(no subject)

[thewidewideworld]

{From here}

Sinric leads Athelstan back to their rooms, through a door behind the stairs. Their rooms are neatly kept and clean. It's clear Sinric has been very watchful about his duty to keep their rooms. He brings a chair over for Athelstan before heading off to run him a bath.

"Are the painkillers helping? I can fetch stronger ones, if you need them?"

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

"Is he still resisting?" He moans as Sinric's thumbs dig in. "Or haven't you started yet?"

[thewidewideworld]

"I've started on him. He doesn't want to take me, doesn't want me near a battle but I know I can convince him. Even if it takes me all the time we have left."

[athelstanthescribe]

"It would be a shame for you to have to badger him all that time", Athelstan says quietly, "but the goal is so important."

[thewidewideworld]

"It is a careful game. The grumbling in the west worries him, keeping him awake at night. The fear of war is very much on his mind."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Have you been able to distract him from that also? At least sometimes?"

Athelstan's own fears of what Ragnar will have to do are weighing on him, but he tries to force them aside.

[thewidewideworld]

"I work very hard on it. And the other birds do too. Probus and I have becomes very adapt at distracting him together."

He moves up onto the edge of the bath, massaging Athelstan's neck and shoulder, his fingers working at the base of his skull.

[athelstanthescribe]

That gets another involuntary moan out of him, as the knots of stress and pain start to unravel under Sinric's fingers.

"You know him well enough", he manages.

[thewidewideworld]

"He is my father, my lover, my master and my lord. And I love him as deeply as he loves me." Sinric's voice grows soft and wistful.

[athelstanthescribe]

"He'll be with you all your life", Athelstan says softly.

[thewidewideworld]

He nods and leans in to kiss the top of Athelstan's head. "I have taken your advice. I asked the bar for a book that I might right the story of his life, as I have know him."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Good", Athelstan says with approval. "Have you had a chance to begin it?"

[thewidewideworld]

"A little. Not much. Only my very earliest memories of him. Even if there's only one copy held here, at least it has been written."

[athelstanthescribe]

"You don't want to rush it", he half agrees, half advises. "Every detail you can recall should be recorded."

[thewidewideworld]

"I'm not sure how to go about such a task so I have been just writing things as I think if them." He cards his hands through Athelstan's hair, massaging his scalp.

[athelstanthescribe]

"That isn't a bad way." His head tips into Sinric's hands. "You can pull it together into an order later."

[thewidewideworld]

"I was astounded by how cheaply the bar permitted me a book to write in. I would have thought the fine paper here would have been worth much more than parchment."

[athelstanthescribe]

"In the future, I think, they've found a way to make paper very cheaply. It doesn't seem precious to them at all."

[thewidewideworld]

"So I have seen. The book the bar gave me is very fine, it's binding leather. Would you like to see it after we bathe?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'd like that very much. And to lie in bed with you."

He's missed the comfort of the bed here, and company in it.

[thewidewideworld]

"I would only leave your side tonight if you needed the space." He offers lightly, aware that Athelstan is still healing and some scars are not the visible ones.

[athelstanthescribe]

He nods, all too aware of the unspoken as well.

"They... they tell me sometimes I've cried out in the night. So if I struggle against nothing...."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric slides back into the pool to reach for his friend, offering him the comfort of his arms. "As do I. We can struggle with our demons together."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan leans into the embrace.

"I'd spare Ragnar that if I could. But I know he wouldn't understand if I won't sleep a night with him."

[thewidewideworld]

"He will understand more than you expect. And every if he doesn't understand, he will give you whatever you need if only you ask him." He brushes Athelstan's hair back from his face. "He loves you, heart and soul. There is nothing he wouldn't do for you."

[athelstanthescribe]

"It's going to hurt him so", Athelstan says sadly, "that he can't make my wounds heal."