Athelstan is sitting outside the hall, working on repairing a net that belongs to one of the old fishermen.
Lagertha doesn't need him just now, and it's something useful to do with his hands while he waits for Ragnar, because surely he'll be back any day now.
They arrive quietly and without fanfare, tired men after a long day's journey. Floki is loping along unconcerned as ever, Björn is almost cheerful, and Ragnar is calmly walking between them. Rollo is nowhere to be seen.
His wrist is still just a little thinner than when Ragnar left, weight he
hasn't yet regained after his illness. Enough to be felt under Ragnar's
hand.
"Ragnar, while you were gone... something happened."
"No", he says quietly, turning to face Ragnar and taking his hands.
"There's nothing you can avenge her on. She took sick, and she died. As I
almost did."
Ragnar nods, wordlessly, squeezing Athelstan's hands. His grip is very strong, and there is a shiver in it, as if he was subduing several reactions all trying to break out of him at once.
"What?" Ragnar says. "Athelstan, no! You're a free man, but I can't do without you!"
He takes a deep breath.
"I know you loved Gyda very much, as if she'd been..."
And he can't go on talking, as he realises he's already speaking of his little lady in the past tense, and this is so wrong, so terribly wrong, his throat closes on the words.
This shouldn't be. It's just wrong, and Athelstan can't leave on top of all that horror...
He pulls the little ex-monk closer and crushes him in a hug that is at once fiercely possessive and bonelessly desperate.
"It isn't that", he says, voice aching. "But you don't see what I see. Where I go, death follows. My parents, my sisters and brothers, my brothers on Lindisfarne, and each time I'm left alive and alone. And now Gyda and Thyri and so many of the townsfolk... what if it isn't over?"
"Athelstan!" Ragnar says, not letting go. "You can't believe that your god has cursed you. But if you want to, we can make any sacrifice for you, to wash off that curse. Our gods are your gods now; they can free you as I have freed you."
He reaches down to touch Athelstan's armring again.
Some of the tears land on Athelstan's head, but he doesn't mention them.
"If you wish it, with what I've told you, I will stay. But don't leave me alone in the world, Ragnar Lothbrok, for there would be nowhere left for me to turn."
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