So here is when life starts preventing me from posting on time, but it's just a day late. No worries. This chapter follows up with the last one almost immediately, and we're back in Athelstan's perspective here.
Here is also where I've started adding a few things and changing things that will have a bigger impact on the story, I hope. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me. I'm always available, even if it takes me a little while to come up with an answer.
Read on!
A New Home
Waking up the morning after the last day of the funeral feast was harder on Athelstan than any other morning he'd ever had. His head pounded louder than ever, and his stomach rolled, threatening to lose its remaining contents. Even in the minimal light of the room around him, his eyes felt like they were being stabbed with needles. He held his hand up in front of his face to block the light, looking around slowly and seeing Gyda and Lilith asleep in the bed next to him.
How had he gotten here? Surely he hadn't made it on his own. He was still wearing all his clothes and his boots, and with the fur covering him, he discovered he couldn't breathe underneath it. But for the life of him, he couldn't move. If he did, the ground spun around, and even then, he could barely see to move anyway.
Athelstan tried to remember if Ragnar or Lagertha had said he would have to do anything with the girls today and their reading. Every bit of parchment and every book they'd acquired before had been burnt in the fire several weeks ago. As it was, Lilith hadn't had a reading lesson in almost two months. He was sure she did not miss it. Now that she was thirteen, she wanted to do more unstructured things, and he couldn't blame her. He had been the same way at her age. But he knew she needed it anyway.
So he would have to find a way to continue their lessons even if he knew it wouldn't be easy.
"Athelstan."
Lilith's soft voice drew his attention, and he lifted his eyes slowly, seeing her awake as she watched him. His head pounded louder, and he squeezed his eyes shut as tight as he could.
"Are you . . . hungover?" she asked softly.
He squinted at her. "How do you know what that is?"
She smiled slightly. "That's what Ragnar calls it when he's had too much to drink." She glanced back at Gyda, rising from their bed slowly and then climbing into bed with him. He wrapped his arms around her reluctantly, feeling her warmth add to furs covering him and having to take a deep breath as he set his chin over her head. Then she spoke again. "I don't like seeing you sick," she said.
Athelstan sighed, holding her closer. "Believe me. I don't like being sick. I didn't mean to drink so much, but before I knew it, it happened."
She laughed just once and then leaned back to look up at him. "So if Bjorn and Ragnar asked you to jump into the river naked in the winter, would you do that too?"
He blushed without meaning to, laughing himself. "Of course not. Though I did jump into the river to save Ragnar's life not so long ago. I suppose that's why he trusts me so much now."
Lilith smiled then, folding her arms together over his chest and laying her head over his shoulder. "I'm sure they're all grateful for you being here, Athelstan," she whispered. "They now know what I have always known."
He stroked her hair gently. "And what is that, Lili?"
"That you are brave and fair and strong, and you're the best friend anyone could ever have."
As he listened to her, the smile that had spread across his face faded a little, and for a reason unknown to him in that moment, it broke his heart that she still had so few people around her to relate to her and be her friend. Was it his fault she was like this? Was there anything that could be done to change it?
"If Ragnar and Lagertha don't understand that," she continued, "then they're not worthy of you as a friend. And that will make me sad for them."
He kept his hand over the crown of her head, holding her as close to him as he could. "Of course they know, Lili," he murmured. "I would not be here if they did not. But everything is so different now. We all have to adjust, and we all need each other now more than ever. And you and I will need to pray for guidance. To help our new family in our new home." He leaned back a little and looked down at her, lifting her chin so she would look at him. "This is a dangerous place, Lili. And I need you to be safe here. I might not always be able to be with you. So you and Gyda need to watch out for each other as well, and Bjorn will too, I imagine. Do you understand?"
She nodded. "I do. But I'm worried about you now as well."
His brow furrowed slightly. "Why?"
Sighing, she lifted her hands to his arms, facing him as she lay in front of him. "When it was just us on the farm, and then at Floki's, I knew you were safe. Ragnar and Lagertha never really treated you like a slave, and neither did Helga or Floki. But here. Here you are only a slave. No one else here will think you are any better than that. What if something happens to you? What if someone tries to hurt you?"
Though he didn't want to admit it to himself, Athelstan had hoped many of the goings on in town had not been so noticeable during the funeral. But with the fear in her voice, somehow, she had managed to learn about some of it. Somehow, she had learned about how the slaves were treated in town, and now she was again worried about him even if he had never meant for her to be.
He leaned closer to her and laid his forehead against hers, wrapping his hands around her little arms. "Ragnar will keep us all safe, Lili," he whispered. "It won't be like it was when Earl Haraldson was here. The people respect Ragnar, and so they will respect his decisions. And there is still so much for him to do as the new Earl. Try not to worry about things we cannot change. Let us wait and see what the day has set upon us before we decide how we will face it, hmm?"
She nodded silently, laying close to him and looking like she had fallen asleep. But then after a few seconds, she squirmed against him, taking her hands from his arms and leaning in to kiss him before she rose quickly. "I must go make water," she said frantically. "I hope I remember where the new latrine is."
Athelstan laughed as she scrambled away, stopping abruptly when his head pounded, and he sat up over the bed before he realized what had just happened. He lifted his hands to his lips, still feeling her warmth and sighing as softly as he could without waking Gyda. All the doubt he had as to whether her behavior was his doing evaporated in that moment. Of course it was his doing. He was all she knew.
How was he supposed to make it right if he was the one doing it?
Slowly, he stood up from the bed, dizzy for a second before he reached for the post beside him. He eased out of the small room so he wouldn't wake Gyda, keeping his eyes covered as he stepped out into the main room of the long house. Finding his way to the breakfast table was easier than he expected it to be, and while he knew there would be food, what he didn't think to find there were thin stones stacked along with charred wood in a bundle next to them.
Somehow, someone had remembered they didn't have parchment to write on or quills to write with and still wanted them to continue their lessons.
"I hope this is sufficient, Priest."
Ragnar's voice surprised him, and he turned toward the other end of the room to see the older man sitting in front of the hearth with a small cup in his hands.
"My wife said you would still need something to write on for my children's lessons, and I had our new servants bring in every flat stone they could find for you to do that."
Athelstan looked through the stones, noticing how they were all smooth and less than half an inch thick. In all, there were probably fifteen stacked up, so it was almost a foot tall. "Where did they find these?" he asked even if it didn't really matter.
Ragnar sighed and stood up from the fire, moving to sit across from him with the small cup. "Drink this," he commanded. "It will help with your . . . hangover." He grinned and set the cup in front of him.
Reluctantly, Athelstan took the cup and drank its contents. He discovered it was bitter, almost spitting up when Ragnar tipped his chin up so he had no choice but to drink. Once that was done, Ragnar took the cup, and Athelstan coughed loudly.
"What is that?" he cried.
"A little mixture I make up whenever I need to be clear-headed the day after I have drunk too much," Ragnar said with a grin. "And today, I must be clear-headed. There is much to do now that I am the Earl."
Athelstan sighed softly, coughing a little more before he realized what Ragnar meant. "Forgive me, My Lord. I did not mean to speak out of turn."
The amused expression on Ragnar's face unnerved Athelstan as he sat across from him, but then he smiled and leaned closer.
"What are you so worried about?" he teased. "You already have a high place in my household, Priest. Not only for giving me a second daughter, but also for saving my life. And I did tell you I would have to think of a way to repay you. If it were solely up to me, I would make you a free man. But such status can take years to accomplish, and so far, while you have proven your loyalty to me and my family, I now have many families to look after. I must think of them now as well."
Athelstan bowed his head, dropping his shoulders as he resigned himself to whatever position Ragnar deemed him worthy of.
"As the Earl, I have inherited a great deal more slaves who are here to feed us and help us keep our household running. There are so many of them that I do not know all their names. And this is something that both Lagertha and I wish very much. You were our first slave, a distinction that not many people in town can attest to. That is why I have decided to give you the task of managing all our new slaves."
Athelstan lifted his head, sitting up straight once again. "What? Why?"
"You have proven to me that you always know the right thing to do when I call upon you," Ragnar nodded. "And you never hesitate to give me your honest opinion of things I am uncertain about. These slaves are now my responsibility, just as the other people in town are. I want you to help me share this burden. You will still have your other responsibilities, teaching my children and making sure they are safe and fed. Anything else will be decided as we go on, but you are the only one I trust with this task."
"I don't know what to say," Athelstan stammered.
Ragnar grinned and then laughed. "Say you agree, and it will be done."
Athelstan was so stunned that he couldn't speak for another half a minute, looking up to see Lilith coming back from using the latrine. She saw them sitting there and sat with them, lifting her tired eyes to Athelstan as he lowered his to her.
"Well?" Ragnar said, and Athelstan looked at him. "Do you agree?"
He sighed softly, holding Lilith against him like he had earlier. "I agree," he said and nodded.
Ragnar nodded as well. "Good. Now I must go piss."
He stood up and left, taking three long strides out the side door. Athelstan sighed a second time, glancing around even as Lilith spoke up.
"What was that all about?" she asked.
Athelstan glanced at her and squeezed her gently, looking back to where Ragnar had gone. "I think he just made me a freedman," he said. "And his steward."
"He did?" she asked, and he looked at her to see her smiling.
He smiled too before pushing out a heavy breath. "Well, as much as he can," he said, adding, "he's only just become Earl. Normally, the slaves would be here to look after you, but he wants me to do that. And he also wants me to oversee the other slaves, since he trusts me to do it." He squeezed her shoulder. "I told you, Lili. We simply need to be careful here. Hmm?"
She nodded, still smiling as she sat next to him. Then she stood up quickly. "I almost forgot. My moon blood began last night. I will need a bath before I change clothes."
"Then go wake Lagertha," he said and nudged her off. "She will take you to the bathhouse."
She hurried away, and Athelstan waited until she was gone to turn back to the table where the flat stones set. For now, he knew the charred wood would be sufficient for writing, but eventually, he would need to find materials that would be more manageable. As he stood there, a young girl about Lilith's age came from the kitchen with a large bowl of grain meal in her little hands, stopping in front of him with an expectant look on her little face.
"She said to ask you where you wanted to put this," she said to him, looking at the bowl and then up at him.
Athelstan took two steps closer to her, only for her to back away from him with wide eyes. He automatically lifted his hands in front of him. "It's all right. I won't hurt you. Who told you to bring me this?"
She looked at the bowl again. "Ingrid." She looked up at him. "She said Earl Ragnar said you were in charge of us all now. Anything you tell us to do is like Earl Ragnar telling us."
He bowed his head, understanding easily. "What is your name?" he asked her gently.
"Þórunn," she said and bowed her head, still holding the bowl.
He lifted his hands to the bowl, under hers as he nodded. "My name is Athelstan. Tell Ingrid thank you for me. I will put this out for Earl Ragnar and his family."
She looked up at him without lifting her head, taking her hands from the bowl and pulling them away before he could touch her.
Athelstan realized a second too late, putting the bowl of grain down and stopping her from leaving. "Þórunn, how old are you?"
She kept her head down, her fist clenched even as he held her arm gently. "I do not know for certain," she said through her teeth. "I began my moon blood nearly a year ago, but Ingrid said not to tell anyone. I think I am thirteen, but none of the others know. If they did — "
"And you're a slave?" he asked incredulously.
She nodded quickly, pressing her lips in a thin line.
"How long have you been a slave?"
She huffed, looking up at him with angry blue eyes. "I have always been a slave. And I always will be."
He opened his mouth to argue when a taller, older woman came from the kitchens, calling for her.
"Girl, where are you?" she demanded looking up and seeing her there with Athelstan. The scowl on her face faded instantly as she moved closer to them. "Forgive me . . . ser. If she has done wrong, I will see she is punished."
Athelstan stopped the woman from taking Þórunn, keeping his hand around her arm. "That's not necessary," he said, pausing and raising his brow so she would tell him her name.
"Ingrid," she said and bowed her head.
He nodded, acknowledging her as he spoke again. "That's not necessary, Ingrid. I was simply talking to her. I will have her out here with me, and she will help serve Earl Ragnar and his family."
Ingrid's face paled quickly, her mouth agape. She clutched her apron with both hands, scowling again at Þórunn. "She does not know how to do that," she said sourly.
"Then I will show her," Athelstan stated plainly. "You may go."
Ingrid clenched her jaw, glancing back to the private rooms and then leaving swiftly.
"You should not have done that," Þórunn exclaimed. "Now she will tell everyone what you did. She will tell the Earl and his wife, and they will have me expelled."
Athelstan sighed softly, pulling her closer to him. "No one will do that," he assured her. "And she can tell Earl Ragnar all she wants. I have a feeling it won't make a difference to him. I have something else for you to do."
She lifted her chin, glaring up at him. "What?" she demanded.
Slowly, he lowered his hand to hers and stepped back to the table where the flat stones lay. "I need these to be spread out on the table," he told her. He lifted his hands so they were half a foot apart to show her, "Like this. When you have done that, I will have something else for you to do. It's all right, Þórunn. If I am in charge of all of us, then I will find you things to do around here until it is time to cook supper."
She picked up the first stone, looking up at him and waiting for him to nod before she began doing what he had said.
He watched her for a minute, turning back toward the private rooms and discovering Lagertha there as she watched him. He stopped for just a few seconds, noticing her smile and then smiling himself as he bowed his head.
"Good morning," he greeted.
She gave him a nod and reached out to rub his arm. "Good morning. I see that it is not only Lilith or my children you are good with. You seem to have a gift with all children. That is a rare thing, Athelstan. Most men overlook them. Well, except for Ragnar."
Athelstan laughed softly. "Well, it wasn't so long ago that I was one," he said. "So I suppose I still have some insight to being one. Has Lili taken her bath? She told me she was bleeding this morning."
Lagertha nodded again. "She and Gyda are getting dressed now." She sighed, looking back at Þórunn. "I suppose it is a good thing then that I have a man gifted in raising children in my household. One who will not be tempted to leave once the spring and summer raids come back round."
He watched his new charge for just half a minute before he looked at her, noticing how happy she looked. "And why is that?" he asked her.
She lowered her gaze to the floor, absently touching her stomach, and Athelstan realized that she wasn't looking at the floor. He took a step closer to her, whispering.
"Lagertha," he said, and she smiled up at him. "Are you …"
"I am," she said and nodded. "Ragnar and I are going to have another child. A boy."
Athelstan grinned and then laughed, taking her hand in his. "That's wonderful," he exclaimed even as she lifted her fingers to his lips to stop him.
"Not so loud," she pleaded. "We still have not told our children. I suspected before we came to Kattegat, as I had missed my moon's blood once already. But then I missed it a second time, and the midwife confirmed it. If possible, however, I would like to be further along before we tell anyone else. Ragnar has just been made Earl. Winter is upon us. There is still so much to do. That is what I wished to speak to you about."
Though his smile did not fade, Athelstan heard her serious tone and stood up straight as she turned to him.
"I'm aware that you are not appraised to the workings of a woman's body," she said, and he blushed a little, bowing his head. She lay her hand over his shoulder, squeezing gently. "At least not when she is with child. So I do not expect you to help me with that. But with my son and my daughters. I'm sure Ragnar has already told you of his decision to put you in charge of the other servants, and it is a task I am certain you will excel at. I will have women to help me dress, but sometimes, I might desire your company to talk. That would not be too difficult. Would it, my dear Athelstan?"
"No, it would not," he agreed and laughed. Nodding, he added, "I'm happy for you. I will do whatever it is you need me to do."
She nodded as well. "Thank you. I'm going to see about breakfast. Keep an eye out for Gyda and Lilith. I think the bathhouse is still quite new to them. And tomorrow, it will be your turn."
Athelstan laughed again, shaking his head slightly as she stepped away from him. He noticed that Þórunn was finished setting the flat stones on the table, and he hurried to help her, seeing the confused look on her face.
"What is all this for?" she asked once he was close.
"Why don't you stay and find out? I'll make sure it's all right, if you wish."
She glanced around, still seeming like she was doing something wrong, but when she looked at him and saw he was serious, she nodded her agreement silently.
Only a few more minutes passed before Lilith and Gyda emerged from the private rooms of the long house, now wearing their newer dresses with their hair braided. They saw him before they saw Þórunn, and they both looked at each other for just a second before arriving at the table where the stones had been laid out.
"Good morning, girls," Athelstan greeted, embracing Gyda and kissing her cheek before he did the same to Lilith.
"You're looking better," Lilith said and smiled. "What else did Ragnar say to you this morning?"
He took her hand in hers, squeezing it gently. "It wasn't only that." He turned to where his helper was standing, gesturing for her to come to him. "This is Þórunn. She's going to help us this morning, as soon as Bjorn gets here. Þórunn, this is Lili and Gyda. Earl Ragnar's daughters. I'm teaching them to read, as well as their brother Bjorn."
Lilith lifted her eyes to Athelstan, and he nodded before she stepped in front of Þórunn, extending her hand slowly. "I remember you," she said, and the young girl in front of her bowed her head. "You helped me get dressed when we first came here. I think I knew I would be seeing you again. Gyda, come."
Gyda stepped forward with a smile on her face, taking Þórunn's hand gently. "Hello, Þórunn. I am Gyda. It's so nice to see you again."
Þórunn kept her head down, side-eyeing Athelstan, and he realized she was afraid. He stepped up to her side.
"It's all right," he assured her. "You won't get in trouble. I promise."
Slowly, she lifted her head, looking in Lilith and Gyda's eyes for the first time. A tiny smile tugged at her cheek, and after taking a deep breath, she nodded. "It is . . . nice to see you both again." She looked up at Athelstan, smiling wider. "Athelstan is very kind."
Lilith moved forward and linked her arm through Þórunn's. "That, he is," she agreed. "Come sit. You can do more than help us."
After a little hesitation, she followed Lilith's pull, and they all sat at the table.
Bjorn didn't come to the front until almost an hour later, when they were all eating breakfast with Ragnar and Lagertha. He noticed Þórunn immediately, sitting next to his father and taking his food before he glanced at her and then spoke.
"I did not know that we had acquired a new slave," he said nonchalantly. "Is she going to be like a handmaiden to Gyda and Lili?"
Athelstan opened his mouth to explain, but Þórunn stood up and hurried away before anyone could say anything else. He tried to follow her, but Ragnar stopped him.
"It is all right," he said and looked at Bjorn. "My son, you know very well that we have inherited almost all of Earl Haraldson's slaves. But we are not like Earl Haraldson or his men. We don't disrespect anyone who has no control over their situation. As you no longer do so to Athelstan. Is that understood?"
Bjorn glanced back to where she had gone, sighing heavily before he looked up at his father and nodded.
"Good. And there will be no more talk of this. We have many things to do, and today is only the first day." He turned his attention to Lilith and Gyda. "My daughters, I have arranged for you to have new responsibilities now that we are living here. You both remember Elisef? She is Leif's mother."
They both smiled and nodded.
"Well, you will both find her at the healer's hut, and she will teach you how to do what Helga and Floki did to save my life. She should feed you at least once, and you will come back here for supper and then your nighttime lessons with Athelstan. And you, my son, will be here for those, since I know you missed this morning's lessons."
Bjorn blushed, putting his head down without saying anything.
"And you, Athelstan," Ragnar said, prompting him to look up, "I want you to go down to the butcher to buy meat for supper. You will take your new charge with you, since you seem intent on taking her under your wing. You will also take Ingrid. She will help you navigate the merchants, and that way, we will know who is fair and who is not."
"Of course, My Lord," Athelstan nodded.
Ragnar smiled mischievously. "I will also require you to assist my lovely wife in anything she requires you to do today," he added. "She will assign those duties to you as they are needed. Hmm?"
Athelstan nodded again, trying not to blush and failing when he realized Ragnar's meaning. He glanced at the girls and then Bjorn before he returned to his food quietly.
"Father," Gyda said after a minute. "Why must we learn healing from Elisef and not Helga?"
"Well, my daughter," Ragnar said and looked at her. "While Helga is quite skilled in healing practices, along with Floki, they mostly like to keep to themselves in the woods. Elisef has also agreed to show you several other practices, so your knowledge will be much broader and you will one day be able to help more people." He paused leaned closer to speak to them more directly. "Now, while you are with Elisef, she is in charge of you. You will do what she asks, and you will not leave her side until it is time for supper. And she will bring you back here. Understand?"
Gyda looked at Lilith, and they communicated silently before they both looked at Ragnar. "Yes, Father," Gyda said.
"Yes, Father," Lilith said, much to everyone's surprise.
Ragnar sat up straighter than Athelstan had ever seen, glancing in his direction before he stood up and strode around the table to sit beside Lilith as she watched him. He wrapped his arm around her small shoulders and squeezed her against him, kissing the top of her head. "And now I truly feel like I have gained a second daughter," he said and laughed softly. "One day soon, we will need to celebrate and announce this to everyone in town. For that is how we welcome every new member of our family."
Lilith blushed, holding Ragnar's arm with both her hands and lifted her eyes to Athelstan as she laughed. He laughed as well, and soon, everyone else at the table joined them.
Ragnar leaned back then, putting his hands on Lilith's shoulders to face her. "You truly are a daughter of Ragnar Lothbrok," he announced. "You and your sister Gyda will have a special legacy that only the two of you will carry the rest of your days."
"And what about Bjorn?" Lilith asked and glanced at him.
Ragnar looked at his son, smirking. "My son knows what his legacy is," he nodded, and Bjorn nodded. "And one day, he will do a great many things. Of this, I am as certain as any father can be. But this celebration will be about you, my daughter."
Lilith only laughed softly.
"Now, everyone finish your food," he commanded them all. "Lots to do today."
After they all finished breakfast, they all left the long house to begin their individual tasks. Bjorn followed Ragnar and Lagertha to the Great Hall where people were already gathering to see the new Earl. Ragnar didn't look particularly happy about assuming his new responsibilities. While they did that, Athelstan collected Lilith and Gyda, as well as Þórunn and Ingrid from the kitchens, so they could all make their way through town.
After a week and a half long funeral ritual to bury Earl Haraldson, the sun was shining when they all walked through town. Most of the people they passed paid them no attention. A few of the men had their eyes on the younger girls, but none of them did or said anything. Ingrid stayed behind them all, carrying a large basket that would hold their bounty from the butcher.
"It looks so different now," Lilith said as she and Athelstan followed Gyda to the healing hut. "I didn't think that was possible."
He wrapped his arm around her, squeezing her shoulder. "Anything is possible now, Lili. We all just have to look after each other. Hmm?"
She nodded, and then he did as well.
The door to the Healing hut was standing open when they arrived, and Athelstan stepped inside with Gyda and Lilith as Elisef came up from the back room.
"Welcome!" she greeted. "Earl Ragnar said I would have two new pupils coming today." She smiled at Gyda and Lilith, lifting her wise eyes to Athelstan. "I remember you. You were with Ragnar and Lagertha when they came back from their second raid. When my husband was killed."
Athelstan bowed his head. "Yes," he said gently. "I am sorry for what happened to him."
She laid her hand over his shoulder. "It's all right. I know it wasn't you or Ragnar. It was Earl Haraldson. And I know my Erik is with the gods. He would fight his way into Valhalla with all his might. And besides, I still have my son, Leif. He carries his father's legacy."
"Of course," he agreed and nodded.
"Now," she said and looked at Gyda and Lilith, "these two lovely young ladies will learn everything I can teach them about the healing arts. And while we still these late harvest days, we might still be able to journey to the woods and learn about some medicinal herbs. But nothing too dangerous. I'll watch over them like they're mine. And perhaps, I can persuade my own son to help us. Hmm?"
Gyda and Lilith both nodded, looking up at Athelstan before he let go of them reluctantly.
"All right, girls," he said and nodded toward Elisef. "Mind Elisef, and I'll see you both at supper."
The older woman took both the girls under her arms and guided them further into the hut, leaving Athelstan at the door just moment before he sighed and stepped outside where Ingrid and Þórunn waited for him. Neither of them said anything to him, but Ingrid nodded off toward the market so they could go in their duties.
He nodded for her to lead the way, and with a huff, she did, walking away briskly. Athelstan reached for Þórunn, waiting for her to take his hand in hers before he followed Ingrid through the street. Again, no one paid them any attention. Ingrid glanced over her shoulder at him, lowering her eyes to his hand in Þórunn's and almost clenching her jaws before she looked away from him. He didn't let go, keeping his new charge close as they walked.
"You have not been a slave long, have you?" Þórunn asked as they walked.
Athelstan looked around them before he bowed his head. "No," he admitted. "I have not."
"What were you before you were a slave?"
He looked at her, noticing the genuine question in her blue eyes. "I was a monk."
Her brow furrowed deeply. "What is that?"
"It's sort of like a priest, except I didn't administer prayers to the people. I mostly copied manuscripts and went on missions."
"Was it something you always wanted to do?" she asked, still curious.
Athelstan looked away, thinking of the two years he'd been at the monastery before Lilith came. When he'd had to leave his family behind, he hadn't known why he had to stay at the monastery, not until a visitor had told him they had all died of a fever. For the first time in his life, Athelstan had felt alone. And then Lilith had come to the monastery, and everything had changed. For twelve years, he'd been devoted to his studies, but he'd also been devoted to Lilith in nearly every other way.
"Athelstan."
Þórunn's voice brought him out of his thoughts, and he sighed heavily. He chose not to answer her, pulling her through the street to follow Ingrid.
When they made it back to the long house, Ingrid took their bounty from the butcher to the kitchens, bidding Þórunn to follow her and again nearly glaring at Athelstan as she left him there.
Neither Lagertha nor Bjorn had returned to the long house, but the flat stones needed to be cleaned, so he began to collect them so he could take them to the kitchens. He had only picked up a few when a small hand grabbed his arm and turned him around to be faced with Ingrid as she stood there alone.
"I just want to make one thing perfectly clear, Priest," she barked, her quiet demeanor gone. "You now have the authority to assign duties to those of us who have been absorbed into Earl Ragnar's household. You do not, however, have the right to upend all our duties that we've had since before you came here. And I will not have you filling that girl's head with promises you will not be able to fulfill. She is here to work. She is not here to be your pet."
She turned and left before he could argue, leaving him there confused.
Obviously, Athelstan had never been in charge of anyone before now. Even when he'd began taking care of Lilith, he'd never had to assign her things to do. He'd known as soon as Ragnar had given him this task that it wouldn't be easy, and he knew he would need guidance. He hadn't believed that observation would be so glaringly obvious so quickly.
Somehow, he would need to find some common ground with these new people. And he would need someone to help him. So he put down the stones in his hands and followed Ingrid to the kitchens. Hopefully, she could see that he only wanted to help.
So is it too much that I want to have Þórunn in the story earlier than she was in show? I kept thinking, she tells Bjorn that she has always been a slave, so she must have been there before Aslaug, right? I wanted to incorporate her into the story sooner to have more familiar faces, since I'm already adding new characters. There will be more in the next chapter.
Thank you to everyone who has followed this and put it in their favorites. Don't hesitate to drop me a line.
Until next time!
