Chapter 11
Freydis
The sound of a wolf howling woke me from sleep. The door knocked, and I called for the person to come in, knowing it was Siggy. She walked in carrying a bucket of water and went straight to the bathing chamber. After pouring the water into the tub, she walked over to me.
"The King wants to see you in his hall," she said.
I stood up from the bed, my heart thumping fast. I already knew what it meant.
...
There were only a handful of warriors when I walked into Harald's hall. I heard footsteps and turned around to see Ragnar. He, too, had been summoned. I spotted Lagertha seated on her throne next to Harald.
I walked over, my hands trembling at the state of things. But Ragnar... he remained calm, as if nothing had happened in the woods yesterday.
Lagertha glared at Ragnar with a deep frown.
"You called for me."
"Us," Ragnar said beside me.
Harald frowned, the muscles in his face bulging out. "Something terrible happened, and someone will pay dearly for it."
My breath caught in my throat.
"What?" I asked, trying to feign ignorance.
"Two Eastlanders were found dead in the woods last night," Harald said, nodding toward a warrior who stepped forward.
"Explain what you saw."
The warrior bowed his head to Harald. "I saw Freydis enter the woods, shortly followed by Ragnar. Some time later when i went in, i found two Eastlanders dead."
"Is the culprit going to step forward, or will you stubbornly remain silent?"
Lagertha stood up. "Ragnar, admit that you killed the men so you can pay for your crimes. I know my dreams were true. You killed them; you are a beast, a Hound."
The hall fell silent afterward. No one spoke. All eyes were on us.
Ragnar scoffed, stepping forward. "I am not surprised to hear your words. Ye have always carried hatred for me in your heart."
"Glad I no longer need to hide it."
"So you admit that you killed those men?" Harald asked.
I frowned, stepping forward. "The men assaulted me, Father. You must know the truth. Ragnar saved me."
Harald's frown deepened. "And what were you doing in the woods alone?"
"Stubborn girl," Lagertha seethed with a frown. "You were almost kidnapped a day ago, and yet you went out alone, without guards."
"Why do you ignore the fact that I was almost raped by two Eastlanders?" I asked.
"And why should we believe you?" Harald asked. "You left my hall yesterday in anger after I told you about your marriage. How do I know Ragnar didn't kill them on purpose? To blame it on assault so you can make me call the marriage off?"
"You must believe me, Father!"
"She speaks true," Ragnar stepped forward. "And why would ye send her off to marry strangers? Men ye fight war against? If not for your own selfish gain. Ye call yourself a Christian—"
"Silence your tongue and don't try to bring religion into this, because you, Ragnar, are worse. You killed two men, and that is not just a sin in the eyes of the Lord, but if the Eastlanders heard of the deaths, they'd draw for war."
My anger flared because while Ragnar had killed the men, he did so because the men assaulted me. As guilty as I felt for their deaths, it frustrated me that my parents weren't acknowledging what led to their deaths.
"Silence both of you," Harald said. "We must discuss your actions, Ragnar."
Lagertha snarled. "What must be discussed is his punishment. He came into our land to defile it. Have him beaten and sent back to the North."
I opened my mouth to speak, but Ragnar beat me to it. "If there's anyone that needs beating, it's ye, Lagertha."
"As always, you speak like a fool," Lagertha snapped.
"I speak the truth," he said. "I'd never trade me daughter to strangers; least of all to one I'm at war with. The gods forbid such a thing. But ye, blinded by wealth, ye'd do it without a second thought. Ye're no better than a snake."
Lagertha stood up, fists clenched, and marched down the stairs toward Ragnar. I quickly stood in front of him.
"Freydis, get out of my way."
"Why?" Ragnar asked from behind. "Are ye going to strike her now?"
Just as the words left Ragnar's mouth, Lagertha's hands collided with my cheek. The slap was so strong that I lost balance and stumbled, nearly falling to the ground. I held my cheek, seething with anger as I stared at Lagertha.
"You are a fool," Lagertha spat at me. "I told you about my dream. What I saw about Ragnar. Yet you still defend him."
I wanted to speak but had no voice. Why was no one interested in what the men had done?
The warriors rushed forward, grabbing Ragnar. He didn't resist and allowed the guards to hold him down. On Lagertha's order, they began to beat him.
Blood smeared on his face as more than five warriors attacked him. They continued to strike him again and again.
They were going to kill him.
I turned to Harald, who sat there watching everything without saying a word.
"Father, do something. They'll kill him."
Father opened his mouth to speak, but Lagertha whipped her head toward him.
"Don't try to interfere, husband," she said. "He insulted me and killed two Eastlanders. He needs to be punished."
"He is my brother."
"And you have been siding with him for many years. Leave this to me."
"Father—"
"What did he give you for you to act like this?" Lagertha asked me.
"He only defended me!"
"Tell me, Freydis, have you been seeing Ragnar for you to be acting like a fool now?" she seethed.
I ignored her and turned to Ragnar. If I didn't do something, they'd end up killing him.
I took a step forward, but Lagertha grabbed me. I screamed, biting down on her finger. She hissed in pain and pulled away.
"Step away from him now!" I yelled.
Lagertha cried in the corner. "She bit me. She bit her mother!"
"Step away!"
"Don't make this worse than it is, Princess," one of the warriors said. "Back away."
I frowned, feeling anger stir inside me. I knew this feeling but I didn't try to push it down. Ragnar saved me, and I would not stand here while they beat him because of me.
Before I could do anything, I heard Harald's loud voice. "Enough of this madness!"
The voice echoed in the hall, and the warriors halted instantly.
Harald stood up from his throne and walked down the stairs. I quickly stood in front of Ragnar just in case my father tried to hit him too. My eyes were burning with anger.