"Of Snow, Sea, and Shadows: Book 1" One Woman Keep [GoT]

A Voyage Across Worlds

The ground outside the mountain was adorned with crystals of dewy morning rain, and in the sun they gleamed and turned the field into a glittering green sea. The ringing of steel colliding with steel rang out and reverberated against the mountain, whilst the waves crashed against the wharf nearby. Recruits were practicing their latest skills against straw dummies and each other. I crossed the masses of men parrying with each other, Jon trailing closely behind me.

"Where are the women?" He asks.
"I am the only woman here Jon. First woman recruited and first woman to take lead," I say.
"It gets lonely sometimes you know," I chuckled "Having a thousand brothers but not a single sister," at that mention my face must've changed because I could feel Jon looking at me.
"You do have a sister don't you," it was more of statement as opposed to a question.
"Back in Qarth. My little sister Athene," we near the base of a large willow tree. No where as magnificent as the Godswoods scattered throughout Westeros, but it was a grand structure nonetheless. It's branches bowed at the weight of feather-like wreaths of leaves, which swayed gently in the wind coming in from the sea. I sat at the base of it, still dry from the shelter of the branches, and leaned against the scarred trunk of the tree, the last remnants of Ales' last angry outburst. Jon sat beside me, and placed his sword on be ground. The bone ivory bear head casts shadows on the ground in the sunset. Jeor Mormont definitely thought this boy was special. Salty sea breeze ruffled our hair while the shouts of men continued behind us. I stripped off my gloves and set them beside me.

"That was never my life. No point in wishing for a reality that was never mine to live," We sat in silence, as the images played around in my head. Seeing the little bundle being cradled in my parent's hands with a shock of ivory hair sticking out the top. I knew she'd be their pride and joy, and I also knew that was not a life I ever desired to live. She's be adorned in the finest silk robes, taught linguistics, arithmetic, practically anything she wanted to learn. She'd be given music lessons, taken to lavish parties, and one day marry the future King. Thinking about it, it seemed so restrictive, fending for myself and forging my own path was always more down my alley. The sun had begin to set casting an orange glow across the small valley. "We should head back for food, we shall set off straight after," I stand up and walk back to the entrance of the stronghold, not looking back at the shrouded figure still lingering next to the tree.

As I tack up and prepare to head to the harbour, Jon trudges through the short grass toward me. "Ready to go? Nightfall's a good time to travel,"

"I can barely see anything," He squints as he looks around at our travelling group

"We'll stick you in the middle, all your horse has to do is follow," I swing myself up and wait for Jon to fumble his way into his saddle. "Let's head off then." I take the lead, with Jon following close behind and Yoris taking up the rear. The entire journey took place in silence, it would be another few days before getting to our ship.