(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

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan murmurs his pleasure, moving to slide in front of Sinric to give him better access to his shoulders.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric kisses the side of Athelstan's neck and works his gentle thumbs into the meat of his shoulders, still humming a song.

Something about this song is different - half formed and uncertain in spots, as if Sinric is still writing it in his head.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Are you making a new song?" Athelstan asks, tipping his head to try and look at him.

[thewidewideworld]

He nods and kisses Athelstan's neck. "For my Emperor. I want to tell him about this place, in his last days. I want to sing him all the love and joy I have known here and all the wonders. I want him to know I will be safe and travel and know greater wonders still. I want him to know what he means to me and how I will carry him in my heart forever." He laughs at himself. "But I fear it might be too much to do all at once."

[athelstanthescribe]

"It might be a very long song", Athelstan agrees. "Or a cycle of them, perhaps."

[thewidewideworld]

"Or several nights of story telling as well as song. I hope you will forgive me, for wanting to tell him of you and Ragnar and the love you have shared with me?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Sinric, beloved... you must tell him whatever you choose. It can do us no harm."

[thewidewideworld]

"I want him to know all. All of who I am and will become. He-" his voice shakes a little. "I love him."

[athelstanthescribe]

"And he loves you", Athelstan says quietly. "And may fear what will become of you when he's gone."

[thewidewideworld]

He has no fear for me now for he has no fear for his own end. I don't want to put that fear in him but I don't want to lose him without telling him all of the tale."

He looks down at his hand, silent and still for a moment. "I have been his Aureus, his golden one for so long. I want just once for him to know me as Sinric."

[athelstanthescribe]

"You mean to sing it for him now? Or only when the end is near?"

[thewidewideworld]

He shakes his head softly. "When we leave on campaign. I can't risk telling him within the palace for fear he will turn back."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes", Athelstan agrees. "No man should know when and where he will die."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric nods and kisses the top of Athelstan's head. "No, no he should not. But I'm glad I know. So I can make the most of the time I have with him."

[athelstanthescribe]

"And when the time comes, perhaps you can hear him call you by your true name, at least once."

[thewidewideworld]

"And I will show him how to bring me to completion as you have. I will see that our last time together is a memory worth holding onto for all my life to come. Just as our first time was."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I hope he still has the strength for that then", Athelstan says with sincere concern.

[thewidewideworld]

"I will do so before the battle is met. Before it's too late." He swallows thickly, knowing how hard that will be to bear."

[athelstanthescribe]

"What is it that - that brings it about? An illness, wasn't it?"

[thewidewideworld]

"A battle wound that will fester. If the histories are correct, the fever will be overtake him and kill him before the next dawn." He lowers his eyes, tears in his voice. "At least he will not suffer for long."

[athelstanthescribe]

He nods quietly, not suggesting that Sinric might use the knowledge to prevent it happening - because that would change everything.

"Then this must be before he receives the wound."

[thewidewideworld]

"Yes, the night before battle is joined. I will keep him up late with talk of many things and lovemaking that will stay with me the rest of my days."

[athelstanthescribe]

"And songs that he can carry with him in the time remaining."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric nods and presses his face against Athelstan's hair, needing the comfort of his friend's nearness to protect him from these dark thoughts.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan holds him close and kisses the nearest piece of skin.