(no subject)

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Teja is at the door, holding it open and peering outside.

He steps aside when Ragnar Lothbrok strides through, with a baby in his arms., gives him a nod, and leaves.

Ragnar settles by the fireplace, legs stretched out, bouncing little Sigurd on his knees as he keeps an eye on the stairs and the back door.

After all, he brought the little fellow to introduce him to Athelstan!

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan comes downstairs from an attempt at a nap, as he promised Alana, glances around and stops in his tracks.

"Ragnar?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Present," Ragnar says, grinning at him. "And this is Sigurd."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Well, hello, Sigurd." Athelstan makes his way over to sit with them. "How old is he now?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Almost a year," Ragnar says. "I'll have to take him back before I go myself, or he might grow too fast. Kids grow like weeds at that age."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes", he nods, reaching for the little boy's hand. "Just keep him here a day or two, not more than a week."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Can we take care of a baby for a week?" Ragnar says, grinning.

He clearly seems to think that he can; he has done so before.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I think we'll manage. Bar will give us clean cloths for him - and he's off mother's milk by now?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Yes, he is, especially as Aslaug is pregnant again," Ragnar says. "Actually, she's due quite soon. He's eating porridge and drinking goat milk just fine."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods. "Then we should be fine. Perhaps we can see how he likes some other soft foods."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"They have such fancy baby foods in the future," Ragnar says.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I don't think we need to bother with those, unless you want to. Our babies do well enough."

He goes to lift Sigurd into his lap, pausing for permission.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar grins, and hands the baby over.

"Here is Athelstan," he tells Sigurd. "All your brothers love him to bits, and so do I."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Do they remember me?" he asks wistfully. "They were still so small when I went away."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric comes in from outside, shaking a fine dew of rain from his head and hood. "Ragnar! Welcome back. And who is this handsome lad?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Imwas only gone for a moment," Ragnar says. "Just to fetch little,Sigurd here."

He proudly holds out the baby to Simric.

[thewidewideworld]

"I've not seen you since you went to your friend's christening." He leans in to press a soft kiss to Ragnar's cheek.

He takes the boy gladly, sitting to cradle Sigurd in his lap. "Hello, little one."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

The baby says something that is almost, but not quite, words.

"We have only come back the other day," Ragnar says.

[thewidewideworld]

"Pardon, little one?" Sinric answers, honestly listening.

"Forgive me that I was not here to greet you. I have spent much time at study and at practice. In truth, I've fallen asleep in the solar more often that our rooms while you and Athelstan were away."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

The baby makes a number of very earnest noises; the syllables 'Ah-oh!' might be featuring in them.

"We didn't come back with great fanfare and triumph," Ragnar says. "We had a good time though. Athelstan was happy there."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric answers him in passable Norse. "The gods will smile on you, little one."

"Oh, I'm glad. How is he?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"He is never quite well," Ragnar says
"But he was happier there, I felt. One world away from the door back to England."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric reaches for Ragnar, squeezing his hand. "Perhaps I can find a way to take him to Sina with me for a little while, both of you in fact."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"That would be great," Ragnar says. "But wouldn't they all stare at us?"

[thewidewideworld]

"In the palace and inter city perhaps but if I can travel into the other city, western traders are more common there."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Then we can really see that furthest country," Ragnar says, "or at least a bit of it."