Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. Please don't sue me I'm poor.
Athelstan's life at the monastery was peaceful and uneventful for many years, it was where he lived, worked and thrived to bring the lords words to others, along with his brothers he travelled to many different places and picked up so many new things, but the different languages were his favourite. Athelstan was always looking forward to the days he could go out and spread his lords teachings, however Athelstan also feared the outside world because there were people out there that were...different. People who lived outside of towns and cities, people that ran wild where ever they went, people who were violent for no reason, people who could...change into creatures, they were considered a perversion of the lords form. These people were called werewolves.
Just thinking about these things made Athelstan shiver. Sometimes he would dream of fangs, claws and a lot of blood but he feared nothing while in the sanctuary of the monastery, the beasts never came close. It was rare for Athelstan to have nightmares while he was in the monastery but this night he had a particularly bad one. He blames one of the other monks for sharing a story about his encounter with werewolf once.
Athelstan decided to go get some fresh air to clear is head. Walking down the familiar halls he headed to the doors that lead to the gardens, he reached for the handle and stopped himself when he heard an unusual noise, looking around he saw that he was alone and the halls were silent again. He grabbed the door handle and opened the door he took a deep breath before going out only to stop himself again when he noticed a basket on the floor.
Athelstan knew that there was a baby in the basket and that's what the noise was, people would often abandon unwanted children on the doors of monasteries for a many different reasons, the most common being the had too many and they could not afford to feed another mouth.
Athelstan picked up the basket and shut the door. He took the infant to his room so he could read the note that was left and then go find father Cuthbert. He picked up note and began to read it. The hand writing was terrible but allegeable the more of the note he read the more his face paled.
'To the fathers of the church I leave this beast in your care to be destroyed, I know you have contact with hunters and people who will know what to do with this devil child, please see to it that he is dead before he can grow and become a plague to us all'
Athelstan could not move, he just kept re-reading the note in disbelieve. A werewolf here in the monastery he must tell father Cuthbert immediately, he must worn the others he began to panic as many other thoughts went through his head. Suddenly the child stirred interrupting his thoughts. He swallowed nervously and approached the basket slowly reaching for the blanket he pulled it off to see in infants face.
Athelstan was take back he was expecting some sort of monster or a child with a deformity marking him out as a werewolf, but the child before him looked normal. He was only a few weeks old at most, he had bright blonde hair and beautiful green eyes. Athelstan touched the Childs cheek and the child turned his head to try and feed.
Athelstan was no longer sure of what to do at first he wanted to tell father Cuthbert about the infant left on the door, then he wanted to warn father Cuthbert of the werewolf left on the door and now...well he didn't know if he should tell anyone, of course everyone would find out about the child in the morning but would they know the infant was a werewolf?
He paced around his room thinking of all the possible outcomes of his situation the most thought out one would be the death of the child and it made his heart clench even if it was a werewolf he was still an innocent child. After a few more moments Athelstan had made his decision, taking the note in his hand he burned it and began writing a new note, he wrote the note with his left hand so his hand writing would not be recognised he also made a few mistakes just to be safe. He placed the new note in the basket and began the walk to father Cuthbert's room. He finally came to the fathers door and with steeled nerves he knocked and waited.
Father Cuthbert opened his door and to his surprise found Athelstan.
"Athelstan what brings you here at such a late hour?" He asked
"Forgive the intrusion but someone has left a baby at our door"
Father Cuthbert looked at the bundle in Athelstan's arms and invited him in.
"How did you come by this infant?"
"I had nightmare and went to get some fresh air and found this little one on the door step. Whoever left him here also left a note. It's a typical story the parents just could not afford another child" Athelstan's palms were sweaty and Father Cuthbert read the note, he prayed his lie would be believed.
"I see. So they leave him here to be cared for. Well they have left him in capable hands we will raise him well and he will help us spread the lords word in the future" Father Cuthbert said not noticing Athelstan's sigh of relief
"Um...Father I would like to raise him, if that's alright?" Athelstan asked
"I don't know about that Athelstan you are still very young yourself and taking on a child is not an easy task"
Yes at 19 years old Athelstan was the youngest member of the order but he knew had he to try and convince the father he could raise the child "But all the other brothers are old and many would not have the patience to look after him"
Athelstan bit his lip as father Cuthbert thought about it.
"It is a very big decision and a life changing one at that if you are willing to take on the child then I will discuss it will the others in morning" He said
"That's fine" Athelstan thought his heart would burst
"Well then why don't you take him to the kitchens to feed him we always have some food for infants in stock and we will talk about this further in the morning"
"Yes father" he picked up the infant, left the room and headed to the kitchen.
After feeding and changing the baby he went back to his room. Placing the sleeping baby in his room Athelstan let the guilt finally set in.
'What have I done?' He thought
He sat on his bed and began to cry. He had lied in house of the lord and to father Cuthbert's face all to protect some creature he had feared all his life a creature that could kill him as it gets older. No he thought if the lord could love and forgive sinners so could he, he would raise the child with the lords words and teachings and teach him to love those around him, but the guilt still lingered and for the rest of the night he prayed for answers, guidance and forgiveness.
When morning came he was tired and it was time to meet the other fathers to talk about the baby he brought in. He walked into the room and placed the infant on the table for the others to look at, thankfully he was asleep.
"Athelstan father Cuthbert tells us you wish to take on the baby as your own, is this true?" He was asked by father Martin
"Yes father it is" He tried not to sound tired but it was difficult with little sleep
"And why is that?" father Martin continued
Athelstan tried to pull together a good enough reason "Well I believe I can handle the responsibility and most of the others may not have the patience for someone so young anymore"
There were a few murmurs of agreement, Athelstan was the youngest of the order and they themselves did not want to look after a baby at their ages.
"You do have a valid point and it sounds like a few of us here already agree" father Cuthbert said and Athelstan felt a sense of relief "However..." his relief turned to slight panic as he continued "We just want to make sure you are fully aware of the responsibilities involved in looking after a child, father Aaron will show you over the next few weeks what you will need to do and if you are unable to look after the baby then we will send him to another monastery, do you understand?"
"Yes of course" He smiled
"Very well then, have you decided on a name yet?"
"Yes I have decided to call him Alistair"
"Perfect we will put him on our records, go and find father Aaron in his room he will begin your lessons in child care"
"Thank you" Athelstan had never been more relieved in his life, he picked up Alistair and headed to father Aaron's room.
After a month father Aaron told the others that Athelstan was more than capable to look after the baby and was allowed him to look after him.
Athelstan's life changed that day changed in a way he could have never imaged and for a while things went back to normal and he was happy raising Alistair until one day a stranger darkened the monasteries door way.