The Dance of the Ocean and Moon [Book One]

Chapter Ten | Saga

***TW, SOME VIOLENCE AHEAD

SAGA

"You're sure about this?" Jon Snow asked as Saga climbed down from a nearby tree. "Yes," she responded, "there is no go back to Castle Black now. We fight. We win." Lyanna nodded her head at Saga, "You're an honorable woman. My people thank you, as do I." Saga smiled as she slipped her grappling gear on, "I have not done my fight, yet." Lyanna smiled and said, "All the same." Brienne approached Saga; the two Mormonts and two Crows followed behind her. "We're ready," Brienne said. "Okej," Saga said, "let we go now, to the castle."

"Good luck," Jon Snow called after them. The Wildlings all stayed behind, this wasn't their fight. They were watching Castle Black. Sansa was there as well, watching the Wildlings watching Castle Black. Saga knew that Brienne did not trust them, so she was determined to make quick work of the invaders of Bear Island so that she could get back as quickly as possible. None of Saga's team were furnished with swords, which was also to Brienne's frustration. But Saga knew she could do it; she was the most formidable warrior she had met in the south.

The small group of four men and two women snuck through the forest for as long as they could until it reached the water. There was a sharp decline where the mainland ended. Water was between them and the island that the castle sat upon. They could not take the bridge, the invaders would have that under guard, and they could not take a boat-not from where they were approaching the island, which was the only area that the invaders (hopefully) weren't guarding very well. Their only choice was to swim.

Saga, thankfully, had prepared them for that as well. No one wore armor, and no one wore capes or heavy clothing. The cold would seep into their bones quickly because of it; if they stayed in the water for too long, they would all certainly freeze to death. But the alternatives were being weighed down and making enough noise to get themselves caught and killed that way instead.

They carried no torches, which made things especially difficult as well. But Lyanna and her men had been extremely thorough with her when going over the details of the terrain of their land. They made the treacherous climb down the rocky side of the mainland. Saga went first, to make sure the path was good. Brienne followed next because she was fearless. The Mormont's were after that because of their honor. The Crows followed reluctantly. When they reached the stony shore of the water and were able to regroup, Saga wasted no time to wade into the freezing ocean. The waves were not so strong in the gap between the mainland and the island, which was fortunate for them.

A Crow began to complain immediately after putting a foot in the water. Brienne had to smack him to get him to be quiet. Saga trudged for as long as she could before leaning forward and beginning to swim. The group tread lightly behind her. The distance wasn't much, but the temperature of the water slowed down their bodies quite drastically. The moon wasn't extremely bright, so it appeared as though they swam through ink instead of water. When they reached the shore, they again, wasted no time to climb the rocky side of the island.

"Like we plan," Saga whispered to the group. One Crow and one Mormont took off the bows they had resting across their chests and an arrow from the cloth and rope quivers that Saga had made especially for the occasion. They took a few steps back, aimed toward the top of the castle walls, and waited. Saga, Brienne, and the other two all swung their hooks around, and one by one tossed them upward.

Each hit their mark. Saga was first since she was the fastest. Brienne was just behind her. Saga made it look effortless as she practically ran up the side of the castle. Just before she reached the top, a guard peaked his head over the side to see what the hooks were attached to. He was greeted by an arrow from one of the men on at the base of the wall. As he slumped over the side, Saga peaked over his body to check if it was safe to climb over. She hoisted herself up over the edge and then lent a hand to Brienne. Once they were over the top, Brienne signaled for the two on the ground to make their way.