Jon is the illegitimate son of Ned Stark. He joined the Night's Watch, a military group of men who guard the Wall, a massive structure which divides the country of Westeros from the North, a wild country with many dangers, some real and some perhaps imaginary. One of the dangers is wildlings, a people who live in the North and harbor a hatred for the citizens of Westeros.
Jon is with other members of the Watch when the group takes a female wildling, Ygritte, as captive. Jon is ordered to execute her after the others leave. Jon is unable to kill her, but he ties her up and takes her captive when she tries to escape. Ygritte then leads him into an ambush, and Jon is taken captive by the wildlings.
