(no subject)

[thewidewideworld]

{from here}

Sinric takes Athelstan's hand and leads him through an almost invisible door and down a couple of seemingly perfectly flat hallways that somehow open out onto the rooftop and a little flat terrace with a view of the eastern sky.

Sinric clearly spends some time up here because the spot is furnished with a daybed big enough to lay on or for two to sit together comfortingly and is draped with soft furry blankets of a cloth unknown in their time.

He helps Athelstan to the daybed and sits with him, setting the flask aside for now. The stars are still clear in the sky, even as dawn smudges the horizon with warmth.

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

"That must be very hard for a child?" He muses, having never experienced a family life of that kind.

[athelstanthescribe]

"It was", Athelstan says sadly. "Especially as she saw how her mother suffered loss even before she died."

[thewidewideworld]

"She lost a child?" He asks softly, still stoking Athelstan's fingers.

[athelstanthescribe]

"A son, they were sure, and at some months. It would have been such a wanted child..."

[thewidewideworld]

"Such sadness." He nods, "No wonder Ragnar was so swift to welcome a woman bearing his child."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods. "He did what he could to bring Lady Lagertha to accept it, but I don't think she ever could have, knowing she could give him no more."

[thewidewideworld]

"I hope I will meet her one day also. I think I would like this Lagertha better than Ragnar's second wife."

[athelstanthescribe]

"If we find where she is", Athelstan promises, "I'll tell you."

[thewidewideworld]

The sun is almost on the horizon now and Sinric reaches down into a pocket hanging from the end of the day bed for the special glasses the bar gave him, smiling to see a second pair there.

"Here, the lady gave me these so we might watch the sun without doing hurt to our eyes. She must have known I would bring you here." The lenses cut the harmful rays but do nothing to diminish the beaty of the view.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Oh!" He takes them and unfolds them. "Very wise of her - and what a marvellous invention."

[thewidewideworld]

"There is so much to marvel at here. I wonder if anyone could see all of it, even if they had a lifetime." He snuggles down next to Athelstan to watch the dawn break, lighting the world with a riot of colour and warmth as if making everything new and melting away the fears and doubts of night.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan leans against him, putting on his sunglasses and taking comfort from his presence as well as everything around them.

"Perhaps in a dozen ordinary lifetimes."

[thewidewideworld]

"Perhaps the dead who come here are the most fortunate, to have time to explore before they move on to whatever comes after." He shifts slightly to card a gentle hand through Athelstan's hair, humming softly. He's glad to see his friend calmer now.

[athelstanthescribe]

"If they're the kind to enjoy the distraction and forget the confinement", he agrees, thinking briefly of poor Hotspur. "May I come here without you, if I should ever need it while you aren't here?"

[thewidewideworld]

He nods, still stroking Athelstan's hair. "Yes, you are always welcome here, with or without me. Though I am often to be found here at dawn. But I would ask you not to share it with any save Ragnar." It is his safe place, after all.

[athelstanthescribe]

"It shall be my secret retreat", he says softly, "and used for no other purpose."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric turns to lift the glasses, looking into Athelstan's eyes. "I hope this will be a safe place for you, as it is for me. That you know you can always come to when you need be alone, even from me if needed?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Sinric." He touches Sinric's face again, gentle as ever. "I wouldn't chase you away from here. But if you aren't in it first, yes, it may well be."

[thewidewideworld]

He takes Athelstan's hand and kisses his palm, careful of his wound. "I know, and I understand. You won't chase me away from anywhere but I understand the need for solitude too. I only usually come here at dawn or if something shakes me and I need time to think."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods.

"And my worst times are in the deep night, usually."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric nods and entwines his fingers in Athelstan's. "Then the stars will watch over you and the dawn watches over me. There is blankets aplenty and the nights here grow milder but I will ask the bar to provide a warm cloak for you." The ever practical servant.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan smiles at him.

"You take such good care of me."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric knells up a little to kiss Athelstan's forehead. "I love you." He answers simply. Because that is all the answer Athelstan should need.

[athelstanthescribe]

It is, and as Sinric pulls back, he leans in to kiss him softly on the lips.

"Then the least I can do is what I can to see you content and rested."

[thewidewideworld]

The kiss makes him smile sweetly as he returns it. "I am both rested and content. And very glad of your company. We can stay out here as long as you desire."