Fandom Imagines and Preferences VI

Athelstan- Look (a)

Vikings One Shot

"Do you miss your home?" Athelstan held the decorated cover of his bible sturdily between his hands. "Or do you prefer it here in Kattegat?" Athelstan could do little more than grin as he ran his fingers through the intricately adorned pages.

"Of course, I miss home, I miss my brothers in the monastery, Father Cuthbert... the ability to freely practice my religion without the fear of having an axe head embedded in my head." He sat the holy book gently down beside the straw pillow where he lay his head at night. "But it is not all bad. There are some things here which are preferable at the least."

"What do you like more? Unlike every other person here I want to make sure you aren't completely miserable. I presume the life of a slave isn't the most enjoyable for a person. Then again if you are a Christian the two seem fairly interchangeable to me."

Your joke did not seem to liven Athelstan's spirits.

"The food here is much tastier than we have back home, less of it but you can not have everything. The people here are surprisingly friendly, especially Ragnar, and although I have been here for merely days I already feel perplexingly at home and content. That is... much thanks to yourself of course, you and your kind, compassionate self."

"I am a Viking. I thought according to your creed we are unable to be caring, we surely only care for silver, taverns and women."

"Well, it is impossible for us to have made judgements like those, we barely knew you existed until Ragnar and his men raided our monastery, slaughtered my brothers and took the rest as slaves. If we were to have come to those stereotypes I don't think it would have been completely unjustified. But do not worry, I see that you are merely trying to survive and that is the best way you have found. I see now how are just like us, only with less kempt facial hair." He grinned.

"Do not be jealous because the shield maidens of Kattegat can grow a better beard than you can!"

"Is that all you like here? The food and the conversation?"

"On a vow to my lord I can not lie, having you by my side each day is not a painful experience. You are quite pleasant to speak to, to listen to... to look at." His eyes turned away from your own and focused on the rope tied around his waist. "Please don't tell Ragnar I said that!" His gaze shot up, fear sat deeply in his eyes. "If he knew I had spoken to his daughter in such a manner my head would end up on a pike!"

"Worry not Athelstan... you are not too bad to look at yourself."

~*~

Written by Aaron.