Grey Souls

That Which Is Not Seen

Chapter Six

Ragnar grabbed the large basket full of odds and ends off of the table before hurtling it into a wall only to spin around in the same moment and kicking out causing his foot to smash so hard into the edge of the small table it knocked it roughly side ways and a good ways from where it originally stood.

Placing his hands on his hips he took a great huffing breath before turning to face his wife who meet his stare unaffected by his tantrum.

"If we were wolves, even boars  this weak runt would be discarded." Ragnar spoke his voice aching with each work that left his lips.

Aslaug flashed a glance towards her step daughter who set on the other side of the room paying them no mind but the Queen of Kattegat knew her step daughter was listening to every word as she focused intently on baby Ivar who was resting on her propped up lap as Daga leaned back against the wall making silly faces and cooing sweet words to the baby who was utterly enchanted with the beautiful crimson haired young warrior.

"Yes that is true, but we are not wolves or boars." Aslaug calmly argued her husband's words who scuffed screwing his eyes shut tightly at her words "What kind of life will he have Aslaug? He is a cripple he will have no life worth living!"

"You are so painfully wrong Ragnar." The king flinched at his daughter's words.

Turning towards his first born who didn't even bother to look up from the babe she held close to her "Is that so dearest daughter of mine?"

Daga smiled mockingly in his direction as if pitying him "Out of the two of us who can see the future?"

Ragnar said nothing as it hit him how truthful his daughter's words were. She had seen his youngest child's future, she knew he would be born a cripple.

"You knew." Ragnar stated his voice just a little louder then a whisper as he gazed wide eyed at his daughter who stood and walked towards his wife before giving the Queen back her son who begin to fuss loudly once out of her arms only to settle as Aslaug began to feed him "Of course I knew. He may have no use of his legs but he is not useless or a mistake. That babe, that boy will grow into a very powerful and very feared man one day. He will be a King one who will be beloved and ever powerful. Ivar The Boneless crowned The Snake King." Daga's voice utterly truthful but a riddle hidden in her words that made her gaze down and smirk as she walked to stand in front of her father before flashing her purple and grey eyes to meet his Odin blue stare.

Ivar's eyes were so utterly blue that even the whites of his eyes glowed an other worldly shade of the color as his large wondrous eyes followed his eldest sibling's every move even as he ate. Daga flashed him a small smile before focusing her attention to her father who had yet to look away from her in astonishment.

"Ivar will be a King?"

"Yes, some day. As will Bjorn and Ubbe."

Ragnar could not believe his ears his words left him before his mind could catch up "And you?"

"What about me?"

"What will become of you?"

Daga smiled suddenly a grin that truly startled Ragnar as she leaned forward closer to him her eyes never leaving his as she pursed her lips in a playful grin as if she knew all of the hidden truths in the world and in the end maybe she did, Ragnar didn't flinch as his beloved daughter reached out her hand to touch it gently to his cheek "You would not believe me yet if I told you."

And suddenly she was gone taking the comforting warmth with her leaving the King cold as he watched her walk slowly and confidently through the front door and out of their home.