Small Paul is one of the most powerful men in Castle Black. He weighs less than Samwell Tarly but is domineering in his presence. When Benjen Stark and some rangers go missing, Lord Commander Mormont organizes a mission to look for them. However, the search goes awry when Others attack the Brothers of the Night’s Watch. After a deadly battle that leads to the massive destruction of the Watch, Small Paul carries Sam when he tells the others to leave him to die.
Small Paul Details
- Name: Unknown.
- Aliases: Cheese-for-Wits, Small Paul.
- Allegiances: Night’s Watch, Others.
- Year of Death: 299 AC beyond the Wall.
Appearance and Personality
Small Paul is one of the most enormous men in Castle Black. He is lighter than Samwell Tarly and has a brutal face with a squashed pug flat nose. Paul’s eyes are dark, and a thick brown beard covers his face. Small Paul is the most powerful man at Castle Black though he is a lackwit. He is calm and oblivious to his strength. He hates being insulted for his wit and loves animals. He tended to Lord Mormont’s ravens and fought an Other for killing a horse.
Relevance in A Song of Ice and Fire
A Storm of Swords
Before Lord Mormont leaves for the Great Ranging, Small Paul is part of the men who support Chett’s idea of killing Lord Jeor Mormont with Softfoot’s help. He plans on taking Jeor’s ravens for himself, but before the plan comes to fruition, Lord Mormont takes almost everyone to the Fist of the First Men.
At the Fist of the First Men, the brothers of the Night’s Watch get attacked by Others and Wights, and many get killed. Lord Jeor Mormont orders the remaining few to retreat. During the withdrawal, Samwell Tarly asks to get left behind. However, Small Paul carries him and asks for a raven as a pet.
As Sam, Small Paul, and Grenn retreat, they get overtaken by an Other. A fight ensues, and the creature breaks Grenn’s sword. It then kills Paul, but he crashes into the Other as he dies, displacing Grenn’s sword from its hand; this enables Sam to stab the creature with an obsidian dagger. Upon stabbing the Other, it melts away, and Grenn checks to see that Small Paul is dead. He and Sam then travel to Craster’s Keep.
At Craster’s Keep, Sam meets Gilly, one of Craster’s daughters. Later, a mutiny happens, and Craster and Lord Mormont get killed. Sam runs away with Gilly and her son, and as they head back to the Wall, they encounter a wight, who Sam recognizes as Small Paul. Sam tries talking to Paul, but he does not respond and walks to Gilly and her son. Sam then uses his obsidian dagger on Paul, but it proves fruitless, and the wight strangles him. On the brink of death, Sam hits Small Paul with burning wood, and the flames consume him.
Small Paul: A Kind Soul
Though he had a nickname that suggested he was small and irrelevant, Small Paul was one of the kindest souls at Castle Black. He was a simpleton who loved animals and defended the weak against the wicked. Though Paul was never a knight, he had some characteristics synonymous with the soldiers of Westeros.
FAQs
What happened to Paul from the Night’s Watch?
When Lord Commander Mormont began preparing for the Great Ranging, Chett, a former steward of Maester Aemon, planned to kill the Lord Commander. However, his plan failed, and Paul followed the Black Brothers to the Fist of the First Men. After the Others defeated the men of the Night’s Watch, Small Paul helped Samwell Tarly when he could not continue. The group comprising Paul, Sam, and Grenn later gets attacked, and Paul gets killed.
What happened to Paul after he became a wight?
After becoming undead, Paul attacks Sam and Gilly when they escape for the Wall. Sam uses the obsidian glass knife he used on an Other, but it does not kill Paul. He hits him with burning wood at the last moment, and the undead Black Brother burns to death.
Was Small Paul a good person?
Though he was in the plot to kill Lord Commander Mormont, Paul was good at heart. He had childish innocence and cared for people and animals.
What happened at the Fist of the First Men?
After the Night’s Watch gets defeated at the Fist of the First Men, they retreat to Craster’s Keep, where a mutiny occurs. Lord Commander Mormont gets killed, and Samwell escapes with Gilly and her infant son.