(no subject)

[thewidewideworld]

{from here}

Sinric leads Athelstan back to their room, stopping at the bar to have a quiet word with the bar before they go. When they arrive in their rooms, the bed has been spread with a large, warm bear-fur and draped with silk. There are candles on the table, at bedside, on the windowsill, bathing the room in soft, warm light.

Sinric smiles and leads Athelstan towards the bed. "This night is for you, beloved Athelstan. We'll go only as far as you're ready for."

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

"Sometimes I wonder. Sometimes, when I'm just waking or about to go to sleep, it seems to me I'm still there and this is the dream."

[thewidewideworld]

"I felt the same for the years that separated me from this place, and you. I sat on the palace wall to watch the sunrise and tried to remember every detail, just to hold it close to my heart."

He smiles and cups Athelstan's cheek, looking into his eyes. "And then I realised, I could never dream anyone as good as you and Ragnar. So it must be real."

[athelstanthescribe]

"But you have known goodness", he counters gently. "Your friends the other birds, and the captain of guards, and your emperor."

[thewidewideworld]

"That I have. But if I had not come to you first, in the worst of my pain and distress, things might have gone very differently. I returned to them already healing and supported by your gentle handling."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'm glad I was able to help... and I believe I'll have the same strength from being here with you."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric kisses his brow softly. "Come back to bed and let me sing you into happier dreams?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes." He drains his glass. "Some singing... and perhaps some kisses."

He can manage that, and be comfortable.

[thewidewideworld]

"I'd like that." Sinric smiles warmly and offers Athelstan his arm to return to the bed. He keeps on the soft linen shift, letting it falls in folds around him as he climbs back into bed at Athelstan's side.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan notices, guesses at why, and appreciates the lack of pressure in the gesture.

He turns to lie on his side, facing Sinric.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric settles facing Athelstan and starts to sing softly. A lullaby in Athelstan's native tongue this time but one Sinric has clearly learnt by rote as some of the words don't come out sounding quite right.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan blinks at him, surprised and deeply touched.

"Did you learn that for me?"

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric colours softly and ducks his eyes. "I hoped it would please you."

[athelstanthescribe]

"It does." He touches Sinric's face. "Oh, Sinric, it does. I haven't heard that song in... a very long time."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric's smile brightens and he sings on, soft and warm, turning his face to kiss Athelstan's fingers.

[athelstanthescribe]

He brushes Sinric's lips with his fingers, very lightly so as not to stop him singing.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric has had practice singing while doing a great many things so Athelstan's fingers are a pleasant distraction but don't disturb his song. He kisses Athelstan's fingertips in the breath between the chorus and verse, smiling at the warmth his song brings to Athelstan's expression.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan just listens in silence, letting the song carry him back in time.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric sings it twice over, just to draw out the joy it seems to bring Athelstan.

When it comes to a close, he leans on to press a kiss to Athelstan's cheek. "For you, my love."

[athelstanthescribe]

"You learned a song for me, in a language that must be hard to come by, from an obscure kingdom." The thought brings tears to his eyes. "How I love you."

[thewidewideworld]

"What would I not do for you." Sinric whispers, drawing Athelstan into a soft, slow kiss.

[athelstanthescribe]

He returns it, the taste of salt on his lips from the earlier tears, and he strokes Sinric's neck.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric kisses away the salt, cupping Athelstan's shoulder gently. He keeps the kisses light, letting Athelstan direct what and how much he is ready for.

[athelstanthescribe]

Things will be slow between them tonight, and will have to be gentle no matter what happens as he's still healing.

Gradually, though, the kisses start to build in intensity.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric deepens his kisses softly, his hand moving slowly and lightly over Athelstan's arm. He presses close, not intimately but close enough to pull Athelstan into an embrace, his lean body warm in Athelstan's arms.

[athelstanthescribe]

It's a comfort to have someone so close who he trusts absolutely.

He pulls back a little between kisses so he can look into Sinric's eyes.