5. Is The Pink Letter True? If Not, Who Wrote It?
The Pink Letter is now one of the darkest and most surprising moments in the series history, and it is still amazing how a simple piece of writing could have the biggest of effects. In Jon Snow's final chapter, he receives a pink letter signed by Ramsay Bolton, the contents of which include his supposed victory over Stannis Baratheon, Stannis's beheading, Lightbringer, Mance Rayder's torture, and Ramsay's demands or the Night's Watch will be attacked. Not only that, but it leads to Jon's assassination from Bowen Marsh and his sworn brothers. But the Pink Letter seems suspicious. : usually when Ramsay sends a letter, he also sends a piece of flayed skin with it, and yet the Pink Letter did not come with any. Secondly, how does Ramsay know of all the information in the letter? He potentially could have tortured Mance for all information on the Wildlings and Stannis: he states the battle took seven days and nights until his victory, but that seems too long especially with the harsh winter storm attacking them. It is more likely he is lying about the battle, but the other parts are true. If false though, did Ramsay write it? The most likely candidate is Mance Rayder himself. A lot of phrases in the letter are used by Mance himself: like "b*stard" - which Mance knows is hurtful to Jon- "red whore", and "black crows". A lot of the information is known by Mance like Lightbringer, his spearwives, and Theon. The letter could have been a way to lure Jon into a trap. An insane, crackpot theory gaining momentum is that Stannis himself wrote the letter: in Theon's TWoW Sample Chapter, he reveals to Stannis valuable information like the name Reek and Ramsay's bride. Also, Stannis always refers to Val as a wildling princess; something that is mentioned in the letter. Why would Stannis write it though? Well throughout ADwD, Stannis attempts to force Jon Snow over to his side. He tempts him with the possession of Winterfell, the Stark name, and a marriage proposal to Val. Stannis needs Jon on his side, but Jon is too honorable to leave the Night's Watch. It would have been a brilliant move from Stannis to lure him in with the fake letter had Jon not been assassinated. Real or not, the outcome of the Battle for the North will change Westeros forever.