OOM: Returning Eunuch

[bigarmy_strangepants]

It is late in the day, and Ragnar is lounging in his room, talking to Athelstan.

He could spend eternity just talking to Athelstan, and then an eternity again with all the other Athelstan-related things.

But they never run out of things to talk about, it seems.

"... will turn seawater into potable water, like making salt, just the other way around," he is saying.

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

"We could ask him. Or do you think it might offend him?" Some people dislike that sort of heretical talk. "Who is the blacksmith god amongst the Vikings?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"I don't think he favours any religion. The Norse crafting god is Weyland, though there are many figures in the tales with that skill."

[thewidewideworld]

"Weyland." He repeats, testing the shape of the name. "What is he like, Weyland the maker?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"They say originally, he was an ordinary family man with an exceptional skill. But a god heard of it, and wanted Weyland to work for him exclusively."

[thewidewideworld]

"So that god made him one of them, so he may work for them." He smiles softly, "I've known another who had a similar story. His was... unhappy."

[athelstanthescribe]

"So was this." He smiles crookedly. "The god was cruel, and took him by force. He put him on an island with a forge and all equipment he might ask for, and hamstrung him so he could not escape. But Weyland had his revenge, and it was gruesome."

[thewidewideworld]

"But he had his revenge?" He asks, keen to hear the tale.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes", he says simply. "He killed his captor's two sons, and crafted things from their bodies to send to their parents. Lastly, when the daughter came to his forge with work for him, he raped her and got a child, then used wings he had made to fly away."

[thewidewideworld]

"Oh." Sinric frowns, next expecting that sort of violence and cruelty.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I did say it was gruesome", he says quietly.

[thewidewideworld]

"No, you were right." He gives Athelstan a little bump. "But he made wings and flew away. Better than Daedalus and Icarus managed."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes, the story ended rather better for him than for poor Icarus", he agrees.

[thewidewideworld]

"How does it end? Weyland becomes one of the gods?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"By sheer force of character, as far as I can tell."

[thewidewideworld]

"Maybe Jay is one of his kin then. He seems to have force of character behind him." Sinric grins.

[athelstanthescribe]

"That, he certainly does", Athelstan agrees. "And a formidable will."

[thewidewideworld]

"And long may his will be turned to the advantage of his friends." Sinric settles down to snuggle against Athelstan's side. "How do your hands feel?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Better than when you started." He flexes them. "Thank you."

[thewidewideworld]

"How are your legs? Do they still trouble you?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"I walk more easily now that my feet are healed, so not so much."

[thewidewideworld]

"Would you like me to see to them next?" He gets up to fetch to oil from the shelf.

[athelstanthescribe]

"If you would?" He extricates himself from the covers in preparation.

[thewidewideworld]

"Always, my beloved." He kneels on the bed, warming the bottle of oil between his thighs before rubbing it onto his hands.

He works slowly, carefully, making sure to gently work out the knots in Athelstan's calves.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan groans quietly in relief as he does.

"I almost get used to it, over time."

[thewidewideworld]

"You should not have to. Such pains are preventable, with care. I can teach Ragnar to do this for you, when you are together again."