Chapter Text
Thunder was racking through the sky as a girl ran across the courtyard of the monastery she had miraculously been allowed to stay at. Her dark curls was plastered to her face with water from the short run, but her smile was happy and her eyes wide with excitement.
She slammed the door open just as a lightning bolt flew across the sky, a crack of thunder following immediately. The girl hurried inside the doors, and slammed them behind her, finally glancing at the monks sitting bent over their work, or at least that was what they were doing until she startled them by opening the doors.
Some of the older ones were scowling at her, making it very clear that they disapproved of her staying with them, even though she had been at the monastery for several months under Father Cuthbert’s blessing.
“Sorry” she muttered sheepishly, looking down to avoid the angry glances of the monks. She hurried through the room to the last bench and the man who was looking at her with an annoyed but amused expression.
“What are you doing Tegan? You’ll get sick if you keep walking around in the rain” he said as she reached him. The girl, Tegan, ignored him and focused on his paper, and the art and words he had written down on it.
“This is beautiful work, Athelstan. I see why you enjoy doing this” she smiled at him. The two siblings had had a very different upbringing, with Athelstan being sent to the monastery at an early age of 5, and Tegan staying with their parents and four siblings. Of the two of them Tegan was the one who enjoyed physical work, thus making her useful at their parents farm, and she especially loved being outside when it stormed, to her brother’s great frustration.
“You could learn more, you know. I wouldn’t hesitate to teach you” Athelstan smiled, turning back to his work. “And you really should get on some dry clothes, because you will most likely end up sick.”
“I think I will have to pass on you offer Athelstan. I love learning, especially Latin, and that other weird language, but I don’t really fancy sitting inside so much” Tegan teased, “And you know I don’t have any other clothes”. She could hear some of the other monks mutter about how she should leave them, if she really disliked sitting still so much. The two of them however, knew that Father Cuthbert would let her stay, as she was quite helpful when it came to fixing things, something she had proved to be very good at.
The pair of them kept up the polite and teasing chatter for a while, but eventually Athelstan went back to his work, and Tegan picked up a Bible, which she started to read silently while occasionally glancing out of the small window to look at the storm outside. As the night grew older, the other monks started to retreat, until all of them had left the room to sleep. Tegan glanced up from her reading, which was going slowly as her Latin was not quite as good as she liked to think. Her brother was still bent over his work, but he was yawning and his eyes kept sliding shut.
Tegan smiled softly and closed the Bible, being careful as she put it down on a table.
“Come on, brother, let’s get you to bed.” Athelstan muttered something about having to finish, but he did nothing to stop her as she took the quill from his hands and led him towards the dormitories.
When they reached the bedrooms, it seemed like it would be impossible for anyone to actually sleep there. One of the monks was sitting in a corner, praying, while the others were staring out of the window. His monastery brother’s distress seemed to waken Athelstan, who immediately left his sisters side to join his brothers by the windows. They were watching the storm, some of them jumping every time a crack of thunder broke through the sound of pouring rain.
“Did you see that, Brother Athelstan? Did you see that? Tell me you saw it!” Tegan looked around the room, keeping a constant eye on her brother as she tried calming down one of the younger monks, who looked like he were close to crying.
“Yes Brother. Yes, I saw it” Athelstan answered. He was no longer looking tired; worry had taken over his entire being, like he knew something bad was coming. He spared a quick glance over at his sister, who was smiling gently to one of his brothers, making sure that the younger monk kept calm.
“It is written, and so it has come to pass” the monk spoke out loud. Tegan’s head snapped towards them with a scowl, holding tighter onto the scared monk beside her. Multiple of the other monks in the dark room started praying, clutching at their crosses as another bolt of lightning struck through the sky. Tegan walked over to the windows, joining her brother as she stared out of the window. A second bolt of lightning lit up the room as the two siblings saw a giant serpent form in the sky.
“What does this mean, brother?” Tegan murmured, glancing away from the storm and back to the frightened monks.
“God help us, Brother Athelstan. God help us” the monk muttered. Athelstan said nothing. He looked at his sister, then back out of the window with a determined look in his eyes.
“Tegan, stay here. I have to speak with the Father Cuthbert” he said as he pushed himself away from the wall and ran out of the room. Tegan could only stare after him, knowing not to follow to see the monastery Father, as it would push her luck too far.
A choked cry called her attention back to the other people in the room. She let out a small sight and hurried over to one of the smaller beds, where the youngest monk at the monastery was sitting by himself.
“Hi there Brother Bevin. What is wrong?” she asked, sitting carefully next to him on the bed. He looked scared out of his own skin, and he was clutching his Bible as if his life depended on it. Tegan gave him a gentle smile, and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“God is punishing us, isn't he Sister Tegan?” he breathed out, barely above a whisperer.
“Well, have you done something he might have to punish you for?” she asked, not bothering to correct him when he addressed her as you would address a nun.
“I don’t think so, but what if God thinks so?” he muttered, bringing the Bible close to his chest.
“I believe, Brother Bevin, that if you are certain that you have done nothing wrong, God will not punish you. And if you have done something wrong, without being aware of it yourself, how bad can the punishment be? God is forgiving, and if you know your conscious is clean, then God knows so to” Tegan tried to comfort him, but it was hard talking positively about a God she had lost faith in herself. However that was not important, because right now, Brother Bevin needed help to calm down, and if God was that help, then so be it.
“You are right Sister Tegan. How bad can it be” Bevin seemed to brighten up, and for a moment, Tegan dared to congratulate herself on job well done, then another monk decided to speak his mind.
“This is doomsday, that’s what this is! God is punishing us for all our sins, it is written, and so it shall happen!”
Tegan’s eyes opened wide as Bevin let out a frightened shriek. She stood up and walked to the centre of the room, getting everyone’s attention.
“Listen to me! Aren’t you men of God? Does that not mean you should trust in him? If this is doomsday, as you claim it is, then what bad have you done to deserve it? If you all have decided that this is God punishing you, then why do you not pray to God for forgiveness? He is loving and understanding! Pray to him, confess your sins, and beg for him to understand that you may be His men, but you are still men, and exposed to sin! And he will have to listen, if all of you ask him for forgiveness. And when this storm passes, everything will go back to normal” she said, and they seemed to actually listen to her, for once.
“Now say your prayers and go to sleep” Tegan finished in a softer tone, smiling gently back at Bevin, who seemed a bit more relaxed. The other monks seemed to calm down, if only a little, and Tegan left the room, looking for her brother.
She found him pacing the hallway, his steps aggravated and his face no longer tired.
“What is wrong, brother?” she asked him.
“Father Cuthbert refuses to listen! Doomsday is upon us, we all know it, and he will not do a thing to help us” Athelstan stressed out, and hand flying up to stroke at the bald spot on top of his head. Tegan let out a frustrated huff and walked over to him, putting an arm around his shoulders.
“Listen to me, Athelstan, maybe you’re the one who’s not listening? Have you thought about the fact that Father Cuthbert might be right? There is still a chance that this is just an ordinary storm, and everything will be okay in the morning. And aren’t you supposed to trust in God?” she ended with a slight teasing tone to her words, knowing that it would calm her brother, at least a little.
“I supposed you’re right, sister. I am just tired, I guess” he sighed, rubbing his eyes in acceptance. Tegan smiled at him as she led him towards the dormitory.
The other monks had already gone to bed, some of the already sleeping soundly. “Sleep well, brother” Tegan whispered as she led him to his bed. He muttered something in reply, his tiredness finally catching up with him.
Shaking her head in amusement, Tegan left the dormitory and went to the bedroom she had gotten for herself. Being the only woman in the monastery had gotten her some small luxuries, her own bedroom being one of them, as Father Cuthbert had thought it indecent to have a woman sleeping in the dormitory with them.
There was no one else awake, and Tegan was standing by the small window in her room while looking out at the storm. She had always loved it when it rained, it brought her comfort, as if God had decided to finally wash away some of the sins that stained the earth they lived on.
At least that is what she thought of it before, now she only enjoyed it because the sound of rain hitting the ground was calming to her. She walked away from the window and crossed the small room to kneel by her bed for her evening prayer.
“Dear God, I need your help, your guidance. I am losing faith in you. What have I done to deserve this life? Is there something I have done that has angered you? There has to be a way for me to redeem myself from whatever sin you mean I have committed. And please, please show me what I did wrong! Please let me know what I did to anger you. I have looked back, and I cannot find any clear reason for you to punish me like you have. And I see no reason for you punishing Nia for it. She was just a small child. And if this is you punishing Ianto, I do not think this is the right way to do it. I am not questioning your ways, God, but leaving me to suffer without telling me why does not seem like you. I need you to guide me back to you, Dear God, because I have lost my way. And if you could find it in your heart to forgive me for whatever sins I have broken, I will be forever grateful. And I know I am asking a lot of you, but would you please consider bringing some peace to my brother? He has been distressed all day, and I do think he will need your help in the times through the times that are coming. Amen” And with that, she went to bed.
The next morning, everything was back to normal. The skies had cleared, leaving only a heavy fog behind. Tegan had risen early that day, making sure that she made it to breakfast before anyone else, meaning she would be out before the others woke up, and outside in time to see the sun rise. It had become one of her morning routines, and when all the monks were all up, she would join them for morning mass. There she would stay in the back and watch as the monks paid their respects to God, and she silently sung along to their hymns as she kept her eyes on her brother.
Athelstan seemed completely at ease with his life as a monk, and Tegan was glad that he had finally found his place in the world. She smiled to herself as Athelstan glanced up at the altar while singing. Tegan was not completely sure what the words meant, but she had learnt them all by now, and she could tell the meaning in the song; just not translate it word for word.
Knowing that none of them would miss her if she left the room, and feeling out of place in this room where they were praying to a God she was losing faith in, she decided to leave. Making sure to keep completely quiet, she snuck out through the door.
Tegan kept smiling to herself as she wandered through the now silent monastery. She knew all the monks were inside, joining in on the morning mass, meaning that no one would stop her if she went outside the monastery walls for a short walk on the beach.
She made sure to close the gates behind her as she crept down towards the sandy shores by the bottom of the hill. When she reached the beach, she carefully stepped out of her sandals to feel the sand between her toes. Tegan buried her feet in the damp ground as she smiled up at the sky. Glancing around her carefully, as if to make sure that no one was there to see her, she took off running down the beach, reaching the freezing water within seconds.
Stopping at the point the waves started to pull back from the sand, she let the cold water wash away the sand that now covered her feet. It was refreshing, and in a silent moment it felt like she was alone. She let herself relax completely as she kept quiet and stared out at the fog covered sea.
But her peaceful silence was broken seconds after. She could hear loud, male voices shout in a language she sort of recognized from beyond the fog. For a short moment she was frozen to the stop, staring, hoping that the fog would clear up and reveal the visitors, who seemed excited, but at the same time, extremely threatening.
Tegan could feel the anxiety and fear grow in her stomach as she finally placed the language they were speaking. It was the weird northern language Athelstan had taught her. That was what brought her back. Picking up her skirts in her hand, she raced back to the monastery, not bothering to pick up her shoes as she ran past them. As she stumbled up the hill and out of sight to the beach, the men with the strange language hit the shore.
She did not bother with being quiet and respectful as she reached the doors. She banged open the main gates as she hurried through them, then she slammed them shut, hurrying to push a cart in front of it.
“Someone’s coming! Hurry! They’re here!” Tegan screamed. She ran over to the bell tower, racing up the stairs so she could warn the others. There was already a man sitting in the tower.
“You have to ring the bell. Someone has arrived at the beach, and I think they’re not here to chat” Tegan hurried out, wheezing slightly as she looked out towards the beach. The foreign men had gotten to shore, and Tegan was glad she had run. They had huge wooden shields and axes and sword that glistened in the weak sunlight. The monk followed her gaze, and as his eyes fell on the men, his entire body went rigid in fear.
“Ring the bell” was the last thing Tegan said before she raced back down the stairs to find her brother.
She found him in the courtyard, a confused look on his face.
“Tegan, why is the bell ringing?” he asked her, taking a hold of her arm and pulled her close.
“We don’t have time brother, they're already halfway up the hill. They’re coming!” she said frantically. Father Cuthbert heard her last sentence as he hurried over to them.
“Who’s coming?” he snapped out, a weird mix of worry, fear and anxiousness filled his face.
“Hell, and all its devils!” a monk shrieked as he ran past them, his eyes wide in terror.
“Lock the doors, and stay inside. All of you! Especially you, Sister Tegan” Father Cuthbert snapped out. He seemed to keep his calm, but Tegan could tell he was just as scared as anyone else in the monastery.
The monks cleared the courtyard, some of the younger monks helping Father Cuthbert inside. Tegan saw Brother Bevin run past her, and she prayed to God that he would be safe, and then she turned to her brother and prayed the same prayer for him.
Athelstan grabbed a firmer hold on her arm and pulled her away from the others. While everyone else was seeking refuge in the mass hall, kneeling by the altar and praying to God for protection, Tegan and her brother hid elsewhere. They barricaded themselves in the room where they kept the treasures the monastery got from rich Christians.
“Why aren't we with the others Athelstan? Shouldn't we stay with them?” Tegan asked. She knew fully well that they would be safer by themselves, but she was reluctant to leave the others by themselves.
“You’ll be safer here Tegan. And I had to get this” Athelstan explained as he walked over to the podium where they held their delicately engraved Bible. Tegan’s eyes went wide.
“You’re leaving your monastery brothers to save a Bible?” she asked, confused. Athelstan just nodded and hurried back to her. He took a hold of her arm and dragged her over to the podium.
“If we hide here, we’ll have a bigger chance than if we hide with the others. This is the safest place for both of us, and the Bible. God will protect us Tegan, we will be fine” Athelstan assured her. Tegan did not voice her thoughts about him being wrong. At the moment, it seemed like God had abandoned them, they were on their own.
Athelstan pushed her down to the floor behind the podium and ducked down behind her.
“We’ll be fine Tegan, I’ll protect you” Athelstan whispered, and then he prayed. Tegan couldn't help but make the same promise in her mind.
The warning bell stopped ringing, and Tegan knew that the foreigners had reached the gates, and that the last monk had went to hide. The next few minutes were silent; the only thing that could be heard was the sound of the animals chittering in the courtyard.
The unmistakable sound of the wooden gates being broken open seemed to ring through the entire monastery. Tegan shuffled closer to her brother, and grabbed a tight hold on his upper arm. Athelstan put a calming hand over hers, and clutched his Bible closer to the chest. It was completely silent for a long time, which made Tegan jump extra much when Athelstan started to mumble a prayer under his breath.
“Keep quiet” she mumbled to him, slapping his shoulder lightly. Athelstan stopped whispering and took to muttering, without making any noise at all.
It hadn't even been five minutes when the screaming started. The two siblings came to the same conclusion, the Brothers must have been praying out loud. Tegan buried her head in her brother’s shoulder and Athelstan buried his face in her hair. The two of them flinched as they heard the unmistakable sound of Bevin’s cries.
“Oh Dear God” Tegan sobbed out silently, praying that He would somehow help them. She hadn't noticed when it started, but she was crying, tears streaming down her face as she effectively choked down and silenced her sobs. Athelstan rocked her, trying to calm her down.
They both stiffened when they heard footsteps outside the door. The only sound the siblings could hear was the sound of the table they had shoved in front of the door scraping along the floorboards and the door hinges creaking. Tegan levelled her breathing, and prayed for God to forgive her sins, certain that she was about to die.
More footsteps followed the first one, and she could count three men entering the room. They didn’t say anything at first, like they were anxious, as if any of the monks were going to attack them. It had gone so quickly, from them getting to shore to the very moment she found herself in. Tegan was certain that these men had done this before.
“I don’t understand. Why would they leave such treasures unprotected? Is there some spell, or some magic that protects them?” Tegan struggled a bit with translating the sentence, but she could fully understand what the attacker was saying.
Athelstan went to move away from the podium, but Tegan held him in place, shaking her head and willing him not to do anything that could reveal them. One of the men moved over to the table standing to the side of the room, and picked up the candlestick she knew was standing there.
“It appears not” he chuckled and the two others joined in. Tegan held her breath, and pressed herself as far into the podium as possible. She could feel Athelstan’s ragged breath on her shoulder as he used his body to press her closer to the hard wood that was hiding them from the attackers.
“Maybe they think their god will protect them” the third voice spoke out. Somehow, Tegan found his voice much calmer, and more commanding than the others, but still humble somehow, like he was their leader, but not…
“This is their god, and he’s dead, hanging from a cross” the second voice spoke again, after a small thump, which Tegan assumed was him setting down the candlestick.
“He can’t protect anyone! He’s not alive like Odin, Thor or Frey” the first voice said. Tegan held her breath as the three men shuffled around in the room, and she couldn't help but wonder who these weirdly named gods were, and if there was possibility for there to be other gods than God.
“What use is he then?” the second one chuckled again. Tegan could feel Athelstan shuffle even closer to her, he moved his foot carefully, and that was their downfall.
Athelstan stepped on a creaky floorboard; the sound of groaning wood was, at that moment, the loudest noise Tegan had ever heard. Her breath hitched as she looked up at her brother in panic. Athelstan’s eyes were wide in terror, and he looked back at her with a sincere apology in his face. Tegan nodded back at him, letting him know that she forgave him whatever happened next.
Determined steps walked closer to the podium, and Tegan bit back a small shriek, and kept her fear hidden by clutching her brother’s robes harder. She closed her eyes tight as she held her breath. The room was completely silent, and none of the siblings dared move a single muscle.
Athelstan was ripped from Tegan’s hold by one of the men, and thrown to the floor in front of the podium with a splutter of protest. Tegan kept kneeling behind the wooden table in hope that she hadn't been noticed, but it seemed like God really had abandoned her.
The man was over her in seconds, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her to her feet. She, however, was not thrown to the floor next to her brother, but held closely to the strange man, who shifted his grip to hold a hand to her throat, as to stop her from running. He slowly pulled out a knife and held it out in front of him, a silent threat to both the siblings.
“Please don’t hurt her!” Athelstan yelped out in the same language as the men had just spoken in. Tegan sent him a look, willing him to keep his mouth shut just this once.
“He speaks our language” the man who seemed like the leader said grimly.
The other men’s eyes widened and they pulled Athelstan to his feet. Tegan struggled against her captor’s hold as she heard her brother groan in pain, but she stopped abruptly as the knife was help up to her neck.
“How do you speak our language?” the leader asked calmly, but Tegan knew he was getting anxious, as the pressure on the knife at her throat was increasing. She looked over at her brother, pleading with him to tell them something that would remove the knife from her neck, but he seemed frozen in fear.
“He travelled! Tell them Athelstan!” Tegan cried out, she could feel the tears streaming down her cheeks. She knew that she would put herself in more danger if she revealed that she could speak their language too, but no way was she letting her brother put himself in any more risk.
“You know it too? How?” the man barked, seeming to get more anxious. The knife was pressed harder against her throat, finally breaking her skin, she could feel a small trickle of blood streaming down her chest and staining her dress.
“Brother!” Tegan cried out, no longer feeling brave enough to speak up against this man.
“It’s true! I’ve travelled! We’re told to travel to spread the word of God! I learned it, and I taught her. Please, don’t kill us!” Athelstan stuttered out. Tegan lifted her hand to move her captor’s knife away from her, but he only used his other arm to pin hers to her sides.
She had no idea what went through the man’s head, or if something Athelstan did made him change his mind, but the knife was lowered from her throat, and both of them were freed.
The second she was free to move as she pleased, she had thrown herself into her brother’s arms, sobbing into his shoulder. Athelstan did not lower his face into her hair like he used to, as he opted to keep an eye on the men as he carefully stroke his sister’s back, his Bible pressed between them.
A firm hand grabbed Tegan’s shoulder and dragged them apart. She struggled for a moment, but the look Athelstan sent her made her comply.
“What is that you have in your hand?” the man asked. His hold on Tegan loosened, but his hand stayed put.
“Our book. It contains the word of God, I wanted to-” Athelstan’s explanation was cut off as the man, surprisingly gently, pushed Tegan aside and took the Bible from her brother’s hands. He flipped through the pages carelessly, when Tegan had done the same only few months prior, Father Cuthbert had scolded her, but neither of the siblings were brave enough to tell the wild looking man to be careful.
It was the first time Tegan had gotten a proper look on the man. He was strongly built, all three of them were, the leader had one of the weirdest haircuts Tegan had ever seen, including her brother’s bald spot, he had shaved the sides of his head, but the hair on the top of his head fell into a long braid that hung down his back. And he had the bluest eyes Tegan had ever seen, even bluer than the ones she shared with her brother.
“Of all the treasures I see in this place, you chose to save this?” Tegan was not sure if it was a question or not, and Athelstan looked too stunned by the man’s poor way of handling the holy book to form a proper answer.
While the exchange between the man and her brother went on, she carefully inspected the room, looking for a way out. But the only opening large enough for her to get through was the door and that was guarded by the two other scruffy looking men, who both sent her a maniac glare.
“Yes” Athelstan breathed out, finally gathering his thoughts long enough to form an answer.
“Why?” his voice was curious, as he could not fathom why Athelstan would risk his life for a book. Athelstan didn't answer the question, his confusion and fear finally catching up with him.
The man’s patience seemed to wear of, and in a movement almost too quick for Tegan to catch, he had her brother pressed between him and the podium.
“Why?” the man asked again, his face mere inches from Athelstan’s face. Tegan knew her brother, even though she hadn't seen him for a big part of her life, and she knew that he was way too terrified to form a proper answer.
“Because it’s his job! To spread and protect the word of God!” Tegan yelped out, stepping forward to get the man of her brother, but she stopped abruptly when the other men moved for their weapons. The man pushed the Bible into Athelstan’s hands, and turned towards her, stepping away from her brother. Tegan felt relief that Athelstan would get some room to gather his thoughts, but she couldn't help but feel scared as he was now approaching her.
“And why is that so important?” he asked, his head tilted to the side, just like Tegan had seen one of the puppies do the other day.
“Because without the word of God, there is only darkness” Athelstan finally managed to stumble out, and Tegan breathed a sigh of relief, happy that the man stopped his steps towards her. He had stopped exactly between the two siblings, and glanced from Tegan to Athelstan and back.
“Who is she to you?” he asked, clearly addressing Athelstan even while he was looking at Tegan. She bristled up, feeling her hot temper return as she carefully glared at him.
“I'm his sister!” she snapped, but she immediately shrunk back as the man narrowed her eyes at her. He crossed the room to tower over her. Athelstan made a small sound of protest, but he didn't move as if he was nailed to the spot by the other men’s glare.
“Are you married? Where is your husband?” he asked, placing a hand on her hip. Tegan wanted nothing more than push him away, but she saw the knife glistening in the small stream of light that came through the window, so she let him.
“He’s dead” she answered coldly, not wanting to have this conversation with a life-threatening stranger. The man hummed his answer and turned away from the siblings, who were not slow to be in each other’s arms again, though this time it was uncertain who was comforting who.
“Are you okay?” Athelstan whispered in their own language, pulling away just enough so he could inspect the small wound on her throat.
“I'm fine, it’s just a scratch. I've had worse” Tegan assured him. The three men looked at them curiously, but they had no time to demand any more answers, as a fourth man entered the room. He was, if possible, even bigger than the three others. His long hair was flowing freely down his back, only his bangs kept away from his face, fastened to the back of his head. He had multiple weapons fastened to his back, and a maniac looking axe clutched in one hand.
He walked silently as he inspected the treasures in the room, giving of the feeling that he was more dangerous than the man with the blue eyes, though Tegan still believed that blue-eyes was the leader.
“This is a strange place indeed. We have been everywhere, and we have found no women. Except this one, it seems. Some of the men have taken to use the younger boys, and gods how they squeal ” he spoke, his once disappointed look turning into one of glee as his eyes fell on Tegan.
Athelstan, who might not have any experience when it came to the matter, seemed to know what the man was thinking. He instinctively took a small step forward and pushed Tegan behind him, placing himself between his sister and what Tegan could only describe as heathens, or barbarians.
“Other than her, there are just these strange men” the man continued.
“I believe the men are the priests of their god” blue-eyes explained calmly. Athelstan grabbed for Tegan’s hand as he panted sharply, and she offered all the consolation she could by rubbing her thumb along his hand.
“Think what you will” the man chuckled, earning gleeful laughs from the two other men.
“Why have you not killed this one?” he continued, pointing to Athelstan, and then his eyes wandered over to Tegan, taking in her curves. ”And this one, Ragnar, did you plan to keep her to yourself?”
“He is worth more alive, to sell as a slave. And yes, I intend to keep the girl, but you’re welcome to borrow her. As long as I get her back unharmed” blue-eyes, Ragnar, spoke.
“I will kill him, there are no room left on the boat. The girl must come, obviously, as we don’t want anything to… happen to her” the man said lowly, stepping towards the two siblings. Athelstan clutched onto Tegan’s hand and the Bible, praying frantically in Latin under his breath. Tegan used her other hand to grab tightly onto her brothers robes, trying to hide herself between his shoulder blades. They both knew that whatever these men decided to happen would happen, as neither of them was strong enough to fight them.
“I forbid it” Tegan’s glance snapped towards Ragnar. Why was he protecting them? “I forbid you to kill the priest. You can borrow the girl, but I want them both alive”
Tegan tensed up, she knew exactly what would happen now. She had been through it before with Ianto and his friends, and she was no happier about it now than she had been then.
“How can you forbid, little brother? You may think you’re being fair in letting me “borrow” the girl, but shouldn’t we all get to share? We’re all equals, are we not?” the question seemed sarcastic, and Tegan could feel the tension between the two men, who happened to be brothers?
“And I say he dies” the other man said gravely.
“No!” Tegan shrieked out, pushing Athelstan behind her as the other man went to step towards them. There was no need, however, as Ragnar refused to move and shoved his brother back with his shoulder.
The two of them were breathing heavily, and Tegan was afraid that they would start fighting.
“Does his death really mean that much to you brother?” Ragnar bit out, and Tegan stepped backwards, pushing her brother further back into the room. Athelstan was clutching onto her hand and the Bible frantically, his breath coming out as short and terrified huffs.
No one said anything. One of the other men moved around the room, collecting the silver pieces the monastery had been gifted with, but no one said anything, and Tegan’s eyes were glued to the stare-off between the two brothers in front of her.
A small sob seemed to pull her out of her trance, and she spun around to face her younger brother.
“Hey, Athelstan, calm down brother. We’ll be fine, I promise, I won’t let them hurt you” she whispered to him, stroking his cheek. She used her thumb to dry away a single tear that had escaped the corner of his eye. Giving her brother a calming smile and a gentle squeeze, she kissed his forehead before she turned back to the heathens.
“Please, don’t harm him. I will do anything if you let him live” she begged, careful to keep her voice calm and strong, if not for her own sake, then for the sake of her brother’s sanity.
“What?! Tegan, no!” her brother protested, but she had already gotten the four men’s attention.
“Really? You would let us do whatever we want to you, just so your brother can live?” Ragnar asked. If the situation had been any different, Tegan would think that he looked impressed, but she would not think that highly of these men.
“No! She would not!” Athelstan protested, but he was promptly ignored.
“As long as you allow me to see him, and as long as you can guarantee that he won’t be harmed” Tegan answered, her chin raised high with as much dignity as the situation would allow her.
“Well, how can we say no to an offer like that? Will you take the honour, Rollo?” Ragnar glanced from Tegan’s determined face and over to his brother.
“Of course” the man, Rollo, answered immediately.
“I want her back afterwards; I need something to bring back for Bjorn. You do whatever you want, just don’t harm her too much” Ragnar commented and waved his hand at Tegan, stepping out of the way for his brother.
Rollo smirked darkly as he stepped towards Tegan, but before he could get to her, Athelstan had pressed himself in front of her, a terrified but determined look on his face.
“Don’t touch her!” he snapped, his voice weak and frail, with no real anger behind it, just fear and absolute horror.
“Calm down, Athelstan! I will be fine, and you will be safe! I know what I'm doing, okay? Just trust me on this” Tegan said calmly, in their own language.
“I won’t let them do this to you, Tegan” Athelstan protested, also slipping into their native tongue.
“Relax. I promise you I know what I'm doing. It is either this or death, Athelstan, and I would really like for us both to survive this” she assured him. Tegan stroke his cheek and smiled gently at him, lovingly kissing his forehead before turning back to Rollo.
“What did you speak about?” the man asked lowly. It was obvious to Tegan that Rollo could not care less about what she had said to her brother, but she answered anyway.
“I was reasoning with him. This option is better than death” she said calmly, her voice dead, not even her face betrayed a single emotion. It was a form of body language she had developed only a few weeks after she had married Ianto, and over the years she had perfected it.
“I agree completely” Rollo smirked dangerously. He walked over to her and grabbed her bottom, while he pushed Athelstan harshly into Ragnar.
“Remember brother, not a scratch” Ragnar called out as he grabbed Tegan’s brother by the upper arm. Rollo wrapped his other hand around her waist and pulled her flush against his body as he started nibbling and…smelling her neck? Tegan sent Athelstan a small smile over Rollo’s shoulder as he was dragged sobbingly out of the room, the heathens taking all the silver, then the door closed behind them.
“You’re not as pure and innocent as the men here, are you. You've done this before” Rollo spoke in a low voice, almost like a growl as the hand that was keeping Tegan trapped against him started travelling up her back, and finally settled on her back of her neck, taking a firm hold of her hair. “You've been used in a bargain earlier, haven’t you?”
“Yes” Tegan faked a groan, hoping it sounded like it was from pleasure and not from disgust. This was something she was familiar with, every time she had done this had been slightly different, but the one thing every man had enjoyed, was when they thought she enjoyed it as much as they did. And by experience, that usually made them less violent, so Tegan hoped this also applied to Rollo.
She could feel him smirking into the skin on her neck, where he was still biting and creating marks. In a movement that made her beyond dizzy, Rollo had spun her around. His left hand was cupping her right breast and his right hand was resting just below her navel.
“You’re enjoying this, aren't you?” he whispered, his tongue slipping out to play with her earlobe. Tegan didn't answer; she just let out a low moan, hoping it would satisfy him.
It did, he moved her over to the podium and bent her over it, making her bottom stand out. He reached down for the hem of her dress, and he let his fingers trail along her legs as he pulled the heavy fabric up to her hips. A shiver of distaste and fear went through her, but Rollo must have seen it as a sign of pleasure, as he bent over her and mumbled in her ear: “A nasty little harlot, that’s what you are”.
Rollo had taken his time, but he was far from the slowest Tegan had ever been forced to have sex with… raped by. He climbed of her with a grunt, not even bothering to pull her dress down again. Tegan refused to stay bended over the podium for more time than necessary, so she quickly stood up and straightened her clothes.
“So this is your god?” Rollo asked. Tegan just nodded in reply, not sure whether the question was rhetoric or not. He stepped further away and eyed a wooden carving of Jesus Christ hanging on a cross. Before Tegan could register what was happening, Rollo had used his axe to break the carving with two violent swings. Tegan gasped out a sound of surprise, not believing that he would go as far as to actually ruin something related to her God, but she knew she should have known better.
“That is what I care for your gods” Rollo snapped as he towered over her, grabbing a tight hold of her hair. Tegan had never felt as small as she did in that moment, not even with Ianto, and she hated it. But there was nothing she could do, so she just kept her glance fastened at the now broken carving and nodded silently.
Rollo let go of her hair and fumbled with his belt for a second. Tegan was left to wonder what he was doing, but her unanswered question was silenced as he started to wrap a thin piece of rope around her wrists. The knot he tied might have been a tad too tight, but Tegan was not about to complain. She just silently let him work, and calmly walked in front of him as he pushed her towards the door.
They met up with the others out in the courtyard. Athelstan was standing of to the side with a few other monks that were still alive, Tegan was happy to see that Brother Bevin was one of them. Ragnar was standing close by, repeatedly glancing over at her brother. Rollo pushed her towards the other prisoners.
Bevin was the one who saw her first, and he breathed out a sigh of relief, his shoulder sagging out of their previously tense position. He nudged her brother, making sure not to make a huge movement out of it.
“Tegan, thank God that you are okay” Athelstan muttered, and hugged her as best he could with his hands bound, clutching onto something hidden in his robes.
“I'm fine Athelstan, and you’re fine, just like I told you” she muttered into his shoulder, taking his hands in hers. She could faintly hear Rollo thanking Ragnar in the background, and she promptly blocked out their voices.
“That was stupid of you, sister, you did not have to do that” Athelstan scolded her silently, glancing around to make sure no one heard them.
“It was okay, brother, I told you; I knew what I was doing. I was not harmed in any way. And of course I had to do it. It was either that or seeing you killed” Tegan smiled back, squeezing his hand reassuringly. Athelstan just shook his head, but he let the conversation die flat.
“We’re moving out!” Ragnar called out, and the sibling’s attention snapped to him. He was looking over at a burning building and the thin man who cheerfully walked towards him. Tegan’s eyes widened, it was the workshop, where Athelstan had spent hours of his time working on his papers. She quickly moved her glance back to her brother who was holding back tears and biting his lip harshly, nearly drawing blood.
She just held his hand a little tighter as a sign of comfort, knowing there was nothing she could do to make things better for him.
They were all pushed out of the gates to the monastery, Athelstan, Tegan, Bevin, and three other monks walking behind each other, with their attackers both behind and in front of them, there was no way they could escape.
When they were halfway to the beach, Athelstan turned to look at the monastery, which was now glowing with red flames.
"Look” he whispered sadly, desperation glowing in his eyes. Tegan wanted to say something, to somehow make things better for him, but she had no time to do so before they were pushed and pulled along.
“Keep them moving!” someone yelled from the group of heathens, and Tegan didn't bother to try and find out where it had come from.
They stumbled along the path, struggling with their balance as their hands were tied, but they managed without falling to many times.
When they reached the beach, some of the fog from earlier that morning had clear up, and Tegan could now clearly see the strangely shaped boat they had arrived with. It was unlike anything she had ever seen.
They were all loaded into a smaller boat and rowed out to the bigger one; where they were all pushed down to sit around the mast. Tegan ended between her brother and Bevin, something she was grateful for, as she felt a need to protect both of the younger men, even though there was nothing she could do. Athelstan was quiet, silently watching his now burning home, and Bevin was silently crying and praying under his breath.
All the monks were showing signs of obvious terror, and she wanted to do something that would calm them down, but it was impossible for her to move without any of their captors noticing, and she would rather draw as little attention as possible. She relaxed a little when she noticed that most of them had pulled themselves together enough to pray, Athelstan included. Her brother gritted his teeth and pulled his hood up to cover his head, and for the first time that day, did Tegan notice how cold it was, her still naked feet going stiff with cold. She ignored it, not wanting to say anything unless absolutely necessary.
Bevin was not doing as well as the others. He was struggling with calming his sobbing, so Tegan took his hand in hers and squeezed it gently. She could, however, not help but feel the same despair filling her as their attackers, now also kidnappers, started to row the boat away from the shore, away from the monastery, and away from England.