Book Three- Eira Ragnarsdottír: The Twin of Björn Ironside

Chapter 6

Porunn screamed loudly as she swayed back and forth on her hands and knees, "There will be something wrong with it." She yelled out, "I know!"

I shushed her and combed her hair with my hands, "Why do you say so?"

"Look at me." She snapped back at me.

My eyes traveled over the large scar across her face and I shook my head at her and smiled, "That has nothing to do with the baby." I placed my hand on the side of her face with the scar and she winced under my touch.

"It won't be long now," Aslaug said as she inspected Porunn by lifting her dress.

Bjorn shoved open the doors and looked at the scene before him. Helga rushed over to him, "Go away, Bjorn!" She demanded him.

He glanced at Helga then back at his wife, "No."

"I don't want this child!" Porunn screamed over and over again

Bjorn kneeled down beside me and looked at his wife, "I do."

"It will be weak," she explained, "deformed."

My eyes drifted to Aslaug and I saw the pain in her eyes. I could tell she was thinking of what everyone had said of her son, Ivar and his deformity, "Maybe you will love it just the same." She said bitterly.

"It is coming." Helga announced while lifting up Porunn's dress, "Pray to Freya." She nodded at us, "One more."

A loud screech came from Porunn's lips and then a shrill cry. The room fell silent as Aslaug held a baby in her arms. She smiled down at the crying child, "It is a girl."

Porunn flipped over on her back and looked at Aslaug as she held her daughter, "Don't show me. Get rid of it."

Bjorn and I both stood up and walked over to Aslaug. He kneeled down and looked at his daughter, "Give her to me." Aslaug smiled as she handed over the child. He stood up and shushed her gently. He swayed back and forth, a smirk of pride written all over his face. I rested my chin on his shoulder and looked down at the child, "I am a father."

"You have a perfect daughter." Aslaug smiled up at him.

Bjorn chuckled with a loss of breath as he looked at her, "The most beautiful child I've ever seen."

Porunn propped herself up and looked at the child and Bjorn in disbelief, "You're lying. She can't be." She testified, "It's impossible."

"No," I shook my head at her, "he's not lying."

"She needs a name," I looked over my shoulder and saw Lagertha standing in the corner of the room smiling at us, "your beautiful daughter."

"I have a name if Porunn agrees." He stated while placing his finger in his child's little hand, "I would like to call her Siggy." I looked over at Porunn and I could see a small smile tug at her lips. Bjorn walked over to a chair and sat down, "Siggy, who saved the sons of Ragnar."

Porunn rolled over and watched Bjorn and little Siggy. I could now sense her happiness as she truly watched her husband and daughter, "It is all right, sweet Siggy. May the gods watch and protect you, my sweet daughter."

Mother and wrapped one arm around each other. I leaned into her ear while smiling, "You came back."

She whispered back to me and nodded, "I could not stay away forever."

I walked over to Bjorn and looked down at the daughter in his hands, "Can I hold her, brother?"

He nodded and carefully placed my niece in my arms, "Sweet Siggy," I cooed at her, "what a family you've been born into." I chuckled, "You can always come to me, your aunt if need be." I smirked mischievously at my brother, "I know your father will fail many times before he finally gets all of it together." Bjorn and Mother laughed softly at my words and I looked down at Siggy again, "But, hopefully as you grow, you will come to realize that you truly have been born into quite the family."