Exile

The gate closed behind me and sighing I muttered, “Only 999 years and six days to go!” well this is what banishment is: it was meant to be long and depressing the good thing is this...I didn’t feel the cold and didn’t need to eat or drink and nothing could kill me from this earth so walking forward trudging through the snow I searched for life, hell there had to be some somewhere.

Miles walked and nothing found not even an animal and I was starting to doubt it all, maybe there wasn’t anyone, maybe it was just an frozen wasteland of nothing. I followed the frozen lake downwards hoping it would lead me somewhere but what I saw is what I had hoped not, cannibals all eating from a dead human, this showed me one thing, somewhere else there must be others who aren’t cannibals. “Who are you?” one yelled wearing a human skull crown and smiling I walked forward to them they started to cower and grab their weapons seeing the burning red hair and eyes, “I am ****!” the leader swung his club and dodging stuck my knife through his throat growled at the others, “Now tell me! Where are the other tribes!” I walked up to them and feeling one slam a club onto my back I impaled him onto my sword, “I won’t ask again!” “Northern rocky clan is back the way you came and continue on until you see the caves!” “Are they cannibals?” “When they have to be!” “Others?” “There is two: one is West from here they are the lowland dwellers who communicate with the Knight Watch and the other is called the Highlands who is far East, really far East where there is limited resources!” I nodded before speaking, “Two more for your pallet!” and walking away headed East, the further away the better.

Hours passed and smiling there I saw the small camps set up around multiple fires among the tents I also saw the animal skins on frames ready to be taken back and made into clothes and as I walked over as I expected they stared at me with their weapons in hand, “Who or what are you?” “The name is Thánatos and you won’t believe this but I am the god of Dead I have also been exiled for my actions within the Seven Kingdoms!” “So you have been exiled and come to us?” “I met the cannibals, killed their leader, near the frozen lake south I think of the gate!” “Why us?” “Because I don’t want to join a tribe who eat humans for joy!” “Another mouth to feed!” the beard man snapped next to the leader causing me to say, “I don’t eat or drink, sure if there is stuff going I will eat and drink but I don’t need to!” he nodded before saying, “If you are the God of **** then prove it!” I thought about it before saying, “Anyone dying?” “Well my father is ill!” I nodded before being taken to him spoke, “I will kill him if you consent!” the crowd gathered around me and looking down I spoke, “Is there anything you would like to say?” “Just for my son to lead this clan like I have!” I nodded before lowering my hand to his chest he started to cough as his breath started to slow and breathing wheezed causing me to say, “Relax and close your eyes!” he nodded and waiting for a few seconds saw his body stop resisting and getting up spoke retrieving my parchment, “If you’d excuse me a minute!” and slowly disappearing left them in shock.

When I returned I slid the parchment away and spoke, “All done, he is at rest!” “So you kill people?” “I can but I usually help judge the people by their actions and take them over to the afterlife. In some faiths I am also considered the angel of **** others the Ferryman or Mashhit Malak. Either way I go by the name Thánatos!” “You got exiled because?” “I stood by the Lannister’s in the Great War where we won and with the people I had killed, the threat I possessed to the new ruler was significant, so I was exiled...I also slaughtered a dragon!” “Can’t you go back home?” “Banished for helping the humans against the White Walkers!” the leader sat down before saying, “My name is Dormun!” I nodded before shaking his hand he immediately retracted it feeling the burn, “You are so warm!” “Sorry, my body hasn’t adapted to the change in climate yet!” he nodded before saying, “You want to live here?” I nodded causing him to say, “We have a little job for you! A group of our clan went out to raid the nearby camp, six or so miles away, they haven’t returned, we want you to get find them, save them if you can and bring back the valuables!” I nodded before saying, “By myself?” “Of course not, you will take a few others with you!” I nodded before getting up spoke, “Come on then, let’s go!” and taking a bow and arrows muttered, “Sooner I get there the sooner we can get back!”

“Is this it?” the men nodded causing me to state, “Right you flank left and you three take the right! We should find the prisoners first!” they nodded before creeping around as I waited for them to come back but was immediately annoyed by the yell of the men, “Fucksake!” I rushed in and drawing my sword killed the first before drawing my temporary shield blocked an Axe strike before stabbing the next and hearing a loud scream I barged through the next few guards I drew my bow and fired a few arrows at the men, “We need to get out!” “You didn’t listen to me!” I bellowed, “Get out! I’ll get them!” “But!” “I said get out...” they nodded and shooting another arrow I headed towards the cries. I barged through the wooden door sending the two guard through it and firing my bow to kill them looked over spat, “Move!” they nodded and barging the door down, “Come on get up and out!” “Who are you?” “I am a ally of your tribe!” “Þorunn, she was taken!” I nodded before undoing the women’s bonds spoke, “Get the resources!” they nodded as they grabbed the swords and shields of the native tribe. I barged through the door and sniping the next two guards with the bow kicked the next door open...

I was met by five men who turned around was joined the bruised older woman, “I told you to leave!” “It’s going to take more than some cuts to put me down!” I smiled before tapping my Bident to the ground caused the ground to fall away and suck them down, “Told you I didn’t need you!” I walked up to the chair and cutting the ropes saw her cry, “Just leave me!” “Don’t be silly!” “I can’t move my legs!” I looked down before saying, “Paralysed!” I looked at the stab wound which went into her spine before kneeling on one knee I grabbed her arm, “Come, I’ll carry you!” “What don’t you understand I can’t walk, I am not use!” and smiling I whispered, “And I am dead...even more useless!” I wrapped her legs around my waist before comforting her spoke softly, “I will take care of you!” she cried into my shoulder and smiling I spoke, “Let’s go!” I handed her a sword and spoke, “You still have arms that work!” she nodded and grabbing two massive wolfs walked out, “Grab some stuff to take back and looking out I spoke, “Let’s get out of here!” “It was just you who came?” snapped Lagertha and shaking my head I barked back, “Others came but got spotted, I didn’t want to risk yours or their life so I sent them away!” “Þorunn, do you need a coat?” “No, I am fine Lagertha, he is soo hot!” I smiled before stating, “Well thank you!” Lagertha and the others laughed causing them to ask, “Who are you?” “Thánatos!” “Wait as in the Greek god of ****?” I turned to the younger woman and nodding spoke, “Yes, well I am the second one. The original was executed!” “I’m Torvi!” “So it’s Lagertha, Þorunn and Torvi!” they nodded causing me to say, “The three beautiful blondes...” Lagertha smirked before Torvi giggling was met by Lagertha’s stern stare, “Let’s go!”

We marched back to the camp and seeing the clansmen rush out there they saw me carrying the wounded on my back and two wolf carcasses in each hand, “Þorunn what’s wrong?” an oldish man rushed to her, I assumed was his daughter, “Raymon, I can’t move my legs!” I put her down next to the fire and crouching next to her spoke, “I just need to check how bad!” we looked down and looking away he spoke, “She won’t be able to walk again, the tribe will see her as useless, it would be a mercy killing!” “What something like that? It’s an easy fix!” “Tell me then! How do you make someone walk again!” “By doing this” I slid her over to her side and placing my hand on the wound saw the black lines come from my arms and onto her side healing the wounds and coughing with my spare hand felt the the scar start to appear until it consumed my face before my legs give way I retracted my hands to sit next to her, “My legs I can move them again!” and nodding I spoke, “There is always a trick!” “You said you couldn’t cure people!” “I haven’t! I have transferred it from her to me. My body can cope with what they class as ‘minor’ setback where humans can’t. It’s like an disease and my body can fight it where yours can’t!” “But why?” “To earn you trust, earn you friendship and most importantly to give her a life!” they nodded causing him to simply say, “You are welcome here!” I nodded before stating, “I thank you, but must ask you all favour! I need a place to rest until I can walk again so will you take me to a tent!” they nodded and being carried away Lagertha with Þorunn volunteered to stay as the leaders decided their next step.

I laid there looking up at the roof of the tent reflecting on the day thought on what had happened the people that had died, how Sansa would be doing and how Yara and Arya's relationship were but like any of that mattered to me, it didn't and the thought of that would have previously concerned if not annoyed me but now joining the Highland Clan I smiled seeing Lagertha laying down next to me, the same for Þorunn, "So there isn't many women in this kingdom?" I queried and nodding Lagertha replied, "Look at this land, the winters are extremely cold; only the strongest survive, we are all Spearwife's name given to us for the women who are fighters and raiders just like the men!" "So the women who aren't tough?" "Most die from the temperature!" "With the lack of women you must get to choose from the very best suitors!" "We don't particularly have relationships just a lot of random sexual engagements...however if it is like Ygritte or a few other women they can have a preferred partner which is a lover!" I nodded before saying, "So just say... You fell in love with me or someone else, the others back off?" "Virtually yes!" I nodded before saying, "Probably wish I was the children's father, the temperature doesn't effect me!" she nodded before saying, "But as you can tell we all bunk together!" I nodded before stretching my arms around them spoke, "We can get nice and close to each other!" and smirking Lagertha was quick to respond, "I like your thinking!"

A few hours later and feeling the wiggling in my toes smiled seeing Þorunn back against my chest and her hand holding onto my hand as she slept, "Is she?" Lagertha queried slipping her head in, "Still asleep, trauma is natural!" "Hungry?" "I don't eat or need to drink!" "Do your legs move?" "Gingerly but yes, shouldn't be long now!" she nodded before saying, "We are going to make them pay for what they did to her!" I nodded before looking up at her spoke, "Let my legs fully repair and I will slaughter them all if I have to!" she nodded before feeling Þorunn shift in her sleep, I wrapped my arm around her tighter before laying back down she spoke "Look after her!" I nodded before saying, "I will look after you all!" Þorunn finally woke up and smiling I queried, "Are you okay?" she nodded before saying, "First time I have been warm in months, thank you for staying with me!" I nodded before stretching my legs spoke, "As long as you are okay!" she nodded before walking out I saw the warriors sitting down putting their armour on, "You walk once again!" I nodded before saying "And now willing to slaughter those who challenge us!" Dormun nodded before retrieving my armour he spoke, "We move out at noon!" I nodded before saying, "Excellent time for an prayer!" he nodded and grabbing an fox from their life stock walked until I was a fair distance away. I stood on the fox's head before sticking two swords into the ground behind a shield, "What are you doing?" Torvi queried and reinserting my **** on it’s head spoke, "Praying to my friend and uncle Ares, the god of war!" she nodded before looking back saw Lagertha standing there respectfully and Þorunn not too far behind her, "Could I help?" Torvi spoke and nodding I handed her a candle to light spoke, "Kneel!" and beckoning the others nearer to do the same I spoke bowing my head, "Ares, god of War, Uncle and friend, forceful and strong, god of tumult and confusion delighting in battles and the chaos caused. Hated by many but friend and warrior in arms, Chained, are your statues to keep your might close. Worshiped by many, lover of Aphrodite and bringer of war, protect our soldiers and protect our Spearwife's at battle. Aid them in their roles whether warrior, lover or parent. Let not their battle readiness lead them to pointless strife. Aid your children. Show them how to rest how to unwind and let go even as you do in your beloved’s bower. As they stow their weapons let not memories of the past be their undoing having survived thus far. I offer you this fox as sacrifice and this kiss to Lagertha the most maturest in age to honour Aphrodite as I ask all this of you oh mighty Ares!" and lifting my knife up blessed it before slicing the foxes throat and seeing the blood trickle wettened my fingers with the blood and drew three lines on both Torvi's cheek, then the same for Þorunn and Lagertha before doing the same for me and turning to Lagetha planted a kiss onto Lagetha's lips and turning back bowed before speaking, "It is done!" "Why Lagertha? I helped you set up!" I turned back to face her before stating, "Aphrodite was known for being mature and experienced! Lagertha is near middle aged and she is the most experienced in battle!" "You honour me Than!" and nodding I spoke, "All that matters is we slaughter them!" and walking away I muttered, "They die!"

We marched to the enemy Clan who was expecting us, "You tried to kill my people!" Dormun barked, "They tried to loot my camp, they deserved to die but my son with sword wound through his chest, that wasn't fair!" Dormun drew his axe before looking at us and nodding we started to charge towards them. I broke the firsts defence and stabbing him stuck my sword into the next one seeing the charged sword thrusted it forward blowing the warriors around me back dead before killing the next one and seeing Lagertha wailing cut her warrior down Torvi plunged her Sword down into the one's head and eventually as each one die and looking at our dead I calmly spoke, "Two dead not bad!" Þorunn nodded wiping the blood from her nose and Raymun looking down at his daughter who nervously smiled seeing Thanatos wiping the blood from her face spoke, "We gained the rewards from their deaths!" and nodding I spoke, "One less enemy!" and looking around I spoke, "If you excuse me, I have work to do!" and disappearing they nodded, "He will be back!"