(no subject)

[equal_of_any_man]

{From here}

Olivier opens the door into a pleasant spring day. The sun warms the first buds on the trees and the freshly tilled earth in the fields beyond smells rich and warm.

They are in the woods just beyond Athelstan and Ragnar's holding, stepping out of a circle of stones.

"I should have known it was a doorway." Olivier smiles. "Perhaps the ancients of this land knew the bar too."

Mary squeaks with delight as a butterfly passes them, wriggling in Athelstan's arms to be put down.

Comments

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar leans over and delivers a few big kisses to Mary's cheek.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan just lies on the grass and lets the little girl sit on him.

[equal_of_any_man]

She squeals with delight and kisses Ragnar back. Then pulls Ragnar towards Athelstan. "Not kiss!"

Olivier clears his throat with a helpless little noise.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar places a playful little kiss on the tip of Athelstan's nose, innocent as anything.

He likes Athelstan's nose-tip, actually. It's a tiny bit upwardly pointy in just the right way.

He grins.

"So I paid enough in ransom?"

[athelstanthescribe]

Mary is entirely innocent, Athelstan reminds himself, and knows nothing of adult complications. Which is as it should be.

"What do you think, my lady?"

[equal_of_any_man]

"Ransom!" Mary giggles and jumps across to throw her arms around Ragnar's neck, hugging him tight.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar holds her safely, laughs, and places some more big, bearded kisses on her round baby cheeks.

"So much!" he laughs.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan pushes himself up to watch them.

"And ever shall be."

[equal_of_any_man]

"Tickles!" She laughs, pawing at Ragnar's beard.

"Yes, princess. Beards do that." Comments her father, shaved clean in the Norman style.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Mine and Athelstan's, both," Ragnar says. "That's what happens when you haven uncles with beards and take them hostage."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Watch out, Olivier", Athelstan says casually, "or she'll be demanding you grow one too. And her mother might not like that."

[equal_of_any_man]

"Oh no. Of one thing I am sure, my wife will never permit me to let a beard grow more than two days on my cheeks!"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"And the queen will always trump a princess," Ragnar says, grinning. "Well, if she likes beards, she has us. At least she doesn't pull them."

[athelstanthescribe]

"She's old enough to have got past the grabbing small babies do", Athelstan agrees, remembering all too well the boys' infancy.

[equal_of_any_man]

"Especially when the queen is the one wielding the razor, as Ermina is very apt to do."

Mary giggles and strokes Ragnar's beard like petting a dog.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar closes his eyes and grins, much like a happy dog.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan watches them with a quiet smile.

[equal_of_any_man]

Mary reaches up to offer Athelstan a petting too. "Soft hairy." She purrs.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Yes, Athelstan'S beard feels much softer and nicer than mine," Ragnar says. "I'm tough and bristly!"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Maybe because of the different time of it", he says thoughtfully. "You've grown yours since you reached the age for it to start."

[equal_of_any_man]

"I remember when you were smooth cheeked and rosy." Olivier smiles. "We were both very young then."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I remember, too," Ragnar says. "Such a shy and confused little monk, ready to stand up to a big scary Viking for his book. I was impressed immediately, smooth and rosy cheeks or not!"

[athelstanthescribe]

"I didn't think a plain leather book would have much value to you", he recalls, "And I wasn't very confused then, just frightened."

[equal_of_any_man]

Olivier chuckles and comes to scoop up his errant daughter, letting the men rise off the cold ground. "We have all come along way from then. I was a skinny groom in a tabard too large for me and a belt that went twice around."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"And I was a farmer with big ideas and a mysterious instruction," Ragnar says. "We really have."

He stands, and offers his hand to Athelstan.