Sam is awesome. He's not only not craven, he's about the most decent person in Westeros (or at least in these books). He's come up with a touching plan to convince his father Lord Randyll (a Tyrell bannerman) that Gilly's son is his son so that she will be looked after in Horn Hill. I hope this will be the end of Gilly's story, and not the set up for some awful future turn of events...
We've also learned that Mance has been captured, Janos Slynt is trying to become Lord Commander but is not yet the favourite. Sam wants to try to influence the outcome in favour of Denys Mallister or Cotter Pyke, since Janos Slynt (Tywin's choice) would be awful.
And Sam knows that Bran is alive (since he met him) but has been made to promise, by both Bran and Coldhands, not to tell anyone, since Bran does not want and search parties looking for him.
