- "The brothers Gendel and Gorne, Kings-Beyond-the-Wall, went under the Wall through ancient caves buried deep in the Earth. But on the way back they took a wrong turn and were lost in the darkness. People say that their children's children's children are still down there looking for a way up or for more food to find it's way down."
- ―Samwell Tarly
Gorne is an unseen character in Game of Thrones. He was a King-Beyond-the-Wall of the Free Folk, a title he shared with his brother Gendel. He is long dead when the series begins.
Biography
Gorne and Gendel invaded the North by leading an army through ancient caves below the Wall. After being forced to retreat, they took a wrong turn and were lost forever. According to legend, their descendants are still down there looking for a way out.[1]
In the books
In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Gorne was joint King-Beyond-the-Wall with his twin brother Gendel, three thousand years before the War of the Five Kings. The two gathered the Free Folk and led them through a cave path beneath the Wall that would later be called "Gorne's Way". Gendel and Gorne's host evaded the Night's Watch, but when they emerged, the King in the North was awaiting them and attacked them. Gorne slew the King, but the King's son took his crown and slew Gorne. While the battle raged, the Night's Watch emerged from their castles and took the Free Folk in the rear.
According to northern tradition, Gendel was also killed in battle, as he was surrounded by all sides: Starks to the south, Umbers to the east and the Watch to the north. However, the Free Folk believe that Gendel survived the battle and, cutting his way through the ranks of the Night's Watch tried to return beyond the Wall through they same route the wildlings had come through. However, Gendel did not know the way as well as Gorne and he and his followers got lost trying to find their way out. The Free Folk believe that during the night the sobs of Gendel's children can still be heard and that those who venture into the caves and go too deep will be devoured by them.
See also
References
- ↑ "The Wall (Histories & Lore)"
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