(no subject)

[athelstanthescribe]

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.

Comments

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Athelstan?"

[athelstanthescribe]

He knows exactly what look Ragnar's giving him, and concentrates on the ground in front of them.

"You and I are knowledge-seekers, it's true. Of course making a better future matters above all."

He won't say that he'd hoped what Ragnar said in the tent was true. That they were friends. It's not for him to hope to be more than a servant.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"But you're disappointed," Ragnar says. "This entire small former priest radiates disappointment about Ragnar Lothbrok. Why?"

His voice sounds fond.

[athelstanthescribe]

"All those things you said in the tent, when the Frankish merchant was there", he says suddenly. "But it doesn't matter. Not now. The gods didn't want me, so I remain your - servant."

He trusted Ragnar, almost completely. That's been bruised... but not broken, and he still loves him, and Lagertha and Gyda and Bjorn. That's the real reason he doesn't run, these days.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Only my servant?" Ragnar says, softly. "That would make it my turn to be disappointed. I was thinking of all I'd lose if you'd chosen to go to the Gods for us, and it kept piling up, like the spoils from a ship being ruefully surrendered to a greedy lord."

Like the spoils from his first raid to the west, of which he had only got to keep what had turned out the very best part.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan shakes his head.

"I know the sacrifice must be valuable - even the animals were the best, I noticed, not an old or sick one among them - but then you speak first of the use I can be to you, as I can and will."

Ragnar knows he wants to be free to choose, and Athelstan knows what he'd choose, and he won't speak of it again. He sighs quietly.

"Ragnar, there's still nothing I wouldn't do if you asked, but... I was afraid today."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar reaches out and puts a hand on Athelstan's shoulder. "If you were afraid, then the sacrifice was not for you, and I get to keep you."

He takes one of Athelstan's hand into his much bigger one, and pats it with the other.

"Between you and me, with hopefully no gods listening for once, I'm really glad about that."

The others have wandered on, but Ragnar takes the time to stand here with Athelstan. They can easily catch up.

[athelstanthescribe]

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

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

[bigarmy_strangepants]

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

[athelstanthescribe]

"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."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"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."

[athelstanthescribe]

"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.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"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."

[athelstanthescribe]

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

"All right. I will."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

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."

[athelstanthescribe]

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

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"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."

[athelstanthescribe]

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

[bigarmy_strangepants]

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

For a given value of 'roads'.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods.

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

[bigarmy_strangepants]

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

[athelstanthescribe]

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

[bigarmy_strangepants]

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

[athelstanthescribe]

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

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"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."