athelstanthescribe | (no subject)

They can. And the others might even notice and wait.

"And you meant what you said in the tent?"

"I did," Ragnar says. "You are very dear to me, Athelstan."

"I believe it... but I'm not really one of you." He raises a hand quickly before Ragnar can speak. "I don't mean the family, I do feel I belong there." He diplomatically fails to mention Bjorn's adolescent outbursts, because that was all they were. "But one of your people. I'm... apart."

"You're apart like Floki is," Ragnar says, "for special skills that the others don't have. You're a part of my family, and of my people. Your place among us is not to be called into doubt."

"Floki", he says wryly, "would disagree and you know it. You know, too, what my place among you is by law."

...okay, maybe he will speak of it, tangentially.

"Floki and you are too alike, like the two outmost wing-feathers of the raven," Ragnar says. "Always opposing each other, but without them, the raven couldn't fly."

He closes his big hand around Athelstan's smaller one, balling them both up into a combined fist. His other hand now encircles Athelstan's wrist.

"If we didn't consider you a free and equal man, the sacrifice wouldn't even have been considered for you. But with time, you'll have the visible token of it. Learn to fight, first."

Athelstan looks at Ragnar's hand on his wrist, then up into his eyes.

"All right. I will."

Ragnar catches his eye, and smiles.

His fingers close around Athelstan's wrist easily, and squeeze briefly.

Then, both his hands let go.

"We should catch up with the others."

"Yes", he agrees. "Or they'll be halfway home without us."

"You're going home," Ragnar says, "but I have to be off on a mission for King Horik before we even get there. I need you to look after our family again."

"...Lady Lagertha will be there, won't she?" Meaning she'll be the one looking after them. "When will you be leaving us?"

"Three valleys over," Ragnar says. "That's where the roads part."

For a given value of 'roads'.

Athelstan nods.

"Then the others will wait for us there, if not closer."

"They will," Ragnar says, "so we don't have to hurry. We'll sort everything out there, and then part."

"What do you think of King Horik?" he asks curiously. "Between us."

"He's testing me with this duty he gave me," Ragnar says. "He might not like the result. Especially if I do win."

"You think he's hoping this man Jarl Borg will refuse, and drive things to war?"

"Why should he suddenly give in simply because I come to see him -- for the sake of my pretty blue eyes?" Ragnar says, grinning. "Of course he'll start some sort of war. If not at once, then in a little while."

Athelstan shakes his head.

"And you'll get the blame for failing to negotiate well enough."

"I will end up with Jarl Borg as my enemy, one way or another," Ragnar says, "and when I get rid of him, King Horik will start considering me a threat to his power."

"As the last Earl did."

And they both know how that ended.

"Just so," Ragnar says. "The gods are most likely having a good laugh at my expense by this point."

"Or perhaps", he says carefully, "they're making you an offer, though you never asked for it."

"They're making an offer that I definitely not asked for," Ragnar says. "I really just wanted to go raiding to interesting places occasionally, and sit at home enjoying my prize and my family for the rest of the time."

"And yet", he says with a faint smile, "they have their own plans."