Axell Florent

Axell Florent is Queen Selyse Baratheon's uncle and the self-styled Queen's Hand, a coarse, ambitious, and persistently scheming knight who serves as the most prominent of the queen's men at Castle Black. His relentless pursuit of the wildling princess Val for marriage, his crude demands to inspect her as if she were livestock, and his willingness to see his own brother burned alive by Melisandre mark him as a figure of naked ambition and moral vacancy, a foil to Jon Snow's principled command.

Identity and Background

Axell Florent is a stout man with short legs, a thick chest, and coarse hair covering his cheeks and jowls, poking from his ears and nostrils. He is Queen Selyse's kinsman and the uncle of her daughter, Princess Shireen. He was among the first to follow Selyse in accepting Melisandre's red god, R'hllor. His brother was burned by Melisandre, yet Ser Axell did little and less to stop it, a fact that Maester Aemon pointed out to Jon Snow. Jon reflects that if Axell is not a kinslayer, he is the next best thing, and wonders what sort of man can stand by idly and watch his own brother being burned alive.

Ambition and Schemes at Castle Black

At Castle Black, Axell Florent is a persistent and unwelcome presence. He attempts to ingratiate himself with Jon Snow, slipping into a vacant seat beside him during the wedding feast of Alys Karstark and Sigorn. He tells Jon that the queen approves of the marriage and that King Stannis will approve as well, but then immediately pivots to his own agenda. He complains that Ser Patrek of King's Mountain feels he would have made a better match for Lady Alys, and that some provision must be made for the king's leal knights. He then bluntly states his desire to wed the wildling princess Val, describing her as a "nubile girl" with "good hips, good breasts, well made for whelping children." When Jon refuses to produce Val for his inspection, Axell grows flushed with anger and accuses Jon of keeping her for himself, declaring, "The bastard wants his father's seat."

Confrontation and Character

Axell Florent's character is defined by his naked ambition and his lack of self-awareness. He tells Jon that he is close to the queen and knows her mind, and that King Stannis will approve of his marriage to Val. When Jon dismisses him, Axell threatens to have the queen command Val to be delivered naked to the hall for inspection. Jon's response is to pity Her Grace if Axell is truly the Queen's Hand. Axell's persistence is such that even after Jon has made his position clear, he continues to press the matter, revealing his belief that Jon has Val "tucked away for your own pleasure" and that it makes no matter to him "so long as she is not with child." This exchange reveals Axell's view of women as property and his willingness to use his connection to the queen to get what he wants. His behavior stands in stark contrast to Jon Snow's adherence to his vows and his respect for Val's autonomy, even as a captive.