The Dance of the Ocean and Moon [Book One]

Chapter Five | Saga

***TW BRIEF SUICIDE MENTION

SAGA

The morning that they were set to leave Castle Black, Jon Snow and Sam met Brienne, Podrick, and Saga at the gates with as much food as they could fit into the saddlebags. Jon Snow also had a letter of appreciation he asked Saga to deliver to the leaders, which Saga would have to translate since only two people in their entire colony spoke the common tongue. He thanked her again profusely and escorted them to the road safely before heading back to Castle Black.

Brienne was less than happy about leaving, Saga knew that. So, she tried not to annoy her too much. But she would occasionally try to get her in a conversation. They made good progress the first few days, ahead of where they were aiming to be, until a storm slowed them down. They had to travel back to the nearest town at the sight of first snow. Unfortunately, it was the last town that they would pass on their way north again. There was a large distance, days worth of travel, between the last town and her village in the mountains. Sometimes Saga thought it was fortunate, that they lived so far away from the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. That way they could avoid the superficial fighting, the politics, and none of their traditions could be tainted-like their women fighters.

Saga didn't know everything about the traditions of other people, but she knew enough that they were very different. Her grandmother was the one to teach her about the outside world, since that would be her duty, once her grandmother died. Her grandmother married into the family, she was not an Asbjörn or even from Asger originally. She traveled around the lands when she was young. And when she got older, she decided she wanted to be somewhere where she could be free-as she had always explained it to Saga. Asger gave her that freedom. She married Saga's grandfather after his first wife died of a sickness. They had two children together, Saga's mother and her aunt.

That's why her grandmother was in charge of foreign affairs with their people and other people, because she spoke the common tongue well and because she had traveled the world. While Saga loved her people, and their traditions, she also loved to learn about all of the other places. But she still thought it fortunate that they were separated so much from the others.

After the storm passed they continued to make their way north, to the mountains. Each day Saga grew more and more excited to bring Brienne home to show her parents. "Parents will love you," she told Brienne, as they were leaving the last of the forest behind. Ahead of them was a white tundra, and on the far end of it were the mountains; they would be there by mid-day, the eighth day since leaving Castle Black. "My people will loved you too," she added, "All my people believe there are no women warriors in the south. They will be very excited to learn."

Brienne sighed, "I'm sure." "They will want to give you metal like mine, do not let them do that," Saga laughed. "Metal?" Brienne asked. Saga steered her horse close to Brienne and moved the long black hair from the side of her face and pointed to her eyebrow. There were two metal bars sticking out of her skin. Brienne made a horrified face. "Doesn't that hurt?" she asked. "Only once. They have not hurt in years," Saga said. "Years?" Brienne asked.

"Yes," Saga smiled, "I got these first when I was half the age I am now. You get metal when you gain honor. They will think you have much honor, being a woman warrior in the south." Brienne rose an eyebrow, "How many does the person with most honor have?" "Six, it is my father," she said. "And you have two," Brienne commented. "I have four," Saga said simply. Brienne examined her face again but only saw two. "Where are the others?" she asked, confused. Saga pointed to her chest. Brienne also glanced down at her chest then away, wide-eyed. "I don't want to know any more about them," Brienne said. "Like I say, do not let them give you metal, I do not believe you would like them," Saga laughed.