Why did Samwell Tarly get sent to the Wall?
Table of Contents
I. A Personal Essay by Samwell Tarly
When one is born to the noble House of Tarly, as the eldest son no less, a certain path is laid before one's feet. This path, much like the Reach we preside over, is fertile with duties and expectations, ambition and honor. In that grand house my father, Lord Randyll Tarly, was a man who wore his expectations like a second skin, a commander revered for his military acumen across all of Westeros. As his firstborn, the path in front of me was paved with his hopes of a mighty successor, a martial heir who would wield the Valyrian steel sword, Heartsbane, and lead House Tarly to victories. Alas, the Seven seemed to have other plans for me, Samwell Tarly, the boy who much preferred the whispers of parchment to the clash of steel.
II. Life at Horn Hill
My childhood at Horn Hill was one of longing looks towards my father, striving for his nod of approval, an acknowledgment of merit. He sought a brave heart within me, a knight in the making, someone who would carry the mantle of our family with valor and prowess. Instead, he saw a boy whose only thirst was for knowledge and whose only battles were with his own timidity. My father found shame in my persona - I, who relished songs and stories over swordplay, felt more at ease in the company of Maesters than warriors.
The moment of our parting was a harrowing one, sealed with a threat from the very man who had given me life. His disdain was so profound, he preferred to take my life rather than witness me inheriting the rights of our house. He delivered an ultimatum – I was to take the black of the Night’s Watch or face death on a 'hunting trip,' an accident he would orchestrate. The fear of death and the shame of my father’s rejection chased me all the way north, to the Wall. I left my younger brother Dickon as the new heir to Horn Hill, and embarked on a journey into the unknown, a life of celibacy and hardship.
III. Arrival at Castle Black
Arriving at Castle Black, I was a sheep amongst wolves. It was as if a gust of icy wind blew away any pretenses of my noble birth. The disdain of my father was reflected in the icy eyes of Ser Alliser Thorne, who labeled me a ‘pampered lordling’ and encouraged the other recruits to teach me harsh lessons of survival. ‘Lady Piggy’, he christened me, his voice dripping with mockery. Yet, amongst the dire surroundings and cruel taunts, I found solace in an unexpected companionship. Jon Snow, another boy with a heavy legacy, came to my aid, shielding me from the others. I was assigned watches with him and in those cold, endless nights, we shared our stories, our fears.
To Jon, I confessed my cowardice and revealed the dark truth behind my journey to the Wall. His response, a promise to protect me, sparked a sense of camaraderie I had not anticipated. In the harsh cold of Castle Black, warmth sprouted in the form of friendship with Jon, Pypar, and Grenn. They became my brothers, my comrades, my defenders. We were a band of misfits, united in the face of adversity, navigating the reality of life at the Wall together.
IV. Harsh Lessons and Understanding Reality
Ser Alliser's words were bitter winter winds, cutting and harsh, yet they carried a weight of truth we couldn't ignore. Beyond the Wall, there were threats and horrors we were yet to comprehend, conditions that would bring even the bravest of knights to their knees. We, the green boys of the Night's Watch, were expected to face such challenges head-on, defending the realm of men from unseen dangers.
Upon being named a steward, my initial disappointment was quickly dissolved by Jon’s assurance that Lord Commander Jeor Mormont may be grooming him, and by extension, us for leadership. Despite the bleakness of our circumstances, a strange sense of hope ignited within me. I decided to say my oath before a heart tree, like Jon, forsaking the Seven who had seemingly forsaken me, and praying to the Old Gods instead.
V. Encounters with Supernatural and Dangerous
Our life at the Wall was not without its share of terrors. The discovery of the lifeless bodies of two rangers sent shivers of dread down our spines. Yet, there was something strange, something that defied the rules of life and death - the bodies bore no smell of decay. Lord Commander Mormont, in his wisdom, saw my observant nature and offered me the responsibility of researching the strange occurrence.
The night the dead ranger attacked Jon and the Lord Commander, I witnessed a horror that still haunts my dreams – the wight. Our comrades were being reanimated, brought back from the void by the touch of the White Walkers. It was the knowledge gleaned from my countless hours with scrolls and books that helped us understand the grim reality we were facing. The danger was not from the wildlings or the harsh winter, but from the horrors that slept beneath the ice for a thousand years.
VI. Loyalty and Brotherhood
When news of his father's execution reached Jon, he was ready to abandon his vows and ride south. I tried to dissuade him, even attempting to physically restrain him, but Jon was adamant. Seeing him ride away, I felt a surge of desperation and enlisted the help of Pyp and Grenn. Together, we rode after him. In a twist of fate, a low hanging branch knocked me off my horse, bringing Jon back to us. Standing there, unscathed, I recited our vows, reminding Jon of the brotherhood we had pledged to, convincing him to return.
VII. Conclusion
Looking back, I can see how my father's harshness, albeit painful, set me on a path I never would've chosen, but one that has shaped me into more than just the fearful boy I once was. I've found courage I never knew I possessed, friends who became brothers, and a purpose greater than being the lord of a castle. I've discovered my own worth in this world, not as a warrior, but as a man of knowledge and compassion.
My father may have sent me to the Wall to rid himself of a disappointing son, but in doing so, he inadvertently allowed me to find my own place in the world. I may have been stripped of my rights to House Tarly, yet what I've gained is far more precious - a sense of self, a newfound family, and the chance to serve a cause much grander than myself. For these, despite the hardships, I am eternally grateful.
