User blog comment:Aetherium/Jon and Ygritte/@comment-5014364-20130615204808/@comment-10385544-20130617142416

Agreed, Ygritte was conflicted. If it was not a test of her loyalty, then that would mean that Thormund allowed her to wander off all alone. Maybe she sneaked off on her own. I would consider either scenario to be highly unlikely, not after Thormund physically restrained her from fighting for Jon.

I don't see Thormund allowing her to go after Jon alone. And, I don't see Thormund not keeping a close enough eye on her so that she could sneak off alone. Even if she did sneak out of the wildling camp, I can't see Thormund ignoring it and moving on to attack Castle Black without one his best archers.

Thormund would look for her. He has shown protective behavior and caring fondness when it comes to Ygritte. Recall the lesson he gave Jon Snow on how to treat a woman. If I didn't know any better, I would describe it as a wilding father speaking to his wildling son-in-law. Of all of the wildings, Thormund seemed the most accepting of Jon Snow. His hair is also kissed by fire, just like Ygritte's.

Why would Ygritte be tested? Because she had tried to fight with Jon Snow. She acted like a traitor. Jon Snow's loyalty was tested when he was ordered to kill the old man. It just makes more sense that Ygritte was ordered by Thormund to kill her former lover in order to prove her loyalty.