For Athelstan

[onceaviking]

Eric has left the door ajar.

He is inside, seated in one of the low chairs, his bare feet resting on the wolf pelt in front of it.
Watching the door.

There's a carafe and one glass on the table.
The bed is turned down.

The light is dim.

Comments

[onceaviking]

"Yes."

And nothing more.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan eyes him, and he knows what came before Eric's sharp departure, but he doesn't know why.

Abruptly, "I'm sorry if I shouldn't have done that."

[onceaviking]

"What?"
He looks confused.

"No. No, it wasn't - no."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Tell me?" It's a straightforward request, and he sits on the edge of the bed. "Eric, if something's wrong, something more than I know about..."

[onceaviking]

He doesn't answer.
He just sits there, not looking at Athelstan form a long while.

And then he says, still without looking at him, "I don't want to die."

Some might consider him an animated corpse. But he does not.

[athelstanthescribe]

Neither does Athelstan.

"Then don't do it alone", he says quietly. "Not Pam, I know you would protect her at all costs, but - raise an army, if you have to. As many as it takes to bring him down. You can still be the one to finish him."

[onceaviking]

"There is no trust between vampires. It wouldn't work."

He gets up and begins to pace.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan watches him, sitting on the bed.

"There must be a way you can defeat him. Is there record of younger vampires killing older in the past?"

[onceaviking]

"... Godric killed his own Maker."
An unlawful act. And impossible. Only not.

[athelstanthescribe]

His eyes sharpen at this, whether he's been told it before or not.

"Did he ever tell you how?"

[onceaviking]

He shakes his head.
"No."

And then he looks away again.
Clearly uncomfortable.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Eric", Athelstan says softly. "This is the only way I can help you. Let me."

[onceaviking]

He stiffens.

"I don't need help."
It's said without rancor though.

[athelstanthescribe]

"If you believed that", voice still soft, "you wouldn't be afraid you'll die."

[onceaviking]

He sits back down again.
And outs his hands in his face.

Not saying anything.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan moves to sit next to him.

Still not touching.

[onceaviking]

"It will go the way it goes. And I will face my fate."
He sounds quietly determined. And sad.

"But I am not ready to let go. I should be. But I am not."

[athelstanthescribe]

"There is no should be", Athelstan says, suddenly fierce. "I should have died with my brothers on Lindisfarne, but in the moment of truth, I didn't want to. So I spoke to Ragnar Lothbrok in his own language, and asked him not to kill me, and he didn't. Fate can be changed."

[onceaviking]

"But you grew up as a slave to Hvide Krist. I was born free. I should laugh at death."
Athelstan will know this. He's heard the Norsemen speak of these things.

[athelstanthescribe]

"But you no longer believe in Valhalla, yes? So life is all there is."

He understands what the Norsemen believe, and what Eric doesn't.

[onceaviking]

"No. I don't."

It's said very quietly.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Then you have every reason to fear the true death. If you think you will simply... stop."

[onceaviking]

Eric looks at him.
Briefly.

"I am - I am not done yet," he says.

[athelstanthescribe]

"And also that. You still have things - and at least one person - to live for." He meets Eric's eyes, before he looks away. "And as fighting for you would only get me killed, I would like to help you plan."

[onceaviking]

Eric turns to look at him.
He doesn't know what to do with this offer. Or what to with Athelstan, who should not want to help him.