athelstanthescribe | (no subject)

(no subject)

Athelstan has got used to snatching a few hours of restless sleep most nights, and going back to the work room as soon as he wakes. He very rarely sleeps in Milliways, unless Sinric is there.

This night is unusual, not least because he has fallen asleep alone in their room upstairs - and the dream is different too.

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Athelstan just shakes his head.

"Leif, you have no idea."

"I remember picking you up from the ground, in Uppsala," Leif says, smirking, "but that was because of the mushrooms."

"That's not what I mean."

He stretches his hands out, palms facing up.

"You survived," Leif says. "What doesn't kill you will make you stronger."

"It doesn't feel as if it has, this time."

"How long has it been?"

"The better part of a year", Athelstan says quietly.

"You think you ought to have healed better?" Leif guesses.

"People tell me I ought not to expect it." His eyes are downcast. "But..."

"But?"

"I know what those people will say who were never friendly disposed to me. They will wonder why Ragnar keeps me around."

"Isn't that perfectly obvious, and plain for everybody to see?" Leif laughs.

That gets an alarmed glance.

"It can't be. You know that."

"Er, what?" Leif says.

Apparently, people don't see everything from Valhalla.

"Of course everybody can see that you're cleverer and know more than any two of us put together, and Ragnar needs you and your knowledge, your curiosity, your learning and your languages to deal with those swollen-headed Christians out there who think we're savages."

He blinks, readjusting his thinking, and nods quickly.

"That's why some of them hate me."

"Which is even more stupid of them," Leif laughs, "because their success depends on Ragnar's, and Ragnar needs your knowledge as much as Floki's ships."

"But Leif", he says quietly, "though my knowledge hasn't left me, what if I can't go where he goes?"

"You don't suddenly get seasick, do you?"

Leif looks at him kindly, from his huge height.

"Other than that, don't worry. Ragnar needs you, and he'll keep you safe."

"England is - " He shudders, sudden and involuntary. "I want no more of it."

"There's other countries to raid," Leif says. "Ever been to Ireland?"

"...once. I visited a monastery there."

"So you'd probably rather not raid," Leif says. "I get that. But you could go and establish a settlement."

"I don't mind taking gold and silver. That can be replaced. But shedding the blood of those who don't fight..." He nods. "I would like to make a settlement, and Ragnar wants that too."

"Shed the blood of people who do fight, so the ones that don't know what stuff you're made of and don't bother you when you settle among them and are up to the elbows in goat shit," Leif laughs.

He smiles a little at that.

"You have a point."