Deep Lake

Deep Lake is one of the nineteen castles along the Wall, long abandoned by the Night's Watch. After the battle beneath the Wall and the arrival of Stannis Baratheon's host, the Watch found itself stretched thin, with men in only three of the forts. Jon Snow, the newly elected Lord Commander, resolved to reopen and garrison the empty castles to provide shelter, supply depots, and watch posts along the Wall's length.

Garrisoning and Purpose

Jon Snow intended to garrison Deep Lake, along with Sable Hall and the Long Barrow, with free folk under the command of the Watch's own officers. The Long Barrow was to be garrisoned entirely by women, aside from its commander and chief steward, a measure designed to separate the wildling men from the women and reduce the risk of conflict. Deep Lake, like the other reopened forts, would serve as a way-castle where patrols could find hot food, fresh mounts, and shelter from the bitter cold, and as a defensive position to watch for climbers and other threats.

Strategic Context

The decision to regarrison Deep Lake was part of Jon Snow's broader strategy to integrate the free folk into the defense of the Wall. After Tormund Giantsbane agreed to lead his people through the Wall, Jon planned to house them in the abandoned castles, with Tormund taking Oakenshield as his seat. Deep Lake was one of the forts designated for this purpose, though its restoration was still in the planning stages when Jon was assassinated. The move was deeply controversial among the black brothers, with Bowen Marsh and Othell Yarwyck opposing the admission of wildlings into the Watch's strongholds, fearing they would prove treacherous.