He angled his head up toward his father, his long hair covering one of his eyes. He looked feral. “It is your word against ours.” Fen’s biceps strained against the bindings. “You told this court you found me trying to escape Helheim. You said nothing about encountering Phoebe. You change your story to fit your needs.” Fen’s voice was full of rancor. “How typical of you. Always out for yourself. You will not win this time. You are a coward, and you always have been.”
Loki crossed his arms, unfazed at his son’s powerful words, but before he could reply, Frigg snapped out of her stupor.
The goddess straightened and spoke. “I’ve heard enough of this! We shall call the Norns here and confront them. Loki will answer for his wrongdoing then. Make it so. Our son has returned, and there is much to celebrate.”
Odin seemed to ponder this, but finally nodded, agreeing with Frigg. But I saw the look that passed over his face as his eyes lingered on Loki. The trickster god saw it, too. His demeanor changed only slightly. Loki was likely trying to figure out how to weasel out of this, and knowing his history, he would succeed.
“It is by my decree,” Odin announced, “that my daughter Phoebe and Fenrir the Wolf are fully pardoned. Phoebe has done the impossible. She not only brought back the god of light, but also Thor’s son, my grandson. We will summon the Norns here at once. The trial will be set for tomorrow at sundown.” He picked up a large gavel and banged it, the sound reverberating through the nearly empty arena.
The Valkyries around me let out shrill whistles and catcalls as the gods above us stood and slowly filed out.
Fen and I were free.
Just like that.
I whipped one of my blades down to shear the chains that bound Fen. They fell to the ground with a loud clatter. I sheathed my swords, and in the next moment, I was in his arms. He held me tightly, his face buried in my neck. “I’m sorry, Phoebe,” he murmured. “I was unable to get back to you.”
“I managed pretty nicely on my own,” I teased, my lips finding his neck. “I’m just glad I got back here when I did.” I leaned back and peered into his eyes, my hands tracing his wounds. “You’re covered with blood, and your clothes are torn. You must’ve given your father a run for his money.”
“That I did,” he agreed. “And I would have clawed my way out of jail, if it hadn’t been for Odin.”
“Odin?”
“Yes, the god paid me a visit in the hours before the trial,” Fen confided. “Odin told me that you would arrive and all would be well. Without that, I would’ve gone insane trying to get back to you. I knew if I was tried in court, they would end my life—or try their best. But I couldn’t let you rot in Helheim for an eternity without me.” He leaned down, kissing me, my hands tangling in his hair.
Breathless, I said, “I’m so happy it’s over.”
“How did you do it?” Fen’s expression was one of wonder. “Not only did you bring Baldur back, but Thor’s son as well. Thor will owe you a great favor. He’s a powerful god. You’ve earned a strong ally in him.”
“In a nutshell,” I said, winding a lock of his hair behind his ear, another finger lightly tracing dried blood along his forehead. “I wasn’t sure what to do once we were separated, so I came back to get Vali. Things fell into place from there.” I laughed softly. “Well, other than Hel trying to drown me in her river of death. Vali came to my defense, and it worked out. As far as getting Rory back here, I owed him for helping me get the stone back. I’m pretty sure Odin had a hand in the boy being there in the first place, but likely we’ll never know for certain. The leader of gods works in mysterious ways.”
“I think that’s a fair assessment.” He grinned down at me.
“Okay, enough canoodling, you two,” Ingrid announced. “We’ve left you alone for long enough.”
Reluctantly, I stepped back.
Fen let me go, but kept my hand firmly nestled in his. My mother stood off to the side, a mix of happiness and resolution on her face. Her mother stood next to her, her arm braced around her daughter’s shoulders.
A sense of immediate gratefulness engulfed me.
I was back with my family, and everyone was safe. “Where’s Sam?” I asked as I walked toward them, tugging Fen with me. She was the only one who was missing from this happy reunion.
Tyr answered first. “She is being detained at the Valkyrie compound.” His face was grim. He clearly did not approve.
“Why?” I glanced toward my aunt, looking for an answer.
Ingrid cleared her throat. “We sort of had to lock her up.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, alarmed. “Why in the world would you do something like that?” Sam was about as harmless as you could get.
“When you disappeared out of the courtroom, exiled by Frigg, Sam took up your cause. She paraded around Asgard, openly campaigning for your return. She cited the ill judgment of the goddess for sentencing you and the unfair treatment of the valiant shieldmaiden Phoebe Meadows.” Ingrid chuckled. “She was actually quite effective. ‘Free Phoebe Meadows!’ was bandied about, especially by the younger folks. But then it began to turn sour. We told Sam she had to rein it in so she didn’t get hurt, but she wouldn’t listen. So, for her own good, we locked her in her room when one of us couldn’t accompany her around. Tyr’s not happy with us.” She jabbed a thumb in my brother’s direction. “He thinks we overreacted.” She shrugged. “But before you get angry, Sam isn’t one of us. She’s not immortal, and she could’ve been seriously injured. The threats coming in were serious. When we got the summons that something was up here, we had no choice but to leave her behind.”
Leave it to Sam to become a one-woman activist on my behalf. I couldn’t love her more.
“I understand,” I said. “But we should get back as soon as possible. Sam is going be bummed she missed this.”
Before Ingrid could respond, the door opened, and Frigg walked in. She carried herself like a queen, ignoring everyone else as she headed straight toward her son.
He welcomed her with open arms.
31
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They embraced for several moments before Frigg stepped back, her face a mix of shock and relief. “I cannot believe we are graced with your presence once again,” she said. “It’s beyond my wildest imagination.”
“I am humbled to be home again, and it’s all thanks to Phoebe,” Baldur said graciously. “Please, allow me to introduce you to my half sister.” He gestured for me to come forward. Fen followed behind me, a low rumble issuing from his chest. The Valkyries tensed, standing armed and ready. No one knew how Frigg was going to react. “Mother, this is Phoebe,” Baldur said. “Phoebe, this is my mother, the goddess Frigg.”
I bowed my head, figuring it wouldn’t hurt to be polite, even though she didn’t deserve my graciousness. “Pleased to meet you.”
To my surprise, Frigg returned the gesture, bowing her head slightly, her elaborately braided ringlets moving with her. She had no laurel crown on this time. “I owe you my gratitude for bringing my son home.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “I had not thought it possible that Baldur would somehow escape his fate. If I had, this would’ve gone differently between us.”
I raised my eyebrows. I highly doubted that. “I actually don’t think he escaped his fate.” I watched her expression become confused. “I believe his fate was directly linked to his brother Vali’s, who now presides in Helheim with Hel. Without Baldur being sent there, Vali never would’ve gone, and Hel never would’ve accepted him. They both had roles to play and, in the end, I believe I was just the messenger.”
Frigg said nothing for a long moment. “You sell yourself short.” Her gaze met mine. Her eyes were as vibrant as her son’s. “If you hadn’t been born, there would have been no messenger, and both boys would still be languishing in that filthy realm. We all have our roles to play, but yours has proven to be a very important one—at least to me. I know Thor will feel the
same way.” She bowed her head briefly again. “You have my word that I will stand up for you tomorrow against the Norns. Now, if you will excuse us, we have much to celebrate.”
“Phoebe,” Baldur added as his mother led him away, “you and the Valkyries are welcome to join us for the festivities. My mother’s apartments are not too far from here. There will be much laughter and libation.” He grinned widely. “I’m long overdue.”
“That’s very sweet of you, Baldur,” I said. “Maybe we’ll stop by a little later.”
He broke from his mother’s grasp and came back to embrace me. “I owe you my life, Sister,” he said. “I will spend it paying you back for giving me a chance at living again. I pledge to you, in front of all these witnesses, my undying loyalty and support. From this day forth, all you have to do is ask, and I will be there with anything you need.”
I kissed him on the cheek. “That’s very sweet. I’m overjoyed that you’re home where you belong, and you owe me nothing. As your mother just stated, we all have our roles to play. I was happy to do my part.”
The main doors banged open once again, and a group of twenty-year-olds mobbed the circle. The Valkyries stood back as Rory’s friends rushed to greet him.
Word spread fast in Asgard.
“I can’t believe you’re back!” one of them exclaimed.
“Were you really in Helheim instead of Valhalla? That’s soooo cool.”
“What was it like? Is Hel as ugly and deformed as everyone says?”
Before Rory could answer, a beautiful woman with gold-spun hair came dashing into the room, her dress flying behind her. “Oh, Rory, it’s true! You’ve come back to us!” She gathered him into her arms, her face wet with tears. She stroked his hair, disbelieving what she was seeing. She turned to me. “Are you Phoebe Meadows?”
I nodded. “I am.”
She came to me, taking my hands in hers. “I owe you a great debt—the greatest there is. Rory was taken from us too soon. I knew something was wrong. It wasn’t his destiny to die so young. Thank you, thank you, for bringing him home. His father will want to thank you personally, as well. Thor went into mourning, but once we track him down, he will seek you out. Nothing you ask for will be too great a cost.”
“I won’t be asking you or Thor for anything,” I promised her. “Rory’s actually the one who helped me. I owe him a debt of gratitude.” I peered at Rory over her shoulder and smiled. “Your son is a hero. If he hadn’t located the jewel, we wouldn’t be standing here. He helped rescue me and Baldur from Helheim.”
Rory’s group of friends reacted to my words with sharp whoops.
I’d just made my nephew a celebrity.
“My name is Arabella,” she said, letting go of me reluctantly. “Please know that if there’s anything you need, all you have to do is ask.”
“I appreciate that.” I stepped back, coming up against Fen’s muscular chest. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have to head back to the Valkyrie Stronghold.” I was anxious to get back to Sam and then figure out how we were going to handle the trial tomorrow.
I wanted to be done with the Norns once and for all.
My mother linked arms with me as we walked out of the courtroom, Fen right behind me. “I am so thankful you’re home, Phoebe.” Everyone followed us out, including Tyr.
“I am, too,” I said. “I’m angry they kept you locked up the entire time I was gone. It was unfair of Frigg to hold you there.”
“When a goddess feels threatened and has lost hope, there is no reasoning with her,” Leela answered amiably. “But you brought her son back, and that’s something she will never forget. You now have very powerful gods and goddesses on your side, including Thor. You will no longer be thought of as an outsider in Asgard. You have cemented your place in our history as a hero.”
I was relieved, of course. But this wasn’t over yet. “I’m happy about that,” I agreed. “But we still have to get through one more important trial tomorrow. The Norns aren’t going down easily. They will be sure to bring up Ragnarok and how evil I am. They’re not likely to let the people of Asgard forget it. They might be very persuasive, especially if Loki is still on their side.”
“They will not be able to harm you in the public arena,” Leela said. “In the end, the people will follow Odin’s judgment. I am confident that we will see justice prevail tomorrow.”
“I hope you’re right,” I said. “We’ll have to be ready for any tricks they might have up their sleeves. I’m not going down without a fight.” I’d been through too much for the Norns to win.
Rae came up behind us. “I’m going to apply for permission for us to be armed on the ground floor at the trial tomorrow. I’m certain Odin will grant my wish. He will want his hero of a daughter protected.” She grinned, which was not a look one saw on her face very often.
Outside the building, a group of people waited for us. Someone broke off and walked toward me.
“Callan!” I exclaimed as the figure got closer. “What are you still doing here?”
The white elf mage approached, five of his compatriots falling in line behind him. He gave me a grand bow, complete with an arm flourish. “We have just heard of your arrival back, along with the rest of Asgard. I wanted to personally congratulate you on completing your mission in record time.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I appreciate that and all you’ve done for me.”
“My dear, it hasn’t been nearly enough,” he said. “I wanted to remind you of my pledge before I take my leave of Asgard. I’m at your service, whenever or wherever it’s needed.” A few of Callan’s men grumbled behind him. Clearly, this wasn’t white elf protocol.
“She won’t have need of you. She has more than enough protection,” Rae said next to me, her arms crossed, “without the interference of outsiders.”
Callan’s delighted smile widened as he took in Ragnhild.
He bowed again, his eyes locked on her like they were magnetized. “Ah, Battle Captain, you need not think I ever doubt your abilities. It’s just the opposite. I was purely offering Phoebe my aid in backing up your efforts.” He reached out and plucked her hand up before she knew what he was doing. He kissed it reverently before she snapped it back, flustered. I grinned. “I look forward to our next encounter.” He nodded around the group. “Take care, valiant Phoebe.” His gaze drifted back to Rae. “And you as well, Ragnhild. Your beauty is surpassed by no other, your skills with your weapon unparalleled. I crave the day when we are able to spar again.”
“We’ve never sparred,” Rae retorted.
“Ah, but indeed we have.” He winked, returning to his group of disgruntled elves. “Onward, comrades. We shall make our way home.” As they began to walk away, Callan called, “I shall visit again soon, have no fear! Peace be with you.”
“That elf should stay in Alfheim where he belongs,” Rae muttered.
I didn’t even try to suppress my smile. “Callan’s pretty handsome, don’t you think?”
Her eyes snapped to mine, alarm in their depths. “No…I mean, he’s okay…for a white elf.” She stepped back and unsheathed her katana. “Let’s go,” she ordered, moving forward, using her weapon as a directional aid. “Clear the way, we’re coming through.” She marched ahead, half of the Valkyries following her, half falling behind.
“Has she always been this obtuse?” I asked my aunt as we began to walk. “Callan is clearly into her.”
Ingrid chuckled. “She’ll come around. It’s not always easy for us ladies to find love. We’re so much stronger than most of the men around us. Rae has a few more years in her of being our battle captain before she thinks about raising a family.”
We walked out of the gates of the High House.
“I don’t understand why Valkyries can’t have a family and continue to fight,” I said.
“I wonder the same thing,” my grandmother said, smiling as she came to walk beside me. “Welcome back, Phoebe. I’m very proud of you.” She wrapped her arm around my shoulders.
It was good to see her again. “Having experienced both sides of being a Valkyrie, I feel there is no reason why we must separate family from our duties. The only reason we do so is because it’s been our way since any of us can remember.”
“It might be time to revisit the rules,” I said. “I can tell you that if I’m forced to choose between Fen and active duty as a Valkyrie, I choose him. He’s as much my family as my sisters are.” Fen growled his agreement from behind me. “If the Valkyries want me to continue on, they must accept us both.”
Grete smiled. “I believe your arrival here will spark a new age for the Valkyries,” she said. “I see many changes ahead. Fenrir has proved his loyalty to the shieldmaidens. So has Tyr. This new era can only bring strength to the Valkyries. Change will be slow, but it will happen.” She chuckled. “I never thought I’d stand witness to it, but I’m glad I’m here.”
“Me, too,” I said. The streets were packed with Asgardians. There were twice as many as before. But there was a vast difference—this time, they were cheering.
“Not only did you bring back the god of light, but you brought Rory home as well,” Ingrid said. “It’s a big frigging deal.”
People were shouting, “Praise Phoebe!”
“She brought our gods back!”
“Phoebe the powerful!”
“Get used to the attention.” Ingrid elbowed me in the side. “You’re a star now.”
“How can that be?” I asked. “This is a land of gods and goddesses. Magic must abound.” I glanced at the throngs of people who were able to change their attitude toward me so easily.
“No one has ever managed to do what you just did. You brought somebody back from the dead. Two somebodies,” Ingrid answered. “You’re special, Phoebe. Just accept it. The people here know it, and they’re not going to let you forget it anytime soon.”
All of a sudden, I felt overwhelmed.
Fen squeezed my shoulders, leaning over to whisper, “This is your day, shieldmaiden. Enjoy it. People are fickle, and Asgard is no different. Their loyalties will shift on the wind. Revel in it while it lasts.”
Exiled: (Phoebe Meadows Book Three) Page 24