Sam smothers a fire and Gilly instructs him, figuring out that he had servants growing up and is high born. He shows her the dragon glass from the fist of the first men, though he doesn't know what it's for. They discuss the trip and the wall. She is skeptical that it it's as big as Sam says. He tells her of life at Castle B lack and she asks him to sing a song.
Osha and Meera bicker over skinning rabbits and hunting until Bran makes them make peace. Jojen has a green dream—he saw Jon Snow on the wrong side of the wall surrounded by enemies.
Jon and the Wildlings have reached the wall. Ygritte gives Jon spiked boots to climb. They discuss fear and she tells him he's a proper lover (I prefer the improper sort myself). She tells him his secret is safe with her (see quote below). Tormund gives Jon spikes for his hands and instructions for climbing.
Arya shoots arrows for Joffrey, Cersei and Illyn Payne. Anguay gives her some pointers and then she notices someone coming through the woods. It's Melisandre: Thoros knows her and they banter in high Valyrian. He brings her to Beric. She's amazed and asks Thoros how many times the lord has brought Beric back. Thoros tells of being a terrible priest and not believing until his friend died and the words were the only thing he knew to say... and the Red God answered. She came for Gendry and Beric gives him to her in exchange for gold. Arya yells, Gendry feels betrayed. Melisandre tells him he will make kings rise and fall. Arya calls her a witch and Melisandre grabs her face. (see quote)
The climb has started, four groups of four. Tormund strikes and ice falls. Jon slips but not far.
Ramsay blows a horn, taunts Theon by pouring water on the floor, then starts a game of “I'll skin you if you guess wrong”. Theon asks if Ramsay will let him go if he guesses right. Ramsay pretends to be a Karstark for about thirty seconds, then he flays Theon's finger until Theon begs for him to cut it off.
Two Freys treat with Robb. They want a formal apology, Harrenhall, and for Edmure to marry Rosalind Frey. Edmure bristles. Robb asks for privacy and discusses it with Catelyn, Edmure and the Blackfish. Edmure is a jerk and the Blackfish puts him in his place. Robb convinces him.
Jaime can't cut his meat. He and Brienne eat with Roose and debate Jaime's fate. Roose will send Jaime to King's Landing if Jaime will explain to his father that Roose had nothing to do with his maiming. But Brienne will not be going.
Tywin and Olenna discuss marriages between their houses. Olenna says Cersei is old and they trade barbs about Loras's homosexuality and Cersei's incest.
We see the wall climb. A big ice slide knocks several climbers off the wall and Jon and Ygritte fall. Orell tries to cut them free, but Jon finds purchase on the wall and pulls Ygritte up. They begin climbing again.
Loras and Sansa talk about their pending nuptials, Sansa giddy and Loras trying to pretend he is too. Tyrion and Cersei look out on them and discuss whose hell will be worse. Tyrion then accuses Cersei of trying to have him killed but comes to realize Joffrey gave the order. He points out how stupid that was, to use an assassin that would only take orders from Joffrey or Cersei. He asks if he is still in danger but Cersei says Joffrey won't try anything now that Tywin is there. Tyrion comes to break the news to Sansa. Shae won't give them any privacy.
Varys finds Littlefinger admiring the Iron Throne. It doesn't have a thousand blades. They bicker and banter about thwarting each other. Littlefinger has allowed Roz to be a toy for Joffrey to punish her for informing on Littlefinger to Varys.
Jon and Ygritte and a few others finally make it to the top of the wall then share a snog looking out over the edge.
Notable Quotes
Ygritte: You didn't stop being a crow the day you walked into Mance Raydar's tent. But I'm your woman now. You're going to be loyal to your woman. The Night's Watch don't care if you live or you die. Mance Raydar doesn't care if I live or die. We're just soldiers in their armies and there's plenty more to carry on if we go down. It's you and me that matters to me and you. Don't ever betray me.
Melisandre (to Beric): You've been to the other side.
Beric: There is no other side. Only darkness.
Melisandre (to Arya): I see a darkness in you. And in that darkness eyes staring back at me. Brown eyes. Blue eyes. Green eyes. Eyes you'll shut forever. We will meet again.
Ramsay: If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't bee paying attention.
Littlefinger: Chaos isn't a pit. Chaos is a ladder. Many who try to climb it fail and never get to try again. The fall breaks them. And some, are given a chance to climb. They refuse, they cling to the realm or the gods or love. Illusions. Only the ladder is real. The climb is all there is.
Other Stuff
The Freys wear silly hats.
Though it wasn't in the books, I did enjoy the Arya/Melisandre encounter. She is forshadowing Arya's future as as assassin. I also think it works to substitue Gendry for Edric Storm (a different bastard) because we know Gendry and have something invested. The climb was good—gripping, but not nearly as exciting to write about, at least not here—reading it in the books wasn't as gripping, either, as the first people were experienced climbers and then sent ropes down for the others. (though they did lose a group to the ice cracking). Overall I think this was well done—it is rare when there are a couple things done better than the book and most that are at least understandable changes.
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