‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 4 Finale Spoilers: What Will Happen To Jon Snow? Will Night’s Watch Beat Wildlings?

With only one episode of “Game of Thrones” left, the stakes of Season 4 just got even higher. And the life of one main character of the series hangs dangerously in the balance. When fans last saw Jon Snow, he had successful lead the command of the Night’s Watch in their initial battle against the Wildlings. However, knowing that their victory was bitter sweet Jon Snow decided to take the matters into his own hands, mainly due to the lack of leadership in the Night’s Watch, and venture out North of the Wall in an attempt to reach an agreement with Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall.

“Game of Thrones” episode 9 “The Watchers on the Wall” showcased Jon coming into his own as a potential commander of the Night’s Watch, something that Lord Commander Mormont saw for the bastard of Ned Stark before his death at Craster’s Keep. So what is next for Jon Snow? Jon Snow will meet with Mance Rayder in the Season 4 finale “The Children,” however despite fans’ fears, the negotiations will occur without any bloodshed, well not for Jon or Mance anyway. Before any real tensions are raised, and terms discussed, the Wildling army discovers themselves under siege. After gaining monetary support from the Iron Bank of Braavos, Stannis Baratheon decides the best way to win the Iron Throne from his nephew Tommen Baratheon, is to win the North.

Stannis leaves Braavos accompanied by Davos and Salladhor Saan, and sails his newly replenished forces north to the Wall. Throughout the series, fans have watched as Aemon Targaryen who serves as maester for the Night’s Watch has continually sent ravens to the ruling houses of Westeros begging for support, against not only the Wildling army but the White Walkers. The ruling houses, and the Iron Throne included have dismissed the cry for help as nothing more than heresy, however Stannis finally responses and successfully rescues the men of the Night’s Watch from succumbing to Mance and his army during the Battle of Castle Black.

Stannis first sails from Braavos to Eastwatch by the Sea, where he and his army embark on a long march west along the Wall, with their ultimate destination being the Wall. In George R. R. Martin’s “A Storm of Swords” Stannis’ forces arrive just in time to crush the Wildling force during an already initiated battle with the Night’s Watch, however in the HBO “Game of Thrones” series, Stannis will most likely arrive during Jon and Mance’s negotiations, where the Wildlings will be taken unawares and effectively crushed. After the Wildling forces are depleted and the Wall is once again secure, Stannis continues his journey to secure the North and decides to take reside at Castle Black. Despite the defeat of the Wildling force, Mance Rayder is not killed, instead, like Tormund Giantsbane in episode 9 “The Watchers on the Wall” he will most likely be taken prisoner in the Season 4 finale.

Stannis moves himself into the King’s Tower of Castle Black and begins negotiations with both Jon Snow and Mance Rayder, peace is agreed on between the Men of the Night’s Watch and the Wildlings and after surrender, the free folk are allowed through the Wall and begin to inhabit the nearby settlements, which they once attacked and destroyed. Stannis’ scheming for power in the North is not completed with peace, in exchange for the support of his rule from Jon Snow, who despite his bastard name is still a powerful Stark, Stannis states that he will legitimize Jon as the heir of Winterfell and name him Lord Jon Snow of Winterfell. Despite this offer being something that Jon has desired for his entire life as a bastard, the offer is essentially sabotaged when the brothers elect Jon Snow as the next Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch.

Despite Stannis’ initial plan to use Jon Snow to gain the support of the North and then eventually overtake the Iron Throne failing, he has not given up hope or his desire to hold Winterfell. Stannis assembles his troops and leaves Castle Black but he is not returning to Dragonstone, instead he marches towards Winterfell and declares war on the Boltons who currently hold the destroyed castle. Stannis and the Bolton’s engage in The Siege of Winterfell, however, this conflict is still unresolved as it was left as a cliffhanger in George R.R. Martin’s “A Dance with Dragons.”