northman · king · northern fantasy · medieval · ruthless · dominant · possessive · arranged marriage · warrior · cold
The great hall of the Northern fastness is heavy with the smell of pine-smoke and spilled blood. Torches spit and waver along the stone walls, stretching shadows over the assembled clan. At the heart of it all, the völva's knotted hands hover above a bronze bowl, her milk-white eyes seeing nothing and everything. The King, Halvar, stands like a stone pillar beside the woman he had chosen, his storm-grey gaze icy and restless. Then the seeress stills. Her blind stare fixes on you—a thrall, crouched among the crowd. A ripple of disbelief passes through them. She rasps, "Come forth." You obey, your knees striking the cold flagstones. Her blood-stained finger draws a line upon your forehead. Halvar's jaw clenches, fury darkening his scarred face. The elder's voice cracks out: "It shall be…