#also my niece and nephew made me contemplated murder yesterday

[midnightwind]

I have spent the last two days either passed the fuck out in bed or half passed out on the couch while watching my silly little korean league teams fight

we're currently going for half passed out sitting at the desk but gang I'm not gonna lie, it feels dire right now

[conaionaru]

Honor and Blood (Ivar the Boneless)

A whole new life

Synopsis: Health check and pregnancy reveal

Warning: angst, fluff, Ivar, toxic family, mentions of pregnancy

Tagged

@shannygoatgruff@youbloodymadgenius @xbellaxcarolinax @heavenly1927 @lol-haha-joke @queenbeeta @didiintheblog

P.S. Anything in bold and cursive is a flashback.

I don't own the gifs. Also, thank you for your support. I really appreciate it.

The healer was very thoughtful under Ivar's watchful eye, ensuring both Vanya and the child in her belly are healthy. The older woman with gray hair and blue eyes confirmed the Seers revelation. The Saxon was pregnant, still early, but there was a little life growing inside her. 

The woman warned Vanya of morning sickness, mood swings, and other things she will experience, but Vanya was deaf to it all. Luckily Ivar looked like he was listening, mostly because he cursed the woman out at least trice after every sentence. All the young girl could think about was their future, she imagined what the child would look like and if it would be a girl or boy. She visualized the little crying babe in her arms that would smile at her, that she would nurse and love with all her love. She swore to be a good mother, better than her own had ever been. Afterall she would have help from Aslaug at the beginning, so she wasn't worried about that. Vanya couldn't help but smile in glee at what the future held for their little family. 

The young couple left the healers hut and went to the Great Hall for lunch. Ivar kept reminding her to watch her step and glared at anyone who got too close to Vanya. If it got any worse with time, Vanya would go crazy. Wasn't she supposed to go a little mad during pregnancy? Maybe Ivar's covering that field so she can concentrate on the babe?

The two sat down at the table, a thrall poured Vanya's cup with water, but she accidentally spilled a little bit on the Princess. "Watch it, you useless cow!"

"It was just water, Ivar. No harm done." Vanya scolded him, smiling in apology at the poor terrified thrall.

Ivar scoffed at that and glared at his wife. "What if she dropped the jug on you, huh? Did you think about that?" He accused her as Vanya shook head at his overprotectiveness. The water didn't even hit her anywhere near her stomach; it was poured on her knee. He was overreacting.

 "Are you alright, Ivar?" Ubbe asked with a raised eyebrow watching his brother fuss. Vanya looked at him with a tired face, silently begging him for help. Yet Ivar said nothing only glared at the table in distaste and betrayal. 

So Vanya took it into her own hands, she looked at the Queen and straightened her back as if to remind herself she had a backbone. "I talked to the Seer yesterday night, as you told me."

Aslaug looked at the girl with one eyebrow drawn up, urging the girl to go on. She was curious about what the Seer had to say if her vision was the only thing the Gods would reveal. 

"I am with child." The whole room grew silent; even the servants froze in their place. Hvitserk stopped eating, his spoon hanging from his lips, Ubbe sat there with wide eyes, Sigurd choked on his ale, while Bjorn blinked dumbly at the two of them. Only Aslaug seemed somehow put together, a small smirk playing on her lips as she smugly sipped her ale. Vanya had a feeling the Queen knew that already.

"A child?" Hvitserk asked, trying to make sure he didn't mishear his sister in law.

Vanya only nodded with an excited smile. "The Seer told me so, and the healer confirmed it this morning." 

"Congratulations then, Skul!" Ubbe called out as everybody echoed his shout and drank from their cups, happy for the couple. Expect Sigurd, who looked bitter. Vanya knew that spark in his good eye all too well; he always seemed like a snake on the hunt before he insulted Ivar. "Ivar's child?"

"Whose would it be? Do you think I would sleep with another man?" Vanya frowned at the jab glaring at the second youngest son of Ragnar. 

Sigurd only shook his head and lifted his cup to his lips; he pointed with at his younger brother and smirked. "Of course not, Vanya. I would never say that. I am just surprised, little Ivar put a child in you, that's all. It is a wonder how a cripple did it so fast."

Ivar threw his cup at Sigurd's head, but the other dodged the hit and smirked sneered at his brother in triumph. "Stop it, you two." Ordered Ubbe warning his younger siblings tiredly. 

"Are you not worried the child will be like him? Poor babe." Sigurd pressed as Ivar looked like he might climb over the table and murder his brother then and there. Vanya put a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him while Aslaug scolded Sigurd. The ginger looked at the Ragnarsson in anger that the cheerful news was used to undermine Ivar. 

"It could always be worse, Sigurd. The child could have eyes like you or such a terrible personality. That would be more dreadful." She spat back at him in a fury making the boys look at her in shock. Even Ivar sat back down in his seat, looking at his wife in admiration and wonder. She never seemed more appealing to him. 

Sigurd gaped at the Princess who never had anything bad to say about anybody. "And what if it is a cripple like him? What will you do?"

Vanya clenched her hands in fists, her nails biting into her palm, leaving behind a sharp sting. "Then I will love the child all the same. Who cares if it can't walk? As long as my child will be alive and happy, I don't care. Your opinion means nothing." 

Sigurd continued staring at her, stunned, his mind not comprehending what's happening. He was used to spitting back insults at Ivar, not Vanya throwing some back in his face. The other watched the conversation carry on, curious how it would end. "I am just trying to warn you, Vanya." He tried regretting his earlier mocking. An angry Vanya glaring at him was unsettling. Like a baby duck going feral.

"And if you ever bring a child into this world, I will listen. But you are neither a woman nor an expert midwife. So shush. Do you have anything else to say?" Sigurd opened his mouth as if he were to retort, but Vanya left him no time. "Oh wait, I just realized I don't care." Ivar looked at his older brother smugly, drinking his ale in a silent victory as his wife continued her angry stare, daring the Ragnarsson to say anything. Meanwhile, the other boys looked between the arguing duo as Aslaug smiled at Vanya, wanting to diffuse the tension.

"Did he say anything about if it would be a boy or girl?" She asked excitedly, happy that her youngest son found love and gave her grandchildren. 

"No. He talked of many children and other things. But not about that." Vanya clarified thinking back to the sinister prophecy about her own future and the payment in blood. Aslaug beamed at that reveal, thinking of all the Ivarssons and Ivarsdottirs she would hold in her arms. 

"And what else did he talk about?" Bjorn questioned, more curious about that than any nephews or nieces Ivar might sire. 

"Vanya is meant for greatness." Ivar bragged, holding her hand in his, grinning from ear to ear like a proud husband. Vanya shook her head at his happy tone. 

"It is not a good thing, Ivar. The Seer said the Gods would be paid in my blood. What if he meant my children? They will be my blood." Vanya pressed back, worriedly imagining dead children with red hair and eyes as blue as a stormy sea. She shuddered at the mental picture.

Hvitserk shrugged his shoulders at that and pointed his spoon at the ginger. "Or your brother. Silas is your blood too." Vanya dismissed the suggestion, rather not thinking about death at all. No matter how much she despised her older brother, she had no real reason to want him dead. He was far away, sitting on his throne, probably terrorizing other people now that she was gone. Silas was no longer a constant shadow in the back of her mind that made her shake in fright. He was a distant memory of what once was. 

Silas stood before her with his hands on his hips while Vanya sat on the floor, cradling her bruised cheek as she tasted blood in her mouth. "I am sorry, My King. I didn't mean to." She begged, looking at him with pleading eyes hoping to calm him. If she seemed pathetic enough to him, he would leave.

"How dare you look at me, you wench. I am your King, and you are forbidden to look into my eyes!" He barked at her, his spit flying everywhere. He looked like a rabid dog, contemplating ripping out her throat. 

Vanya cast her eyes back to the floor, seeing blood drip from her lip and onto the floor. She frantically wiped at the stain with her dress, hoping Silas wouldn't see it. "You are a waste of space! Unthankful, filthy, and stupid. Aren't you?"

"Yes, My King. I am terrible and pathetic. A stupid little girl who never learns." She repeated the words he threw at her a few days ago during a lesson like this. Their father died a month ago, and at first, Vanya thought it was his way of hiding his grief. He was King now, which meant many responsibilities and stress. He had no time to mourn. Yet Silas didn't seem to miss King Osmond at all. All he did was scream, curse, beat and humiliate Vanya while the council ruled in his stead. There was never any love lost between them, but it was never this bad.

"That you are! Thinking you could eat before I ate! Are you that mad? The King eats first! The man always eats first! How dare you eat from MY FOOD, from MY TABLE before ME! And you even talk back!" Silas raged, stomping his foot dangerously close to her hand on the ground. But Vanya didn't dare to pull it away, fearing he would kick her for it. Every time his boot made contact with the floor, she flinched in fright. "It was just one grape, My King. I forgot myself." Silas mocked, his voice high pitched as a mouse.

"Well, I will make sure you remember it this time!" He stomped his foot down with more strength behind it. A scream ripped out of Vanya's mouth as he crushed her palm under him, the crunch of bones deafening to her ears. 

Vanya jumped in her seat as the others gave her a worried glance at her pale complexion. She shook her head, smiling at them reassuringly. The ginger wanted to drink to stop the dry feeling in her mouth but didn't trust her hands not to shake. She could feel Ivar squeeze her hand softly, trying to calm her, but it didn't work. Silas was a monster that was still breathing in Slegia, and as long as he lived, so did the memory of her past. She hated him. But she doubted it was enough to want him dead. Yet the idea made her shoulders relax just a little bit. Had she gone mad?