Chapter 13: A Decision Had to Be Made

FREYA

Freya knew this is when any important decisions from a meeting would be shared with all the attending nobles. Aurik squeezed her hand before stepping away to stand at the side of his kingly father.

The king lifted his hand in greeting to his people, with a tired smile across his lips. Freya couldn’t help but notice how much Aurik looked like his father in his prime.

The king stood up again, coming to his full and imposing height ready to educate the waiting crowd.

“We’ll never forget the sacrifice of our fallen soldiers several months ago. It started with sightings of Vargar encroaching on our borders. At the time, we didn’t take this as the threat we should have.” Hawke sighed and stepped closer to the crowd of the Council.

“We’ve debated for months now how we should respond. Declare war? Or find a way to a lasting peace? A decision had to be made.”

He paused there.

Freya looked to Aurik to see if he knew where this was going. His face was carefully neutral.

“As many of you are aware, an envoy led by the crown prince met with leaders of the Vargar at a sacred spot of land near our border. Many of us are tired of war. We’ve lost so many family members already, over generations. We had to explore the second option, no matter how difficult it felt. We had to see if we could find some semblance of peace.”

Freya thought the king sounded tired. She imagined he would be. All of this fell on his shoulders, even though he had help from his family and from the Council.

“Both sides deliberated, and after a tense series of arguments and hours of deliberating, we have been able to agree on terms for a peaceful alliance! This is the work of my son, your future king.” The king went to Aurik and raised his hand in triumph.

The crowd in the ballroom cheered.

“To a future peace!” The king raised a glass.

“To a future peace,” the crowd echoed.

Freya wasn’t holding a glass, so she raised her empty hand and hoped nobody would notice.

The king put his glass to his lips. Everyone followed suit. Freya pretended to drink.

Then the king cleared his throat to speak again.

“Councilman Lonan, please join me.” Freya was startled when the king called out her father to join the royal family on this dais.

“Lonan lost his older daughter, a mighty Valkyrie, in that battle with the Vargar. His eldest sacrificed her life to save that of her commanding officer. His family has been loyal to the crown since the beginning, and he has been more than willing to help us and all Adaryn move into this future that will know peace.”

Lonan turned his head to look where Freya was standing. It felt as if his eyes were going through her. She knew the smile plastered across his face was a façade.

Something was really wrong. Her heart sank to her feet like a hefty stone in a river.

“We will join with the Vargar in the ultimate pact of peace, a truce that will last for generations to come. Lonan’s remaining daughter will be marrying the next in line for King of the Vargar. With this marriage, we will assure the safety of our families.”

~Wait, they were talking about Freya?~

In that moment the king’s eyes found Freya at the front of the crowd. He held his hand out in her direction.

With a mind of their own, her feet picked up and she moved toward the outstretched hand. Freya’s throat was tight, and she had to mentally tell herself to breathe. Her vision began to blur.

Aurik stepped forward with shock on his face. Then he masked it for the crowd’s sake.

Lonan moved closer to his daughter and the king to stand before the massive crowd.

Freya could feel all the eyes on her as this decision about her future was being discussed. Time seemed to slow down. She couldn’t really hear anything that was being said.

King Hawke placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, and she could feel that he was thanking her and her family for their loyalty to their people. He was saying something about future of the Adaryn, and the memory of her sister. Both daughters were now sacrificed for the safety of all others.

Someone must have signaled to the musicians to begin playing again.

A loud and boisterous song rang out in celebration. Nobles and Council members rushed at Lonan and Freya. She felt empty and hollow as her father did all the talking while holding her arm to keep her at his side. This was his opportunity to show off the daughter he was literally going to be throwing to the wolves.

~She was going to marry one of them? Marry the king of the wolves?~