SAMWELL
JON
They finally reach the wall and Jon like most people who see the wall for the first time is awestruck by it. Jon and the new recruits gather in the yard and are addressed by the Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. "Welcome to you all…I am Lord Commander Mormont. Some of you are second or third sons, others are bastards, and some of you criminals. Here at the wall with the Night's Watch, all that is behind you…
The King's Laws cannot touch you here. Here you are part of a brotherhood that goes back Eight thousand years. Get settled and return to the yard. Our Master at Arms Ser Alliser Thorne will see what you are made of."
Jon has a room alone and after placing his things, he heads to armory to get practice armor made of leather and a training sword. He waits to show his skills as the other recruits are tested. Some have skill, but not many. "Alright you." Alliser says pointing at Jon. "What's your name?"
"Jon Snow My Lord."
"Ah the bastard of Winterfell."
Jon is faced off against one of the recruits. The boy is skilled with a sword, but Jon is better. In fact everyone Jon faces he easily beats with his skill and speed. "Pathetic…All of you! Except for Lord Snow…Some of you have potential."
Jon was not easy with those he sparred with. A few men had received a broken nose, one a lose tooth and broken arm. They were about to attack Jon when Tyrion Lannister intervened and gave Jon some words of wisdom.
SAMWELL
Samwell Tarly is the eldest son of Randyl Tarly Lord of Hornhill. Sam as everyone called him was born a large baby. All his life he had been overweight. This caused his father to see Sam as a disappointment. On many occasions he ridiculed Sam, for his lack of skills with arms. When Samwell showed an interest in reading books this caused his father to despise him even more.
So Randyl turned his attention to his second son Dickon who was everything a man like Randyl could want in a son. As they got older Randyl started to consider the future of his House under the rule of his eldest son. Sam is in the library reading when his father walks up to him, "Sam!"
"Yes father."
"I'm going hunting and you are coming with me."
"But you, promised mother that you would never take me again."
"Don't talk back to me boy go and get ready!"
"Yes sir…" He sadly replies. Sam puts on his hunting clothes and when he gets to the yard his horse is already saddled. "Isn't Dickon coming?" He asks after noticing that his younger brother is not with them.
"No!"
They ride out of the hunter's gate just the two of them. As they ride nothing is said between father and son. Then Randyl stops, "Why have we stopped?"
"So that we can talk…You are ten and five…By the laws of gods and men you'll be a man soon. And as such you'll be intitled to my name, titles, and land. But I'll see you dead, before I see you as the Lord of Hornhill…When you get home…You will pack your things and tomorrow you will ride North for Castle Black and join the Night's Watch. If you don't, the next time we go riding or hunting you will have an accident."
Without crying Sam returns home and packs to leave. He is forbidden from saying goodbye to his mother, brother, and sister. He is allowed to leave a letter. An escort of twenty men ride with him North, along with some men for the Watch. Some are free men who decided to join the Watch, others are prisoners from the Hornhill's dungeons.
When they stop to make Camp, Sam walks away from the group to cry. When he is done, he returns to the camp and eats some of the stew made by a man named Leland. The leader of the company. At sunrise they are off after breaking their fast. They take the Rose Road because of the supply wagon. As they travel Sam sometimes rides in the wagon as he is not use to riding the saddle for so long.
Not to be a burden Sam cooks the meals sometimes. A mile from Bitterbridge they make camp. "Who goes there!" Leland demands after hearing a horse."
"I go here!" Roland replies.
"Roland? What are you doing here?" Sam asks.
"Your mother told me that left a letter saying that you are heading for the Night's Watch. I figured that your father must be forcing you to do this."
"True, but you didn't have to come."
"You're my best friend…Besides somebody has to watch over you."
"Are joining the Watch?"
He nods, "I am."
Despite the objections of the others Roland uses the Tarly name to stay in places like Cider Hall, Bitterbridge, and Tunbleton. Lord Randyl Tarly commanded that they were to sleep in the countryside to toughen Samwell up, which is one of the reasons they objected. Roland's words saw them to reason and Lord Tarly did not have to know.
After leaving Tumbleton they return to the Rose Road and stop in the Capital to buy more supplies before, continuing on. It is near the Barrowlands that Sam's party must stand to the side for the King's entourage marching South to the Capital. Once the King's Banner has gone by, Sam's party continues on.
The farther North they travel the colder it gets. The men start wearing fur cloaks and wool socks. After several weeks of travel, they finally reach the wall. And as with everyone who sees the wall for the first time they are overwhelmed by its size.
