<div style="text-align: center">Saga was standing by one of the smaller bonfires, when the crowd began to move towards the shoreline where there was a long table, with some important looking people. Among them was Ashley, who was dressed in a cream colored tunic, and a pair of navy blue, linen pants. He looked happy, like he belonged. Saga noticed there were guards standing around the table, though they didn't seem all that concerned with their duty at the moment. Everyone was shouting and drinking, first in words she didn't understand. She naturally gravitated closer to the beach, the words being shouted now intelligible to the human girl. Her bare feet sank into the sand, and she wiggled her toes just a little, distracted by the new feeling. She walked along the beach, staring down at the sand and the clawed little critters that scurried towards the water. Saga followed them down, until she could feel the cool, salty mist splashing against her skin.<br/>
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The world was nothing like Saga had imagined, but certainly everything that she longed for in the bunker. The bunker may have been seen as a symbol of strength and preservation, but it was nothing more than a prison to Saga. She'd missed out on all these small moments, hardly had any sort of childhood. Birthdays were depressing. At least her teenage years weren't so horrible, but compared to those years, this one day trumped everything else. She was happy to be free, surrounded by the survivors who were fortunate enough to make it out alive. The others... Well, she wasn't ready to think about them, yet.<br/>
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A streak of red not unlike the bright burning of flame lining the beach caught Ashley by surprise, and he roared one final, drunken hail before standing from the table. Even though he couldn't quite see the red-head's face, he knew exactly who it was. Why they were out wandering the beach was a little cause for alarm, but he couldn't exactly blame anyone after the day they'd had. With a mug filled with ale, Ashley walked through the sand, sinking and rising with each step he took towards the beach.<br/>
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"Saga Moen! What are you doing out here by yourself?" Ashley said a little louder than he should have. He was on his second mug of ale, his cheeks a little redder than usual and his steps slightly clumsy. "I thought you'd at least want to stay in bed, what with your fever and everything." He added, his free arm wrapping gently around Saga's shoulders and hugging her to his chest.<br/>
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"Yes, Well," Saga began, using her good side to lean into the man's embrace. She smiled softly at the hug, not minding at all the tightness in her side as she stretched up. Right now, she wanted to focus on the positives. There didn't need to be any mention of her injuries. "I couldn't stay inside and miss out on all this. I'm a little hurt no one thought to invite me to the party, though!" She said in jest, as they released each other. "I see you've made friends with the queen. I'm a little jealous. Hm... ofall the people to be invited to a table with the cool kids."<br/>
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"Hey, it's not like that!" Ashley defended, then chuckled to himself. "Okay. It sort of is, but she's not technically royalty." He said, his hand once more sliding onto Saga's shoulders in a caring way. "They look kind of scary at first, but everyone's been great so far. We should go say hi to everyone - get something to eat."<br/>
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Saga didn't argue with Ashley. She was basically starving at this point, and mingling with the other locals with Ashley there to break the ice appealed to her. They walked alongside towards the table where the leader, and some of the other officials were seated. Saga looked around her at the men and women dancing around, the men chugging ale out of horns and tearing into hunks of meat. Saga smiled in amazement, her gaze lingering on the merriment going on around her as they waited for a turn to see Earl Anlaf. There were other civilians hanging around the Earl, but no one fussed at Ashley for approaching the table prematurely. Everyone was too happy to care, and he at least waited until it looked like the Earl had a free second before speaking.<br/>
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"Earl Anlaf, I'd like to introduce you to a good friend of mine from the bunker." Ashley said, reaching out to where Saga was last standing beside him. He glanced around and had a quiet 'aha' moment when he saw the girl in question a few feet away. She was feeding from a cluster of grapes, and finishing off someone else's glass of wine. "Excuse me, Earl Anlaf." Ashley smiled apologetically and went off to retrieve Saga. "Saga, over here." He cut in briefly, leading the easily side tracked girl away from the food table. Saga held onto the bundle of grapes, snapping a section off from the vine, before walking over to the table with Ashley. They stopped in front of the Earl once more, assuming she hadn't left in that short period where Ashley stepped away.<br/>
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"Hello, Your Highness." Saga cut in before Ashley could properly introduce her to the Earl. She smiled brightly at the blonde woman, and her dark-haired companion. "I am Saga Moen. It is truly my pleasure to meet you and enjoy the festivities, which your people have so kindly prepared for us."<br/>
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"A-and for saving your life, remember?" Ashley added after Saga finished up. He thought it might be to Saga's benefit if she seemed gracious for all that was done for her - for them. He wanted everyone to be well liked by the Earl, that would make their stay in Kaupang much more pleasant.<br/>
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"Yes. M'hm." Saga continued at Ashley's request. "And for saving my life. Hail to Earl Anlaf!" She used her good side to thrust her hand into the air, the bundle of plum colored grapes hanging overhead. Some of the others around her couldn't resist the urge to give thanks to their Earl, so she wasn't alone in saying it. Her arm returns to her side as she smiles once more at the woman. Ashley, on the other hand, had to work much harder to look impressed by Saga's antics.​</div>