xenization
noun
To walk as a stranger, or to exist as a stranger
{Game of Thrones/Vikings}
{Robb Stark x OC}
(Season 1 - Season ??, Season 4 - Season ??}
The cool air that came through the open archway felt nice against the girl's pale skin. It was one of the rare days where the sun was shining through the thick clouds, brightening the usually gloomy castle. People bustled around the square below the castle, the ringing of voices and clashing of swords echoing throughout the area.
From her place a ways up, she could see her brothers messing around in the tree clearing just outside the walls of the castle. She watched with a small smirk on her face as she watched them swing at each other, their grunts being just faintly heard from where she stood.
After having enough of just watching, the girl turned and moved away from the window, making her way out of the castle. People greeted her as she passed, and she returned them with a smile and a quick hello.
The piercing sounds of steel on steel only got louder the closer she got to the training yard. And she arrived just in time to watch her younger brother shoot an arrow to separate Hvitserk and Sigurd from his place on a tree stump, causing the younger of the two to turn with a glare at the boy.
"Don't be so stiff, brother," The girl spoke up, making her presence known to the four, who all turned to look at her. "He didn't hit you."
"He got close enough," He scoffed.
She didn't even falter at his harsh tone. "Be calm, Snake-in-the-Eye."
It wasn't a secret to anyone that the two youngest of the Crowl brothers didn't quite see eye to eye. To be fair, Ivar can have his egotistical moments, but he was above hurting his family. They all knew that. But it seemed that the older of the two didn't remember that at times.
"Shouldn't you be up in the castle, Else?" A new, teasing voice came into the midst, causing the girl to turn to look at the boy who had spoken, her eyes catching the bright smile of Hvitserk.
"I have nothing to do." She answered with a small shrug, walking over to where the weapons rack was located in the clearing. "Thought I would see where all the noise was coming from."
She fell silent as she ran her fingertips over the hilts and handles of all the different weapons, before she delicately wrapped her hand around the base of one of them. She turned to look at the brother standing closest, which happened to be Ubbe.
"Besides, I could use some more training."
Taking the older off guard, she yanked the hand axe away from the rack and swung at the boy with a smirk on her face. He was quick to raise his sword and block her attack, already knowing that it was coming.
And so, that led to a full on spar between the two, the other three Crowls watching curiously as they fought. It was even, for the most part, until Else took her brother by surprise and yanked his feet out from under him. The blade of the axe was held at his throat before he had a chance to get back to his feet.
The blonde raised his eyes up from the weapon and met the cocky look of his little sister. Letting out a sigh of defeat, he raised his hands up to the side of his head. "I yield."
Else allowed her pearly white teeth to show as she moved her axe back to her side, holding out a hand to help her brother up. "I win." She mumbled as he was lifted off the ground.
Before he had a chance to reply, footsteps were heard, causing the siblings to all look. It was a slight shock as the oldest of them all was walking towards them with a hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Didn't expect you out here, Bjorn," The youngest of them spoke up, using his voice for the first time since the girl joined them. "What brings you so far from the keep?"
The boy rolled his eyes at his brother's snarky tone. "Father summoned us." He said, looking around at each of his siblings. "All of us."
His words cause Else to furrow her brows, tossing her axe to the side. It landed with a thump on the earth beside the rack. "He never calls all of us, which means-"
"It's urgent." Snake-in-the-Eye finished her thought, discarding his own weapon.
The oldest sibling nodded in confirmation. "It is." He said in a grave tone. "A raven came. From Winterfell."
⚕︎
"We leave at dawn."
All of the Crowls had gathered around in their father's study, a table in the middle of the group with the discarded letter laying on top. The Warden of the North has been taken prisoner on what his son calls false allegations. But how would he really know from a thousand leagues away from where the arrest took place?
"How can we trust his word?" Ivar spoke up, his tone bitter as he gestured to the letter. "His father is in the Capital and-"
The lord was quick to interrupt his son. "Enough." He said, raising his hand to silence the boy. "This is a call from our liege lord. To refuse him would mean death to our house."
The family fell silent at this, knowing the truth to his words. It was a haunting thought, but a true one; if they didn't come to the Stark boy's call, they'd be branded traitors. And they would die.
"As I said," Ragnar spoke again. "We leave at dawn. Pack only what you need, and tell the soldiers to prepare a ship for the journey."
Lord Crowl rose from his chair, scanning his group of children. His little group of warriors.
