thewidewideworld | (no subject)

{Continued from here}

Sinric heads down the stairs and out into the gardens, a wrap pulled around his shoulders and his hair still damp. He breathes in the scent of approaching evening as if committing it to memory before turning towards the lake.

He has no idea which way Athelstan might have gone but the lake always seems like a good place to start.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

athelstanthescribe

Athelstan went as far from the main building as possible while still keeping it in sight.

He's on the other side of the lake now, sitting on the shore.

From:

thewidewideworld

Sinric gives him a little wave, waiting to see if Athelstan acknowledges him before disturbing his beloved's peace.

From:

athelstanthescribe

He glances up at the movement in his peripheral vision, and after a moment waves back.

From:

thewidewideworld

Sinric smiles and makes his way slowly around the lake. Halfway there, he flashes Athelstan a sign to say he'll be just a moment and vanished into the trees beyond.

A few minutes later he returns to view, the hem of his over tunic lifted to hold something in the folds of the fabric. Cherries, still warm from the sun. He makes his way over to join Athelstan. "I come bearing gifts."

From:

athelstanthescribe

Athelstan blinks at them, because he's sure Sinric didn't have those when he started.

"Fresh from the tree?"

From:

thewidewideworld

"Just so." He smiles, settling on a rock a comfortable distance away so they can share the cherries but he's not crowding Athelstan. "I struggle very much to believe they are the fruit of the blossoms I danced under so many years ago."

He holds up the shiny fruit, letting it catch the sun. "I've only been away from here the time it has take this cherry to swell and yet to me, it feels like a lifetime."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"Ah, the twist Milliways makes of time", he agrees quietly. "It must be very strange."

From:

thewidewideworld

"Indeed it is." He pips the cherry with a deft slip of a nail, staining his thumb red. "I feel as if I'm travelling a very long road to find you both in our own time."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"But I hope you're enjoying the road as you go. Those parts of it that can be enjoyed, at least."

From:

thewidewideworld

"That I have." He smiles reassuringly. "And learnt many new things on my way."

He pips another cherry, savouring the taste. "The season the cherries ripened in Nara, Kamino suggested a picnic in the grove. The ladies of the court wore them draped of their fingers and over their ears, dancing and laughing and throwing them to each other. We all ate ourselves quite sick. It was a wonderful day."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"Who is Kamino?" he asks. "One of your musician friends?"

From:

thewidewideworld

Sinric shakes his head and touches the scar on the back of his shoulder. "Emperor Saga. He asked me to keep calling him by his previous name, his childhood name as he didn't feel he had earned his title in my eyes. I think it helped to remind him to stay grounded."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"Ah." He nods. "Every king and emperor should have such a reminder, from time to time."

From:

thewidewideworld

"As you are for Ragnar?" He asks softly.

From:

athelstanthescribe

"He is not a king - yet." He glances down. "But perhaps, a reminder of things past."

From:

thewidewideworld

"Yet." He nods but ducks his head. "But I would not say past. A reminder of that which matters. A sight that can become hazy with the wine of power. I think that is what Kamino needed - a reminder not to let power change him from the good man he was trying to be."

"As the simple desire to be with the man he loves reminds Ragnar."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"I hope Lady Lagertha - Earl Ingstad, as she is now - can remind him of that in my absence. She was a good ruler of Kattegat in his absence."

From:

thewidewideworld

"From all you, both of you have told me of her, I'm sure she will make a good and wise leader." He smiles, "However I suspect she will remind him of other things. Mostly of how little he likes his current wife."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"Yes. I almost feel sorry for Aslaug, at times. She didn't get at all what she thought she would."

From:

thewidewideworld

"Power, prestige?" He asks, tilting his head. "The love of a powerful man."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"I don't think she would mourn too much for the lack of love, if she had the rest. But when she and Ragnar met, she really only knew his reputation."

From:

thewidewideworld

"Ah. I understand. Eudokia, my- Constantine's third wife made much the same mistake. She, like Aslaug, bore many sons but it did little to lift her statue to that she desired."