wight simply removes the sword and is unharmed. Mormont appears, seeking out the commotion. Jon grabs Mormont's oil lamp and throws it at the wight, finally destroying it. The morning after, the two wight bodies have been thoroughly burned. Sam says he read in a book that the dead are animated by the touch of the White Walkers and only fire can destroy such creatures. He hopes the Wall is big enough to hold them back when the Walkers come in force. Some time later, Commander Mormont gives Jon Snow a Valyrian  steel sword, Longclaw, in thanks for saving his life. Mormont also reinstates Jon to his former position and tells him he has dispatched Alliser Thorne to King's Landing to lay the hand of the wight they found at the feet of the King and ask for aid. Mormont explains to Jon that Longclaw was meant for his own son, Ser Jorah Mormont, but he disgraced himself and fled in exile to the east continent of Essos. Jon goes to the dining hall and the other recruits make a fuss over the sword, but Samwell seems distant from the revelry. Sam takes Jon aside and informs him about his brother Robb is leading an army south to war. As Jon ponders whether to join his brother in the war Maester Aemon summons him.

Jon later finds Maester Aemon who tells him their duty to the Night's Watch comes first. He asks Jon if he’s ever wondered why the Night’s Watch swear oath to never take a wife or have children. Aemon explains this is to avoid love, which he adds is the death of duty. He then asks Jon if his father Ned ever had to choose between honor or his family, what would he choose? Jon insists he would do whatever was right, no matter what. Aemon suggests, however, that duty and honor would naturally come second to the feel of a woman’s love and a newborn child. He explains there is a day that is not made easy where one has to choose duty and honor over love and family. Jon stresses his circumstance to Aemon and tells him he wouldn’t understand. To Jon's surprise, Aemon reveals that his full name is Aemon Targaryen, the son of a king, brother to another, the uncle of the Mad King. Already old and blind at the time, Aemon had to stand aside and do nothing, trembling with rage as he recounts that even his nephew's grandchildren were butchered during Robert's Rebellion. It is not an easy life they have chosen. Aemon remarks that he cannot make Jon stay or go. Like the Maester, Jon must make the choice himself and live with the consequences of it for the rest of his life.

When news of his father Eddard's execution reach Castle Black, Jon leaves on horseback to join Robb's army and seek vengeance for his father, but is pursued. One of his pursuers hits a tree branch and is unhorsed, and Jon realizes it was Sam. He turns back to help him and tells them all to go back or they will get in trouble too. They surround him and recite their oath to the Night's Watch, and Jon realizes that they are right. Leaving would make him an oathbreaker, something his father would never countenance if he were alive. He agrees to return to the Wall with them. Later, Jeor Mormont  decides to overlook Jon's brief desertion, which is punishable by death, as Jon himself has witnessed at his father’s hands. Mormont admits many have fled the Wall, only to think better of it and return. If they executed everyone who did that, they'd have no men left. Mormont tells Jon that the war between the Lannisters and Starks is less important than what they face now, a renewed threat from the wildlings as well as the return of the White Walkers. Mormont means to lead the Night's Watch in force into the Haunted Forest to learn more of their foe, to prepare to battle against them, and to find the missing Benjen Stark. Jon agrees to commit himself fully to the Night's Watch and all that lies ahead.

Some time later, Lord Commander Jeor Mormont's rangers arrive at Craster's Keep, now having passed several abandoned wildling villages. Jon, Grenn, Eddison Tollett and Samwell Tarly are repulsed by Craster, who has many wives, most of whom are also his own daughters, but who seemingly has no sons. Inside the hall the Lord Commander questions Craster about the missing Benjen Stark, noting his plan to stay with Craster on his way to the Frostfangs. Craster says that he has not seen Benjen for three years and has not missed him because of his superior attitude. Craster then reveals that the other wildlings have all gone to join the King-Beyond-the-Wall, Mance Rayder, calling him Jeor’s old friend. Jeor objects to the characterization and decries Mance for breaking his vows to the Watch. Jon challenges their host, who is low and crude, but is demanding and demeaning when he is talking to the noble Commander Mormont, who ignores his insulting behavior. When Craster refers to them as southerners, Jon argues with him. An angry Jeor then reprimands Jon outside, noting that Craster may be disgusting, but the Night's Watch needs him. Mormont explains that Craster’s information as well as shelter in the harsh conditions north of the Wall have helped them many times before. Mormont asks Jon if someday he wants to lead and tells him that first he needs to "learn how to follow."

The following day, Samwell walks past Gilly, one of Craster’s daughters and wives, cowering from Jon’s direwolf Ghost, who was drawn by the rabbits she is carrying. Sam shoos Ghost away and then walks over to check on Gilly. She warns him not to touch her and he apologizes. She says that he is very brave. Sam brings Gilly to meet Jon and introduces her as one of Craster's daughters. They tell Jon that she is pregnant and Sam says they have to take her with them. Jon is angry at Sam for considering violating their orders to stay away from Craster's wives. Gilly interrupts their recriminations to reassure Jon that she can run. Jon says that it is not possible and Gilly begins to say what she is afraid of but stops short of telling Jon what will happen if her child is a boy. Jon is annoyed that she wants them to risk their lives for her but will not say what she fears. Gilly runs off and Sam asks Jon why he was cruel. Jon again criticizes Sam's lack of regard for their orders with his desire to steal Gilly. Sam says that Gilly can't be stolen- she's a person not a goat. Jon wonders what Sam was planning to do when Gilly went into labor. Sam claims to have read about the delivery process, but admits that it was only a little. Jon apologizes and says that they cannot help Gilly.

Later that evening, as most have gone to bed for the night, Jon sits by campfire and notices Craster sneaking out and carrying a baby into the woods. Jon follows Craster into the woods to investigate. Craster leaves the baby on the ground and turns back towards his keep. Jon hides behind a tree as Craster passes. Jon then approaches the screaming child, drawing his sword. He hears the chittering, whispering voices of the dead echoing all around him as he gets closer. Hiding behind a tree in disbelief, Jon sees his first White Walker pick up the baby from the ground and hears it speak, silencing the baby's cries before the undead creature carries it deeper into the forest. Before Jon can pursue the creature, Craster comes up behind Jon and knocks Jon out with a hard blow to the head, as he slumps over and passes out from the strike.

Afterwards, Jon is pushed through the door of Craster's Keep with his wrists bound and face bloodied.  Craster follows his captive inside and rouses the men of the Night's Watch. He tells them to get out, blaming Jon for meddling and kicking his captive. Commander Mormont and his men rise from their beds and Craster's wives watch from the rafters, Gilly among them. Craster approaches the Lord Commander and hands him his sword, Longclaw, telling him that he wants his men to leave and insisting that they make things right. Jon starts to speak but the Lord Commander sends him outside. Jeor exits the building to find Samwell cleaning Jon's injuries. He dismisses Sam and then questions Jon about his actions. Jon admits following Craster and realizes that Jeor has known all along about Craster's actions. Jeor explains that Craster is sacrificing his sons to the cruel gods of the wildlings. Jeor chooses to ignore the crime because of Craster's utility to the Night's Watch. Jon reveals seeing something taking the child, still not able to comprehend the sighting. Jeor predicts that whatever it was Jon will see it again. He hands him the sword and instructs him not to lose it again.

Some days later, the men of the Night's Watch struggle to march through deep snow to the Fist of the First Men in a column formation. Commander Mormont informs Jon that Qhorin Halfhand cannot have arrived to meet them or he would have sounded his horn. Grenn, Eddison and Samwell trudge behind them. Jon says that his uncle told him stories about the Halfhand, and Jeor says that most of them are true. Jon reports hearing that the Halfhand spent half of the previous winter beyond the Wall. Jeor corrects him saying that Qhorin was in the far north for a whole winter, because snows trapped him beyond Skirling Pass. Jon notes that it is possible for someone to survive the frozen wilderness alone, and Jeor says that it is possible for the Halfhand. Having reached the fortified summit the rangers prepare their camp. Sam is amazed at being in such an ancient place, telling his companions that it was fortified by the First Men in the Long Winter thousands and thousands of years earlier. He considers all of the major historical events that have happened since in wonder including the invasion of the Andals and the conquering of Westeros by House Targaryen. A horn sounds, halting the rangers. Grenn listens intently and wonders if it is a warning about the wildlings. Jon pauses before saying that a single blast is for rangers returning while wildlings would have triggered two blasts. Edd notes the horrible moment after one blast on a horn when you must stand and wait, wondering if a second blast will announce foes. Sam adds that three blasts are used to signal white walkers. Jon turns to look at him and he explains that it has been a thousand years but the horn is only blown three times for White Walkers. Grenn asks how Sam knows if so much time has passed. Sam begins to say that he read it in a book but Edd pre-empts and mimics his answer. Jon says that he can see Qhorin Halfhand approaching. Edd says that they will live another day, punctuating his monotone with a sarcastic cheer.

Later, during their trek, Qhorin reports sighting something on a distant mountain to Mormont. Sam says that he does not see well but Jon is able to discern a fire blazing. Qhorin nods and agrees. He cautions that if the wildling scouts see them the fire will grow into a warning beacon for Mance Rayder. Jeor asks how many wildlings have joined Mance and Qhorin says that it seems that they all have and then cautions that they cannot march on the wildlings or expect to defeat them from their current position. He adds that because Mance was once a brother of the Night’s Watch he will have instilled more discipline into the wildlings than they have known before. He counsels that they must fight more like the wildlings in response and should sneak in to the wildling camp to kill Mance. Jeor realizes that to achieve this they must first overcome his lookouts. Qhorin says that it is a task for a small group, not for four hundred men. He calls for Harker, Stonesnake and Borba and prepares to descend from the Fist. Jon requests to join Qhorin and Jeor reminds him of his responsibilities as a steward. Jon confidently counters that he has killed a wight, unlike many rangers. Qhorin is impressed but Jeor deflates Jon by reminding him of the beating he suffered at Craster’s hands. Sam offers to take on Jon’s duties and Jeor agrees to let him go. He tells Jon that he hopes he will make a better ranger than he did a steward.

Some time later, Qhorin leads his scouting party into Skirling Pass and warns that the wildlings hide in caves while the sun is up and then do their killing while it is dark. Jon suggests that they do the same and Qhorin counters that they do not know the terrain well enough and warns that the land itself will kill them if they start to think that they know it. Qhorin also asserts that they are at war, have always been at war and it will never end because they are not fighting an enemy but fighting the North, which is not going anywhere. Qhorin tells Jon that the Night’s Watch has given him a great gift and that he can reciprocate by giving his life. Jon says that he would gladly give his life for the Watch. Qhorin stops and grabs Jon, telling him that he does not want him to die gladly. He says that he wants him to curse and fight to his last heart beat. Qhorin says that Jon’s death will be a gift to the people south of the wall but that they will never know of his actions or his name. Qhorin again asks if Jon understands him and Jon again answers affirmatively. Qhorin says that Jon is even dumber than he looks and dismisses what he has said as words intended to make them feel that they have a purpose. Qhorin urges Jon onwards saying that they must find their quarry before night falls and the tables are turned.

As they surround the camp of the wildling lookouts, Qhorin signals the attack and they swiftly kill all but one of the wildlings. Jon pins the survivor against a rock but stays his hand when he sees that his captive is a woman. Jon asks her name and learns that she is called Ygritte. Qhorin tells Jon that she was reaching for an axe when he stopped her and that given half a chance she will kill him. Qhorin asks what awaits them beyond the pass and Ygritte says that there are more free folk than they have ever seen. He pragmatically details the reasons that Ygritte must die and draws his sword, but Jon says that he will kill her himself. Qhorin leads the rest of his men away and tells Jon to meet them at the summit, warning him to be quick because they are deep in wildling territory. Jon turns his blade against her throat and asserts his loyalty to the Night’s Watch, as she tries to convince him to join the wildlings. He raises the blade but cannot bring himself to kill her and instead strikes against the rock in front of Ygritte. She hits his leg with a stone and runs off. He tracks her and slides down a slope to tackle her to the ground. He draws a knife and holds it to her throat. She says that they both know that he can’t do it. She warns that the sun is going down and his friends are long gone.

As nightfall begins Jon leads Ygritte across rocky ground, her arms bound to the rope he is holding. She asks if his brothers have deserted him and offers to tell him which way to go. He says that they will sleep where they have stopped. She balks at the lack of shelter and he says that there is no shelter where they are. She says that he needs to know where to look. Ygritte warns that they could be killed by the cold and suggests they light a fire as Jon binds her legs. He refuses to consider a fire and lowers her to the ground. She suggests that they would stay warm if they stay close, adding that he will freeze before she does. As Jon lays beside her, Ygritte asks if he thinks his brothers are looking for him. He says that they will find him and she calls him stupid but brave. As they fall asleep, Ygritte wiggles her hips against him and he tells her to stop moving. She informs that she was just trying to get comfortable and she continues to repeat the action with Jon again asking her to stop.

Jon awakens next to his captive as Ygritte feels his erection pressing against her and jokes of Jon having pulled a knife on her during the night. He leaps up and she is surprised by his reaction, wondering if it is the first time he has been so close to a woman. She deduces that he is a virgin as he replies that he is a man of the Night’s Watch. Jon unties her legs as she needles him about his sexual repression and continues to tease Jon about his virginity as they walk on through the pass, assuming that they are reduced to masturbation and citing this is an explanation for their surliness. Jon tells her to be quiet and she accuses him of feeling superior to her. She asserts her independence as a free woman and he laughs, reminding her that she is his prisoner. Ygritte says that her freedom stems from not being beholden to oaths or lords and that rather than pursuing sex the Night’s Watch is invading their lands. Jon angrily interrupts to say that the wildlings have been raiding their lands since time immemorial and cites the attack on his brother Bran as an example. Ygritte retorts that the North doesn’t belong to his people and that the wildlings lived there until the Wall was built. Jon reveals that he was fathered by Eddard Stark and has the blood of the First Men, adding that his ancestors lived in the region just as Ygritte’s did. She then asks why they are fighting if they have shared ancestry. As they walk deeper into the pass, Ygritte compares their cultures and insists that freedom is worth not living in castles and not being able to forge strong steel. She criticizes Jon’s willingness to accept the restrictions placed upon him by his oath to the Night’s Watch and claims that the free folk would kill anyone who tried to impose such rules on them. She denigrates accepting rule by succession. Jon counters that the wildlings have accepted  Mance Rayder as their King Beyond the Wall. Ygritte retorts that they chose their king to lead them and adds that Mance was a man of the Night’s Watch like Jon but wanted to be free. She urges Jon to make the same choice and offers to teach him how to survive in the wild and offers to teach him how to have sex and he claims that he already knows. She tells him that he knows nothing.

Later on, Ygritte questions Jon how long it will take them to reach his people and he claims that they are close. She presses him for a specific time and deduces that he does not know. She threatens to accuse him of rape when they reach his people, acting out a scenario for him where she was an innocent captive ruined by his advances. He orders her to turn around and she incorporates that into her accusation. She says that they might as well do it anyway, still needling him for his embarrassment about the subject. She approaches him as she speaks seductively about her proposal. When she gets too close he puts a hand on his sword and she pretends to back off. She then hauls on her leash, pulling Jon off his feet and darts away. He chases her into an ambush, finding himself surrounded by wildlings clad in white fur.

Some time later, Ygritte leads Jon across a glacial lake with the rest of her party and brings him to Rattleshirt, also known as the “Lord of Bones”. The wildling commander is dismissive, saying that he already has Qhorin Halfhand captive and doesn’t need another from the Night’s Watch. Ygritte asserts that Mance will want to question Jon, as he knows about the Watch’s plans. Rattleshirt counters that Qhorin knows more, and orders Jon killed. Ygritte defends Jon, citing his honorable treatment of her and then reveals Jon’s status as the bastard son of Ned Stark, insisting that Mance will want him. Rattleshirt threatens to castrate Jon if he attempts to escape as Ygritte urges that she would do it herself if he does. Ygritte pushes Jon to the ground next to Qhorin after informing him that they are now even. Jon asks where the other men are and Qhorin tells him they’ve turned back to look for him when he did not return, adding that the wildlings found them while they were tracking Jon. Jon realizes that the others died because of his actions. Qhorin tells him to make sure that they didn’t die for nothing.

The wildlings lead their prisoners across a stony ridge as Qhorin seizes the opportunity to talk to Jon, informing him that Mance is going to march on the Wall. He suggests that an infiltrator within his army will be worth a thousand men fighting against it and adds that the wildlings might trust Jon if he does “what needs to be done.” Jon is confused by the remark. Qhorin then loudly berates Jon for causing the deaths of their sworn brothers and adds that he should have known better than to trust a “traitorous bastard.” After Qhorin pushes Jon down a slope, the Lord of Bones warns Qhorin that Jon is not his to kill. Afterwards, Qhorin realizes that he will have to sacrifice himself in order to facilitate the ruse of Jon deserting to the wildlings, so he stuns one of his captors and acquires a sword, attacking Jon with the seeming intention of killing him for treachery. The Lord of Bones lets them fight as Ygritte gives Jon back his sword. After a fierce duel, Jon mortally wounds Qhorin, as per Qhorin's own instructions. Qhorin whispers to Jon "We are the watchers on the Wall" before he breathes his last, signalling to him that he has done the right thing. Qhorin collapses to his death as Ygritte insist that they can tell Mance that Jon is the man who killed him. The Lord of Bones takes Longclaw and cuts Jon free of his bonds. He tells his men to burn the body, warning Jon that he doesn’t want the Halfhand coming back for him. Ygritte then leads Jon to the crest of the mountain. As they look down on a vast wildling camp, Ygritte informs Jon that it is time for him to meet Mance. She then descends the snowy slope. Jon looks back at Qhorin’s burning body and then follows her towards the camp.

As Jon is led by Ygritte into the main wildling camp in the Frostfang mountains, he discovers that almost all of wildling society is on the move to escape the White Walkers, including the women and children. As they enter the camp, Jon is shocked to see a real-life giant walk past. Jon is then led into the tent of the King-Beyond-the-Wall, Mance Rayder, where the Lord of Bones explains that he is Ned Stark's bastard son to a large man with a heavy beard. He says he doesn't care, but his interest is piqued on hearing that Jon killed Qhorin. As they talk Jon kneels before the man and calls him "your Grace". This causes all of the wildlings to burst out laughing. As it turns out this isn't Mance, but his lieutenant Tormund Giantsbane. The real Mance is a man sitting in a corner, who then introduces himself and tells Jon to stand, as no man kneels before another among the Free Folk, since they do not recognize a class of nobility in their culture. Mance says he is glad that Jon killed Qhorin and asks why he wants to join them as he replies he wants to be free, but Mance doesn't believe this. Jon then explains that when the Night's Watch camped at Craster's Keep, he saw Craster leave his newborn son in the woods as an offering, and the inhuman creature that took it. Jon says that he wants to leave the Night's Watch, because he is disgusted that Mormont already knew what Craster was doing but did nothing to stop it. Jon states that the First Men he is descended from defeated the White Walkers once during the Long Night, and that now he wants "to fight for the side who fights for the living.” Mance is satisfied and advises Jon to get a new cloak, his black one clearly attracting malignity.

Some days later, Jon slowly marches south with Ygritte, Mance and the rest of the Free Folk army. Mance explains that his army is a diverse force, formed of about ninety different groups or clans of wildlings, who speak seven different languages, and have numerous internal rivalries. However, he managed to unite them all by telling them the truth: that they will all die if they remain north of the Wall. Mance brings Jon to one of his scouts, Orell. He is sitting silently with his eyes rolled back as an eagle circles above him. Mance says that he is a "warg", and Ygritte is surprised that Jon doesn't know what that is. Mance explains to Jon that a warg is a person who is capable of entering the mind of an animal, seeing what it sees and even controlling its actions. Orell controls his menagerie eagle to scout miles ahead. Mance asks him what he has seen as Orell then informs that he saw the Fist of the First Men - and many dead "crows".

Later, as Jon and the Free Folk arrive at the Fist of the First Men, they survey the bloody aftermath of an assault on the Night's Watch by the White Walkers and their army of undead wights. Mance grimly remarks that the White Walkers are "always the artists": the severed corpses of all of the Watch's horses have been carefully arranged into a large-scale, ceremonial spiral pattern. However, there is no sign of any human corpses - which Orell insists were there when he scouted ahead earlier by warging into his eagle, but have now vanished. Mance warns Jon that all of the missing corpses from the Fist are no longer his brothers from the Night's Watch, but have been resurrected as undead monsters who serve the White Walkers. Mance orders Tormund to take a force of twenty men to scale the Wall. His plan is for Tormund's small band is to distract Castle Black by attacking their exposed southern side, at which point Mance's main army will assault it from the north. Tormund will know that Mance is in position when his army makes a massive signal fire. Mance orders Tormund to take Jon with him, as Jon knows the layout of Castle Black, and it will prove a key test of his loyalty: if it turns out that he won't really betray the Night's Watch, Tormund can easily throw him off the Wall to his death.

Some time later, on their way to the Wall and Castle Black, Jon and Ygritte are gathering firewood, when the warg Orell asks him about the defenses of the Night's Watch. Orell has seen through the eyes of his eagle that there are patrols on top of the Wall and he wants to know how frequent they are. Jon says they usually sent out patrols in teams of four, two builders to inspect for structural damage and two rangers to protect them, but that the frequency of their patrols often changes. Orell says the wildlings know there are nineteen castles along the south side of the Wall, but he wants to know how many are currently manned. Jon finds this very unpleasant, but reluctantly says that only three are currently manned. Apart from Castle Black, there is also Eastwatch-by-the-Sea at the extreme eastern end, and the Shadow Tower at the western end. Jon is then asked how many men currently garrison Castle Black. Jon is very reluctant to answer, but after being threatened by Orell, he gives an exaggerated number, saying there are one thousand men (this is a lie, as Castle Black only had six hundred men before the Great Ranging, and the garrison now is closer to three hundred). Tormund tells Jon that he likes him, but if he is lying to them, he will rip his guts out through his throat. Despite this, Jon remains steadfast to the lie.

Jon and Ygritte then walk away, but she steals his sword Longclaw, making him chase her to get it back. She leads him into a nearby cave, which is heated by natural hotsprings, which form a waterfall and a pool. Ygritte starts disrobing, and says that she wants to make sure Jon Snow has truly come over to the wildlings's side and broken his Night's Watch vows: by making him break his oath of celibacy with her. She quickly shucks off all of her clothes and walks up to him naked. Jon is very hesitant to break his vows, and very shy because he's never had sex before. Ygritte questions why he's still dressed, and they start kissing. Jon continues to kiss down her body as she insists that he has no experience and therefore "You know nothing, Jon Sn--" but stops mid-word as Jon starts performing oral sex on her. Some time after they finish having sex, they lie together in a naked embrace. Ygritte asks if "that thing you did with your mouth" is what Lords do to their Ladies in the south, but Jon says she just seemed to like it when he kissed her there. He admits he's never had sex with anyone before and is "a maid", according to Ygritte. Her and Jon then slide into the hot springs pool to take a bath together and they romantically cuddle more. Ygritte tells him she wishes they could stay in this cave forever instead of having to leave and face the winter, wars, and monsters outside.

At camp at the base of the Wall, the wildling party led by Tormund Giantsbane prepare to climb. Jon and Ygritte  talk about their impending climb. When Jon asks if she’s ever climbed it before she says no and discusses her fear as while it is a long way up it’s also a long way down. However, Ygritte explains her excitement as she’s been waiting her whole life to see the world from the top of the Wall. They then flirtaciously discuss the other night in the cave, being Jon’s first time, as Ygritte teases him that he’s killed Qhorin Halfhand but at the sight of a naked girl Jon trembles “like a leaf.” Ygritte then swears that his secret is safe with her, revealing her awareness of Jon’s loyalty to the Night's Watch, adding that he didn’t stop being a “crow” the moment he walked into their camp. Ygritte tells Jon, however, that he must be loyal to each other instead, noting that The Night’s Watch and Mance Rayder don’t care if they live or die. “It’s you and me that matter.”

During the climb, as they are half-way up the Wall, a struggling Jon, who is last within his group, looks down to view their journey upwards thus far. His terror is then exacerbated when Ygritte accidentally strikes an already splitting crack in the ice. This causes the crack to spider out into a large break which dislodges a massive sheet of ice, sending several wildlings to their deaths, as well as leaving Ygritte and Jon to hang precariously by their safety rope. As they are roped together in groups of four, Orell decides that Tormund cannot continue climbing with the weight of Jon and Ygritte's bodies pulling them down. As Jon and Ygritte hang from beneath him, Orell all-too-quickly decides to start cutting the rope. Ygritte and Jon witness Orell cutting away at the rope vigorously. Just as the rope breaks with the final thrust of Orell’s blade, Jon barely manages to swing to his left to plant a hook in the ice. As a terrified Ygritte starts plummeting down the Wall, Jon uses all of the strength he can manage to keep himself held onto his hook and to brace for the weight of catching her as his connecting line saves her. After finding a large enough foot-hole in the Wall to stand on, Jon reels Ygritte in as she pulls herself up. Once at safety, they take a moment to catch their breath and Jon looks above at Orell with disdain. After a few more taxing hours of climbing, Jon, Ygritte and the wildlings reach the top of the Wall. Through their exhaustion the pair are elated to have survived the climb after their brush with death. Ygritte is in awe to view the lands south of the Wall, before she and Jon share a passionate kiss.

After surviving the perilous climb of the Wall, Jon, Ygritte and the wildlings make their way towards Castle Black through the Gift in order to await Mance Rayder's signal to begin their attack on the Night's Watch. Afterwards Jon confronts Orell about cutting his and Ygritte's rope loose during the climb on the Wall, which nearly killed the both of them in the process. Orell tells Jon that he doesn't see Ygritte complaining about what happened because she is a wildling and understood what needed to be done in a pressure situation. Orell adds that this is the reason Jon will never be able to keep Ygritte. During their journey through the woods, a jealous Orell confronts Ygritte in private, insisting that he would be a better man for her than Jon Snow, who he continues to express his distrust in.

Later on, after Jon and Ygritte hunt and kill a deer, he tries to persuade Ygritte that the wildlings' cause is doomed to failure. Jon reminds her that six Kings-Beyond-the-Wall have attacked the southern lands in the past thousand years and all six of them have been repelled. Ygritte refuses to listen and points out that Jon is technically one of them; if it fails, so does he. She renews her passion for him and tells him bluntly that if they die, they die, but before they die they will live in each other.

Some days later, Jon and the wildling party prepare to raid an elderly horse breeder's home for his horses and gold. Jon insists that the old man is no threat to them, but Orell and Tormund intend to kill the man so as to stop him from alerting the Night's Watch to their presence. However, when the party attacks the farmstead, Jon surreptitiously hits a rock with his sword, alerting the old man who flees. Jon then quickly distracts Ygritte when she tries to shoot the fleeing man with an arrow. Tormund moves to kill the old man, but Orell tells him to have Jon do it instead to prove his loyalty. Jon is ultimately unable to kill the innocent man, and instead, Ygritte kills the man with an arrow. Realizing that Jon is still loyal to the Night's Watch, Tormund orders his men to kill Jon; Tormund restrains Ygritte to stop her trying to help Jon, and soon after Jon battles with Orell. Meanwhile, Jon’s little brother Bran Stark, on a mission of his own and hidden in the tower next to Jon, enters the mind of  his direwolf Summer to aid Jon as he battles to the death with Orell. Jon thrusts a fatal blow with his sword through Orell’s chest. With the last of his strength, however, Orell wargs into the mind of his pet eagle, which swoops down and attacks Jon, clawing him badly about the face before he fights the bird off. In fear for his life from the rest of the wildlings Jon then quickly steals a horse and escapes. As Jon rides away in the pouring rain, heading back to Castle Black, a heartbroken Ygritte watches in disbelief.

The next day, with Jon nearer to Castle Black, he stops by a pond to rest and tend to his injury. As he wets his facial wounds from the water he is suddenly confronted by the sound of a tightening bow and a horse squeal from behind. He quickly turns to find a furious Ygritte, who has an arrow ready to shoot him. Jon tries to talk Ygritte out of shooting him, insisting that he didn’t have a choice, adding that she always knew who he was. Jon informs her that while he loves her, and that she loves him, he has to go home. Though his feelings are clearly reciprocated, Ygritte is still angered by his betrayal and shoots Jon three times with her bow as he flees from her. Jon is badly injured, but his horse manages to carry him the rest of the way to Castle Black, as he hovers in and out of consciousness. He falls off his horse, however, having reached safety, Jon is brought inside the castle by the guards. Inside the courtyard, Jon encounters Samwell and Pypar, who are overjoyed to see him, insisting that his injuries be taken care of.

Some time later, Jon has largely recovered from his injuries inflicted by Ygritte, though he still grimaces while getting dressed. At some point, Jon has been told about his half-brother Robb and Lady Catelyn’s murders at the Red Wedding. Though wanting vengeance for his family, Jon decides to stay at the wall. He shares with Samwell that he’d always been jealous of Robb for having more of their father Eddard’s affection and for being better than him at riding, fighting, and the attention of other girls. Still, he says he could never bring himself to hate Robb, as he was also always a good friend and honorable person. Sam responds by saying he has felt the same way about Jon, that Jon is better than him at everything, except for reading. It turns out that Samwell had been sent to retrieve Jon, who has been summoned to testify before a panel of five sworn brothers, including Maester Aemon and acting Lord Commander Alliser Thorne, as Jon has also learned since his return of Lord Commander Jeor Mormont’s brutal murder at Craster’s Keep by renegade Watchmen. A new member to the Watch joins the panel: Janos Slynt, who was exiled to the Wall by Tyrion Lannister in the capital. At the hearing, Jon admits to killing Qhorin Halfhand, living amongst the wildlings, and sleeping with one. He also provides intel on Mance Rayder’s plans for attack. Both Slynt and Thorne are openly hostile to Jon, disbelieving much of what he says and call for his execution. Aemon, however, realizes that Jon is speaking the truth, and the hearing ends with Jon being allowed to keep his head.

Later, a young orphan named Olly arrives at Castle Black, telling them how the wildling raiding parties south of the Wall slaughtered his entire village. Thorne asks for Jon's opinion on protecting the smallfolk living in the Gift, thinking Jon will disagree with his decision not to send help. Instead, Jon regretfully says that he knows from his time with the wildlings that this exactly what they want - to lure as many of them out of Castle Black as possible to weaken its defenses for the massive attack about to come from the north side of the Wall, which would allow them to move over a thousand miles southward before they reached an army that could stop them. Therefore, Jon agrees with Thorne that they should do nothing, and concentrate every available man in Castle Black itself to brace for the assault. They are interrupted by the arrival of Grenn and Eddison Tollett, who had successfully escaped the mutiny at Craster's Keep. Jon is relieved to see them alive, but his relief turns to concern when they reveal that the mutineers remain entrenched at the keep. Jon understands that if the mutineers are captured by Mance Rayder, then the wildlings will know how vulnerable Castle Black really is. Jon tries to convince Thorne that eliminating the mutineers should be their top priority.

Some time later, Jon and Grenn are teaching several recruits, including Locke and young Olly, how to fight against wildlings. Slynt points out to Thorne that while Jon is well liked, Thorne is not, and when Maester Aemon insists upon an election for a new Lord Commander, Jon is far more likely to succeed Mormont. Slynt convinces Thorne to allow Jon to deal with the mutineers, in the hope that they will remove him from the problem. He urges that Jon take a few recruits back to Craster’s Keep to handle the insurgent deserters. New recruit Locke approaches Jon in the yard and they get acquainted, with Locke insisting that he joined the Watch as a sense of duty. Jon, however, is unaware of Locke's true purpose, as he’s been sent to the Wall in order to infiltrate the Watch and use Jon to find his little brothers Bran and Rickon. Locke has been promised a lordship as a reward for killing the young Stark heirs by Roose Bolton from the Dreadfort. Roose has orchestrated this mission as he’s been attempting to take over the North ever since Eddard Stark’s death. However, even with Robb Stark also gone, Bran and Rickon Stark are the last remaining male heir’s of Winterfell, which still poses a threat to Roose’s plans.

Later that evening, Samwell is fretting about Gilly's safety in Mole's Town, the largest village in the Gift, with the wildlings loose. Jon sympathizes, telling Sam he knows how hard it is. He confides that ever since Sam told him that his younger brother Bran was alive and going beyond the Wall, he has wanted to go and find him. Sam explains he really tried to bring Bran back with him but Bran was determined to go beyond the Wall. When Sam and Jon think that Bran must have found shelter at Craster's Keep, they are interrupted by Locke.

Locke brings Jon to Thorne, who sanctions his mission to Craster's Keep but tells Jon that he must secure volunteers rather than have men ordered along with him. Jon gives an impassioned speech, insisting that not only must the mutineers be dealt with for Castle Black's safety, but Lord Commander Mormont deserves justice. Much to Thorne and Slynt's surprise, Grenn,  Eddison Tollett and a group of other men join Jon on his mission, including Locke who asks to say his vows if that is required before he goes north of the Wall.

Days later, late night at Craster's Keep, Locke scouts the keep for the party of the Night's Watch sent to eliminate the traitors holed up there. During his reconnaissance, Locke finds a hut where Jon’s brother Bran and his fellow travellers are being held captive. Reporting back to Jon and the others, Locke tells them that only eleven traitors are present and most of them are drunk and won't prove much of a threat. He also lies about the hut where Jon's brother Bran and his group are being imprisoned, claiming there are only hounds kept inside and that they should keep away from it to prevent the dogs alerting their enemy. Believing Locke, Jon agrees and tells the party they attack at nightfall.

As a Night’s Watch traitor by the name of Karl Tanner enters the hut where Bran is imprisoned, the equally traitorous Rast rushes in to warn Karl the keep is under attack. Jon's party rush through the defenses and start killing their former brethren. In the confusion, Locke slips into the tent and attempts to abduct Bran for his own gain, but the crippled Bran wargs into his protector Hodor and uses his brute strength him to kill Locke. Bran spots Jon in the fighting and wants to go to him but is reminded of the larger picture as he must continue onward to reach the Three-Eyed Raven. As it is rationalized that his older brother would stop him in an effort to protect him, Bran reluctantly leaves the keep, amidst the battle, despite wanting to reunite with Jon.

The Night's Watch swiftly overcome their enemy and Jon confronts Karl in single combat. Karl's use of dirty tactics learned in his criminal past gives him the upper hand. Before he can finish Jon, one of Craster's wives, Sissy, stabs him from behind. When Karl rounds on her, Jon gets back to his feet and drives his sword Longclaw through the back of Karl's skull, killing him. In the aftermath of the battle, four brothers of the Night's Watch, including Locke, are found dead, while all the traitors but one are accounted for. Locke's true intentions are never discovered by Jon. The sole surviving mutineer, Rast, runs in terror through the forest until he reaches the cage where Ghost was held. He notices someone has opened the cage but before he can absorb this, the direwolf lunges out of nowhere and kills him. Ghost then finds his way back to Jon, who is overjoyed to see his companion again. Speaking to Craster's wives, Jon warns them that Mance Rayder's army and worse besides will soon reach their location and offers to take them to safety south of the Wall, but the women refuse, preferring to set out on their own. Before departing back for Castle Black, Jon has Craster's Keep burned to the ground, along with the bodies of all those who died there.

Some time later, Jon and his fellow brothers return to Castle Black from their raid on Craster's Keep, much to Thorne and Slynt’s dismay. At first sight of his direwolf Ghost, Thorne demands Jon’s "beast" be sent away, outside Castle Black. Thorne treatens that if Jon does not escort Ghost from Castle Black the wolf will be thrown into their evening stew. Jon begrudgingly takes him away. Afterwards, in the hall, Jon informs the Night’s Watch that Mance’s army was closing in on Craster’s Keep when they left. He adds that the wildlings will reach the Wall before the next full moon. Janos Slynt slights Jon by saying he’s surprised he didn’t stop by and say hello as Mance is his ‘old friend’. Jon pays no mind to Slynt’s comments and suggests they seal the tunnel to much of the Watch members chagrin. Thorne angrily informs Jon that he is suggesting to cower behind the Wall and hope the storm to pass. Grenn supports Jon by asserting that they cannot defend the gate against 100,000 men. Under pressue the First Builder reluctantly agrees with Thorne's assessment of their chances of defending the tunnel and Jon is denied as well as reminded of his place in the Watch. Jon and Sam are sent to serve as sentries on top of the Wall until Mance arrives.

Some time later, news of the wildlings attack on Mole's Town has arrived at Castle Black, where Sam worries about Gilly, blaming himself for bringing her to the town instead of keeping her with him at Castle Black. Grenn is angry at them cowering  in the castle instead of helping their brothers in neighboring towns. Jon says they can't go out to fight against the wildlings, as that is exactly what they want. Pypar and Edd try to comfort Sam by saying she might be alive and hiding, as she has survived worse situations, such as living with Craster, making a long march to the Wall, and even surviving a white walker. This gives Sam hope that Gilly and her baby may have survived. Jon notes they have a bigger problem; if Mole's Town has been destroyed, Castle Black is next, and the few black brothers who remain are outnumbered a thousand to one by  Mance Rayder's army. Edd notes that if the wildlings don't kill them all, there is even worse  behind them that will finish the job, and asks whichever last man of the group is still alive at the end to burn the others, as he doesn't want to come back after he is dead.

Days later, atop the Wall, Jon and Samwell are standing watch, staring out into the darkness of the north and awaiting the imminent wildling invasion. Sam attempts to interrogate Jon about what it was like to be with a woman, stating that as their deaths are likely imminent, it may be his last chance to find out. Sam brings up that the vows of the Night's Watch only explicitly forbid members from taking wives or producing children, and that other "activities" are open to interpretation. Jon replies glumly that Alliser Thorne most likely does not care about their interpretations. When further pressed by Sam to describe lying down with Ygritte, Jon attempts to explain but is unable to properly express it, proclaiming exasperatedly that he's "not a bleeding poet." Jon ponders aloud what he gained from the experience: “an arrow six inches from my heart.” Jon then offers to take the watch up alone so Samwell can go below.

Later that evening, Jon hears the horn blowing and looks north, witnessing a tremendous conflagration north of the Wall, just as Mance had promised him. Jon approaches Ser Alliser Thorne, who finally relents and admits that they should have heeded his advice and sealed the tunnel, but grimly muses that leadership means not second-guessing oneself because of "clever little twats" like him. While they start to prepare for the massive wildling army that is emerging from the woods, another horn blows from down below at Castle Black, signaling the unanticipated appearance of Tormund's band of wildlings at Castle Black.

North of the Wall, the massive wildling army emerges from the woods, their numbers including giants riding atop mammoths. Alliser orders the archers on the Wall to nock their arrows, but they draw instead while Grenn accidentally drops a barrel down the Wall. Another horn blows from down below, signalling the unanticipated appearance of Tormund's group. Realizing the dire need for experienced men to defend the keep from the surprise attack, Alliser orders Janos Slynt to assume command of the Wall's defenses and heads below to join the melee. Below, Tormund and Styr's forces charge the gate while Ygritte, acting as a sniper, manages to pick off several men defending the gate with her bow. The band of wildlings manage to reach Castle Black's walls and begin scaling them using grappling hooks and ropes. On the northern side, a wildling strike force led by two giants, one of which is riding a mammoth, charge towards Castle Black's outer gate. On top of the Wall, Janos, having no true leadership experience, breaks down at the sight of the massive wildling army and begins fumbling his orders and eventually leaves, allowing Jon to take proper command of the Wall's defenses. One giant, armed with a massive bow, manages to fire a huge arrow at one of the bunkers atop the Wall, completely obliterating it and killing the black brother manning it. The force of the giant's arrow carries the black brother off the wall on to the other side where he is shoved into ground with a tremendous amount of force.

Down below in the courtyard, chaos ensues as Styr quickly defeats the Night’s Watch one by one in melee battle while Ygritte precisely shoots with her bow from above. Young Olly watches in horror as we watches the massacre as Janos has taken the lift down to the fighting floor as ordered. Instead of assisting, however, Janos quickly finds a room to lock him self away in and out of danger, only to find Gilly and her baby already there in hiding, as she and her son returned from Mole’s Town just before the attack. Meanwhile, Pyp manages to kill a wildling with his crossbow, but is then shot through the neck by Ygritte. A devastated Samwell comforts Pyp and stays with him until he dies. At the outer gate, one giant ties several ropes around the gate as well as the large mammoth, who uses as much of it’s brute strength as possible to pull away from the gate, attempting to weaken it enough to infiltrate through the tunnel. Atop the Wall, Jon commands Grenn and five other men to travel down the lift and hold the gate on the other side. Meanwhile, Alliser Thorne is locked in a vicious duel with Tormund Giantsbane on the catwalks, both seem evenly matched in skill. The Black Brothers defending the Wall manage to repel most of the wildlings attacking the outer gate, but one giant manages to make it through, greatly weakening the gate by repeatedly smashing it with his fists and managing to single-handedly begin lifting the gate. Samwell then arrives atop the Wall to ask Jon for more men to defend the castle down below. Jon grabs his sword Longclaw and heads towards the lift.

Arriving at the inner gate, the brothers ready their weapons just as the giant slams himself into the gate. Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Jon quickly dispatches many wildlings with Longclaw, catching the attention of a Thenn named Styr. The two then meet in single combat. Styr eventually gets the upper hand by knocking Longclaw away, then Jon disarms Styr of his axe using some chains, and the fighting goes hand to hand. Styr brutally smashes his face into an anvil and tosses him into the blacksmith's forge. However, when Styr picks Jon up and begins to strangle him, Jon spits blood in Styr's face, distracting him long enough for him to grab the blacksmith's hammer lying next to him and bury it into Styr's skull. Upon killing him, Jon turns around to find Ygritte pointing her bow at him with an arrow drawn. He smiles at her, causing her to hesitate. Before either can say anything, Ygritte is shot through the heart by Olly. Jon holds her in his arms as she tells him that they should have never left the cave, and they lament circumstances that prevented them from being together as she succumbs to her wound. Afterwards, while Eddison forces the wildling army to retreat for the night, Jon deals with a heavily wounded Tormund, who continues to fight despite being the only wildling left alive in the castle. Jon orders his brothers to take him prisoner and interrogate him. Samwell returns to Gilly and discovers Janos Slynt, who hid in fear during the majority of the battle. Against all odds, the Night's Watch have repelled Mance Rayder's forces for the time being.

The following morning, Jon discusses with Sam his suicidal solution to end the wildling threat: he plans to assassinate Mance Rayder, noting that he is the only thing binding the disparate wildling clans that make up the army, and his death will rob them of that purpose and leadership. Sam tries to stop him, but to no avail. As Jon prepares to leave via Castle Black's tunnel, they discover the bodies of the black brothers who held the inner gate against the giant. Grenn is amongst the casualties, and Jon tells Sam that all bodies must be burned. Sam tells Jon to come back, and Jon looks and Sam and gives him an unsure smile before stepping out into the wilderness on the other side of the gate.

Jon Snow emerges from the outer gate of the Wall and upon his arrival to the wildling camp Mance notes that he is wearing the black of the Night's Watch again and questions his status as a traitor before asking about Ygritte. Saddened, Jon reveals that she died at Castle Black, though not by his hands. Jon then proposes for Mance to turn his army around and return home. Mance guesses there are no more than 50 men left guarding Castle Black, but Jon lies and insists that there are still over one-thousand men defending the garrison. However, Mance calls Jon's bluff and they will attack Castle Black's weak southern side upon his order. Mance then changes his demeanor and reveals that his people have suffered enough bloodshed and then makes his counteroffer: if the Night's Watch will open the gates and allow them to pass through the Wall, no more harm will come to them. However, if his terms are refused, his wildling army will slaughter every last member of the Night's Watch. Mance then notices that Jon is eyeing a cooking knife and questions Jon if this is what the Night's Watch has sunk to: killing a man who let him into his own tent. Jon hesitates, but before anyone can make a move, war horns are heard from outside.

A large calvary led by King Stannis Baratheon and Ser Davos Seaworth invade the wildling camp. Quickly cutting the wildling forces down, who were blindsided, Stannis and Davos ride up to Mance, who throws down his weapons in surrender. Ser Davos introduces Stannis as the true king of the Seven Kingdoms, but Mance wryly points out that they are not currently in the  Seven Kingdoms. Stannis demands that it is customary to kneel when surrendering to a king. Resignedly, Mance says that the Free Folk do not kneel, knowing that Stannis will kill him if he does not. Ser Davos, however, asks what a man of the Night's Watch is doing in the camp, and Jon explains that he came to treaty with Mance and adds that he knows Stannis is the true king, as his own father died supporting his claim, revealing himself as the bastard son of Eddard Stark. This makes Stannis regard Jon more seriously. Stannis proclaims that Eddard was an honorable man, and asks Jon what Ned would have done with Mance. Jon tells Stannis that his father would have taken Mance prisoner and listened to what he had to say. Before they leave the wildling camp, Jon also urges Stannis to burn the dead before nightfall. 

Later on at Castle Black, a funeral is held for the slain Night's Watch, who have been arranged in a funeral pyre in the castle courtyard. Aemon delivers a eulogy, saying that they died to protect the men, women, and children of the south who will never even know who they were, that it is the duty of the surviving black brothers to keep alive their memory. Sam then aids Aemon in setting the pyre alight, which is continued by Jon and the rest. King Stannis and Ser Davos look on, along with Queen Selyse and Princess Shireen Baratheon. Jon looks across the flames and catches the gaze of a Red Priestess named Melisandre, who is standing on the opposite side of the pyre. She seems intrigued, her piercing stare clearly making Jon uneasy. Afterwards, Jon enters the chamber of the castle where Tormund is being held. Tormund asks why blind old Aemon patched up his arrow wounds, and Jon says that Aemon is sworn to heal all wounded men, friend or foe. Tormund asks if Jon really loved Ygritte, telling Jon that Ygritte truly loved him. Jon asks if Ygritte told Tormund this but Tormund informs him that he never heard it from her, however, he knew that Ygritte loved him because all she ever talked about was killing him. Saddened, Tormund implores Jon that Ygritte's final resting place should be in "the real north". Jon then takes Ygritte's corpse to the north side of the Wall and builds a funeral pyre for her near a sacred heart tree. Jon looks at his lover one last time and lights her pyre, and weeps silently as he turns his back to head home.