Desertion

Will is executed for deserting and breaking his oath.

"I know I broke my oath. I know I'm a deserter."

―Will

Desertion takes place when a man abandons his post, particularly in times of war. It is a serious crime in the Seven Kingdoms; deserters are considered outlaws and thus are marked for death.

Within the ranks of the Night's Watch, desertion is considered a form of oathbreaking. Deserters are not only hunted down by sworn brothers of the Night's Watch but also by lords should a deserter enter his lands.

Instances of desertion

• Ser {Harrold Westerling}, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, deserted the Kingsguard during the Green Council's coup at the beginning of the Dance of the Dragons. His whereabouts in the following weeks are unknown.
• {Mance Rayder}, a ranger who deserted his post at the Night's Watch.
• {Will}, a ranger of the Night's Watch, who fled south after witnessing White Walkers kill his sworn brothers Gared and Waymar Royce. Captured by men of House Stark and executed by Lord Eddard Stark, Warden of the North.
• {Stiv} and {Wallen}, Night's Watch deserters who joined the Free Folk, and later fled south with Osha in fear of White Walkers. Killed by Theon Greyjoy and Robb Stark respectively.
• Jon Snow briefly deserts the Night's Watch upon learning of his father's execution, intending to join his brother Robb Stark's army. He is convinced to turn back by Samwell, Edd, and Grenn. Jeor Mormont pardons the indiscretion, remarking that if he executed every man who contemplated deserting, they would have no men left.
• Sandor Clegane dismisses several members of the Brotherhood Without Banners as deserters from House Baratheon and House Stark. He is not entirely accurate, as the Brotherhood is initially formed by survivors of the Battle at the Mummer's Ford, in which a host including Baratheon and Stark men clashed with Ser Gregor Clegane.
  • Sandor Clegane himself deserted his position in the Kingsguard during the Battle of the Blackwater.
• {Rast}, {Karl Tanner}, and several other black brothers desert the Watch and mutiny against Lord Commander Jeor Mormont while taking refuge at the homestead of the wildling Craster. All were slain during the Raid on Craster's Keep.
• Jaime Lannister deserted Cersei following the Dragonpit Summit, after Cersei revealed she intended to betray her 'new' allies against the White Walkers, in order to rule the Seven Kingdoms. It should also be noted that Euron Greyjoy pretended to desert her, but was in-fact sailing to Essos in order to bring the Golden Company to Westeros.

External links

• Desertion on Wikipedia