![]() A few months later Ragnar goes to meet with a group of Norsemen, and Athelstan attends to a pregnant Lagertha. Athelstan is learning about the Norse culture and Norse mythology, including the story of Ragnarok and several other legends. With Ragnar becoming the new Earl of Kattegat, Athelstan appears to have become the Stivardur, or steward, in Ragnar's household. Athelstan attends Haraldson's funeral and accompanies the Lothbroks to their new home in Kattegat's Great Hall. Athelstan watches as Haraldson's housecarls and son-in-law are killed, and as the crowd surrounds Ragnar celebrating his win. Ragnar is wounded but is able to kill Haraldson, making Ragnar the new Earl of Kattegat. His challenge is accepted and days later Ragnar and the earl duel. Ragnar sends Floki to Earl Haraldson's home with a challenge to duel to the death. Floki asks Athelstan about the Christian faith and the Christian creation story and tells the monk the Norse creation story. While there, Ragnar's other allies are contacted and arrive at the house. They arrive at Floki's home where Ragnar receives care for his wound. They travel down the river to Floki's home and safety. Athelstan dives off the boat and rescues Ragnar. With no other option, Ragnar jumps off the cliff into the water. ![]() A badly injured Ragnar is chased to a cliff, with his family and Athelstan below in the boat. Lagertha leads Athelstan, Bjorn, and Gyda to the safety of a boat as Ragnar fends off the earl and his men. So, he leads his men on an attack on Ragnar's farm and him and his family. Upon Ragnar's once-again successful return, Earl Haraldson feels increasingly threatened and jealous of him. Bjorn objects to being put under the authority of a slave, but Gyda has grown attached to Athelstan and is pleased with the idea. Athelstan is placed in charge of their children. As a slave on Ragnar's farm, Athelstan tends to the family and helps with the children, Bjorn and Gyda.Ī while later, Ragnar is preparing for his next raid, and this time Lagertha is accompanying him. Ragnar and Lagertha seem unaffected by this and continue on without him. They come to Athelstan and ask if he would like to join them, but Athelstan declines their offer and explains that he has taken an oath of celibacy and God would know of his sin. That night Athelstan tries to sleep as Ragnar and his wife Lagertha have sex. Ragnar choose Athelstan and takes him as a slave to his family's home and farm. Upon arriving in Kattegat, Earl Haraldson is surprised by Ragnar's success, but tells Ragnar and his crew that they may only take one item per person and he will take the rest as punishment for defying him. Athelstan is taken captive at sword-point and dragged back to Kattegat by Ragnar. Later, Ragnar gets him drunk and tricks him into divulging the locations of other nearby towns and information about them. When questioned by Ragnar on how he learned the Vikings' language, Athelstan tells him that at the monastery the monks are encouraged to travel to "spread the Word of God." Ragnar takes an interest in Athelstan and thinks he may be able give him information that could be valuable for his next raid. While all the other monks are killed, Athelstan is spared because he begins pleading for his life in Old Norse, which surprised the Vikings. He grew up to become a scribe, and is fluent or has a working knowledge of several languages, including Old English, Latin, Greek, Old Norse, and probably High German because of his time in Charlemagne's court.Īthelstan is a monk at the Lindisfarne Monastery when Ragnar and his war band raid the monastery. Living in the monastery also saved him from possibly dying of fever like the rest of his family. He had learned to forget about himself and has devoted his life to Christianity. Eventually, Athelstan found happiness, great freedom, and joy in serving the head of the monastery, Father Cuthbert. So, he was placed in the Lindisfarne Monastery. ![]() Athelstan was born to Northumbrian parents who already had four sons and a daughter, and couldn't afford yet another child in their home.
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