"Wait here, Pagan." the guards pushed Athelstan on the floor. His legs were still too broken to walk, so he just laid there on the cold stone floor of the chapel. Brother Cylwith told him that morning that he was to see the King. He helped him wash and gave him a coarse sackcloth to wear, the attire of a penitent.
He waited with apprehension. He has heard many tales of King Ecbert. He had a reputation of being cunning, but also wise, pious yet with great ambition and pride, a good Christian, yet merciless with his enemies. Ever since the king put a stop to his execution, he has wondered why. Ecbert was known to always have a plan.
He heard footsteps approaching, but when he raised his head, it was not King Ecbert who towered above him, but the bishop. Cylwith told Athelstan that his name was Edmund and was generally considered to be a good man and a close advisor of the king.
"Brother Cylwith told me you were a monk once. Is this true, apostate?" he asked.
"Yes, I was captured at Lindisferne by the Norsemen." Athelstan replied.
"And yet, you have denied our Lord Saviour, you chose to worship false gods, while your brothers have suffered great martyrdom. Do you deny your grievous sins, Pagan?"
In the monastery, Father Cuthbert spoke often of the path to redemption. The sinner had to feel contrition, then confess, do penance and only then could he be reconciled with God. Athelstan felt a flash of defiance in this moment rather than contrition. He wanted to get up and yell in the bishop's face that Ragnar's gods were every bit as real as Jesus to him, that he felt no shame for wanting to share the beliefs of the person who was the closest to him in the entire world. But he did not yell. His monk training of discipline, obedience and humility sat too deeply in his core for such unseemly display of anger. And while he felt no contrition for turning to Odin, the death of the young monk and of the prior weighed heavily on his conscience. The bishop was right, his sins were great. "No." he simply replied.
"Are you ready to renounce the false gods? Are you ready to repent your sins?" thundered bishop Edmund.
Am I ready to turn my back on Ragnar's gods wondered Athelstan. "I will accept my penance" he replied softly.
"There is only one punishment fit for.."
Suddenly another figure emerged from the corner interrupting the bishop. "My dear Lord Bishop, this man has sinned greatly, but has clearly suffered greatly. Surely, Christian charity requires us to offer him a path to redemption." It was King Ecbert.
"Sire, this man has murdered good Christians. He betrayed Christ. He deserves to die." protested the bishop.
"If we kill our enemies like the heathens, what sets us apart from them my dear Lord Bishop?" King Ecbert challenged him.
"Very well, sire. The law of the holy church says that if a monk kills a man, he is to forfeit his rank and fast, and repent his sins ever after." replied Edmund.
"Which I am sure he will do. Now leave us, I wish to speak to him alone." ordered Ecbert.
Once everyone left the chapel, king Ecbert set on the steps before the altar, in front of Athelstan.
"What is your name?" he asked. "Athelstan."
"I am a curious man, Athelstan. I want to know why did the Norsemen choose to let you live, while they killed everyone else. Tell me, what is your secret?"
"Earl Ragnar chose to spare me, sire. I spoke their language a little and he wanted to learn of our ways and customs." replied Athelstan.
"I met this Earl Ragnar, a truly peculiar man. And he spoke our language rather well. So it was you, who taught him?" Athelstan could not read the king's expression. He felt like a rabbit, being circled by a bird of prey.
"Yes, sire. Ragnar treated me well. I taught him our language and customs and he taught me his way of life. He accepted me in his family, among his people." Athelstan struggled to explain. His feelings for Ragnar were confusing. He knew Ragnar could be reckless and dangerous, but he was good to Athelstan. He was like an older brother sometimes and a fierce leader at others, and in rare moments felt like a true friend. He inspired loyalty and love in Athelstan, and he knew, he would have walked through fire if Ragnar asked him to.
"This Earl Ragnar of yours seems like a smart man. He saw advantage to be gained from learning more about us. Likewise, I believe it is best to know your enemies. I wish to learn more about these pagans. You will tell me everything about their customs, Athelstan. It is my sincere hope that you will embrace our faith again with all your heart. Until then, I advise you to be cautious who you talk to and what you say. People in my court are good Christians, and will not tolerate a pagan. Silence is a virtue for a monk, as is obedience" and with this the king left the chapel.
Athelstan felt stunned. King Ecbert was everything they said him to be: a wise man with a purpose, yet cunning. He did not want to betray Ragnar, like once he foolishly betrayed his own people to Ragnar. Yet, how could he defy the great king who offered him mercy and at the same time invited him to play a dangerous game.