Shield maiden ~ Vikings

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We all know what's coming ^^

*

Kiev

A shrill cry came from the room.

Waiting outside, having wanted to rip his own ears off to spare himself from hearing his sister's screams up until now, Avan suddenly felt a wave of relief wash over him. With the baby born, Aila was finally free of the pain of having to bear down and push a little child out.

Going against the norm, Ivar had stayed at her side. Avan had not heard his voice a single time, only Aila's cries and swears.

Of course she swore and cursed. Each one would make him laugh softly. It was just how she was.

The crying went on for a while, but when it finally stopped, now replaced with a baby's coos, Avan prayed to God that both the baby and its mother were safe and well.

He also got angry. He was angry because his baby sister was forced to give birth within the walls of strangers, enemies, Rus!

But she is safe, He told himself. As safe and can be. Just as he hoped his own friends were safe. When this was over and he had seen that Aila was well he would go see them, make sure they were settling in well enough . . . as well as they could on Rus grounds. I hope they do not hate me . . .

The door opened.

One of the women came out. Please . . . Avan begged. The woman nodded, stepping aside to let him enter, and Avan got up.

Every time his siblings had been born and his father had taken him to see them, Avan had felt anxious beyond words. Too many risks came with birthing children, risks he prayed to God his sister had not suffered.

Oh, thank God. Thank You, Lord, thank You.

He sat down at the end of the bed and watched his little sister, holding her little baby. Despite the pain, a faint smile was on Aila's lips. Behind her, an arm wrapped around her, Ivar leaned his chin against her shoulder and looked down at their child.

Aila looked up. She was tired, Avan could see that, even more than he had expected. "A boy."

Avan smiled.

"Are you an uncle now?"

"I already was." He said softly.

Aila motioned for him to come closer, so Avan moved to her side and put a hand on her shoulder. "A boy, eh?"

"Ragnar." Ivar said.

Aila turned to him. "How did you know?"

"I know you."

She had decided to name the baby Ragnar long ago if it had been a boy, and he was. "Little Ragnar." Aila whispered. She turned to Avan.

Her brother took the babe, holding him gently.

"Huh." He raised a brow when the baby boy opened his red eyes. "Would you look at that? This is little Red Ragnar."