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

[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.

[athelstanthescribe]

There are a lot of things Athelstan shouldn't want. But he does.

He looks back at Eric, waiting.

[onceaviking]

"There is nothing to plan," he says, looking away from Athelstan and down at his own hands.
"He will either come for me of his own accord or I will have to lure him out. And then I will make sure that he dies. Fire. The sun. Something like that."

[athelstanthescribe]

"And if you must", and this time it isn't a guess, "you'll hold him there yourself."

[onceaviking]

"Yes."

Just that one word.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan looks at him, trying to come up with a counter.

There isn't one.

[onceaviking]

"Look at me."
Returning to practical matters because there isn't anything else to say.
And Athelstan did drink quite a lot of blood.

[athelstanthescribe]

Obediently, he does.

His eyes look clearer, but there are still effects to be seen, if nothing as dramatic as hallucinations.

[onceaviking]

Eric cups his cheek, his thumb resting just beneath Athelstan's eye.
"It'll pass," he says. Softly.

[athelstanthescribe]

"All drugs wear off", he agrees, not moving away from Eric's touch.

And then he kisses him, more slowly than usual. It almost might be a goodbye.

[onceaviking]

And Eric returns the kiss.
And then he breaks it.

"You can rest here. If you need to."
There are hours till sunrise,

[athelstanthescribe]

"It might be a good idea."

And he doesn't want to turn down the offer.