King Rugalf was briefed and it was exactly as Estrid said, Tyr was going to lose his right hand because even he was not more important than the love Rugalf had for his family.
Estrid kept her mouth shut despite knowing what truly transpired not because she was scared of Salgard but because she was generally uninterested in what was about to happen.
They brought Tyr in front of everyone, Rugalf noticed that Tyr had the crowd on his side even though they did not verbally express their support.
Salgard was disliked and even Rugalf could not blame them.
He hated that Tyr played into Salgard's trap as he knew Tyr would not just wake up and attack him.
Tyr also hid the reason as to why he attacked him, it was not important as it might be perceived as a weakness.
Nora had momentarily given him her ring due to Salgard lying about wanting to check what material it was crafted with so he could give one to his lady.
Nora took this opportunity to get on friendly terms with him, giving him her ring.
Rugalf looked tired, he stared at Tyr and Tyr stared right back. He did not like the impression Tyr was having about his family and he knew if he severed his hand, there would be no going back.
Their relationship would be severed before it even reached anywhere but there was a third option.
"Tyr Ragnarsson, son of King Ragnar, you have been accused of attacking one of the King's brothers. How do you plead?" A Viking, who was reading from a script, asked.
"I plead guilty. I attacked Salgard." Tyr said bluntly, he was not offering up any excuse or reason as to why he did what he did.
"What is that idiot doing…" Estrid thought to herself, she expected him to deny the accusations but she also understood there was no point seeing as there were witnesses present.
Tyr knew he was at fault, he was not thinking at that moment as to why Salgard wanted to pick a fight with him out of the blue but then again, this was the first time such a thing was happening to him.
"May I speak freely, King Rugalf?" Tyr asked and Rugalf permitted him, curious to what he had to say.
"I attacked Salgard simply because he threatened my people, that was the only reason I did what I did and I will do it again because they are my family. I do not care what laws I would have to break or what faces I would have to bash in because a threat to my family is a threat to me. Which man would not have done what I did?" Tyr questioned and he got the people around him whispering. Rugalf understood this logic, he attacked Tyr the moment he senses his killing intent aimed in his daughter's direction. It was an instinctive move.
"I broke the laws of this land and I am willing to accept whatever punishment comes with that action and if that means me losing an arm, I still have another to bash in anyone's face that does so! If I lose my arms, I will use my legs! But the gods should bear me witness as I swear a vow…." Tyr said, pausing for dramatic effect.
This showing was not for the citizens or even Rugalf himself, it was for Estrid and she looked rather surprised.
A man that would break the law and sacrifice his limbs for the sake of those he cared about.
Tyr did not just preach it, he literally just did it.
One could say Estrid's interest peaked.
".... I will die for what I love," Tyr swore, looking right into the eyes of Estrid.
Tyr was soon pushed to the ground and held in place, an executioner prepared the broadsword that was to be used for the dismemberment.
"STOP!!" Estrid halted them just before they could bring down the sword.
"What do you think you are doing, princess?* Rugalf asked but Estrid was not done talking.
She ignored her father's words and the executioner looked at King Rugalf for what to do next.
He instructed him to wait for his daughter to say what she wanted to say.
"Father, I believe the rule was that family can 'discipline' family and the only reason Tyr is being punished is because he is not family…" Estrid said.
"That is correct," Rugalf confirmed her summarization.
"So if I was to wed Tyr Ragnarsson, he would become family, would he not?" Estrid asked and everywhere fell silent. This was an unexpected development that stunned everyone involved.
"That is correct," Rugalf confirmed once again.
It was happening, Tyr had somehow gotten through to his daughter and now, it looked like they were about to become one.
"If you lay a hand on that man, you would have laid a hand on me and my Father does not take kindly to people touching me," Estrid said and this was enough to make the executioner drop his weapon.
"You fool, what are you doing?" Tyr whispered as she leaned to unbound him.
"I am saving my ears from another weird ass speech, I never tore them off!" Estrid fired back as she struggled to untie him.
"Fuck you!" Tyr countered.
"Oh darling, not even on our wedding night," Estrid responded, she did not want Salgard to have his way because she knew that this would have dire consequences in the future.
This was the only reason she succumbed, it had nothing to do with Tyr's speech as she found it cringe, to say the least.
They were just cutting off his arm, the speech was really unnecessary in her opinion and she could tell from the look in Salgard's eyes that she had pissed him off but that was the advantage of being the King's daughter.
Anyone that dared laid a finger on her, be it her uncles or commoners, will be put down.
She was untouchable in Rogaland and this was what fueled her narcissism but she liked that she could banter with Tyr as people her age were too scared to haul any negative comments her way.
"Well, Father… Is my husband not cute?" Estrid said, squishing Tyr's cheeks together as everyone giggled.
The trial had turned to Estrid taking Tyr as her husband but it was clear that neither had that emotional attachment called "love"... At least, not yet.
