10
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The High House was even more glorious on the inside. We were rushed through quickly, so I didn’t have time to appreciate all the majesty, but what I did see was incredible. The ceilings arched upward to unfathomable heights. There were ornate decorations everywhere, frescoes covering the walls, furniture intricately carved out of stone, gigantic tapestries depicting battle scenes in vivid colors. We passed a giant courtyard covered in a blanket of lush grass, trees with white blossoms, and beautifully blooming flowers in every color of the rainbow and edging it all like a framed painting.
It was truly breathtaking.
The air inside smelled even sweeter than it had outside the walls, if that was possible.
We followed Tyr, who was moving at a brisk pace. “You’re just in time,” he said over his shoulder. “The hearing is being held in the main courtroom. They’ve brought Fenrir in already. You’ve been asked to take your places in the upper balcony, except those who will stand as witnesses for the wolf. I assume that is adequate for all.”
“Yes, it’s fine, thank you. But why is this trial happening in the main courtroom?” Leela asked. “Usually for smaller matters, where only Odin will speak, they use one of the lesser rooms.”
Tyr shrugged. “I was not consulted on the matter, but my guess is that they are expecting a large crowd. The regular courtrooms cannot accommodate as many.”
“There can’t be that many in attendance if the gates were locked,” Ingrid grumbled.
“We had some unexpected overnight guests,” Tyr said.
“Who?” Ingrid asked.
“A group from Alfheim,” he answered. “As well as some from Svartalfheim.”
“Svartalfheim?” Leela gasped. “Why would the dark elves come here?”
“Not just any dark elf, but Invaldi himself,” Tyr stated evenly, leading us through yet another archway and down a long hallway covered in beautiful gray-veined marble.
Ingrid stopped so abruptly, I almost crashed into her back. “Invaldi is here? In the High House? Right now? I’ve never heard of the dark elf leader ever setting foot in Asgard, much less coming here. Our sunlight turns him to stone! What is he thinking?”
“Aye,” Tyr said. “That’s why he arrived in the dark of night. Great preparations have been made to keep him protected. I’m assuming he’s here to lodge a complaint that Fenrir and the Valkyries entered his realm illegally without permission.”
“Yeah, but to be fair, he had something of ours that we needed back,” Ingrid said. “Invaldi harbored a Valkyrie against her will for over twenty years. Those are grounds for an illegal entrance if I’ve ever heard of one.”
“It is debatable,” Tyr said. “As some will argue, Odin sent her there and she went willingly.”
“Yes,” Leela said. “I did enter that realm of my own volition. But once Phoebe was struck, the deal was void, and Invaldi had no intention of setting me free. In fact, I was promised as a prize to the skogs.”
We emerged into a large foyer with high, domed ceilings and a circle of large columns. The focal point was two huge double doors that had to be at least thirty feet high. The room inside must be enormous.
“Who will speak for Fenrir?” Tyr said, coming to a stop in front of the doors.
“Me and my sister,” Ingrid answered.
“Will I be allowed to speak for him?” I asked hopefully.
Tyr shook his head. “No, our father has decided against it. Frigg is in a fragile state. Your hearing will be held tomorrow, and he wants nothing to compromise it. I’m sorry, Phoebe. But Fenrir is in good hands. Have no fear.”
Fen was about to be exiled to Helheim. Fear was a given.
I nodded. “I understand.”
“I will take Leela and Ingrid with me,” Tyr said. “All others follow the stairway through those doors”—he gestured to another set of doors that had been hidden by a large column—“up to the first balcony. There will be someone up there to direct you.”
Once Tyr, Ingrid, and Leela disappeared, my grandmother said, “Follow me, I know the way.”
Rae was addressing the Valkyries, so Sam and I followed my grandmother.
As we walked, Sam grabbed on to my arm. “I can’t believe we’re inside Odin’s home,” she whispered. “This is so frickin’ cool!”
“It is,” I agreed. “I just wish we were here for another reason.”
“Yeah, me, too,” she said. “Kind of takes the pizzazz out of it. Like drinking a soda pop with no carbonation.”
We followed my grandmother, who was dressed elegantly in a long white flowing robe, up three flights of steps. Once at the top, there was a narrow catwalk that led to a set of doors.
A woman clad in a high-waisted brown dress stood in front of them with her hands clasped.
My grandmother walked purposely forward. “We’re here to watch the proceedings,” she informed the woman, who opened the door without comment.
We filed in.
The balcony was circular, encompassing the entire room below. Grete paced down to the first row of seats in front of an ornate banister carved from white marble. The chairs were plush, covered in thick red velvet. The Valkyries streamed in behind us, making a racket as their weapons and armor clattered.
Once we took our seats, I peered over the railing. We were much higher up than I’d expected, at least thirty feet.
Fenrir sat in a single straight-backed chair in the middle of the arena. Around him stood a high wall of polished wood, and behind that sat a dozen thrones, filling out the circle.
As if he felt the weight of my gaze, he glanced upward.
Our eyes met, and he smiled. He was beautiful. My heart threatened to pound out of my chest. If we could have spoken to each other, I knew he would have said something like, It will be all right, shieldmaiden. Have no fear. It was almost as if I could hear his voice in my head. I wished I could talk to him, comfort him somehow and tell him it would be okay, that we would be together soon.
Sam joined me. “I bet the biggest chair right in the middle is Odin’s.” She gestured toward the tallest throne. “Do you think it’s made out of real gold? Look at all those carvings. Something like that would be priceless in Midgard.”
“Must be,” I answered absentmindedly. People had started to stream into the balcony from all sides. There was quiet murmuring and an unmistakable electricity in the air.
I glanced upward to see there were several more balconies rising above us.
This courtroom must be located in one of the turrets.
The people of Asgard had come to see Fenrir the Wolf get his just dues for breaking out of yet another unfair prison. I wanted to scream and tell them to go home, that Fen wasn’t their enemy, that he was a giving and loving soul who deserved a fair shot. But that wouldn’t achieve anything. I was an outsider who didn’t know the rules. They’d likely throw me out or happily stuff me in a jail cell.
Sam elbowed me, gesturing upward. “This place goes on and on. There must be four more balconies above us. None of which are held up by much. This antigravity thing is insane.”
I nodded. “It looks like every single person in Asgard could fit in here. I hope they don’t all show.”
“Amen to that,” she replied.
Sam and I took our seats. My grandmother reached over and set a hand on my forearm. “It won’t be long now,” she said. “My guess is Odin will make this hearing as short as possible. No need to drag it out.”
“What happens directly after Odin decides Fen’s punishment?” I whispered.
“That depends,” Grete answered. “Because you will be tried tomorrow—and from what we all understand, you will both be going to the same place—Fenrir will likely go back to jail so you can travel together.”
Rae leaned down from her position behind me. “But be warned, nothing is for certain until Odin deems it so. In your case, it might be best to assume the worst. Therefore, you won’t be overly disappointed if something goes awry.”
That was comforting. I was contemplating what could possibly go awry when Sam shook my shoulder. “The door is opening,” she said excitedly. “It has to be Odin! He’s walking through the door behind the biggest throne.”
Indeed, he was.
All the commotion around us dimmed as Odin entered the courtroom. He was dressed in white robes, carrying his spear. He was resplendent, even from this high up. An aura issued around him, one that I hadn’t seen last night. He seemed to glow from within.
The door closed, and no other gods or goddesses entered.
My father sat down in the ornate chair facing Fen, who hadn’t reacted at all to the entrance of the king of gods. Odin’s voice rang out, loud and booming. “Fenrir the Wolf, you have arrived to this courtroom on this day to answer for your wrongdoings. You escaped your imprisonment unjustly. How do you plead?”
“Guilty.” Fen didn’t waver.
“You have also been accused of entering another realm without permission. How do you plead?”
“Guilty.”
“You have been accused of aiding in the death of Baldur, god of light. How do you plead?”
I gasped, my hand thumping over my heart. “He can’t say guilty!” I whispered. “He’s not guilty of that. He wasn’t even there when I freed Baldur.”
“Guilty.”
“These are high crimes against Asgard, and you plead guilty to them freely. I have no choice but to mete out the appropriate punishment. But first we will hear from any who choose to stand for you or against. After that, my decision will be final.” Odin’s voice echoed around the chamber. “Come forward now if you are willing to speak for Fenrir the Wolf.”
I couldn’t see where the group was sitting from my position on the balcony, but Tyr emerged in the circle and stood beside Fen.
“I stand witness to the wolf,” Tyr said, turning in a circle as he spoke. “I have known Fenrir for many centuries. I’m ashamed to say that at Fenrir’s first trial, I failed to give him my support.” A lot of murmuring erupted from the crowd. “I was mourning my injuries and selfishly concerning myself with petty things. Fenrir was tricked that fateful day.” More excited talk rose from the crowded vestibule. “When I tied him with Gleipnir, I knew the rope was spelled and he would not break free. I lied, willingly, to a man who didn’t deserve the injustice dealt him. I have spent my days since searching for answers for my treachery—and have found none until this day. Fenrir the Wolf poses no threat to anyone in Asgard. He left his jail in Muspelheim only to aid Odin’s daughter, who had come under attack by Surtr and the fire demons. He went to Svartalfheim, again to aid the daughter of Odin. I was present for Baldur’s death, and it was not perpetrated by Fenrir, nor Phoebe. It was carried out by Verdandi herself.”
The crowd went wild.
“Silence!” Odin blistered with authority. The crowd settled down immediately.
“I request that Fenrir’s sentence be commuted for time served.” Tyr bowed his head, his arms folded in front of him. “He has been innocent of any wrongdoing from the beginning, his prior sentence unjust. Thank you for hearing my plea.” Tyr walked out of the circle.
“Who’s next?” Odin asked.
Ingrid came out and stood next to Fen. My heart swelled. I was immensely proud of my aunt for doing this. Her feelings about Fen were indifferent, at best. She neither loved nor hated him. But she knew I cared for him and that he’d saved my life, and that was enough for her. “I come as a Valkyrie in favor of this wolf. He has proven himself to be just and true, putting himself in harm’s way to protect my sisters on more than one occasion. I ask that his sentence be lenient.” She bowed her head and left.
A surprising voice piped in next. I recognized it and smiled.
“If I may say a few words.” Callan, the white elf mage we’d encountered in Svartalfheim and subsequently freed, strolled into view, still appearing young and vibrant. It was a much better look than the wizened old man we’d found on the verge of death, lying in a cell. Callan had told me he would stand up for me, but I hadn’t known he planned to do it for Fen. “On behalf of this fine fellow”—he placed a hand on Fen’s shoulder—“I hereby vouch for his strength and merit. I encountered him in the realm of Svartalfheim, where I was close to taking my final breaths.” He played to the crowd perfectly, turning and spreading his arms. “My king had been taken prisoner, and I’d been sent to free him, but ultimately I was the one trapped for too many years to count. Without the aid of this wolf, I would have died. He was valiant and courageous, placing my life in front of his without thought. It is my greatest wish that he shall be set free. I thank you for your time.” Callan bowed and left the circle.
Before Odin could ask who was next, I heard my mother clear her throat.
Electricity in the room quadrupled, but the crowd stayed quiet, not wanting any more of Odin’s wrath directed their way.
Leela made her way to Fen’s side, her head held high. Unless she had met with Odin under the cover of darkness last night, like I had, this was the first time she had come in contact with her lover in over twenty-four years. It took incredible courage, and I was proud of her.
“She looks so beautiful and regal,” Sam said. “She could’ve easily been a queen.” My mother was without her bow and arrow, but was dressed in full Valkyrie regalia. She did look beautiful and regal. She carried herself with complete confidence. It was easy to understand why Odin fell for her.
I didn’t get a chance to answer Sam, because my mother began to speak. “I stand here in support of Fenrir the Wolf. When our daughter was kidnapped by the Norns’ agents and taken against her will, it was he who saved her life.” The crowd erupted at the words our daughter and refused to quiet down. I had to strain to hear the rest. “He did so selflessly, and no less than three times. I pray you will be fair and just when you carry out your sentence. He is not responsible for Baldur’s death any more than Phoebe is. The god of war was correct. It was Verdandi who threw the fatal dart.”
Comments from the crowd came swiftly and loudly.
“She’s a harlot with a heart of stone!”
“The bastard child of Odin will bring us doom!”
“Ragnarok is upon us! Pray the gods can keep us safe.”
“Flay the wolf alive! He saved the daughter of Odin who brings darkness onto our realm.”
“I will have silence in my courtroom!” Odin roared.
Before people could settle down, a door opened behind Odin, and a beautiful woman strolled out, her golden hair braided and looped around her head in thick ringlets. She wore a long, flowing gown made of a shimmering metallic material. As she moved, it flickered from silver to white and back again.
Beside me, my grandmother gasped, leaning forward in her seat. “Frigg is not supposed to be here! This is not her jurisdiction. This is a matter for Odin to decide alone.”
So that was Frigg.
She was utterly breathtaking in an ethereal way and clearly on a mission.
Not pausing at any of the thrones to sit, she marched right up to the edge of the wooden wall and leaned over to address my mother directly, her voice harsh and angry. “That filthy beast is as responsible for killing my son as your bastard daughter! It matters not who threw the final dart. Your daughter and Fenrir will be held accountable! There is nothing you can say that will change that.”
The crowd went nuts. People were catcalling and shouting, most of them in agreement with Frigg.
My mother tilted her face up toward Frigg, seemingly undaunted by the chaos around her. “My daughter is no bastard,” Leela said in a steely tone. “Odin has always claimed her as his own. Lest you forget, your son was fated to die, and it happened as it was foretold. But not at the hands of my daughter. She is innocent of any wrongdoing, and so is this wolf.”
Frigg balled her fists, and from this vantage point, I could see her shaking. “How dare you talk to me like a common peasant? Odin was not mated to you. Therefore, your daughter will always be a bastard. And if she hadn’t set my son free, he would still be alive today. Make no mistake, she and the wolf will pay dearly for their interference. Starting right now.” Frigg darted an angry look toward Odin. “I want this Valkyrie locked up.”
My mother responded before Odin could. “On what charge?”
“For aiding and abetting the death of my son,” Frigg raged.
“Nonsense,” Leela answered. “None of us had anything to do with the killing of Baldur. If Verdandi had not thrown the dart, your son would be alive today. Your ignorance and refusal to accept what has happened stands in the way of truth.”
“How dare you call me ignorant?” Frigg was apoplectic. The energy in the room had reached freakish levels. She turned and stomped toward Odin. “If you do not lock her up this instant, I will kill her. I am within my rights to do so. She was present and could have stopped her child from committing a high crime and thus kept our son alive. Do this, or I will end her.”
I jumped out of my seat, reaching for my broadsword, ready to defend my mother.
Odin looked grim. “Take her away.”