(no subject)

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan has been watching Ragnar all night, waiting for a chance to get him alone before he leaves.

They need to talk.

Finally, he spots Ragnar heading into the woods towards the river, and - by a different route, so no one will think twice about it - follows.

Comments

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Let us just hope that Horik will listen to what you say when you're not translating," Ragnar says, still glum.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'll say it, whether he listens or not. And if the battles go as badly for him as I think they would..."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Well, yes, that is a serious consideration," Ragnar says, trying to keep the acid out of his voice.

"What are you going to do then?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Whatever I must. It may be that Horik himself will fall, perhaps even Erlendur with him, and then... well, then, I think the others would be more open to ending things peacefully."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"That is rather a long game," Ragnar says. "But a good way of thinking, if a risky one. Give him a sword to stick in his foot, and continue the journey on a much saner path."

He can't help but admire that strategy. It's something he might do himself, one day.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'll get you your colony, Earl Ragnar." It's a promise. "Just as you want, one way or another."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Come here," Ragnar says, beckoning.

[athelstanthescribe]

He takes a step closer.

"Are you upset with me?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I will miss you," Ragnar says, reaching out for him. "But you are a free man, and your decisions makes a lot of sense."

Pause.

"I'm grateful you're taking that risk for me, but I don't have to like it in here."

He puts his other hand on his heart.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'll miss you too", Athelstan says quietly. "But I know you don't need me to fight Jarl Borg, the way your plans need me here."

(When he said 'Whatever I must', he meant it. But saying outright he's prepared to kill the prince for Ragnar, should his father get himself killed... seems unwise, where anyone could be listening.)

[bigarmy_strangepants]

They can't know if there is anybody listening to this, so even a simple farewell kiss might be too much.

Ragnar instead takes Athelstan's hand and murmurs, very quietly, "I love you, you know."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I know." He clasps Ragnar's hand for a long moment, as long as any other man might. "And I, you."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Let's go," Ragnar says, "separately, as we came, before Horik either thinks we're conspiring against them, or casts aspersions at your manliness for being in the forest with me."

Both true, in a way. Athelstan is playing a high-stakes game on both accounts, and both for Ragnar's sake.

[athelstanthescribe]

He nods.

"You were going to the river?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"No," Ragnar says, a bit sheepishly. "I was upset and wanted to hear myself think. But I'm less upset now, or differently."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan looks up at him with another nod.

"I didn't want you to be angry with me."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I'm not," Ragnar says.

He's upset, and unhappy, and worried about several things, and angry at Horik for requesting Athelstan in that manner, and then he knows he's going to miss him terribly.

But not angry at Athelstan.

"You're a free man, and it's important to me that you can act like one."

[athelstanthescribe]

"If you can get to the magic place", Athelstan says seriously, "I'll meet you there. I can report back then."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"And we can leave messages in writing," Ragnar says. "It is a handy skill to have, after all."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Will you be able to read and write them well enough?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"If you use simple writing and no hard words, yes, I will," Ragnar says. "Just as we wrote while we were practising."

Pause.

"You will understand, even if I spell words wrong."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods.

"I can do that. And yes, I will."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I trust you to," Ragnar says, smiling.

Then, he looks around, and suddenly grins.

"See that shadow, between that bush and the young oak tree there," he asks, without pointing at it, or even looking directly at it.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I've seen it", he says with a nod. "Do you think it's enough?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Yes," Ragnar says. "At least for a few heartbeats."

Enough for a kiss or two, he means.

"Go there, and I'll follow you."