A Cure for Greyscale

Maester Samwell

‘I need you here Sam,’ Jon said.

‘But I think I can help him,’ Sam replied, not looking to his friend, but continued packing his things for the trip. ‘I will only be gone for a few weeks, things are quiet now, it’s the best time for me to go.’

Sansa had agreed to allow Sam time away so he could try and cure Lord Conningtons grey-scale. She had helped Sam with his research. The boltons and Greyjoys had left the library alone during their seige’s. Jon had told Sam about the library during their long nights walking atop the Wall at Castle Black. So when Sam finally settled himself, Gilly and the boy, he went right to work on categorizing the books. Maester Luwin had no use for the library. He had been maester for so long he had read most of the books many times over. 

It was during one of Sams long nights in the library that he came upon the book by Archmaester Pylos on curing rare and dangerous deseases. Afterwords, Sam had written letters to the Citadel about any other information they may have on the writing of Pylos or about grey scale.

Three months later a box of scrolls and books arrived for Sam. He had wanted to go through them and had immediately spoken to Sansa about it. Arya had been sitting with Lady Sansa when sam had asked for an audience.

 

Sam had explained about the different treatment the Citadel had sent him parchments on. Then he had told her that the practice for many years was to ship them to the isles to live out their life with the stone men. ‘Unless you were a knight or a man of means, then they would give you the choice of taking you own life. 

At this, Arya sat up and said, why not just cut the deceased skin away. 

Arya that awful, sansa said.

But the books say that when you contract greyscale. If you immediately cut off the limb you could survive. What would it hurt to try. Arya said sitting back on her chair.

There was a book I found here in Winterfell’s Library. That said to do exactly that. Sam said.

Its sounds like something the boltons would have suggested. Sansa replied with a discusted sneer.

‘Well my lady may be right,’ pulling out a book and some scrolls and setting them on the table in front of the two women. I was looking into the book and then the history of the Maester, Maester Pylos, who wrote it. Before he went to the citadel to forge his chain he was Pylos Bolton.’ The boltons house words were ‘Our Blades are Sharp’ Before Aegon crossed the see, The boltons kings were referred as Red Kings. 

It was Pylos who had cured Princess Shireen Baratheon as a baby.’ Sam said, he writes about it here. He handed a scroll to Sansa, who unrolled it and with one look at a sketch drawn on the page, pushed it to Arya.

He stood and waited for a minute or two and finally Sansa gave him leave to go, Though she wanted to be sure that he received permission from Bran and Jon also. 

His eyes lowered and she said she would speak with them both that evening. She said that sam should send a message to Lord Connington telling him his plans.

Sam headed out the door after picking up his things and back to his apartments. After telling Gilly, who was not warm to the idea of being left alone at Winterfell, She finally agreed that since she was so far along with ther pregnancy that she would have to stay.

When she asked if Sam would be taking little Aemon he said no.

Sam left for griffins roost by way of White Harbour. Though sam regretted that he chose to sail instead of taking the Kings road, because of the winter storms ranging all the way down the coast. He was still happy when he arrived within weeks instead of months. Traveling with the storms seemed to move the boat faster than traveling against them.

The Kings road had troubles of its own, even for a maester.

Tommen’s armies still controlled the western lands, from Oldtown north to Casterly Rock and east to Kings Landing

Queen Daenerys had moved her Dothraki and unsullied into the mountain of the moon, crackclaw point and the eastern most parts of Kingswood. Harrowing the Kings army from two sides. 

The Eyrie, and the twins were now in open rebellion within their own borders. 

Northern Houses seemd to have turned to Winterfell, except for Karhold who was still under the rule of Arnolf Karstark.

Prince aegon VI was at Griffens roost gaining strength in th stormlands, dornish marshes and Storms end. He and Daenerys had decided to work together to remove the Lannisters from the Iron Throne. 

Tyrion had convinced Daenerys to make Aegon VI her successor for she was not able to have children. Jon had denounced any claim when she spoke with him about it. Jon had asked why she thought she would not have another child after Rhaego died. She told him of The Maege. How she thought she had won her over with a kindness but was later forced to burn her with Khal drogo to hatch her children.

He had held onto her hands and asked, ‘Why do you think she would tell you anything but lies?’

That was the first time she had kissed him. That was when she thought that maybe it was possible, ‘but all the times with Daario. Hizdahr had twice.’  She said to Jon.

Sam had walked in on them. Little Aemon had said he had seen the two walking to the castle after Jon had flown with her on the dragon. Aemon had said they walked with there arms together into the castle.

‘Your Grace.’ Sam said kneeling.

The two moved apart. Jon said ‘ You can stand up Maester’ he did, looking thoroughly embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry to interrupt.’ He started, then ‘But the boy said he had seen you together and I wanted to ask,’ he then stopped and waited.

Daenerys waited for him to continue and then looked to Jon and smiled. ‘wanted what?’ Jon said.

‘Oh, Oh yea, I wanted to mention that I would be heading to Griffins Roost on the tide tomorrow and wanted to know of any messages you,’ he turned from Jon to the Queen, ‘Either of you may have for the Prince or Lord Jon, I mean Lord Connington.’ 

‘I wish you good luck,’ the queen said. ‘ what are the chances that you plan will work?’

‘About removing the grey scale?’ sam replied.

‘Well, what other plans do you have Sam?’ Jon asked.

‘Ahh, well none for certain,’ he started and then, ‘I will be within a few days ride of Horn Hill, my mother,’ he stopped and wiped his brow with a rag he pulled from his pocket, ‘I haven’t see my mother or sister for sometime now.’

‘What about you brother and Lord Randyll?’ Jon asked. 

‘Well, no, Dickon will be in Highgarden and my father, well he sits the small council.’ He finished. Then started again, ‘unless, of course he is fighting somewhere?’ he turned his gaze to Queen Daenerys.

She looked to Jon, who looked from Sam to her, she nodded. ‘He should be in Kings Landing. Nothing has changed since last we spoke.’ He said.

‘Well then,’ Sam said again. ‘like I says, I will be on tomorrows tide.’ He bowed again and waited.

‘You can go now, Sam, have a safe journey.’ Jon said and he and Daenerys sat watchng as the maester walked from the room. 

Grey scale

Lord Connington was sitting in a chair and called out ‘You may enter.’ When the guard rapted on his door, 

The door pushed open and Sam stepped in followed by two acolytes who had been sent from Oldtown to document the procedure. The three stepped into the private chambers, nobody is to enter without my leave,’ Connington said, ‘That includes the Prince.’

The guard nodded once and closed the door.

Sam unrolled a leather trifold case that carried his medical supplies. On the front was a silver maester ring. The first acolyte set two large pitchers down. One of strong wine and started to pour four coblets. The other pulled out small vials from his pocket, these contained milk of poppy and other pain medicine.

That won’t be necessary, Connington said, nodding at the small vials.

There will be pain, Sam said. But looking into the mans eyes, Sam nodded to the acolyte who pocketed the vials. Sam then picket up the goblets and handed them around, Each of the four drank deep. Sam then put a thin pair of gloves onto his hands. That reached up to his elbows.

Connington removed his clothes. Sam stepped around him looking for any sign of the decease.  Both acolytes moved with him inspecting every inch of the Lord. The acolytes had places gloves on their hands matching Sams. Each had a scarf around their necks which they pulled up to cover their nose and mouth. 

Sam then pulled leather straps from his bag and handed them out to an acolyte to tie the lord to his chair.

‘NO,’ Connington said firmly.

‘You cannot move my lord, for my safety, as much as yours.’ The Maester’s eyes pleaded.

‘I will remain still, you will not need those,’ looking at the binding straps.’You have my word.’

Sam tossed the straps to the corner of the room. 

‘Well?’ the naked man said.

‘It remains on the arm alone.’ The first acolyte said after pulling the scarf down to speak. Moving his gloved hand along the knights arm from his forearm to the shoulder.

Putting on his small clothes and pants Connington sat back down. He took a piece of leather from the table top and stuffed it between his teeth, biting down. He reached his arm straight out from his body, then nodded to Sam.

Sam picked up a knife and a pair of tweezers. He moved towards the sitting man and one of the acolytes tyed a scarf around Sam’s head, covering his nose and mouth. Then he did the same to himself, while the other man from Oldtowm found a place to sit and started writing and drawing on the parchments. 

His drawing showed the diseased arm and the knife and tweezers prying up a scale and slicing it away. Another showed the liquid poison beneath each scale. 

Sam tossed each scale into a bowl on the floor beneath the outstretched arm. In the bowl, pure vinegar half filled it. When Sam had finished removing half of the scales he stepped back and poured another cup of wine. He drank it down and watched as the man helping him poured a cup of wine into Conningtons mouth. He had barely moved a muscle in the hour Sam had been working. But sweat poured from his head and neck. A towel at the knights shoulder was soaked with sweat. The acolyte pulled it away and replaced it with a dry one. 

Putting the leather back into his teeth, Connington watched Sam stepped over and pick up his tools. He then turned and started back to work. 

Both acolytes looked over the arm after Sam had finished. Nodding to one another they picked up the pile of scrolls and moved to the door. Thy had pulled their gloves and scarfs off and piled them next to the fire. Looking back to the Lord who looked them both over, he nodded saying, ‘Open the Door’. He voice was strong, though he had not spoken in over two hours.

The guard on the otherside of the door slid the bolt and swung open the door. Outside, standing in the corridor Sam could see the Prince standing, waiting. The two men from Oldtown walked past him and he stepped forward and stood at the opening, ‘John?’

Connington adjusted himself in his chair, sitting up a fraction straighter. Sam turned back to him and finished covering the flayed skin with a poultice then wrapped the arm with a silk bandage. 

Stepping away Sam nodded to the prince, who stepped through the door and stopped a few steps in. Speaking to the Maester, ‘How is he?’

‘We got it all. We will know in a fortnight when the skin starts to heal.’ Sam said throwing his mask into the fire and dropping his knife and tweezers into a second bowl of Vinegar. He rolled his medicine bag and turned to walk out. 

From the chair he heard Lord Connington speak, ‘Thank you Maester.’ 

Sam turned and nodded, then bowed to the Prince and walked out.

Prince Aegon started to walk further into the room, ‘Stop, your Grace. Two weeks.’

‘As you say, My Lord.’ Turning he walked from the room. 

The guard stepped to the threshold, ‘Will there be anything further, my Lord.’

‘No Howland. Just close the door for now.’

Connington said, he grabbed the mug of strong wine and drank it down. He looked to the bandaged arm. A single tear streaked down one cheek and fell from his chin onto his chest.

Author's Note

start to go into two chapters