31 Things We Learned from the Game of Thrones Women

Image credit: HBO/Helen Sloan

27. Love requires sacrifice.

Osha

It’s the oldest story in the book, but Osha’s commitment to Bran and Rickon is a unique take on an oft-used theme. She came into the Starks’ service way back in Season 1, when Robb spared her after she and her fellow wildlings threatened Bran. Her loyalty to the family was born of necessity in exchange for her life, but quickly grew into genuine affection and allegiance. When she and Hodor make a run for it with the youngest Starks, Osha puts their safety above all else. She seduces Theon to distract him, and she takes Maester Luwin’s final words to heart. “You must protect them. You’re the only one who can.”

For most of the series, Osha is the only protector Bran and Rickon have. She is fierce and clever and does all in her limited power to keep them alive. Like so many others, though, Osha doesn’t have a proper reading of Ramsay until it’s too late. But we can all appreciate that she almost stabbed Ramsay in the neck.

More than that, we can learn from Osha’s steady courage. She had her own fears, as demonstrated by her talk of the White Walkers, but nothing would stand in the way of her devotion to the Stark boys. No matter the threat, she put herself between them and whatever danger lay ahead. It was all for pure, altruistic love. Robb Stark gave her her life, and in return Osha kept his brothers alive as long and as best she could. The only thing that could stop her was death itself, and that speaks volumes for Osha’s character. There was no blood to bind her to Bran and Rickon, but they were family nonetheless.