Chapter 170: Samwell, Marriage, and the Wolf King's Reforms

Samwell Tarly is the son of Randyll Tarly, and the Tarly House of Horn Hill is a major vassal of the House Tyrell of Highgarden. Earl Randyll is one of the finest military commanders in Westeros; during the Usurper's War, Earl Randyll was the only person to have defeated Robert Baratheon on an open battlefield.

Now, through a twist of fate, Samwell has been captured by the Stark personal guard as a poacher and brought to Winterfell. This is a piece of prime meat, and Eddard decides to see him immediately.

Jory Cassel, the Captain of the Guard of Winterfell, takes Eddard to the courtyard to see Samwell, but unexpectedly, they encounter Lady Barbrey of Barrowton.

Lady Barbrey's pregnant belly is becoming increasingly obvious, and she says softly, "Lord Eddard, may we speak in private?"

What on earth is this woman trying to pull? Eddard turns to Jory, "Take Samwell Tarly to the study and wait for me."

Barbrey and Eddard arrive at a shaded corner of the courtyard. Barbrey smiles wickedly, "Lord Eddard, your reforms are truly bold. You have organized the Winter Wolves, built Spring City in the middle reaches of the White Knife, built Sea Dragon City at Sea Dragon Point, and built Red Wolf City right at the doorstep of Roose Bolton's Dreadfort. From now on, the banners of the direwolf will fly all over the North, and the Winter Wolves will be everywhere. The vassals can only tremble in fear!"

"The idea of establishing the Wolf Academy is also excellent. I have never liked the maesters sent by the Citadel; a bunch of gray rats who only whisper bad ideas into the ears of nobles, making them too lazy to think or learn. The Wolf Academy of the North will surely surpass the Citadel in the future."

Eddard says, "You stopped me just to praise my policies? Barbrey, I just realized, you have honeyed lips!"

Barbrey reveals a wicked smile, "You are the Slayer of the Beyond, the Father of Life, the King of the Wildlings. I have often offended you in the past; paying you a few more compliments can't be wrong, right?"

"During the Lord's Council, nothing shocked me more than you and Greatjon singing in harmony. Stark quietly took the estuary of the Last River into his pocket. Once Red Wolf City is completed, it will be only two days' ride from the Dreadfort. The castle of the former Red King now experiences true terror in front of Wolf Castle. Lord Eddard, how many benefits did you give Greatjon to make him happy to betray his neighbor for you?"

Eddard says coldly, "I didn't discuss this matter with Greatjon. Greatjon proposed building a castle at the estuary of the Last River, and I fulfilled his request. The Dreadfort, Karhold, and the Umber House can all benefit from it."

Barbrey nods, "Undoubtedly, Red Wolf City, the Winter Wolves, the forced laborers, and the Wolf Academy are all good ideas. But, if I must speak the truth, allowing polygamy is a stinking move."

Eddard lowers his voice, "Of course I understand the drawbacks of polygamy; I am against it in my heart. But at the time, during the Lord's Council, Alfyn Crowkiller, Eagle King McCain, Tormund Giantsbane, the Lord of Bones, many of these people had several wives. I had to wear the mask of a Duke to handle this matter, pretending to agree to polygamy. I had hoped that after I proposed allowing polygamy for the wildlings, you and Lady Maege would speak out against it, but you two said nothing."

Barbrey shrugs, "Who would dare to question the great King of the Wildlings, the Father of Life, the Wolf King Eddard at the Lord's Council? Lord Eddard, you are now at the height of your power, and all sorts of strange people obey you. People will flatter you, fawn over you, and say things you want to hear. The higher your prestige and the greater your power, the less truth you will hear. It took all my courage to find you and say these things."

Eddard reaches out and touches Barbrey's shoulder, "I am very grateful for your advice; at the very least, we can still be honest with each other."

Barbrey says, "For the sake of this friendship between you and me, I have decided to send six hundred soldiers from Barrowton to join the Winter Wolves."

This surprises Eddard, "I did not conscript the soldiers of my vassals; it is rare for you to be so generous."

Barbrey smiles mysteriously, "The Winter Wolves will be the standing army of the North, the ace legion of Winterfell, with more men than the City Watch of King's Landing. I think this legion has great potential. The Dustin House of Barrowton has plenty of noble sons looking for work. I provide the men, and Lord Eddard arranges positions in the army for my young brothers-in-law and nephews. A fair price, is it not?"

Eddard nods, "It is settled."

In the study at Winterfell, Eddard meets Samwell Tarly.

Samwell has a mop of dark hair and is a very fat man. On his huge, round face are a pair of gray eyes. He wears a black velvet coat, black breeches, and black squirrel boots. Clearly, when he set out from Horn Hill, he was already prepared to join the Night's Watch.

Samwell's clothes are dirty, covered in mud, and there are some withered grasses in his hair. Eddard deduces that Samwell has been living in the Wolfswood for several days.

Jory Cassel says, "Lord Eddard, the forester says this fat man was stealing fruit and hunting animals in the Wolfswood."

Samwell trembles with fear, "Lord Stark, it's a misunderstanding! I am the eldest son of the Tarly House of Horn Hill. I cannot hunt at all; I am afraid of seeing blood. My father, Earl Randyll Tarly, forced me to kill a chicken, and I didn't even dare to do that. How could I dare to poach in the Wolfswood?"

Eddard sits in his chair and waves his hand at Jory Cassel, "You step back first, I will handle this. By the way, remember to call Jon to the study."

After Jory leaves, only Samwell and Eddard remain in the study. Eddard pours a glass of Blue Noble for Samwell.

"Sam, don't be nervous, I believe you are innocent. Are you going to join the Night's Watch?"

Samwell takes a sip of the blueberry wine. He holds the wine glass, and Eddard notices Samwell's fat fingers trembling uncontrollably, spilling some of the blueberry wine.

"Y-yes, Lord Eddard. My father sent me to join the Night's Watch. He sent a Sworn Knight and a Hired Knight to escort me north from Horn Hill all the way to the Wall. Unfortunately, when we reached the wilderness of the Barrowlands, the Hired Knight suddenly stabbed the Sworn Knight to death. As soon as I saw the blood, I spurred my horse and fled. Fortunately, I escaped into the Wolfswood, otherwise, that Hired Knight might have killed me too."

Sworn Knights are knights who have sworn to serve their lords before the Seven; they usually live under the eaves of their lord's castle and are the lord's household retainers. Hired Knights are usually seen as a type of mercenary; they possess the status of a knight, but often have a poor reputation, and it is generally believed that the loyalty of a Hired Knight is far lower than that of a Sworn Knight.

Samwell says, "Lord Eddard, my horse was snatched by the Stark personal guard. Will you escort me to the Wall?"

Eddard smiles, "Sam, your father, Earl Randyll Tarly, is a major vassal of Duke Mace Tyrell of Highgarden and is famous throughout the Seven Kingdoms. You are the eldest son of the Tarly House, why go to join the Night's Watch?"

Samwell says gloomily, "Because I am a coward, a weakling. My father has always wanted to train me into a warrior, but no matter how many instructors he changed, he couldn't find any courage in me. I am only interested in good food and books, and my father is very disappointed in me. After my brother Dickon was born, he was brave and strong, so my father stopped caring about me and let me be idle for a few years."

"My father regards Dickon as his future heir. One day, he took me to the forest and threatened that I must join the Night's Watch and voluntarily renounce my inheritance, otherwise he would kill me. I had no choice, so I followed the knight who escorted me north. I didn't expect that when I reached the North, something would go wrong."

Eddard says calmly, "Sam, you don't have to go to the Wall, stay in Winterfell!"

Samwell is startled, "Lord Eddard, thank you for your kindness, but my father wants me to join the Night's Watch."

Eddard says, "Randyll Tarly is too cruel to you; he doesn't care whether you live or die. Such a father is not worth having. There are many bad people in the Night's Watch, many of whom are criminals exiled to the Wall. If you go there, you will die even more miserably; they will abuse the recruits."

Samwell is terrified, "I heard that Lord Eddard also has troops stationed at the Wall. Why don't I go to the Stark castle on the Wall and serve as a soldier for Stark!"

Eddard smiles, "Then you might as well stay in Winterfell. Sam, you are not suited to be a warrior. Don't you like reading? I see you have the potential to be a maester. It just so happens that the Wolf Academy of Winterfell is about to start recruiting. If you stay here, Maester Luwin can teach you how to manage ravens, Maester Norman can teach you medicine, Maester Doster can teach you mysticism, and Maester Farmer can teach you knowledge of minerals and agriculture."

"I have hundreds of foster sons in Winterfell, as well as my children: Robb, Jon, Domeric, Theon, Meera, Lareza, Sansa, Arya, and Bran, all of whom can be your friends. If you are willing to learn martial arts, you can practice in the training yard; if you don't want to practice martial arts, just focus on your studies. I will never interfere."

Samwell sheds tears of gratitude and kneels before Eddard, "Thank you, Lord Eddard, for taking me in."

Eddard helps Samwell up, "From now on, you are my foster son. If anyone bullies you, come find me."

Jon pushes open the door and walks in, "Father."

Eddard introduces him, "This is Samwell Tarly, my foster son. Jon, take Sam to eat, take him to bathe, let him live in the room next to yours, and take good care of him."

Jon leaves with Samwell, and Eddard shows a gratified smile; there is one more noble foster son for the Wolf House.

Samwell looks timid and cowardly, but he has a sharp mind and is a talent worth molding. Eddard's team has gained one more strategist.

The road ahead is still long; perhaps Eddard will help Samwell reclaim the inheritance of Horn Hill.

Eddard returns to his bedroom, where Catelyn is waiting for him. The black bear Jorgen and the white bear Little Gasol are wrestling by the bed. Eddard has always raised these two bear cubs himself; they are a gift from Bear King Byars to Eddard.

Ever since his night dream of the Green Seer at the Fist of the First Men, Eddard's warg abilities have become increasingly powerful. Now, he can not only easily control the direwolves Night and Sunshine, but also the two bear cubs.

Now the bear cubs look naive and cute, only the size of a baby, but Bear King Byars once promised Eddard that after these two bears reach adulthood, they are expected to grow to four meters tall.

In the future, Eddard will be able to take the black and white bears and the two direwolves to the battlefield, and any enemy will be scared out of their wits. Moreover, the mother wolf Sunshine is pregnant, and the due date is approaching day by day. Eddard's children are all eager to have their own little wolves.

As soon as Catelyn sees Eddard, she immediately says, "I heard from Robb that you mentioned at the Lord's Council that polygamy should be legalized in the North. Eddard, the High Septon has said that only monogamy can receive the blessings of the gods in heaven; polygamy is an act of disrespect to the gods."

"Aside from religious reasons, polygamy is simply unfair to women. We have absorbed wildlings into the North, and we should strive to make the wildlings change their customs and accept more civilized practices, rather than letting the bad habits of the wildlings erode the North. If we tolerate wildling polygamy, many nobles and commoners will follow suit. The wildlings don't even have the concept of illegitimate children and mate at will; the civilization of the North will regress."

Eddard puts his hand on Catelyn's shoulder, "At the time, I wore the mask of a Duke and failed to handle this problem well. You are quite right; I will find another way to solve it."

Catelyn says, "Force those wildlings who have multiple wives to keep only one. If they refuse, throw them into the dungeon to serve as forced laborers."

Eddard frowns, "The solution cannot be so brutal; many wildlings have several wives. I think the best way is that for those wildlings who already have several wives, if the wives are willing to continue living with their husbands, there is no need to disturb them. If the women in a polygamous family are willing to leave their husbands, they can divorce; respect the wishes of the women."

"From now on, when wildlings marry, they can only take one wife. This compromise is the best."

That night, accompanied by the direwolves Night and Sunshine, Eddard prays with his eyes closed before the heart tree. Not far away, wildling leaders Tormund, Harma the Dogshead, Morna White Mask, the Lord of Bones, Eagle King McCain, Bear King Byars, Prince of Giant Eagles Michu, Varamyr, Jorgen, and others pray with Eddard.

On the withered white trunk of the weirwood, the blood-red leaves rustle, and Eddard listens to the whispers of the Old Gods.

Eddard opens his eyes, "I have heard the guidance of the gods. The gods say that monogamy is more suitable for the wildlings who have moved to the North."

The Wildling leaders revere Eddard as the Father of Life; no one dares to question Eddard's words.

Harma the Dogshead shrugs, "Should have done this long ago; a man taking a bunch of wives is a barbaric custom."

Morna White Mask says, "When I was young, I was taken as a wife by three men; I killed two of them, and the third was castrated by me. I hate this Wildling custom to the bone."

The King-Beyond-the-Wall says, "But the Wildlings' tradition for thousands of years Beyond the Wall is that they can take every woman they seize. If the Father of Life wants to separate men from their wives, I fear some Wildlings won't be too happy."

Jorgen says, "I have over a dozen wives, and I don't want to be separated from them, but if the Father of Life gives the order, I can only accept it. My wives, forced to leave me, will probably tear their clothes and cry their hearts out!"

Eddard says, "In polygamous families, if the wives are willing to stay with their husbands, I will not separate them. However, the women's wishes must be respected; the power of decision lies in the hands of the women. But from now on, Wildlings must, like the people in other parts of the Seven Kingdoms, accept monogamy."

Tormund Giantsbane says, "Back when I was Beyond the Wall, I discussed this issue with Mance Rayder. Mance said that the people of the Seven Kingdoms don't welcome Wildlings, largely because they feel Wildling customs are too barbaric. Between tribes, they steal and kill each other, worship rape and ignore marriage, men sow seeds everywhere, and women are promiscuous everywhere, giving birth to bastards all over the place like beasts."

"We followed the Wolf King and followed the Father of Life to Winterfell. If we want to live a good life, we must listen to the arrangements of the Father of Life. The Father of Life builds the Wolf Academy for the children, builds orphanages, builds houses for the Wildlings, distributes land, and lets the Wildlings eat their fill and dress warmly. I support the Father of Life; it is time to say goodbye to crude customs."

Prince of Giant Eagles Michu says, "There is no need to bring the bad customs and habits from Beyond the Wall to the South. The South builds so many castles and weapons because their level of civilization is higher; Wildlings should integrate into the Seven Kingdoms, otherwise our race will truly have no hope."

Eagle King McCain echoes, "Exactly, those who like to take several wives should just get the hell back to the icy, snowy Beyond the Wall! Maybe they can even find a few female Wights to be wives."

The Wildling leaders quickly reach a consensus to support Eddard in changing customs and habits; the Wildlings will accept the monogamous marriage model of the Seven Kingdoms.

The next day, in the Great Hall of Winterfell, Eddard continues to summon the Northern lords to hold a lord's meeting.

Eddard says straight to the point, "I prayed to the Heart Tree and received guidance from the gods; from now on, Wildlings will implement a monogamous system."

Weiman Mandele Bojue reveals a smile, "Lord Eddard, this is a small step for marriage, but a giant step for Wildlings to integrate into the North."

Eddard looks around at the surrounding nobles; there are Crannogmen, Wildlings, giants, Rockborn, and Thenns.

"The North will implement the Wolf King's reform. The first point: from now on, the North prohibits the export of grain. Grain from all places must be sold to Winterfell. Winterfell will purchase it all. When winter comes, Winterfell will sell it to vassals and commoners at a low price to face the winter together!"

The nobles from all over reveal joy. In the summer, there was a bumper harvest in the South, and the grain in the North could not be sold at a high price at all. When winter arrived, grain prices soared, and the North's grain was not enough to eat, which made many nobles worry. The Wolf King's new grain policy will undoubtedly benefit the nobles and commoners of the North.

"The second point: encourage intermarriage between Wildlings and the original inhabitants of the North; those who marry will be rewarded with ten Copper Coins."

"The third point: implement a system of military merit and nobility. Soldiers of the Winter Wolves, if they make contributions on the battlefield, whether they are nobles or commoners, will have the opportunity to obtain land and become lords. There is plenty of vast land Beyond the Wall, and that is prepared for warriors."

Although the land Beyond the Wall is barren, it is vast and rich in resources. Despite the potential threats of Others and Wights, it is still very attractive to Northern nobles.

Because there are too many Wildlings in Winter Town, Eddard is not short of manpower, so he did not order his vassals to recruit for the Winter Wolves in their respective territories. However, the Northern nobles soon smelled the opportunity for promotion in the Winter Wolves.

This is the standing army of the North, the direct troops under the Wolf King Eddard, and a newly established legion. As long as the Northern nobles squeeze in some soldiers, their family's younger children will have the opportunity to obtain positions in the Winter Wolves and follow the ever-victorious General Eddard to win glory for their families on the battlefield.

Lady Barbrey is the first person to react. She promises to transport six hundred warriors from Barrowton to the Winter Wolves, so that the Dustin House can easily obtain the position of commander in the Winter Wolves. This news quickly spreads in Winterfell, and other nobles begin to have the idea of planting their own people in the Winter Wolves. Now, Eddard's reforms and the promise of fiefs and titles make the Northern nobles see the importance of the Winter Wolves in the future, and they scramble to pledge their loyalty to Eddard.

Tormund says, "The Wildlings are willing to fight for the Father of Life, and many Wildling warriors are eager to join the Winter Wolves."

Lord Weiman says, "Wildlings are eagerly joining the Winter Wolves; my White Harbor cannot fall behind. I am willing to send out eight hundred Knights to join the Winter Wolves; they are all well-trained and loyal."

Lady Maege says, "Bear Island is willing to transport three hundred warriors to the Winter Wolves."

Rockborn Billy Stern says, "Lord Eddard promised us when he was at The Wall that thousands of Rockborn warriors would stay in Winterfell to serve, otherwise our Skagos might not be able to feed so many mouths in winter."

Mountain clan leader Wull says, "Our mountain clans are more suitable to join the Winter Wolves because we have too little arable land in the mountains and are close to The Wall. Lord Eddard, I have discussed it with the leaders of the mountain clans, and we are willing to send out fifteen hundred warriors to join the Winter Wolves to reclaim land in The Gift of The Wall and repair the castles on The Wall."

Great Jon says in a rough voice, "My House Umber has always been the one to lead the charge; I will provide six hundred men."

Lord Roderick Ryswell of the Rills says, "When it comes to cavalry and fine steeds, how can anywhere compare to my Rills? Lord Eddard, I request to transport five hundred cavalry to the Winter Wolves. If Lord Eddard is willing to let my son command the Winter Wolves cavalry, that would be even more perfect."

Finally, even the notoriously stingy Lord of Dreadfort, Roose Bolton, is willing to send out three hundred warriors to join the Winter Wolves.

"My lords, thank you for your enthusiasm; I will accept these soldiers."

Eddard understands that these nobles are afraid of losing their voice in the Winter Wolves in the future, which is why they are scrambling to send out soldiers.

A few days later, the order for monogamy is conveyed. Eddard thought he would encounter some resistance, but he did not expect the monogamy policy to be widely welcomed by Wildling spearwives, and some poor Wildlings who could not find wives also welcomed it.

Only those Wildlings with many wives are dissatisfied with this policy. Such people are usually Wildling Raiders or local tyrants Beyond the Wall. Their status among the Wildlings belongs to the upper class. Coming to Winterfell's territory, everything needs to rely on the Wolf King and House Stark. These people inevitably grumble about the new marriage regulations, but they can only accept it.

Thanks to Mo Zi and Chang Bai Velume for the tips, and thanks to Mo Zi, Shen Tianming, and 20171212083553286 for the monthly tickets. Thank you for your support!

(End of chapter)