The Judgment

Astrid's POV

The Judgment

Neither Freydis nor I realized that we were being watched by the king and his brother, Prince Ragnar.

Ragnar, my husband, and uncle, had convinced my father, King Harald, that Rolo had tried to steal the queen from his side, just as he had tried to taw me by helping me flee from him. He twisted the situation further, fanning my father's anger to ensure his wrath burned brightly.

With this, my father, King Harald, decided Rolo deserved a punishment worse than death.

By that afternoon, as Freydis and I returned to my chamber, a public trial was already being prepared for Rolo, the man who had only helped me but was now accused of kidnapping me.

I was in my room with Freydis when several maidens arrived, claiming they had been sent by Ragnar to help me dress. Freydis, ever loyal and knowing how much I hated to be dressed by the maids, immediately moved to stop them.

"As queen, I do not authorize this," Freydis declared sternly. "The princess is ill; her fever could return. Do you wish to be the cause of the princess's further suffering?" Her voice was steady, but her eyes flickered with the fear every Omega felt when standing against authority.

"Freydis," came Hakon's harsh, commanding tone, and she immediately lowered her gaze. I watched her with a pang of sadness, recognizing the fear Hakon's presence always evoked in her.

"It would be wise for both of you to cease causing trouble today. You have already caused more than enough," Hakon said, glancing between us. "There will be a public trial for Rolo Irk."

"You cannot do this, he has done nothing wrong!" I exclaimed, and Hakon's cold stare bored into me.

"He kidnapped the princess, and he will be judged for it," Hakon stated, turning to leave.

"He did not kidnap me! He was only obeying my orders," I protested, my voice rising with my desperation, causing a surge of pain to flare in my neck. I really do not understand why they will be saying this, Ser Rollo never kidnapped the princess, I am the princess in question, I will know if I was kidnapped, but no, I was not.

"Then he deserves to die—a Beta taking orders from an Omega," Hakon retorted as he walked away, his words a sharp reminder of my inferiority in this world.

Realizing there was no other option, I let the maidens dress me as quickly as they could. The moment they were finished, I ran with Freydis to the public square where the trial would take place. As we arrived, we saw Rolo tied up, and we moved to rush to his side, only to be blocked by the king and Ragnar.

"Father, you cannot put Rolo on trial," I pleaded, facing my father for the first time since I fled. "He only did what I asked him to do."

"He will be judged for kidnapping my beloved daughter," my father replied, gently stroking my hair as though my words held no weight. "And for attempting to seduce my beautiful wife," he added, causing Freydis to look down in fear. He knew—he knew what she felt for Rolo Irk. This was far worse than I'd imagined.

I squeezed Freydis's hand, trying to offer some comfort. I could feel her anxiety and knew she feared the worst: exile, disgrace, or even death.

"Father," I began, but Ragnar's sharp gaze pierced through me.

"Stop making trouble, wife," Ragnar growled, his tone condescending and firm.

"When did you become so cruel?" I shot back, defiance in my voice. Freydis immediately stepped away, frightened by my audacity. Ragnar's hand moved to the mark on my neck, pressing it with just enough force to make me shiver. My body betrayed me, urging me to submit, but I resisted, swallowing hard against the urge.

"Guards, take them to the best spot—let them have a clear view of the entire process," Ragnar commanded. The royal guards escorted us to a raised area where we could see the trial unfold. But before I moved, Ragnar leaned close and whispered in my ear.

"I suggest you behave, Astrid unless you want me to take you away to Dragonstone, far from your father's protection," he threatened. I glared at him, my heart pounding with both fear and fury, as the guards led me away.

From our vantage point, we could see everything. At first, it seemed like a good idea to have such a view, but as the trial commenced, I realized how cruel this privilege truly was.

I held Freydis's hand tightly as we watched Rolo Irk being brought forward. He had been denied the right to trial by combat—a right even a common Beta would have been granted. But being branded a traitor stripped him of any honor. The crowd jeered at my supposed "kidnapper," and my father rose to address them.

"This man kidnapped my daughter, your princess, your soon-to-be queen. He will pay for his crime," the king announced. I opened my mouth to speak, to shout the truth, but Freydis squeezed my hand even tighter. Ragnar's glare from across the square was a clear warning: cause no more trouble.

Rolo stood firm, despite knowing what fate awaited him. "I do not fear death. I would gladly die for a friend," he declared his words a dagger to my heart. I turned to Freydis, who was struggling to keep her composure, trying not to break in front of the crowd, but I knew she was unraveling inside.

"Death? You wish," my father sneered. "Death would be too kind—a mercy." He approached Rolo with slow, deliberate steps, and his claws began to extend from his paws.

The crowd roared with anticipation, and I watched, horrified, as my father approached.

"Please, my lord, not this," Rolo begged, desperate to avoid a fate worse than death—a mark of treason. It would make him an outcast, a pariah. Even the lowest of the low would shun him; he would be hunted, feared, and despised for the rest of his days. No place would ever welcome him; no pack would claim him. This was a fate worse than being an Omega. At least an Omega had a home… a family.