The young Maester coulnd't wait to berth at Storm' End. He was eager to discover a new place, of course but he especially wanted to go off this ship. He always hated to sail : he had seasickness... He had a first glimpse of the castle while he was vomiting, his elbows on the rail. Poor fishes, a pity for them really.
His legs were still shaking when they were greeted by Lord Gendry at the harbour. Sam felt like he already knew the man after all the things Davos have told him. Surprisingly, the two of them became very good friends as years passed by. They both shared a devouring passion for books and knowledge and could spend hours debating on pretty much everything.
So, when Davos decided to come to Storm's End, he naturally invited Sam to come along. The young Maester might hate to sail, he didn't hesitate for one second. He was always willing for new discoveries and he needed to talk with Lord Gendry about his most recent reshearches about Valyrian steel. And of course, he really wanted to meet Jon's nephew.
He needed to meet this new Stark, the young Maester even brought reproductions of the latest maps of the West he received two moons ago for the boy as a gift.
The castle was very impressing. It looked like it was constatly resisting to the alluring song of the sea. The architecture was very simple and efficent for Storm's End was an old castle. It made it even more imposing, like a gigantic warrior with no ornaments on his armour. When they arrived in the main countryard, four children were waiting.
They all curtsied -some with more elegance than others- to greet them. Lord Gendry made a quick introduction. Sam noticed a small boy, the youngest he guessed. The boy was looking at him with awe, which was quite a rare occurrence in Sam's life. If he remembered well, his name was Davos. The gleam in the eyes of Lord Seaworth when he met this boy who beared his name could be missed by blind people only.
The girl seemed about to talk when her father sushed her and send them all back to their lessons, to some of them great disapointment.
« -That quite a tribe you made here boy ! Hard to manage, right ? » Joked Davos -the old one-. Lord Gendry's smile was filled with akward joy while he was guiding them inside the castle.
After a good meal, the three of them sat in the library. The room was truly remarquable, Sam would not have thought that such an unrefined castle could contain so many books. Then he remembred that Lord Gendry, like Davos had learned to read when he was an adult and had to work hard to make up for his lack of education.
In this atmosphere of leather, paper and ink, Sam felt in his element, more sure of himself. So, for the first time he took the iniative in the conversation.
« -My lord, I am very pleased by your reception especially since we did not know each other until today. I saw you are a frank man so allow me to be direct. I came with our friend Davos for two things : to talk with you about discoveries I recently made about Valyrian steel and to meet Jon's nephew, your son Yoren. » The more he spoke, the softer his voice became. The young Maester realised he had no idea how Lord Gendry treated his son, how he considered the subject. Sam's own father never had bastards so he didn't know how to act. His only experience was Jon's tale of his childhood which was not a good one.
His host's laugh cut short his spiraling panicking thougts.
« -I like you Maester Sam. You're a straightfoward man, it's a rare thing nowadays. I see what our friend Davos likes in you. I would be delighted to hear about your researches but I guess you want to see Yoren first. »
Sam was agreeing when Davos asked, obviously very interested :
« -Is it true his mother is Arya Stark ? How did you meet her ? Why didn't you tell me about the boy's existence sooner ? And why wasn't he with your other children to welcome us ? »
When Davos was passionated, he always asked a lot of question in a row. He had explained to Sam it was a barganing method, the interlocutor had a hard time to deal with them all at the same time. But apparently, Lord Gendry was used to it, either by his friendship with Davos, or by his trade as a smith since he answered quickly :
« -Yes, in a group of convicts and orphans sold to the Night's Watch, because I didn't know either and because he is currently recovering. »
At the end of the sentence, his face was dark. In few words, the lord explained them what happened three weeks ago. Sam was very upset, he wanted to tell Jon and Queen Sansa badly. They would make sure Yoren was safe. Even if Lord Gendry sent his wife away, Yoren was still in danger here because of the political turmoil this scandal will create.
As soon as he would be in King's Landing, he will send a raven to Winterfell. Sam was sure Queen Sansa will so the right thing, she was a Stark and always looked after her pack. It would be good for her to meet her nephew, he sister's son.
But Sam was truly impressed by Lord Gendry's decision, to send his wife away was no light choice, this will have political repercussions. Or maybe not, thanks to Jon's sister reputation and fame. No sane person in Westeros wanted to anger the legendary Dawn Bringer, sister to the Queen in the North.
On their way to the boy's chambers, the three of them kept talking about Yoren's treatment and recovering. Apparently, he will be fine with time, his body was healing well but who could tell about his mind ? All of his night were haunted by terrible nightmares that leaved him sreaming top of his lungs.
Lord Gendry knocked to the door, a colleague of Sam opened. According to his chains, this Maester was a specialist in accounting and military strategy. Sam made a mental note to have a real conversation about Yoren's treatment later since he was a Measter specialised into healing.
His colleague introduced himself quickly before withdrawing, with a sad look on his face. Then, Sam looked the bed where Yoren was laying. At first, the boy did not seem to be a Stark for he did not have northen looks. He looked so much like his father with his raven black hair and his strong facial features.
But then, the young Maester's eyes fell into the boy's and he was back on the Wall, enduring another snowstorm. This boy may look like a Baratheon, but winter flowed his veins as much as his mother's.
Approching the bed with his maps, Sam remimded himself to send to raven to Queen Sansa.