athelstanthescribe | (no subject)

(no subject)

Athelstan has barely said a word to Ragnar since they watched the sacrifices. He's been walking with Gyda, listening affectionately to her chatter and sometimes responding, but not to Ragnar.

That is, until Lagertha takes the children off somewhere and leaves the two of them alone.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"It is if you have crops to be brought in. The king's soldiers don't, leaving them at his disposal - that's why he pays them, so they can buy food and don't need to grow it."

"But then everybody else will have to grow the food for them," Ragnar points out, "while they stand around armed, waiting in case there is war somewhere."

"It's a violent world, Ragnar", he says wryly. "They usually don't have to wait very long. And in the meantime, the people growing the food are paid to sell it, they aren't expected to grow extra for free."

"I know it's a violent world," Ragnar laughs. "I make it more violent. But I'd get bored if there was nothing to do in-between."

"Which is why you aren't a soldier", is the reasonable response. "Nor a raider either, you're a... farmer who raids. And now rules a town."

"Which I didn't ask for, but it works quite fine," Ragnar says. "But ruling more than that would probably get a bit boring."

"Perhaps", he agrees. "Or perhaps not. You could still go adventuring, from time to time."

"That sounds so tame," Ragnar says, "like an old dog being let off his leash for a bit of a frolic."

He snorts. "Hardly. Unless the dog holds the leash at the same time."

"I don't get to hold my own leash," Ragnar says, almost grumbling.

"If you were king, you would." He glances forward. "But for now, Lady Lagertha's getting impatient."

"Then let's catch up with her," Ragnar says. "You see where my leash leads!"

But he grins. He doesn't mind, really.

And Athelstan knows it.

"At least you're rewarded for it", he says, maintaining that innocent face.

Edited 2015-02-27 20:26 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only