“God, I don’t know what to do,” he prayed out loud as he walked away from the noisy gathering. “Emma wants me to court her and her family expects it. Mine would be delighted. But the truth is, I just cannot see myself loving her.” His thoughts strayed to Kaarina and he wished he could see her again. “Emma is a good girl,” he muttered to himself, speaking aloud as he tried to untangle the knotty problem in his mind. “She would make a fine wife. And my parents would approve.” He kicked at a rock on the road and watched it roll into the grass. “It has been fun to get to know her and the other girls. But that is where it ends. Fun is not enough to base the rest of my life on and I can’t love her. She is not Kaarina.”
As he spoke the words, he suddenly realized what he needed to do. He needed to leave before social customs dictated that he declare an interest in Emma, thus trapping him into a marriage that he didn’t want. He needed to go home, stand up for Kaarina and their love, and respectfully convince his parents that finding a wife was his decision. His mind made up, he turned to go back to the festivities. He would tell Emma tomorrow that he was leaving to go home.
“Kaarina!” Eira ran to catch up with her friend as she walked towards Leyna’s house with another basket of eggs.
Kaarina stopped to wait for her friend. “It is a beautiful day for a walk and it has been days since we’ve seen each other. Come, join me while I take these eggs to Leyna.”
“Actually, I came to share some news with you,” Eira said seriously.
“What news could be worth such a hurry?”
“Landwulf is back.”
Kaarina’s golden olive skin went pale. “Did he bring his bride with him?”
Eira shook her head. “No. But he has started to build his own house at the other end of the village.”
“That can only mean one thing. He is planning to marry and bring her here once the house has been built.”
“Oh, Kaarina, I am so sorry,” Eira said, putting her arm around her friend. “No one in the family has said anything about it. It seems to be a subject they do not speak of. Or perhaps they don’t want me to hear what they say about it.”
“I shall have to endure seeing her with Landwulf,” Kaarina mourned. “It shall forever remind me of what might have been.”
“I am sorry,” Eira said again. “It would be a difficult thing to endure, I agree.”
“I’m not sure I can face making small talk with Leyna right now,” Kaarina said. “Please, will you take her these eggs? She has some cheese for Emiline.”
“Of course. I shall take it to Emiline and tell her that you felt the need for some fresh air.”
“Thank you, Eira. Your friendship means a lot to me.”
Kaarina turned and made her way to the seashore. She decided to walk away from the village in case she happened to meet Landwulf. She wasn’t ready to face him again and hear him tell of the bride who would soon be joining him in their village.
Landwulf whistled as he prepared the land for his new home. He pictured living there with Kaarina, raising a family, and being happy together. He wondered where Kaarina was. He’d been home for over a week now and she still hadn’t come over to see Eira as was her custom. He could’ve gone over to see her himself but he wanted to surprise her with the news that he was building a house. It would be better to wait until he had something to show her. After today, at least there would be foundations. He set to work with renewed energy, trying to fit as much as he could into the day. He thought about the conversation he’d had with his parents after he came home.
“So you returned alone,” Minna had said, a trace of disapproval in her tone.
“Yes, Mother. Remember the agreement we made?”
“Did you not find a suitable wife among our people?” she asked.
“I met several pretty girls, Mother.”
“Well, why is one of them not your bride?”
“Mother, I am a man now. I will marry the bride of my choosing. Or I shall not marry at all.”
Minna gasped. “You cannot be serious! Of course, you will marry!”
“No, Mother. I will not. Not if it means that I must marry someone that I do not love.”
Minna had given in then. “Very well,” she said quietly. “I can see that your mind is made up. Do as you see fit.”
“Then we shall not have this conversation again?”
“No, I will say no more.”
“Thank you, Mother. I intend to start building myself a house at the end of the village.”
“So a bride is waiting for you to build her a house?”
“No, Mother. But if there ever is a bride, I shall be ready to provide for her.”
And so it was that Landwulf found himself spending every spare moment constructing his house. He was so busy that he hardly had time to notice that Kaarina seemed to be avoiding him. Once, he’d seen her across the road. He’d called her name but she’d given him a little wave and ducked inside. He dismissed
