Athelstan felt immensely guilty then, more than he had before. He could barely be relieved that Ragnar relented. He followed him once more. He's always following him but before he got too far when they got up the stairs he grabs his arm, holding tightly. It wouldn't be hard to force him to let go, Ragnar can easily force his arm away.

"Ragnar," his voice is soft and he's trying to focus through how handicapped his focus is with the alcohol in his system. He doesn't know how to explain that he's not okay with everything that had happened but that he also didn't think he or Ragnar had any right to blame Dodger. Athelstan should have known better. He'd been stupid and then he'd been too weak to resist temptation when it called and he's ashamed of that. And now Ragnar is ... angry and he's sad? He's bleeding and in need of a decent bathing. Athelstan is lost.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm thinking," he tries to keep his voice steady and calm but Ragnar probably knows him too well for it to work. He's sure he's being selfish, that from the moment Ragnar came home he's been selfish. The urge to tell Ragnar that he needs him is there, the words right on the tip of his tongue but he lets go of his arm instead. "I'm sorry for everything."