(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]

"I'll never turn you away", Athelstan says softly, looking down at him with love.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric smiles up at him, matching love for love. He rises to kiss Athelstan's lips, the kiss sweet. "Of that I am very grateful but I will understand too, when there are times you need space and solitude."

[athelstanthescribe]

"If I do", he promises, touching Sinric's hand, "I'll seek it, but these are your rooms too."

[thewidewideworld]

"I know. But I have my own bed, should the need come and the door can be left open so I can hear if you call out." He gently runs a hand thought Athelstan's hair. "I will be here, however you need me. As you were for me."

He towels Athelstan's hair and body, fetches fresh bandages and a healing ointment for his wounds.

[athelstanthescribe]

He keeps still for the ointment to be applied, looking down at the terrible wounds in his hands and feet.

"Do you think they'll heal?" he whispers after a moment. "Enough?"

[thewidewideworld]

"Yes." Sinric answers with a confidence born more of hope and reassurance than certainty. "Already the muscle and sinew knit. You will walk without pain and hold things again, so long as you give yourself time to heal."

[athelstanthescribe]

He has trouble mustering that confidence, but nods after a moment.

"My fingers do work almost as well as ever."

[thewidewideworld]

"Then the muscles remain undamaged." For which he would thank the gods if gods mattered to him.

He guides Athelstan to lean forward, careful with the wounds of his back. "These are healing well and need only the bandages to protect them as you sleep."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan does as he's directed, obedient as a child in Sinric's hands.

"Those were lesser, I think. Sharp and cutting, but not so deeply."

[thewidewideworld]

He nods. "They broke open the skin but did not cut so deep into the muscle." It could have been far worse.

He carefully ties off the last bandage and offers Athelstan his hand. "Come to bed with me and rest your weary soul. You are safe and loved and will heal."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan takes his hand lightly, then for the first time since he came in so injured, leans in to initiate a kiss himself.

"As you have and will."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric leans into the kiss, very glad for it.

He leads Athelstan to the bed and helps him to lay down between the soft mattress and the warm blankets, luxuries a straw pallet will never come close to.

He takes a moment to dry himself off, pushing his hair back in a braid before siding in with him. Naked and warm from the bath, Sinric is like a human hot water bottle curled against Athelstan's front.

[athelstanthescribe]

He shows no arousal, perhaps just not well enough for that yet in body, soul or both, but he wraps his arms around Sinric and draws him close.

[thewidewideworld]

And Sinric doesn't seek it. Only the comfort of being close to his beloved friend and glad to have him back.

He snuggles close, singing a lullaby under his breath and he strokes Athelstan's hair.

[athelstanthescribe]

He presses his lips to Sinric's skin, almost chaste and just intended to give and take comfort.

"Ragnar is the missing piece of me", he murmurs without lifting his mouth away, "but you, I love as much."

[thewidewideworld]

"As I love you." Sinric answers, taking and returning the kisses in kind; as a reconnecting of them rather than anything meant to stir passion. "Rest now, my Athelstan. And if your peace is broken, I will be with you. Let my song and my touch guide you back to safer shores."

[athelstanthescribe]

He holds Sinric, nestling his head down in the pillow, and asks softly, "Will you sing me to sleep?"

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric answers with a kiss and starts to sing. The song is an old one, sung in the days of might Hector and Achilles, killer of men. It is a woman's song, calling her warrior love home to her across the deep water. Singing down his spear and shield that he might return to her bed.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan listens, and at first he tries to follow the words, but soon enough the fatigue overcomes him and his eyes droop.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric sings and strokes Athelstan's hair until he is sure his beloved friend is sound asleep before allowing himself to close his eyes and drift with him, feeling safe and warm with Athelstan back at his side.

[athelstanthescribe]

Perhaps it's the comfort of a warm beloved body at his side, but Athelstan's dreams aren't violent tonight.

He whimpers a little from time to time, no more.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric wakes to the sound of those wimpers and sings softly to ease Athelstan back to sleep, stoking his hair and holding him close. He too sleeps without nightmares, the familiar warmth and scent of Athelstan easing his aching heart.

[athelstanthescribe]

[ooc: and fade them for this one?]