One Overlooked Detail May Prove Another Big Jon Snow Theory

After six seasons (and even more time for book readers), winter finally came and “Game of Thrones” confirmed its most popular fan theory:

R + L = J

At this point, even casual fans probably knew that the reveal of Jon Snow’s parents was coming, but if you thought it was all the show confirmed, well, Ygritte probably has something to say to you:

On “Game of Thrones,” we hear about the prophecy of Azor Ahai (sometimes called The Prince That Was Promised). Thousands of years ago, there was supposedly this hero who saved everyone from the White Walkers. Yay. Good stuff, right? Azor Ahai is also said to have used a magic sword called Lightbringer, which he had to temper with the blood of his beloved wife, Nissa Nissa. Aw. Sad face 😞.

It’s said that his hero will be reborn “when the red star bleeds.” Melisandre is way too thirsty for it. (R.I.P., Stannis.) But the Season 6 finale may have finally confirmed her wish.

Azor Ahai is our boy Jon Snow.

When Ned Stark enters the Tower of Joy to find his sister Lyanna (Jon’s mommy) apparently dying after childbirth, he leaves a sword at the foot of the bed. Many have pointed out that this is Ser Arthur Dayne’s sword. (Dayne was that dude who was guarding the tower.)

Dayne’s sword in the books is called Dawn, and it’s supposedly forged from the heart of a fallen star. If the sword in the show is Dawn, which appears to be the case, this could fulfill the part about Azor Ahai being born when “the red star bleeds.” (The camera lingers on the sword just a bit too long for this not to be important.)

But Azor Ahai would still need his weapon, Lightbringer, right? And Jon Snow’s true love, Ygritte, was killed with an arrow, not a sword. So how could he possibly sacrifice her to temper the weapon?

Well, thanks to the new evidence, it seems that an overlooked detail may put this theory over the top:

The Night’s Watch is Jon Snow’s Lightbringer.

If you don’t remember the oath of the Night’s Watch, it goes like this:

Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night’s Watch, for this night and all the nights to come.

 

Hmm ... that’s pretty interesting phrasing.

“I am the sword in the darkness.”

“I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn.”

We see what you did there, George R.R. Martin. The Night’s Watch is Jon Snow’s weapon against the darkness. 

This isn’t a new theory. It’s been discussed on forums before, but now that we’ve seen the Tower of Joy scene, there’s more support than ever.

Also, remember: Arrows don’t kill people. People kill people.

Jon picked the Watch over his love, Ygritte. When Ygritte was killed by one of Snow’s Night’s Watch brothers (Olly on the show), the Watch was tempered with her blood.

A commenter on the A Song of Ice and Fire forums laid it out back in 2013:

In the “Lightbringer = the Sword in the Darkness = The Night’s Watch” interpretation of Jon being [Azor Ahai] reborn, this fits well as the sacrificial tempering: He directs his Lightbringer to kill his Nissa Nissa, which in turn allows him to grasp command of it.

(No, Ygrittes regrets, dude.)

Sure, there’s evidence that Dany is actually Azor Ahai. She fits a lot of the prophecy, too. Plus, there’s a part about Azor Ahai waking dragons from stone. Dany’s got those.

However, unless Jon and Dany are both Azor Ahai together, there’s just too much evidence in favor of the King in the North to ignore. For example, in the books Melisandre prays to see Azor Ahai and sees “only snow.” And even death itself is said to bend the knee to Azor Ahai. Getting resurrected kind of fulfills that, too.

We don’t care if he’s a bastard. Jon Snow is our Azor Ahai from this day until his last day.