To Ygritte, Kissed by Fire

The shock that Jon experienced at their meeting quickly turned into flustered annoyance as he wrestled with unexpected attraction to Ygritte. Ygritte took advantage of Jon's uncertainty of his own feelings and found opportunities to get close to him, as much for warmth as for companionship, and she seemed to enjoy seeing Jon squirm under her attention. Not until after Ygritte told Mance that she and Jon had been "dancing beneath his cloak" did Jon finally give in to Ygritte's advances.

It is clear that Ygritte was her own woman, truly wild and free. She spoke her mind and stood up for herself. She did not need a man to defend or protect her. She had been with other men somewhat casually, which was perfectly acceptable and even encouraged among the free folk. But her fierce independence belied a fairytale romanticism that she held close. Her attraction to Jon grew out of her respect for him sparing her life, a most chivalrous act. She was enamored of castles and lords and ladies and intrigued that Jon had lived in such an environment. As much as Ygritte didn't need, or will ever admit that she wanted one, Jon was her knight in shining armor.

Conversely, Ygritte was just what Jon needed to truly become a man. Because he took his vows at such a young age, without ever knowing a woman or traveling too far beyond Winterfell, there was a knowledge of the world that Jon simply did not have. Ygritte obviously taught Jon everything he needed to know about being with a woman, and she also taught him about living and loving. Ygritte recognized Jon's naiveté and she constantly chided him, "You know nothing, Jon Snow." Jon was intrigued with Ygritte's brazen confidence and without wanting to, or even knowing it, he fell in love with her.

How could he explain Ygritte to them? She's warm and smart and funny and she can kiss a man or slit his throat. ASOS 49: Jon VI

One of the most important things that Ygritte did was to provide Jon with the storied history of the free folk from the view north of the Wall, and often reminded Jon that different perspectives were "all in where you're standing." She sang him "The Last of the Giants" and told the story of Gorne's Way, a series of caves that connect below ground and which are fabled to still be home to lost folk, trying to find their way out of the caves. Ygritte's most significant story, though, was that of Bael the Bard, King-beyond-the-Wall a long time gone. The story of Bael: disguising himself as a singer to gain entrance to Winterfell, his request of a winter rose as reward, the abduction of Lord Stark's maiden daughter-- and her subsequent return with a new babe-- and the tale of Bael and the maid hiding in Winterfell's tombs for the better part of a year; rings significantly throughout the many threads of the story, both current and historical.

Ygritte was possibly the most modern woman in ASOIAF, which is ironic considering she was essentially a barbarian in Westeros. She was wise beyond her years and confident in herself and her sexuality. Ygritte expected to be an equal in all things, from one-on-one relationships to the centuries-long history between the wildlings and the Night's Watch. She told the truth as she knew it and expected the truth in return. She was a realist and knew life is short and did not take anything for granted. But despite her liberated sense of self, part of Ygritte still yearned to be part of something more-- to be dependent and needed and loved-- which she found in Jon Snow.

"You're mine," she whispered. "Mine, as I'm yours. And if we die, we die. All men must die, Jon Snow. But first we'll live."