#bergen_county

Brow furrow. "Not... exactly? And that's why I haven't.. why I needed time to think about it."

Brekke nods. "It is not an oath to take lightly, Dagmar. It is...it is a dedication to another. A deep dedication. To make this oath will give you both strength..." she taps the center of her own chest "...here. We trolls grow strong with any oath, of course, but this will strengthen both you and the one you oath with. As long as you support each other, care for each other, that strength will remain. But should one betray or abandon the other..." A flat-palmed sweeping motion. "That strength is gone, taking even more strength away with it. Do you understand this?"

"Breaking any Oath makes us weak, right?"

"Yes. This, moreso."

A measuring look. "It is easy for such an oath to come in conflict with other oaths you have taken. You are right to be cautious about this."

Dagmar's hand drifts to her mouth and she chews on a knuckle - an old nervous habit that she's never quite managed to shake.

"Symon's my best friend. I do trust him."

A blink. "Symon? He is the..." A pause as she considers this.

"Hm." A neutral expression. "This is an oath you wish to take, correct?" Dagmar can practically feel the Gwydion-dar aimed at her.

"it's the one we talked about."

"I...I like the idea of an oath. They... " She gestures, struggling to find words. "They're solid. I can feel them, and they feel safe and real and sturdy."

She nods, but asks again. "And you want to join in an oath with Symon. It is something you desire? Not...something you feel you should do, an obligation?"

A little crease between her eyebrows.

Raised brows, and she waits for an answer.

"I... I mean, I hadn't exactly thought about it before."

"But you are thinking about it now."

She nods.

"To be clear...if you decide to make this oath, and it is something you both truly want to do, then I have no objection. None at all. I might even encourage it...but again, only if you both desire it."

"He's my best friend..."

"Mm." She nods again. "Perhaps you and he should speak about it more. About how it will be between you, when oathed. Remember...this oath has no limit of time. That will require much communication between you, for the rest of your lives." A pause as she thinks again about it. "But...yes, I can see this being a good oath."

She rubs her palms against her pants. "You ever worry you might screw up one of yours?"

A pause...and then a heavy sigh. "Yes. I do."

SHe bites on her lip and nods.

After a minute, she asks, "You have heard of Count Almond of Rowan-Oak, yes?"

"He wrote the history books, right?"

"Yes. Years ago..." a pause, and a brief amused sound, "well, MANY years ago, now...Almond and I oathed Clasped Hands. However...I was much younger, and I think it was something I did with more impulse than careful thought."

"But you aren't close now."

"No. And...it became complicated. At one point he accused me of breaking our Oath because...well...as I say, it was complicated. I think much depends on how both parties understand loyalty and betrayal."

She looks down at her hands. "I wouldn't break it. Not on purpose."

"I believe this." A pause. "In the end, Almond and I agreed to release each other from our Oath."

"Does that mess you up?"

She seems to dig back in her memory. "Some. Not so much as breaking the Oath would have. And I have rebuilt what I lost, over time."

"I don't not want it."

"If I am right, the two of you are very close?"

She nods.

"He's... I mean, it's not like Nadeen or Adam, you know?"

A look that invites her to continue.

Brow furrow. "What if I hurt him?"

"For not... he's my best friend. He's... he's really important."

"Important," she repeats. "Tell me more of how he is important."

She's chewing on her hands again.

"He's my best friend. He.. like... he's always there for me, he's always safe. I can tell him anything."

A slow nod...but she doesn't say anything yet.

"We're a good team. I know I can trust him, and he's so smart. Smarter than I am."

"I know, like, he sometimes gets cagey - I think it's the sluagh thing? Wanting not to draw too much attention, not being comfortable in the spotlight, and sometimes not wanting to reveal everything.. but it'snever... malicious?"

"He's just as loyal as I am to his friends, but sometimes.. sometimes I think he feels like it's his responsibility to get his hands dirty so the trolls don't have to."

Bemused at that. "I think sometimes he enjoys ideas of malice at those whom he deems wrong-doers."

Then a brow furrow at the last part. She thinks about it and draws a slow, deep breath before speaking. "I believe he is not wrong in this."

She shakes her head. "He might think about it - when I get angry, I sure do. But I think there's lines he wouldn't cross. And I respect that."

"It may not be his responsibility...but it is a service he is able to offer."