(no subject)

[thewidewideworld]

{From here.}

Sinric walks with Athelstan, up the stairs and into their rooms joined by magical doors that lead to different places.

"Would you help me out of this?" He gestures to the wide collar of gold and stars. "The clasps are at the back."

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

"A shame", Athelstan says, making a face, "that he's risen to such a position. But then, there are worse things to be than boring."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

There's a knock on the connecting door.

Ragnar had talked with Sinric about coming to their rooms together, but still, he won't just barge in on them.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric smiles to Athelstan and bounces to the door, looking to Athelstan for permission to open it.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan smiles and nods to him.

"The door's never barred to him or to you."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar comes bouncing into the room, carrying bottles of beer.

"Good job, Athelstan," Ragnar declares. "Now we can do what we plotted."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric smiles and shakes his head. "Not yet. I will need your help for that."

[athelstanthescribe]

" - have you been plotting as well?" Athelstan asks, amused. "Ragnar and I have plans for you."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I have plotted with each of you," Ragnar says, "and I fully expect you have plotted as well."

He grins.

"And we'll do all three things."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric laughs warmly. "You have plans for me? Now I'm curious?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"It was Ragnar's idea. And Sinric and I have done no plotting together, we're entirely innocent of it."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"We have plans for you," Ragnar grins.

He puts the beer down, and then gathers both of them into his arms, and kisses them in turn.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric laughs and falls into Ragnar's arms, making the most of the kiss. "I have missed you both. There were dawns where I found myself fearing this was all a dream."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan takes full advantage of it too.

"It must have seemed very like one, as it did for us in the four years."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I'm glad you got us back," Ragnar says. "And yes, the four years weren't fun all around, but at least Athelstan was there, and we got away on small journeys or hunting trips from time to time. We went to Ribe once -- you know, where I'm going to have met you."

He kisses each of them yet again.

[thewidewideworld]

"Was I still there, at Ribe? I suppose not after so much time." He muses, "Unless it's really nice there."

"That must have been very hard on you both? To have to hide your love in public."

[athelstanthescribe]

"It wasn't the easiest time", Athelstan says quietly. "Though when it got too wearing, it was time for another trip into the wilderness."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"That's how things are," Ragnar says. "We don't want our enemies to get at us over that. Or Aslaug to stage a scandal and take the kids."

[thewidewideworld]

"It is a pity she doesn't understand you better. That she can't see how much you shine together." He kisses them each in turn. "I count myself as fortunate to have know you here where there is so much more freedom."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Princess Aslaug", Athelstan says with an unaccustomed bite in his voice, "married an Earl and wants to be married to an Earl."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Yes," Ragnar says, shrugging. "She still doesn't know me, it sometimes seems. But she's the mother of two of my songs.Three, now, most likely."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric presses a finger to Ragnar's lips and kisses him, a sweet and distracting kiss meant to make him forget his troubles.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan watches this with approval.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Yes, this is much better than thinking about Aslaug, and Ragnar can lose himself in the two of them.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric shifts to kiss Athelstan just as passionately, pouring all the missed nights and lonely dawns into it.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Sinric", he murmurs into the kiss. "I can feel how you missed us."