“Well, your father and I have decided that you will go to the village of Alahsan to find a wife from among our people.”
“Alahsan? That is a long journey!” Landwulf protested.
“It matters not. You will be an obedient son and do as we say.”
Landwulf drew himself up to his full height and looked her squarely in the face. “I am a man, Mother,” he said. “I can make my own decisions now. I am not a little boy. I love Kaarina. She is beautiful on the inside and the outside.”
“We have spoken, son. You will do as we say.”
Landwulf looked angry. “Very well, Mother. I will go. But understand this: the only reason I will go is to please you. It does not please me at all. I do not want to go. And I will only go on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“That if I reach the village of Alahsan and find no one I wish to marry, I will come home. I am not going to stay there for a moment longer than I must.”
Minna sighed. She should’ve expected this strong son to be stubborn. He’d inherited it from her. Still, at least he’d agreed to go. She decided to accept his terms of compliance. “Very well, son. I will say nothing if you return without a bride. But I expect you to stay there long enough to get to know any suitable girls. You will leave tomorrow. And you will not see Kaarina before you go, nor will you discuss the matter with your sisters.”
As Minna walked back inside the house, Landwulf was angry. He smashed the axe into the wood he was splitting with savage force; it splintered and flew in all directions. It was unfair that his parents should snatch happiness away from him as soon as he’d found it. He loved Kaarina; why couldn’t they see that she would make a good wife? Yet, he knew that he had more freedom to find his own wife than Kaarina’s people did. They accepted arranged marriages that were intended to strengthen family wealth or political alliances. He’d seen the way some of the men treated their women. They were little better than property, although they did have the option to divorce. That would never do for his wife. He intended to marry someone he loved. And if he couldn’t marry for love, then he wouldn’t marry at all. He would not be bullied into a loveless marriage for the sake of keeping his family happy. It was his life and he was the one that would have to live it. One day, his parents would be gone and he would have to continue living the life they had arranged for him. It would be better to never marry than suffer that fate.
Kaarina felt as if she were floating on air as she crossed the road to see Eira. She was hoping that Landwulf would be there and that they might have a chance to talk.
But when Eira let her in, she seemed subdued. “Come to my bed so we can talk,” she said. They sat on the bed.
“What is wrong?” asked Kaarina.
Eira looked at her with something like pity. “They have sent Landwulf away,” she said.
“Away? Where?”
“Minna and Alfonso decided that he needed to seek a bride from among their people,” she said. “They have sent him to Alahsan.”
Kaarina drew in a sharp breath. Surely this must be some awful joke. “But what about …”
“You?” Eira asked.
Kaarina nodded, unable to say the words.
“It seems that they would prefer him to choose a bride from among their people,” Eira said gently. Her heart went out to her friend; this was a cruel blow.
Tears gathered in Kaarina’s eyes. Eira hugged her. “I know, this is hard for you,” she said. “He is a good man and I was hoping that the two of you could be happy together.”
“I thought he loved me,” Kaarina’s voice broke as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I think he does,” Eira said. “He looked sad and angry as he packed his things and left. He did not want to go.”
“Then why did he?”
“Because he’s honoring his parents as a good and dutiful son does. But that doesn’t mean he agrees with their decisions.”
“He is a man, Eira! He should be able to make his own decisions!”
“In the end, I think he will. He is stubborn and independent. I’m certain that no one will be able to force him to do something he doesn’t want to.”
“Then why is he going?”
“He loves his parents and they are a close family. He is going because he wants them to be happy.”
“Well, that is great news for them, but what about me?”
“If it is any consolation, I think Landwulf is feeling the same as you are right now.”
Kaarina sniffed and tried a wobbly smile. “You’re a good friend, Eira. Thank you for being there for me.”
“I know your heart is breaking. It is not easy when happiness is snatched from your grasp just as you find it.”
“Oh, Eira, I was hoping that one day we would marry and live right here in this village! I have been happy here. Emiline has been so kind to me and has taught me so many things about keeping a house. Mother died when I was young and I had no one to teach me and Emiline has been a wonderful teacher. I feel that I am ready to care for my own household now. But I will never get the chance!”
“Do not give up on finding a husband you can be happy with,” Eira advised. “I know you are not ready to hear it now, but there could come a day when you are able to find
