(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

[athelstanthescribe]

"Will it just be waking to find herself alone?" Athelstan asks.

[equal_of_any_man]

Olivier nods and accepts the offer, heading up to collect Mary.

Ermina pours some more ale. "She fusses if she wakes up alone but I'm told many children do. She doesn't grizzle long but she does like to be picked up and hugged when she does."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"She needs to know that grown-ups are close and will protect and love her," Ragnar says softly.

[athelstanthescribe]

"The greatest need of all children", Athelstan agrees.

[equal_of_any_man]

Olivier comes down with a grizzly toddler clinging to his neck. She makes grabby hands at Ragnar, hazel eyes heavy. "Sing." She demands.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar takes her, expertly, settles her on himself, and starts singing verses from the havamál, picking those about hospitality.

[athelstanthescribe]

He's a good singer, and Athelstan enjoys listening as well.

[equal_of_any_man]

Mary snuggles up against Ragnar's chest and listens, her eyes drooping again.

Olivier chuckles. "It seems you are comfortable to sleep on."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I am," Ragnar says, made certain by long experience. "Could somebody please cut up my meat and break my bread so I can eat with one hand, once she sleeps?"

Then, he carries on singing.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan is nearest and sets about it.

"The least we can do for a peaceful meal."

[equal_of_any_man]

Ermina smiles, in contented awe to see her baby so happily snuggled in Ragnar's lap. "I may beg you to stay the night if she'll sleep through it with you."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar keeps singing, and looks at Athelstan in question.

[athelstanthescribe]

He shrugs.

"Yes, we could. Time here is like time in the bar."

But better.

[equal_of_any_man]

Ermina reaches out a hand to squeeze Athelstan's sleeve. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to keep you for your farm and the privacy I'm sure you both desire."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar shrugs minimally, dips some bread into the sauce, eats it one-handedly while still holding little Mary, and cocks an eyebrow at Athelstan.

[athelstanthescribe]

He's stopped meeting anybody's eyes.

"Probably better if we stay here. It's late."

[equal_of_any_man]

Ermina offers them a warm smile. "Well, I'm very grateful to have you here. And I promise to put Mary to bed so you get some sleep."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Oh, I am used to sleeping with kids all over me," Ragnar says. "Human ones, and occasionally even literal ones."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods.

"If she wakes again and comes to find us, that would be all right."

[equal_of_any_man]

"You're too kind to our very spoilt daughter." Olivier smiles, starting to clear their finished plates only to be batted away by a maid.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"You're not allowed to do housework any more, either?" Ragnar says.

[athelstanthescribe]

"He's the lord of the manor", Athelstan says lightly. "If he does everything, what will the servants do?"

[equal_of_any_man]

The maid laughs. "He has had to learn how to be a lord of the manor. And not bustle into the kitchen and wash his own dishes."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I used to like doing housework, too," Ragnar says. "Washing my own clothes, cleaning fish, chopping wood or cooking meals when Lagertha was gone or busy with something else or just..."

He shrugs.

"And keeping the place clean while doing it, because otherwise, she'd be angry at me. We lived in a house, not a pigsty, after all. Even while we were just farmers."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods and says quietly, "Still, society has its expectations."