[He couldn't be sure whether Stannis or Mance were alive. Mance had been his last attempt to maintain some shred of honor before love and fury pushed him to break the oath that he swore before a Heart Tree. Ygritte had been a matter of survival and, aye, desire, but Arya...she was his heart.

Mance dead, Stannis dead. Who did that leave to guard the Watch and protect the North than him?]

Your flames couldn't name the girl on horseback that came to the Wall. It wasn't my sister, it was Alys Karstark.

[Somehow he feels as if he's blaming Melisandre for that rather than so much else, but there was still frustration that the identity of the girl wasn't who he wanted. No matter how much Alys aided him in the end.]

Or to say if we return. Considering the lengths some have been here, we may not see our time again.