Game Of Thrones: 10 Things We Learned From "The Children"

10. Jon Gets Some Unexpected Help

Last episode, Jon left Castle Black to assassinate Mance Rayder in the hopes that his death would dissolve the wildling alliances. It€™s not a good plan in the slightest, but he doesn€™t have any other options. Walking through the winter wilderness and passing by the corpses from the previous night€™s battle, he is eventually found by wildling soldiers and brought before Mance. Jon tells the wildling leader that he€™s been sent to negotiate with him, and the two enter Mance€™s tent. Mance says he had hoped that when Jon pledged his allegiance to him, his loyalty was real. Jon reveals that he had pledged an oath to Qhorin Halfhand to join the wildlings to obtain information and bring it back to Castle Black. So he was actually being loyal, but to his Night€™s Watch vows. Mance slyly asks if he was loyal to ALL his vows, referring of course to Ygritte. The two of them talk about her, and Jon tells Mance that he sat with her as she died at Castle Black. Mance gets some wine to drink to her memory, and assures that Jon that if he wanted to kill him, poison wouldn€™t be the method. Mance admits that the Night€™s Watch forces did well. They killed many of his men, including the king of the giants who was the last in a bloodline that stretched back to before the First Men. However, despite their tenacity, Mance refuses Jon€™s demand that the wildlings turn back. He tells Jon that he sent 400 men to climb the Wall, and even though many of them will die, most will make it over by the end of the day. He makes a counterproposal: if the Night€™s Watch allows the wildlings to pass through the Wall, no one else will die. If not, everyone at the Wall will die. Mance then notices that Jon was eyeing a bread knife and deduces the real reason Jon came to see him. Suddenly, a war horn outside blows. Jon, Mance and the others go outside to see what the commotion is about. A massive army is heading in their direction...from both sides! Jon admits that he didn€™t bring these men with him, but it doesn€™t matter. The army cuts through the wildling forces in minutes, forcing Mance to command the rest of his men to put down their weapons. Riding up, the commander of this army is revealed to be Stannis Baratheon! Despite not kneeling in surrender, Mance is taken prisoner. After making himself known to Stannis and Davos, Jon says they should keep the wildling leader alive. We€™ve watched this season as Stannis has taken steps to keep his claim to the throne intact. Although his forces are outmatched, he successfully received a loan from the Iron Bank and managed to get more to support his cause. We also learned from Melisandre that he and his forces would be travelling somewhere, although the destination was unclear. Well, now we know that the Baratheon family is taking an extended vacation to the Wall...worst vacation ever. Last episode, it seemed hopeless for the Night€™s Watch. With only about 50 men left, they were sure to be overwhelmed. Luckily for them, Stannis€™ forces came just in time! At the end of last episode, it was looking hopeless for Jon and the Night€™s Watch, but with Stannis€™ men assisting them, the wildling forces have been defeated...for now. Stannis may not be able to take on King€™s Landing right now, but by assisting the Night€™s Watch, he gains support from the people in the North. Up until now, King€™s Landing and the rest of the kingdom have largely ignored what€™s been going on there. They€™ll eventually regret that.