Back To You // Jorah Mormont (2)

18. Infection

"The infection has spread too far. You should have cut off your arm the moment you were touched." Marwyn remarked.

" How long?" Jorah countered.

"It will be years before it kills you. It could be 10, could be 20." the maester answered.

"But how long 'till..." Jorah prompted. Oceana's face turned down, 10 to 20 years as a mindless stone man. 

" Your mind? Six months, maybe fewer."

Six months. That wasnt enough time. Oceana's heart was breaking, why was he just standing there why wasnt he trying to do something? This place was supposed to have the smartest men alive and yet he just stood there as if they were waiting for the inevitable. 

"Pardon, Archmaester. I met Stannis Baratheon's daughter at Castle Black. She had Greyscale as a baby and was cured. Isn't there some way --" Sam cut in.

"Does this look like a baby to you?" He sassed.

" No."

"That looks like a baby- does he have greyscale?" 

"No." Oceana assured holding San closer. "Neither of us do. Just fix Jorah." she begged. 

"Have you studied the varying rates of Greyscale progression in infants and fully grown men?" The maester demanded.

" No." Sam admitted.

"Maester Chrissen discovered Shireen Baratheon's affliction immediately." Marwyn added before turning to Jorah. " This is quite advanced and beyond our skills, Ser. Were you a commoner I'd have you shipped to Valyria at once to live out your life with the Stone Men. As an anointed Knight I'll allow you one more day. How you choose to spend that time is up to you." Jorah nodded suspecting as much. "Come, Samwell."

"Should we send word to your family, Ser..."

" Jorah. Jorah Mormont." he answered

" Mormont?"

"Excuse me!" Oceana demanded chasing after the maester. "That's it?"

"I'm sorry my lady, there is nothing to be done." 

"Fuck that." SHe shouted. "Try something, what does he got to lose for you trying!" She begged. 

"It is forbidden."

"Why?"

"Because its dangerous."

"His life is a precious thing, I know too well losing people I love, I dont want to lose him over this. Can't you try?" Oceana whimpered. 

"I cannot." 

"There's no need. I've been dead to them for years." Jorah admitted. "Only family I got now I Oceana and Sanrogue. " 

'Come, Samwell!'

"Thats it?" OCeana demanded. "You can't just... please!" Oceana begged. "Please!"

"Oceana," Jorah whispered reaching out for her before stopping himself. "It's too late... they are right I should have chopped the limp off when I first saw it."

"You acted like you were fine, why didnt you tell me sooner, we are friends." Oceana reminded him.

"Because I know you, you would worry and go out of your way to help me with the impossible." Jorah remarked.

"It wasnt impossible, the maesters are just idiots." Oceana decided. 

"I'm going to end things before it gets that bad." Jorah remarked. "I dont want to turn into a brainless stone man."

"Jorah-" she whimpered.

+

'Ch'Vyalthan was a dreadful writer, but an excellent researcher'.

'- Archmaester, I wondered if I...' Sam began

'- And this one. Maester Faull was quite the opposite... a brilliant stylist who invented half the stories he tells.'

'Um, I wanted to ask you...' Sam tried again

'If you're going to write histories, Tarly, you have to do the research. If you want people to read your histories, you need a bit of style. I'm not writing "A Chronicle of the Wars Following the Death of King Robert I" so it can sit on a shelf unread. What? You don't like the title? What would you call it, then?'

'Mm, possibly something a bit more poetic?' Sam suggested

'We're not poets, Tarly.'

'Um, Archmaester, if I could just have a moment.' Sam tried again.

'This is your moment. Use it wisely.'

'I may have found a way to treat Ser Jorah. There are two recorded cases of advanced greyscale being cured. I found the procedure in the study of rare diseases by Archmaester Pylos.' Sam informed him.

'I'm familiar with Archmaester Pylos and his study of rare diseases.'

'- Oh, you are?'

'- Yes. And shall I tell you how he died? From greyscale.'

'- Oh.' Sam said his hope fading.

'- The procedure's far too dangerous, which is why it's now forbidden.' The squeaking of carts rolling by them caught sams attention but he wasn't going to give up.