Grey Souls

The Boneless

Chapter Five

Daga was walking in the market place with Bjorn who was on her other side with Ubbe and Sassa in the middle holding one of each of their hands as the siblings picked them up by their hands and swung them too and fro, causing the two to hold on tightly to each other and giggle in excitement as they went about.

Daga browsing through the market for last minute things she and her family would need for the trip to England while Bjorn played with Ubbe and Sassa. Once they finished up with their shopping the four heading back to the house of the royal family and settled in for the evening to finish up their packing. Daga had just put the last of her stuff in her bag when she suddenly felt the phantom of a sharp pain in her womb before the blood curdling scream of her step mother rang out causing the Princess to smile madly.

Her little Serpent was coming.

Daga tore out of her room in a deep sprint tearing through the large house ignoring the shocked faces of those around her in a blur as she breezed past them all before slamming into the door of her father and step mother's room seeing her mother curved in on her self with blood rapidly seeping through her night gown and tears of agony streaming down her face.

"Daga!! Thank the Gods! Something is wrong." Aslaug cried before finding herself gently sweep into strong arms and placed on the large soft bed before Daga reached forward and ripped the furs over to the side making room for the Queen to settle up against the pillows.

"It's ok! Everything is gonna be ok I promise you. I need you to trust me Aslaug can you do that for me?" Daga asked bluntly causing Aslaug to meet her step daughter's two different colored eyes with out hesitation "I trust you above everyone and I mean, everyone."

Daga nodded rapidly before Siggy and Helga bolted into the room with expectant faces.

"Siggy I need cloths lots of them and Helga I need hot water. Now!" Daga ordered causing the two older women to jump into action as Daga pulled up her step mother's night dress and found her fingers at her opening.

Daga smiled a crazed grin that strangely put Aslaug at ease.

"He is coming and fast. Your little Ivar is making his appearance into the world tonight."

"Our little Ivar."

Daga flashed her step mother a sweet warm smile as she set to work preparing and readying things. As the time ticked on Daga knew that this would not be easy on Aslaug and that it would even wound her severely and she warned her step mother as such but she promised her Queen who hung on to her every word desperately, both mother and baby would make it through just fine.

After a savage two and a half days of horrific labor Aslaug finally found her strength to push her child freely from her body. As a horrific blood curdling scream of the new mother ended a pain filled baby screech filled the air as Ivar Ragnarsson made his first appearance into the world.

Daga wrapped the child tightly in comfortable blankets and cuddled him tightly against her chest as she gently rocked him back and forth, Siggy looked absolutely horrified, Helga looked to be in awe and Aslaug looked simply stunned.

The baby boy was healthy in every way but his legs, his legs instead of being healthy normal legs were twisted and bent, the bones smaller then average and twisted crudely into shapes that appeared almost boneless in appearance.

"Ivar The Boneless." Daga whispered in awe her heart instantly becoming overjoyed at the feel of the baby in her arms. Her youngest brother, her littlest King, her little Serpent.

"The Boneless." Aslaug whispered as she gazed up at her step daughter in awe who flashed her a knowing grin one which she returned.

"He will never survive." Siggy whispered horrified before she suddenly began choking as she found her self lifted up by her throat and slammed against the wall.