Infected

Ragnar and Lagertha were sitting outside later that night when Bjorn suddenly ran out of the house.

"Mother! Father!" he called and they looked round.

"Bjorn? What's wrong?" Lagertha asked.

"The priest is ill," he said and Ragnar and Lagertha exchanged looks before hurrying back inside. Athelstan was lying on his side, a thin sheet of sweat on his brow. He was trembling slightly and his breath was coming out in short gasps.

"Athelstan?" Ragnar said, shaking the monk's uninjured shoulder slightly, but the monk didn't wake up.

"What's wrong with him?" Bjorn asked, "Will he be alright?"

"You father and I shall do everything we can," Lagertha said, "Go back to bed."

"I thought you did not like him?" Ragnar asked with a smirk.

"I don't" Bjorn said immediately, "But if he dies there will be more for me to." Ragnar and Lagertha exchanged knowing looks as their son left the room, knowing Bjorn was slowly growing fond of the priest. Lagertha sat on the edge of the bed and placed her hand on Athelstan's head.

"He's burning up," she told her husband and removed the bandages from his arm. The wound was swollen and discoloured.

"Infected," Ragnar sad and then shouted to the children, "Bjorn! Gyda! Get some water and clean cloths!" He heard the children scrambling to do as he said and turned back to his wife and slave. Lagertha was running her hand up and down Athelstan's back in an attempt to calm him.

"Hush priest," she whispered as he whimpered. Athelstan slowly opened his eyes and looked confusedly around him.

"W-W-What's ha-happening?" he stuttered.

"You wound is infected," Ragnar sad, "We need to get your fever down." Athelstan nodded, feeling too ill to ask any more questions. Bjorn and Gyda ran into the room with the requested supplies which Lagertha took gratefully.

"Thank you both," she said, "Now back to bed."

"Can't we stay and help him?" Gyda asked, but Lagertha shook her head.

"I will need help caring for him tomorrow," she told her daughter, "So you need to be well rested for that." The children both nodded and left the room. Lagertha and Ragnar were left to look after their slave, who somehow had also become a friend.

Thanks for reading! New chapter tomorrow!