Olivier de Bretagne

"Pretty!" Mary announces.

Olivier laughs. "My daughter, the great artist.

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"Yes," Ragnar agrees, standing beside Athelstan. "Very pretty."

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"A lady of many talents", Athelstan says, ruffling her hair.

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Mary smiles up at Athelstan as he ruffles her hair and goes back to amusing herself.

Olivier nods towards the rest of the farm house to show them what he's done with it in their absence. "I haven't laid in much in the way of bedding but I can fetch some down from the manor. Even with the winter being mild, animals have been nesting out of the cold in any quiet place. I didn't want you to return to find a bed full of badger or vole."

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"We can deal with a family of voles," Ragnar says, "but badgers are very bad-tempered animals, so we are very grateful."

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"I've never known them to come into houses, though", Athelstan says, a little surprised, "but then perhaps if this was undisturbed for long periods of time, they might not think of it as a human place."

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"Badgers are very common in this area." Olivier explains. "And I'd rather you not have to reclaim it from nature every time you come home."

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"Especially if nature means a family of badgers thinking it is their home, not ours," Ragnar nods. "I heard stories about badgers living in the old giant-graves made of huge stones, and scaring the living daylights out of people coming to connect to the old times, or the gods."

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"They can be very fierce", Athelstan agrees. "In defending their young, particularly, or if you startle them in the dark."

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Olivier chuckles, then goes white as there's a crash from the other room. He seems to teleport back to Mary, he moves so fast, nursing her as she cries and examining a skinned knee with care.

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"What happened?" Ragnar says, following almost as quickly.

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"Nothing terrible, I think?" Athelstan says, moving to help soothe Mary. "There, my lady. Your father will make it stop hurting."

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"Ouch!" Mary declares, pointing to her blooded knee.

"There, princess. It's alright." Olivier daps it gently with the corner of his tunic. "Would one of you be so kind as to fetch some water so I can clean it?" He asks, rocking Mary in hid arms.

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Ragnar walks away quickly, to get water from their well.

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Athelstan tucks Mary's hair behind her ears, out of her face.

"What did you trip on?"

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"Chair." She points accusingly at the inanimate object that has offended her, a small bruise forming on her forehead.

Olivier nods his thanks and cleans her knee. "We'll salve this when we get home." He wets a cloth in the cool water and makes a compress for her head. He kisses her hair and sings to her in his native tongue, rocking her gently.

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"Did it ambush you?" Ragnar asks, still holding the water for them.

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"Chairs are tricky things like that", Athelstan says seriously.

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"Mean chair." She sulks, reaching over to get hugs from her uncles. Daddy's hugs are available any day.

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Ragnar reaches over to cuddle her, and kiss her ouch better.

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Athelstan is more than happy to supply cuddles as well.

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Olivier can't help but smile as he watches his little princess cuddle up to the two Northman. He feels safe knowing she, and any future children he might have, will be loved.

It shows in his eyes as he looks at them both.

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"Better now, little lady?" Ragnar asks, softly.

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Athelstan looks to her for the answer.

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