equal_of_any_man | (no subject)

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athelstan

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{From here}

Olivier opens the door into a small hall, nothing compared Lawrence's hall but big enough for a party of thirty or so people. There's a pair of chairs pulled up by the fire. Ermina sits there, a linen cloth over her knees as she embroiders the edges, a pair of dogs at her feet. She looks up as the door opens and smiles. "Athelstan!" She gets up and bounces to him, the dogs barking and dancing around their feet.

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Athelstan looks thin, strained and tired compared to when they last met, and sets down Olivier's bag so he can hug Ermina close.

"My lady."

"Oh Athelstan." She has to stand on tip toes to hug him properly but she does, holding him for a long time. "You look awful. Have you been ill? Come sit and let me fetch you wine?"

She pays Olivier no attention as he takes up the bags and moves off to put them somewhere safe.

"I haven't been well, no." He lets her lead him to a chair, wrapping his hands around the goblet she brings him. "But I hear you're doing very well indeed."

"Oh, so he has told you?" She shoots a glare at Olivier as he comes back into the hall, all fierce mock sternness. "You couldn't have waited until you brought him here so we could tell him together?"

Olivier flops down at the foot of her chair, resting his head against her knee. "No, my love. I couldn't. I was just too happy not to share our good news."

Athelstan reaches over to ruffle Olivier's hair, since he's putting himself in reach like that.

"I was overjoyed to hear it, Lady Ermina."

Olivier bats his hand away playfully and leans against his wife's leg, as faithful a scene as any.

Ermina smiles at their antics and ruffles Olivier's hair too. "So was he. Oh Athelstan, you should have seen his face!"

"I can just imagine it now", he says solemnly. "He must have glowed with happiness."

"I could have used him to embroider by, he was so alight." She teases warmly, bending to kiss her husband.

"But what are you doing sitting around here? If you want to show Athelstan the holding, you are losing the light. Unless you will stay the night and see it better in the morning, Athelstan? You know you are most welcome."

"I'd be glad to." He's missed them both, and this place is so peaceful. "Then we can see it at our leisure."

"In that case, I need to let the cook know we have a third for dinner."

She moves to rise but Olivier stops her. "I'll go, my love. You rest."

She glares at him. "I am not yet so heavy that I can't move around my own home." She kisses the top of his head and heads for the kitchen.

Athelstan gives his brother a helpless smile.

"Give it time", Athelstan says, amused. "The time will come she'll be glad of you to fetch and carry for her."

"By the time she needs it, I will see to it she has an army of maids for when I can't be here. She will everything she needs."

Athelstan nods.

"It may rankle that she needs it, but in the last month of her time, even she will have to admit that she does."

"She won't take it well. It will be a battle of wills to keep her in bed. But I believe I am up to the task."

Overconfidence... maybe.

Athelstan chuckles.

"At least you'll have the demands of her own body to support your cause."

"Now there will be a battle of will." Olivier chuckles.

"What are you two up to now?" Ermina asks, bring with her a lard ceramic jug. "We have cider made on our own holding. Would you like to try some?"

"Only talking", Athelstan assures her with a smile. "And yes, I'd love to try your own cider."

"It's not ours yet." Olivier holds out his own cup, touching Ermina's hand lightly as she pours. "Next seasons will be ours, when the apples used are the ones my beloved wife scaled a tree to pick."

"While my husband was in the field getting under the farmers' feet." She points out, pouring herself a cup also. "You should see him, Athelstan. If anyone came looking for the lord of this holding, they would never suspect the clumsy farm hand."

Athelstan grins at that. "Until he identified himself. But the lord of any holding should know how things are done."

"I'm not sure I would believe him, if I was some visiting lord." Ermina chuckles. "With his hair full of straw and his roughest clothes."

"It would be a better place if more lords cared about their holdings. Or learnt the ways of the land. There would be less politics for a start." Olivier muses, gently pushing away one of the dogs who sniffs curiously at his drink.

Athelstan clicks his tongue and holds out a hand to the dog, luring it away to him.

"And then the lord would find the lady of the manor up a tree with the tenants' children."

The dog pads over to him gladly, pushing his hand with a long muzzle in hope for a pat.

Ermina tries to come up with a good answer for that and settles for poking her tongue out at them both.

"Dignified." Olivier sniggers, getting a gentle whack on the head from his lady.

"Dignity, my friends", he says with a warm smile, "is overrated."

Ermina giggles and reaches out to pat Athelstan's arm. "I'm going to remember that next time someone chides me for climbing trees."

"That said, my lady", and this is with concern more than anything, "you would be wise to refrain as your - balance changes, over the course of time."

She pulls a face at him again. "Don't start. My beloved husband worries enough already. I will be careful. I want this child safe too."

Olivier leans up and kisses his wife, his hand resting on her belly.

Athelstan smiles at them.

"I know you do. And this early, there can be no more danger in you climbing trees than at any other time."

"But there are no more apples to harvest so no more fear to that." Ermina assures. Food is brought in and she gestures to the table. "Shall we?"

It's not feast but it bounty enough - hardy stew, good warm bread and fresh greens from their own gardens. Olivier reaches to take their hands. "Will you join us in saying grace, brother?"

He hesitates - it's a long time since he's done that by choice - but nods.

"I will."

Olivier smiles and lowers his eyes. "Lord God, we thank you for this food, for this family, and for each and every day."

He lifts his eyes on amen, squeezing their hands warmly, grateful to the heart.

Athelstan echoes the "amen" softly, clasping both their hands.

Olivier smiles and brings both their hands to his lips. "My family. I am so very grateful. Now please, eat." He serves them himself, making sure Ermina and Athelstan get the best of everything.

Athelstan notices, of course, and catches Ermina's eye.

Ermina meets Athelstan's gaze and smiles, rolling her eyes a little. She very gently but very firmly moves some of the meat back onto her husband's plate. "More than enough, my love. You know I don't eat that much and I will be fat enough in no time."

"And you'll have me sleeping before the afternoon is out." He doesn't force the meat back on Olivier, though. "I have grown used to eating frugally."

"Forgive me for wanting to spoil the ones I love." Olivier smiles, accepting a potion of Ermina's meat. He eats heartily, the sign of an appetite built on hard work.

It makes Athelstan glad to see it, as it's also a sign of good health, and he tries hard to eat all he's given rather than cause any worry for that reason.

Ermina rests a gentle hand on his sleeve. "Do not force yourself, Athelstan. It will not go to waste and there's no profit in making yourself ill."

And there are two rather large dogs looking hopefully of scraps.

He smiles up at her apologetically, with a glance at the dogs.

"It's a richer meal than I've had in some time."

Ermina takes his hand and squeezes it. "You have a place at our table, any time you need. For as long as you need. You don't need to tell me what's wrong. I'm sure my husband has already asked or he would still be asking. Just know you are our family and always will be."

"It would cause you such distress to hear it, my lady", he says softly, "that I hesitate to tell. But I know I can always come to you."

"Then I won't make you repeat it." She gets up and kisses the top of his head. "But don't blame me if I try to feed you up while you're here."

He smiles slightly and takes her hand.

"I would never try to prevent you."

She smiles and kisses his brow again before starting to clear the table. "Husband mine, why don't you show Athelstan around the manor?"

Olivier smiles. "Very gladly, if you're willing?'

"I would love to see your home", Athelstan says, standing up.

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