DAGGERS TO THE HEART Part 1 - GAME OF THRONES

Sam I

The day for the new recruits to take their oaths had arrived. Jon took Pyp, Grenn, Edd and Sam to one side and told them they would not be swearing oaths. Instead, they would go on a mission with Jon. Sam wasn't particularly comfortable with this idea. His father would be angry about him not taking the black like he promised, but he was now under Ned Stark's protection and outside of the reach of his father. The five of them, alongside Ghost, watched on as the senior command of the Night's Watch arrived together; Maester Aemon, leaning on Clydas, Lord Commander Mormont, wore a black woollen doublet with silvered bear's claw fastenings. Behind them were the highest officers of the members of the three orders: Bowen Marsh, the Lord Steward, First Builder Othell Yarwyck, and Benjen Stark, who commanded the rangers.

Lord Commander Mormont stood above the men in the yard and gave out what Sam presumed must have been a well-practised speech.. "You came to us: outlaws, poachers, rapers, debtors, killers, and thieves. You came to us children. You came to us alone, in chains, with neither friends nor honour. You came to us rich, and you came to us poor. Some of you bear the names of proud houses. Others have only bastards' names, or no names at all. It doesn't matter. All that is past now. On the Wall, we are all one house," he said. "At evenfall, as the sun sets and we face the gathering night, you shall take your vows. From that moment, you will be a Sworn Brother of the Night's Watch. Your crimes will be washed away, your debts forgiven. So too you must wash away your former loyalties, put aside your grudges, forget old wrongs and old loves alike. Here you begin anew," he continued. "A man of the Night's Watch lives his life for the realm. Not for a king, nor a lord, nor the honour of this house or that house, neither for gold nor glory nor a woman's love, but for the realm, and all the people in it. A man of the Night's Watch takes no wife and fathers, no sons. Our wife is on duty. Our mistress is honoured. And you are the only sons we shall ever know. You have learned the words of the vow. Think carefully before you say them, for once you have taken the black, there is no turning back. The penalty for desertion is death." He paused for a moment before he said, "Are there any among you who wish to leave our company? If so, go now, and no one shall think the less of you." The yard remained silent. No one moved. "Well and good," said Mormont. "You may take your vows here at evenfall, before Septon Celladar and the first of your order. Do any of you keep to the old gods?"

When nobody responded, Mormont continued with his speech. "We have placed each of you in an order, as befits our need and your own strengths and skills." Bowen Marsh stepped forward and handed him a paper, which Sam suspected was a list. Lord Commander Mormont unrolled it and read out the names and their assigned orders. "Halder, to the builders," he said. "Matthar, to the rangers. Dareon, to the stewards. Todder, to the rangers..." he continued. Once he finished, he rolled up the paper. "Your firsts will instruct you in your duties. May all the gods preserve you, brothers." He gave the men a half-bow and left.

"So, what do we do now?" Sam asked Jon.

Jon frowned, as if there was something he wasn't telling him. "I don't know. I'd hoped Maester Aemon might have you help him while we finished our preparations for the trip. The Lord Commander knows of my wishes."

"Samwell," came the voice of Bowen Marsh, as if he'd read Jon's mind. "Would you assist Maester Aemon in the rookery and library?" he asked.

"Of course." Sam said excitedly. The mere thought of being able to assist a Maester was almost like a dream. The books and knowledge of a man of the age of the blind Maester must be incredible.

Before Sam could say anything, Ghost distracted him by running off, down the steps, across the courtyard and towards the entrance to the tunnel, which ran under the wall. When paced up and down, Jon ran after him.

"What is it, boy?" Jon bent down on one knee, as Ghost scrabbled on the ground, as silent as ever. Jon looked down the tunnel, and then turned to Sam. "Stay here!" he said. "I need to speak with the Lord Commander." Jon got up and ran off towards the quarters of the Old Bear.