SAMWELL

Everyone called Samwell, Sam. He was a happy baby, very bright, intelligent, and kind. Though he'd cry whenever his father held him, so for the first few years of his life Randyll allowed his mother to be the authority in hs life. Sam spoke his first word at the age of one. Most babies would start talking at the age of one year and a half.

Ser Reedon had a son he named Evan. The two boys are allowed to play together so that Sam could have a companion his age. On Samwell's second name day Melessa became pregnant again. "Mommy yo stomach is big." Samwell said after she started showing.

She smiles, "Yes there is a baby in there. Your little brother or sister."

"Helwo in dere. Huwwy up and come out."

She laughs, "It will take six more months."

"Why?"

"Because that is how long babies take to grow inside their mommies."

Randyll walks into the room, "Sam go play. Let your mother rest."

Because of his intelligence and brightness, Melessa ordered Atkins to start educating her son. He already knows his alphabets and how to count to a hundred. So everyday after morning meal Atkins takes Sam to the study room to learn. "Your vowels are A...E...I...O...and U...Can you say your vowels?"

"Yes Maysta."

He smiles, "Its Maester...repeat."

"Maester."

"Good now your vowels."

"A...E...I...O...and U..."

"Very good Sam."

As with his vowels Sam is able to memorize his consonants after only hearing them one time. The boy is also inquisitive and asks questions as they go along. "Alright that is enough for today young man. It is time for midday meal."

"Can I eat with you Maester?"

He smiles, "Of course." As they eat Sam asks questions about the definitions of words and is able to repeat what he is told word for word."

There is a knock at the door, which is open, then a guard comes in. "Excuse me Maester. Lord Randyll sent me to find his son."

"He and I were eating together. Does he want him for something?"

"No, just wanted to know where he was."

After they eat, Atkins has Sam start practicing his writing. Sam has an insatiable thirst for knowledge and is a quick learner. A few days pass of this when Randyll comes to see what he is going on. "Keep reading Sam...My Lord a word in private."

"Yes, what is?"

"Your son is amazing."

"How so?"

"He has a brilliant mind. I would say genius level. The boy learns at an extraordinary rate. I would like to send for another Maester to tutor him."

He sighs, "I will consider it. In the meantime, I want him to go outside and run. Get some exercise."

"Yes, My Lord."

So, Atkins incorporates a daily walk outside into his lesson times. "Maester Atkins...How did a baby get inside my mother?"

He smiles, "Well perhaps you had best ask your father or mother." He did ask his mother and then the boy came and told him word for word what his mother said.

"Maester...why doesn't Evan take lessons with me?"

"Well because...How do I say this? He will, but he must be older first."

"But I started at two days old."

"You have a gift Sam...A gift from the gods."

He smiles, "I do?" He nods in reply with a smile.

When he isn't studying with the Maester Sam is either in the library or playing with Evan. The day finally comes when his mother has the baby. Sam is upset because he is not allowed in the room or near it. By sunset one of the servants, a young woman named Lara comes to get him. "What is his name?"

"His name is Dickon."

"High Dickon...I'm your big brother. Can I hold him?"

"Not yet." His mother replies.

As time passes Sam grows in his studies and knowledge. He is very good in math, English, history, and economics. When Evan starts taking classes Sam is patient with him and helps his friend in his studies. Every day he finds time to read to his little brother and make him laugh. Each of his name days are made special, by his mother.

Sam is well loved by the servants and guards. He had started asking them their name days and would get every servant and guard in the castle a name day present. He would pick a thoughtful gift and ask his mother to get it for him. Sam's fifth name day is very special, because of his mother. He gets lots of toys and his first horse.

The day after his fifth name day his father comes to him. "Lesson time is over, come with me boy."

"Yes father." He meekly replies. His father always spoke roughly to him and sometimes he scared Sam.

"The time has come for you start training. One day you will be a man...And a real man knows how to fight, wield a sword, defend himself, ride a horse. You were born of nobility; my heir and you will be required to lead men into battle!"

"Yes sir."

"By the gods, you need to lose weight." Sam starts crying but stops after his father slaps him across the face. "A man doesn't cry! Are you a girl or a man?"

"A man." He replies whimpering. His training did not go well. Sam had no coordination when it came to any of the basics for swordsmanship. By the end of the day, he is extremely tired. He bathes and goes to the main hall to eat. But the door is blocked by a guard named Mason. "Mason, can I pass?"

He sighs, "Orders from your father...I am not to let you into the main hall. You are to go to bed without supper."

Sam walks back to his room but is stopped by his friend Frieda. She takes him to one of the guest rooms, where another servant is waiting with some food. "Don't tell your father." Ida, Frieda's mother says.

"Thank you." Sam says with teary eyes. The next day at his lessons with Atkins. Sam is not his usual cheerful self.

MAESTER ATKINS

"Sam my boy, what is wrong?" He listens to Sam as tells him about his first training day with his father. "By the gods...Some people." He sits down in front of Sam, "Sam look at me."

He does, "There are all types of men in the world. Men of war, men of love, of art, poetry, men of the sea!" He points at his head, "You are a man of knowledge. Knowledge is power. They say Robert Baratheon defeated three armies in one day. He didn't just defeat them with brute strength, he had to outthink his enemies.

Um...Lann the Clever. He took Casterly Rock with his wits. Not with an army or great weapons...He used his mind. Not being able to wield a sword will make you no less than a man. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir."

"Good now stop crying. Give me a smile or I will tickle it out of you." He smiles, "Hmm...maybe I will tickle it out of you anyway."

"Stop! Stop it! Evan help, me!"

Evan roars, "First in Battle!" He yells saying the words of House Tarly. He grabs Atkyns by the leg and they all tussle. All three laughing as they wrestle.

"Alright kids, that is enough time to study." After the lessons are over Atkyns pulls Sam to side and gives him more words of encouragement. As time passes and he witnesses how Randyll treats his son, Atkyns decides to be a second father to him. He reveals stuff to Sam he never told anyone. Then he starts teaching Sam how play chess and other games of strategy.

"Maester..."

"Sam call me At or Atkyns."

He smiles, "At...is chess like warfare?"

He nods, "It is...it's about strategy, positioning your pieces right to defeat your enemies or in our case opponents." This was their third game and Sam is able to check mate At, in twenty-five moves. Determined to build his confidence At, has special gloves made for Sam. Then he has the Master archer of Horn Hill teach him archery. Next, he secretly speaks with Lady Melessa and has a Master of unarmed combat come to teach Sam.

SAM

Sam is now eight name days old as he stands before the man, "Your size gives you an advantage as much as it gives you a disadvantage. Throw your weight around, use it to take down enemies." Sam is taught where and how to grab and hit an enemy to incapacitate him. A pinch to the flesh in between the neck and shoulder, a hit to the groin. Jabbing your fingers into someone's eyes. Ringing the nose and stomping the foot.

These private lessons help Sam to build is confidence. It also helps him to ignore his father's belittlement of him. He no longer cries when something hurtful is said to or about him. Sam focuses his love on his mother, brother Dickon, who has become his father's favorite. Then there is his baby sister Melessa, the apple of his eye.

At the age of ten Sam is practicing the bow. His father had dismissed his skill with it, but Sam is a very good shot. "There must be an easier way to shoot arrows." He says studying the bow. In his spare time Sam takes apart a cross bow and studies it. He also looks at spring traps, bear traps, levers for secret passages, and a toy from the east called a jack in the box.

Ideas form in his head and he starts drawing designs for a weapon that is like a crossbow but does not use the bow string. The weapon is a little longer, than a crossbow and must be held with two hands. The arrows are shorter than regular arrows and they have holes in them for air to pass through them.

When he is done Sam shows the designs to Atkins. "What do you think At?"

"This is incredible. I have never seen the like of it before." He ruffles Sam's hair, "Well done boy. Well done indeed. But what will you call it?"

"I have several names. Bow Caster, Bolt Master, Death dealer, or Arrow Sling."

He watches as Atkins considers the names, "I like Bow Caster. But how about Bolt Caster."

Sam smiles, "I like it. Can we build one in secret then show my father?"

"Of course, we can."

They have Brandon the castle blacksmith forge the springs, trigger, and arrows for the Bolt Caster, then they gather materials to build the rest. Then the two of them together work on the Arrow Caster in their free time. It takes twelve days to assemble two weapons. Then they test one of them. "What do you call that?" Evan asks.

"It's called a Bolt Caster." Atkins replies, "Sam designed it and we built it together." Brandon is there as well to see it work. They have one of the archers test the weapon. He places the clip of pre-loaded arrows into the caster. He pumps the cartridge and pulls the trigger. The arrow flies from the caster across the field to the target and goes through it.

"Son of bitch!"

Sam and Evan laugh, "Language...the children." Atkins says. They make the target thicker and move it farther along the field. As they test the weapon men stop what they are doing to watch. The Archer fires again and hits the bullseye.

"Can I have this?" He asks in excitement. They move the target even farther. With a bow and arrow, the max range is 600 feet arcing the shot and depending on wind. There is no need to arc the shot with bolt caster.

"What is all this?" Randyll asks with Dickon at his side who is now eight name days old.

"Father, I invented a new weapon. I call the Bolt Caster." Sam says.

"Show him Darron." He shoots it again and then another.

"Wow." Dickon says.

"Let me see that." Randyll takes the weapon raises it over his head and smashes against the ground. "There is no honor in using such a weapon in battle! Only a coward would use such a thing." He looks down at Sam. Sam was about to break down and cry, but Atkins places his hand on his shoulder comforting him. Sam is able to keep his composure and stare at his father.