Chapter 197: Don't Worry, I Will Save Your Brother
Beyond the Wall, True North
POV of Domeric Bolton
Domeric hadn't paid much attention to Jojen's resting place when he'd visited him before.
Every time he looked at the boy, he remembered Colin Creevey. So instead of examining Jojen, he'd focused more on Meera Reed when he went near them to console her.
That's why he hadn't checked to see if Jojen was really dead.
Benjen Stark and Galbart Glover didn't need a check to be sure they were dead. Benjen Stark's death happened right before Domeric's eyes, and he could tell Galbart Glover was dead at a glance.
So, when he saw Jojen next to the other dead bodies with Meera Reed crying over him, he automatically assumed Jojen was dead too.
If what Domeric had just seen wasn't a figment of his imagination, then Jojen was still alive.
Domeric quickly ran to where Jojen and Meera were and knelt beside Jojen.
Now that Domeric looked closely, Jojen's only serious injuries were a long gash on his arm and a deep wound in his abdomen.
Jojen must have been quicker than Galbert Glover and at least put up a fight against the wights with his Dragonglass dagger. Otherwise, like Glover, he would have been buried by the wight horde long ago, crushed by their weight as his armor's magic wore off.
But it seemed the boy had put up a brave fight. It likely wasn't enough, and he was wounded in the arm and abdomen after the blows drained his armor's magic.
But to survive with such minimal injuries, he must have held on until the White Walker was nearly dead. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten only two wounds.
Domeric quickly checked Jojen's pulse. Jojen's pulse was weak, but his heart was still beating. He then pulled the dagger from his belt and held it in front of Jojen's nose.
Unlike the others, Domeric carried a Valyrian Steel dagger instead of a Dragonglass dagger. While he couldn't provide a Valyrian Steel dagger for everyone, he could at least provide one for himself and a few others in his inner circle. Varko, Raksa, Ygritte, Walton, and his aunt also carried a Valyrian Steel dagger.
Meera had sensed Domeric's presence at that moment and reacted with fear when she saw him draw his dagger.
"What are you doing?"
Domeric didn't answer and continued to watch his dagger. In the next instant, its surface misted over. Jojen was still breathing.
But his breathing was very weak, and considering the amount of blood he had lost, Domeric didn't think he could save him by normal means.
"I asked you what you were doing?" Meera spoke loudly. Unlike before, she was now standing and looking at Domeric with an angry expression.
"I'm checking on your brother. And it looks like he's still alive. Why didn't you tell me he was still breathing?" Domeric asked. Jojen's life was becoming more and more at risk with each passing minute. If he had noticed sooner, he could have treated Jojen sooner.
"What does it matter if he breathes? There's no Maester here; he'll die soon. Don't you understand?" Meera said.
Domeric didn't respond to Meera. He didn't even look at her. Instead, he scanned the area, trying to find someone in the crowd. Meanwhile, he was secretly casting basic healing spells on Jojen with wandless magic.
They weren't as effective as the ones he cast with his wand, but they were enough to stabilize Jojen. His gaze quickly fell on Varko.
Varko, apparently, was aware of the situation because of Meera's loud questioning and was coming toward them.
"Varko, I need a medical tent set up immediately. You know what to do. Nothing dirty is allowed inside. I also need boiled water."
"Yes, my lord," Varko said and quickly set to work. The next moment, many men were running around preparing a medical tent.
Domeric now turned to Meera and, looking her in the eye, said, "I'm saving your brother's life."
"But we don't have a Maester with us. Besides, Jojen has lost a lot of blood." Domeric interrupted Meera before she could continue.
"There may not be a Master here, but there's someone better. I'm here. You have me. Don't worry, I'll save your brother."
At that moment, Varko approached them and said, "My Lord, the tent is almost ready."
"Good, when the tent is ready, carry Jojen inside. Talk to Raksa to guard the tent's entrance. I don't want anyone to disturb me while the treatment is in progress."
"Understood, My Lord."
"Also, Jojen has lost a lot of blood. I'll need to do a blood transfusion. I'll collect blood samples from everyone and name them. I'll check the blood compatibility and call those who are suitable for blood transfusion. Go."
Varko quickly set to work to fulfill Domeric's wishes to leave.
The medical tent was soon set up, and Jojen was carried inside. Domeric immediately followed, ushering everyone out except Jojen.
Meera insisted on staying, but Domeric refused. But only when he told him that Jojen's chances of survival diminished with every moment she delayed him did she stop bothering him.
Alone in the tent with only Jojen, Domeric quickly summoned his wand and began casting healing spells and charms on Jojen. He might not be able to regrow a severed limb with the spells he knew.
But thanks to the "Compendium of Healing Spells and Charms" he had received in the past, healing such wounds was easy for him as long as the patient was alive.
The only problem was that he didn't have a spell or charm to replenish excessive blood loss, but that could be resolved through a blood transfusion. And to avoid being caught unprepared, Domeric always kept blood bags of each type in his bottomless pouch, under a Stasis spell.
The reason he asked Varko to collect blood samples from everyone was to avoid raising suspicions. After all, no one outside his own men knew his magical and conventional healing methods.
If he truly had a compatible blood type among others, Domeric intended to take blood from that person. And if no one's blood type were compatible with Jojen's, Domeric would pretend that one of his own men had a compatible blood type and use the blood reserves in his bottomless pouch.
Over time, Jojen's wounds began to heal, and Domeric breathed a sigh of relief.
At least he wouldn't have to carry the burden of guilt he would feel for Jojen.
As for Colin Creevey, he doubted he could ever forget the guilt he felt for him, no matter how many different worlds he traveled to.
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Ch.198: They Need to Know
Ch.199: The Lords Begin to Arrive at the Wall