HISTORY
Born in present day Norway in the beginning centuries of the common era, Ragnar was always going to be king. From childhood, he had every intention of being a ruler, not just of his village, nor any land surrounding them. No, Ragnar was going to discover the undiscovered, he was going to hunt glory, he was going to be better than anyone who had come before him-
Many stories were told of his life, of his escapades, his family, his children, his lovers and conquests. His early raids brought him glory, his decisions earnt him enemies, his strength guaranteed his lordship, as he had always intended. Ragnar never went into anything half-heartedly, and he believed the gods to be on his side, he believed that Odin blessed his path.
I would worry less about the gods and more about the fury of a patient man.
But gods, as anyone who is familiar with any other mythology will know, are tricky and easily displeased. Oh, Ragnar never called himself a god, no. He had some humility, hidden deep within his glorious, righteous breast. But somewhere along the lines one took offense to him, and cursed him. Or it might have been one of the monks he raided and their God- it was hard to tell.
You will never die. No man, nor woman, nor beast, friend nor foe, god nor monster shall be able to slay you.
A curse? Ragnar had laughed. A curse to be unslayable? How could one possibly see that as a curse! Ragnar was a warrior, he could not be killed, he was surely unstoppable!
Don’t waste your time looking back You’re not going that way.
What the warrior in him failed to consider was reality of this beyond warfare. What he failed to consider was that it made him reckless, made him lead men into battles they couldn't win just because he would not be defeated. Left him surrounded by bodies of his brothers against armies far bigger than himself. Immortality made the people he loved grow old around him, made them die. His lovers, his children, his grandchildren all grew up around him and passed onto the great halls of Valhalla, whilst Ragnar didn't age.
People began to avoid him. He was unnatural. He was unlucky. And so he was alone.
He tried to stab himself through the chest. The wound healed. He had a man cut out his heart, and even as he held it in his hand a new one grew back. He had another behead him, and awoke in ashes days later, his burnt body reanimating like a phoenix. Cursed. Unnatural. Ragnar left the land he had conquered, the land he had ruled, and began to carve out new lives for himself in different countries. He fought in wars for something to do, he took lovers and fought beasts and claimed glory, but could never bask in it. He had to move on before his curse was found out.
All the more pitiful were the times he found himself in love, when he allowed himself the pleasure of normalcy, only to be there as they aged, as they passed on without him, left him aching and so painfully alone.
Since arriving in Repose, Ragnar has settled himself down working at the Museum of Natural History, curating the Viking rooms, looking after the artefacts and imparting his wisdom on people. In his first summer he hosted an exhibition at the museum on burial rituals from around the world. His first town event happened not long after he arrived, too, when he began receiving postcards. His correspondence lead him to meet Marta.
I cannot stop thinking about deathbut my own death continues to elude me.
Recently his lurking around the museum also brought him Atticus. They enjoyed a few hours wandering around together, and Ragnar very much enjoyed his company.
Ragnar met Leander on a night out as he was scouring the bars looking for company. A little unethical as a cure for loneliness, some might say, but Ragnar has money. And he likes Leander. To the point where he wants to give the other man a better life. Not really as a long term lover, perhaps, but as a companion certainly. He has offered him a place to live and a potential job that might take Leander off the street corners.
When your time comes you must lead with your headnot your heart.
His secret santa brought Ragnar his wish, and he is now the proud daddy of a puppy, named after
the love of his life the best friend he ever had, Athelstan.