Okay quick notes this is set before whole Earl Problem and such. I imagine Also Athelstan being min 17-19 max (I see him more 17) but I do ship still Lagertha/Ragnar/Athelstan so yeah they never actually did the deed yet but Athelstan and Lagertha have an agreement where she can touch him. Also Athelstan is totally a mother hen/ awesome parent in this. oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooo

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Honor thy house

It was a late spring afternoon the sun was already lowering itself closer to the rolling hills of afar. All was peaceful the animals quiet for once the simple cry of the chickens coming now and then. Athelstan sighed he was himself at peace. Silently leaning on the shed's wall sitting upon a log he sewed the recently torn pants of Bjorn Lothbrok. The young boy what been fishing when it happened his knee scrapped on a rock while he was leaving the beach. He had tripped and fell to the ground in effort to not drop any of the well caught and earned fish he fell flat on his knees. After that the poor boy had ran home with his fish dignity at hand even with his pain which sacred his knees and made him limp. At first Athelstan had not notice the state of his knees and had simply asked what was wrong… the wrong thing to ask indeed. The still young Viking had all but sworn at him to 'shut up or he would hurt him'. And even with the little time he has been here Athelstan had been keen of knowing what Bjorn harsh words truly meant like when the boy would say 'I am a Man' in other words he was tired but did not wish to be sent to bed or 'Those stories are for babes' which meant it would scare his sister and he would not have any of that if it was not of his doing. But in this case Bjorn words went against him. He had sighed upon seeing the boy's knees.

"You wish not for your parents to see? Yes" Asked the priest. Bjorn had nearly blushed. "Shut up priest" The boy scowled looking away as his eyes were upon him. 'Yes just hurry' were the true meaning of his young master's words and Athelstan simply brushed the harsher words away. "Alright lift up your trousers to your knees" Athelstan said calmly as he went into the house to get some already prepared water to clean the wounds. As he when inside he had heard Bjorn swore defying words but was not surprised to see him sitting down his pants to his knees exposing his bloodied cuts. "I am fine priest you worry more than a woman" The younger one exclaimed crossing his arms before his chest as let Athelstan bathe the rag in the water and start to clean his knees. "NEVER let your mother hear that" He chuckled and began again "Besides would you wish better infection or a scar" He joked knowing it would please the boy to gain a scar far better than most. Once Athelstan was done Bjorn looked up as he rose from the ground "I was fine priest" the boy protested. 'You're welcome' thought Athelstan. But the priest sighed again "I know but you wouldn't want your mother to find your new pants already worn leave them out here and go change, your parents should come back from their walk soon." Athelstan said as he began to empty the little bucket of water into the goats drinking bowl. Bjorn had tossed aside and thrown his pants into Athelstan's face to go into the house to change. 'You're welcome'Athelstan thought to himself as he took the pants and began to sew it.

And there he was still after an hour the pants were sewed. He let himself relax a bit stretching in the little sunlight which was left letting the warmness soak him. He then got in the House and went to put the pant in Bjorn's room. He then cleaned a few of the children's possessions which had been left on the floor. He made his way back to the kitchen and faced the fish basket which he had made Gyda soak in herbs for him when her brother had arrived. He began slowly to gut the fish and prep the fire he would make a stew it was Gyda's favorite and it was the easiest to make. Collecting a few of the plants he had gathered earlier he began to cut them. Humming cheerfully, he paid no attention to the world around him. Stuck in his own head he had only notice until it was too late something was going for his arm. He quickly turned knife at hand to see a gleeful Ragnar and Lagertha. "Getting skippy aren't you little bird." Mused Ragnar. "Oh sorry" He baffled retreating the knife from Ragnar's direction "I had not heard you." He said as he turned again chopping what was left of the onion and added them to the boiling pot which contained the fish stew. "Where are the children?" asked Lagertha as she sat down at the table seeing as diner was in capable hands. "I Bjorn is outside chopping wood and Gyda is playing with the goats." He informed them he briefly saw her nodding. He waited a bit, and realized what she was truly asking. So he walked up to the door and called loudly yet smoothly "GYDA, BJORN supper!" He did not need confirmation in words but he had heard small cheers. Both children were over joy to see their parents all thou Bjorn did not run into their embrace and kept his serious 'manly attempt' expression his joy was visible to the keen eye… so all of his family saw it. He then continued with his cooking as the family made small talk.

All was going well but then Athelstan felt the room darken in mood so he decided to pick up on the family's discussion. "But you promiss to spar with me last week!" whined Bjorn trying to hide his disappointment by anger. "It will have to wait I have more pressing matters at the moment." His Father told him a pinch of annoyance in his words. "You said that yesterday and the day before!" Bjorn protested. "Listen the summer raids are nearly here we leave in three nights. If we are to be successful we need tact, I don't have time for that now" Ragnar snarled, only to realize how harsh his words had truly been all too late. Bjorn slammed his fist to the table and ran outside. His mother tried to call him back but to no avail. Athelstan set up the plates for the three at the table Gyda cheering when he gave her bowl of stew. She thanked him and he smiled back. Looking back at the door and back to the table where Bjorn place was empty he made up his mind. "I will go fetch him" he said as he went out the door.

Bjorn was outside striking a fence post with all his might. Athelstan sighed and cleared his throat to alarm the younger one. "Go away priest" he snarled. "Bjorn come and eat we will settle this later" He pleaded motioning him to come back inside."How am I to be a man if he does not show me? Father no longer trains with me, and I need to spar if I am to grow into the warrior am to be" Athelstan saw all too well Bjorn attempt to stay strong but mainly stay the sad boy who only wished to spend time with his father, he taught a while until something fell on him."I could spar with you, you won't be able to keep up" He said in a cheery way only to be rewarded with and 'are you serious' face and a snort. "I won't spar with you priest you will only slow me down" The boy said seriously in a depress tone of voice.

"You'll get to beat me and teach me" He said cheerfully again giving him a smile, Bjorn to hide it but failed horribly as he tried to hide how his face lit up on Athelstan's words. "… Meet me out side" he said with almost excitement. "After supper?" he sneered. "Yes after supper" he retorted rolling his eyes.

They both reentered the house together, Bjorn losing his smile as he saw his father again all thou Ragnar had look had soften and look sorry. Bjorn made no notice of it. Athelstan Gave Bjorn his bowl and began to eat with him. It did not take much time for both to finish. Bjorn nearly ran outside. But Athelstan took his time cleaning his, Gyda's and Bjorn's places and bowls and then asked Gyda to aid him with a 'chore'

"Is he still mad at me?" Ragnar asked his wife as they had been left alone at the table. "I do not know husband he was truly upset" she sympathizes as she grabs hold on his right shoulder massaging it quickly. But the suddenly a sound emerged. One of?.. Boyish giggles caught their ears and their attention is turned to the door. They look at each other and marched outside. Gyda sat upon a log cheering for the boys who battled before her. They're wooden swords clashing. Bjorn would Strike and Athelstan would bloke. The boys would laugh when Athelstan would miss and get hit by Bjorn sword. Athelstan would whelp here and there to add some comical mood for Gyda who was watching and it would make Bjorn proud as he hit his 'enemy'. Suddenly they both clashed swords and cause each other to fall onto the dirt bellow laughing on doing so. And then Gyda threw herself upon them claiming to be the mighty sea serpent out to get them. They laugh for some time. Until both Lothbrok children began to yawn, when it was time for bed Bjorn had all forgotten his anger for his father and hugged him before he went to his room. Lagertha had left to give her children her blessing and sweet dreams, which left Ragnar and Athelstan alone in the kitchen. Ragnar still a bit lost at what had happened between the children and their little bird. After some time at the table and after a cup of mead each Athelstan had gotten up and began to clean, alongside an occasional yawn or stretch or exhaustion. Ragnar could not help but feel bad he knew he and Lagertha had been at their friends for longer than needed and which made Athelstan fill up both their places, for them. Something he was going to have to get use to in the next few weeks… but tonight he deserved the rest. Athelstan had begun to sweep near him so Ragnar rose to his feet and caught hold of the broom. "There's no need for that now little lamb you should go rest" he said as he drove Athelstan to his small bed." a longer day is dawning soon and I am sure Bjorn will want to spar with you again… and about that I… I" Ragnar tried but to no avail. "We are very grateful" said Lagertha as she came from the door way and pushed Athelstan to his bed. Saving her husband from his loss of words and he nodded her thanks. "It was all in good fun" Athelstan said as he yawned. "As it may or may not have we are grateful, now sleep we want you to rise early little bird" she said as she left with Ragnar for their own bed.

'Yes the days would only get longer from now on' thought Athelstan as he sunk himself closer to his pillows, 'But perhaps good was to come' he hoped. Yet unknown to him how the next weeks could change EVERYTHING.