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

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"No," Ragnar says. "It'll turn your stomach and upset you even more. It'll go away. I love you."

He reaches over to touch Athelstan's face.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan leans just a little into the touch. "It... you're talking about Jarl Borg?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar nods, and strokes Athelstan's cheek with his knuckle.

[athelstanthescribe]

"That was different. The man had to die, he wasn't... he wasn't innocent." Even the method did him a favour, by Viking standards. "It's the suffering of the innocent I've seen" - and caused, and failed to prevent - "too much."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar leans over to kiss Athelstan'S cheek. "Thank you."

His appetite for meat will come back. Definitely.

[athelstanthescribe]

With time, it most likely will. Athelstan is eating the olive bread, dipping it in the soft butter.

"What I want now is just to live in peace. No battles, no - pillaging."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"We might have to fight Ecbert, if he's not amenable," Ragnar says.

[athelstanthescribe]

"You can't settle in his land if he's not amenable", Athelstan points out. "Sooner or later, he'd destroy you."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"So I hope he is amenable, and will talk rather than fight," Ragnar says.

[athelstanthescribe]

"If not, we'll just have to look for somewhere else as good for farmers."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Which would be so much easier without King Horik!" Ragnar says. "Both parts, really."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan looks down.

"King Horik will have nothing to say about it when we leave."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"No," Ragnar says. "Nothing. Just now, when we deal with Ecbert in England, he will still be there."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'm sure you and Lagertha between you can keep him in line, king or not."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I hope so," Ragnar says. "Remember what he did the last time? Say one thing, do the other."

[athelstanthescribe]

"And more dangerous things than that."

He hasn't forgotten running through the woods with arrows flying.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"If I left him behind," Ragnar says, "he'd take Kattegat while I'm gone, and feel fully justified."

[athelstanthescribe]

"He can't take what's already his. In his eyes, I'm sure, you're only governing it for him."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Take it away from me and my family, give it to somebody else," Ragnar says, "hurting even more of my friends in the process. I can't stand for that."

[athelstanthescribe]

"So there will be more blood", he says, resigned.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar reaches out to take his hand. "There will always be more blood," he says, "the only thing I can do is keep it restricted to those who fight back, people who are trying to kill us."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I know. And you can't change your whole people." Athelstan looks up at him. "But I've seen enough of it for a lifetime."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Then you will not have to see it, if I can help it at all," Ragnar says.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Thank you." He knows he can't ask more than that, and even that is asking a lot.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar takes both Athelstan's hands, stroking his fingers.

"I love you," he says, plainly. "Give me a kiss, and then let's call Sinric back in here."