thewidewideworld | (no subject)

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athelstan

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{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.

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"He wasn't disowned but he was sent him away. To the very edge of the Empire. Constantine was very careful not to let any of us handle her after that."

"She was still a wild animal", he agrees, "gentle nature or not."

"Just so. And Constantine respected that. He didn't punish the handler but he was more careful at future masks that we not be too near her."

"One more sign of his reasonable thinking."

"He was a good and fair man." And Sinric misses him sorely, like an wound to his heart.

Athelstan glances at him, then looks at the book.

"So, these stories..."

Sinric nods, grateful to Athelstan for drawing him back from those memories.

He runs his hands over the pages, opening it to his favourite story. "I learnt this as a song when I was quite young. It is one of my favourite songs still. The hunter prince who falls in love with simple maid and peruse her, much against her will."

"I remember other stories like that. Usually God - or a god - intervenes in some way to make the maid safe."

"Just so." He smiles. "Perhaps the same stories are told the world over, not just the same morals."

"What became of her in this tale?"

"Read it." He urges gently. "The Persians tell the tale better than I do."

He reaches for the book and begins to read in silence.

Sinric fetches down a book for himself and moves to the couches under one bay window, big enough for them both to sprawl in comfort.

Athelstan glances up when he notices Sinric has moved, and follows.

Sinric smiles up at Athelstan, not pressuring him to join him but welcoming him to do so. He's happy to spend the evening reading in companionable silence and just enjoy Athelstan's company.

Then that may be what happens, as he curls up on the couch.

Sinric is content is sit and read for some hours. Until his stomach stirs him. He shifts to get Athelstan's attention. "I might go down for something to eat. Would you like anything?"

He shrugs slightly, shifting his legs as they suddenly begin complaining.

"I'm not really hungry."

Sinric nods and leans across to give Athelstan's shoulder a little squeeze. "I'll leave you to read then."

"You can come back. Not with the food, of course, but after."

"Then I shall." Sinric promises, smiling warmly. "Are you sure I can't bring you anything?"

"It's fine", Athelstan assures him.

Sinric nods and moves to press to kiss to the top of Athelstan's head but catches himself before he does. "I'll be back soon."

Athelstan notices, and nods quietly.

"I'll be here."

Sinric slips out of the library with a silent smile.

He returns an hour or two later, fed and fresh from a shower, his hair bound up in a loose braid.

He takes up his tablet and gestures to the couch, waiting for Athelstan's permission to sit.