Here's Exactly What Jon Wrote To Sansa In The “Game Of Thrones” Finale

    "Jon Snow, Warden of the North."

    Jenna Guillaume
    by Jenna Guillaume

    Editor-at-Large, BuzzFeed Australia

    In Season 7, Episode 6, Jon Snow did what Daenerys had been asking him to do all season – he bent the knee.

    HBO

    Not physically, of course, because he was in bed recovering from his wight hunt injuries, but symbolically. (Check out this post for an in-depth analysis of why he did it.)

    There was some confusion amongst fans over what exactly Jon bending the knee meant, especially around whether he could still call himself "King in the North".

    In the Season 7 finale, Sansa receives a raven from Jon informing her he's given up the crown – and she's pretty pissed about it.

    HBO

    HBO has released the prop that was used in the show on their behind-the-scenes website, and it clears the matter up even further.

    makinggameofthrones.com

    "Sansa,

    Cersei Lannister has pledged her forces to our cause, as has Daenerys Targaryen. And if we survive this war, I have pledged our forces to Daenerys as the rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. We are both coming to organise the defence of the realm.

    Jon Snow – Warden of the North."

    Yep, that's right. Jon Snow is now Warden of the North. He is king no longer.

    HBO

    What's the difference? It means that instead of the North being an independent kingdom ruled solely by Jon, it's back to being part of the Seven Kingdoms. As Warden of the North, Jon remains leader of the region – just as Ned was at the start of the series. But his allegiance is to Daenerys as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, meaning if she issues a command, Jon must obey, and if she calls upon the Northern armies, they have to fight for her. This is a position Jon entered willingly – he had good reasons for refusing to do so for most of the season, and it's significant that when he does bend the knee, it's after Dany has committed to help him fight the Night King. He didn't need to pledge allegiance to her to get what he needed – she'd already given it to him. Instead, he chose to do it because he had come to believe in her as a leader (more on that here).

    With Jon and Dany both headed towards Winterfell, we'll probably see how the Northerners react to this new state of affairs in the first episode of Season 8 (there's a good chance they won't be happy).

    HBO

    But as Bran and Sam are also waiting at Winterfell to tell Jon the truth about who he is, it's likely the whole "King in the North" issue will be quickly sidelined over the fact that Jon is actually the heir to the Iron Throne.

    HBO

    Considering he's already willingly given up one crown for Daenerys – not because of her own claim, but because of who she is – it seems unlikely he'll try to take the throne from her. But there's no doubt it will cause some tension. Whatever happens, there are only six episodes left to wrap it ALL up – and Season 8 can't come quick enough.