A/N: So…guess that last chapter didn't go over so well. Onwards and upwards! Strange to be writing this and no new episodes to watch. Going to have to re-watch the episodes to keep within an Athelstan frame of mind (especially once Graceland starts on USA—Aaron Tveit fans rejoice)! Hope you all enjoy this chapter more than the last one!
Can you lie next to her
And give her your heart
As well as your body
And can you lie next to her
And confess your love
-Mumford and Sons
Athelstan clenched and unclenched his fingers, feeling both the rough and smooth parts of Helena's hand within his as they walked along. They had finished their chores for the day and decided to sneak away to the edge of the forest for some quality time together. The sun was setting in the sky, the hues of pink and purple and blue a portrait that he wished that he could keep within his memory forever. The warmth of the summer air created a new line of perspiration along Athelstan's hairline, and his body hummed with the sounds of the cicadas and of how close he stood to Helena.
Will I ever get used to this feeling?
He hoped not. As they trekked along, the brush whispered with the footsteps of the couple. When they reached their destination, Helena laid a blanket down next to a welcoming tree and set a small dinner out for them to share. Athelstan rested against the tree, closing his eyes and breathing in the scent of the wood and the dirt of the floor beneath them.
He jolted at the feather light touch of Helena gently wiping his brow. His lips turned up into a content smile and he leaned into her palm as she made her way down his face.
"You have been working so hard lately," she told him, her voice a whisper in the wind. "I worry that we won't make it to the wedding if you keep it up."
"I'll be fine," he insisted. "Please don't worry."
"Here, eat up." She handed him a plate of berries, cheese, bread and some chicken.
Not realizing his hunger, Athelstan inhaled the food within minutes and looked at Helena's plate with envy. She began to giggle suddenly before turning to full fledge laughter, and he looked to her for an answer.
"Would you like some of mine?" she asked, offering the rest of her food.
Athelstan shook his head though his stomach said yes. "You need to eat as well; you've been working hard, too."
"Eat, you stubborn man," she smiled, putting a berry into his mouth with her own hand.
He chewed the offering slowly, finding it to be even sweeter on his tongue strictly because it had been hers and not his, licking juices off of her fingers. "Thank you."
She leaned forward and nudged his nose with her own, brushing her lips against his for a moment no long enough. "You're welcome."
As he looked into her eyes, hazy with wonder and want, Athelstan was proud of himself for standing his ground on his decision to marry Helena. The idea that Ragnar thought that he would give up so easily still upset him, and so he tried not to dwell too long on the memory of the day that he told the Lothbrok family of he and Helena's decision to join together as one.
Every part of his being beamed as they walked back to the home that day. Athelstan was sure that if someone were to look upon him they would see beams of light pouring out of small crevices of his body, particles of his soul dancing in joyous acclimation. Helena looked every bit the joyous maiden who had found her prince, the happy ending to the long story of unwanted bad occasions.
It was when Athelstan had opened the door for Helena and they stepped inside, holding hands and unable to hide their smiles that the celebration ended and the first stop on the journey of those to get in their way would begin.
"Athelstan? Helena?" Ragnar had grunted, motioning with his head toward their hands.
Athelstan had stepped forward, though still keeping a hold of Helena's hand, ready to announce his good fortune. "Ragnar, Lagertha, children: Helena has agreed to marry me."
Gyda's face broke into a beam brighter than the sun itself, while Bjorn looked bored and annoyed. Lagertha seemed to be struggling between being happy for them and yet seeing the bad side of the situation as part master of the home. As for Ragnar, he continued to stare at the couple, dumbfounded.
"I'm sorry?" Ragnar whispered, slowing on his carving but not quite stopping.
Athelstan felt as Helena moved behind him, as if to hide from Ragnar. He looked upon the man he considered a friend, confused about the lack of enthusiasm. He had known about Athelstan's feelings for Helena, hadn't he; made jokes of it previously?
"I thought that you would be happy for us; for me," he said, clutching her hand tighter.
Ragnar put his knife and the wooden piece he had been working on down and slowly rose from his seat. He rubbed at his beard, a sarcastic smile growing.
"Happy? You thought that I would be happy that my one slave asks my other slave for her hand in marriage but does not bother to check with me first?"
"But," Athelstan struggled, feeling his annoyance growing, "I thought that I was a free man? We…we discussed this."
"I still am the one who provides for you, am I not? So in a sense you are still mine." Ragnar stood toe to toe with the former holy man. "That still does not account for the fact that I actually paid for Helena, so she is my slave. I do not recall you asking for her hand. But I do remember a man by the name of Arne coming to see me about her a few months ago."
Athelstan closed his eyes and tried to calm his breathing. "Ragnar, I do not understand why you are—"
"Then let me explain!" Ragnar bellowed. "You come home from your first raid and complain that it is not for you and my wife makes it known that you will no longer be going with me. Then you decide that you will go behind my back and ask for Helena's hand. How do you expect to get the means to buy land? To build and keep a home? And what means will you have if you marry and have children? How will you support each other, because I will not be taken advantage of! I already have enough mouths to feed; I do not need to feed any that you so choose to bring in to this world."
Athelstan felt the words sink in, and it was as if he was drowning in quick sand. How could he have not thought of these things? He had been a man in love on a mission, with dreams and hopes and aspirations, but he had failed to notice that all of these things had a price in which he would need to pay. Tears threatened to rat him out, knocking on the door of his eyes.
"I—I'm sorry."
Helena grabbed onto the back of his shirt. He wished that he could send strength to her through it, but he could barely stand himself.
"What are you going to do about Arne?" Lagertha asked, her voice gentle in comparison to her husband's.
"I was going to tell him the truth; that I haven't given him an answer yet because deep down I knew that I was waiting for Athelstan," Helena answered, her body trembling out of fear for the reaction that she would receive.
"And do you think that would have been the end of things?" Ragnar questioned, dubious.
Athelstan felt his instincts take over, and he stood up straighter and with purpose. "I would willingly fight him for her."
"You dead would be doing Helena no good, let alone yourself."
"I would do anything possible to keep her." Athelstan paused, not believing what he was about to say. "Even if that meant raiding with you continually during the summers."
Both Helena and Gyda gasped, the Viking couple looked stunned, and Bjorn looked increasingly happier by the second. Athelstan felt sick at the memories once more, but knew that Ragnar had a point and that he had no trades that were worth anything in this land. If he was going to prove that Helena was his future, he had to do the thing he most despised.
"Athelstan, no!" Helena cried, looking near tears herself.
He held her face in his hands and gave a comforting smile. "I love you, and I would do anything for you. I managed last time, and it's not as if it will be all year round."
"It's a start," Ragnar spoke, focusing the attention back on to him. "Anything that you get while we are on raid will be given to me as payment for Helena and your wedding."
Athelstan hated the sound of those words, payment for Helena, but he supposed that since she was a slave he had to do something in order to convince Ragnar to allow them to marry.
"That still leaves Arne and the matter of a place to stay," Lagertha stated.
"I will take care of Arne," Ragnar offered. "And you can buy land from me. There is plenty on the outer rim in which you can build a home and still have privacy. You both can continue to help with the fields. When we are home, beginning tomorrow, Athelstan and I will start on building the home. Everyone in agreement?"
"I gave you what you wanted to hear, and now you've given me what I wanted to hear. I believe that we're in good standing on this. Thank you, Ragnar Lothbrok."
Ragnar and Athelstan shook hands, and Gyda was finally able to squeal to and hug Helena as much as she wanted. Lagertha did not show as much enthusiasm but still gave her congratulations and a knowing smile to Athelstan.
"Why do you love me?"
Athelstan turned to Helena, squinting from the light of the setting sun in his eyes, and gently played with the loose strands of her hair.
"Why wouldn't I?"
Helena huffed, pushing his hand away. "I wish to know why you would give up on your stance against raiding for me. I don't want to go into this marriage hating myself for causing you pain."
Athelstan straightened up and sat to face her. "Don't you dare do that to yourself, Helena. I love you because you because you respect others, you have a kind heart, but you also speak up for those who are too afraid to do it themselves." He stood and pulled her up with him. Leading them over to the edge of the forest where they could look upon the changing colors of the sky as well as the moving waters below, he stood behind Helena and wrapped his arms around her in a protective stance. "When you first came here, you respected me and what I once was with no hesitation. I wasn't used to that anymore; you were a breath of fresh air. I loved watching you learn the language and customs of these people because I was able to see your eagerness and your frustrations without hesitation on your part. You help without asking because you are kind and generous and your greatest pleasure in life is to help those around you. And on several occasions I have witnessed as you have been the voice of your former neighbors, of Gyda, and of me. You are very brave, Helena, and you don't even recognize that fact because you are humble above all else.
"One day shortly after you had gotten here, when you came down to wash linens and I was finishing up bathing, you talked of the beauty of this new land and how it was that scenery and God that helped you get through your ordeal with Rollo. Those words on your lips and the look of adoration on your face…I had no choice but to love you.
"Our paths were fated, and I thank God for that every day. I could not be happier than to face a long future with you, even if that means to raid during the summers so that I can support you and our children."
Athelstan felt as Helena's body shook but he could not determine if it was from laughter or if she was crying.
"Helena?"
She turned in his arms, her green eyes glistening and her bottom lips red from her biting away the tears. Holding him close, she whispered into his ear, "I cannot believe that I thank the Lord daily that you decided to let go of being a monk."
Athelstan burst into laughter at her honesty and pulled her in for a kiss, their tongues dancing in a familiarity all of their own. He rested his forehead against hers in a comfort that they had only recently gotten to know but one that felt as if it had existed for thousands of years. They stayed there for several minutes, enjoying the serenity of the moment.
"Why do villagers from all over come to Ragnar as if he is their leader?" Helena questioned as they walked along, dusk settling over the hills and the moon becoming clearer. "I understand the men in the area looking to him for advice because he is their friend, but even people from Kattegat walk here just to converse with him."
"Lagertha or the children have never mentioned anything in passing?"
"Not that I can recall."
Athelstan cleared his throat. "A few years ago, Ragnar defeated the Earl in battle and in turn earned the title Earl himself. We lived in Kattegat for the time and he was quite good in the position, as was Lagertha when he was on raid. But at one point, a plague came through and Gyda and I almost died from it. Much of the village was wiped out and mass burnings were held. When Ragnar came back, he tried to make sacrifices to the gods in order to repent for any ill dealings he may have done towards them unknowingly.
"It was when Rollo attempted to assassinate him," Helena gasped, "that Ragnar decided to go to the people and propose that we become more of an equal community so that there were no longer jealousy issues. They all agreed and, in fact, other villages proposed the same idea as word reached them. Scandinavia is under one king, Horik, and he is in close contact with every village. Otherwise, we hold meetings when they are needed and must come to an agreement as one on matters at hand."
"I don't believe that I have ever heard of meetings taking place."
"That's because you see them come to Ragnar instead," Athelstan chuckled. "We have not had much disagreement within the village since the change."
"But they still come to Ragnar?"
"Yes. He was a good leader even before he was entitled. He was the first man to travel to the West, and we have benefited from it since then. Ragnar is not one to be heedless; he thinks before he leaps and tries to find out as much as possible before deciding. Well, in most instances."
"Do you think that he has our best interest at heart?" she asked, almost pleading.
Athelstan thought of how to answer, not wanting to tell her the wrong thing. "Ragnar was very upset at first, yes, but you heard his offers. I do not think him unreasonable in turn of what we ask of him. He had valid points and so did we. That is why he is letting us live on the land and helping me build our home. I think him to be knowledgeable and wanting to help us as best as he can."
She smiled up at him. "If you trust him, then so do I."
He kissed the top of her head and wrapped an arm around her waist. "I have to. He took us both in and has treated us as family for the most part. And if he does anything against you, then I will just have to tell his enemies his faults."
"Oh, Athelstan," Helena giggled, not realizing that he was being very much serious.
"There you two are," Lagertha sighed, bouncing Ivar on her hip. Her eyes were tired but her worry was evident all over her body.
"What is wrong?" Athelstan asked, putting the basket and blanket down and walking over to her. Helena took Ivar and cuddled him closely.
"Ragnar just got word from Arne. He wants to hold a meeting for the village to decide what to do about you two marrying. He thinks himself entitled to Helena's hand and intends to gain her back, with or without her permission."
Athelstan sat down on the table bench, head in his hands and feeling defeated. He was not sure as to how the people would take this, Arne the villager and Athelstan the former slave and foreign priest, both fighting over the same woman. The outcome could go either way.
"The meeting will be held tomorrow so that it is decided before the next raid," Lagertha continued, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"So much for not having had much conflict within the village since the change over," Helena huffed.
Oh how he wished she were wrong.
