“It was not a bad thing, Mother. It made me realize what I really wanted and that Kaarina was worth fighting for.”
Minna smiled. “Just remember to fight for her and not with her,” she teased. “You are stubborn like me, Son. And Kaarina is also strong. May there be peace in your home.”
“So are you telling me that we have your blessing?”
“Yes. Kaarina will make you a good wife and in time, I hope she will be a good mother to your children.”
“Thank you, Mother,” Landwulf said, hugging her. Her blessing meant a lot to him.
A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Minna went to answer it and found a stranger standing there. Behind him stood a cart with a woman seated in it. Perhaps they were travelers.
“May I help you?” she asked courteously.
“I was told I might find Eira lodging here,” the man replied politely. “She is kin.”
“Just a moment. I will find her,” Minna said. “Eira!” she called. “There is someone at the door to see you!”
Eira was in the sleeping quarters where Sigrid was helping her to pin up her hair in an elaborate hairstyle as was the custom among her people on their wedding day.
“Coming, Minna!” she replied.
A moment later, the hair partially secured, she went to the door and opened it.
“Father!” she screamed, throwing herself into the arms of the man at the door.
He wrapped her up in a huge bear hug and spun her around. Then she glanced over his shoulder.
“Mother!” she burst into tears and flew into her mother’s arms. “Oh, I am so happy to see you both!” she cried. “How did you know it is my wedding day?”
“Your intended, Halvar, sent word with Arvid the leather seller,” replied Astrid, wiping tears from her own eyes.
Eira had a vague memory of a leather seller visiting the village weeks before. Her heart burst with love for Halvar who had arranged this moment to make her happy.
“It is such a long journey!” she exclaimed. “I thought you had forgotten all about me and would never come to visit!”
“We have missed you, Eira,” her mother said softly. “When we heard that you were to wed, we wanted to be here. We planned to arrive earlier but we had to stop for a repair to the cart.”
“I’m so glad you have made it in time,” Eira said, beaming with delight.
“So are we, Daughter,” Bjarni said. “You will make a beautiful bride.”
“Thank you, Father,” Eira said. “Come into the house. Do not wait outside. You are honored guests!”
Eira led them inside, her heart brimming over with happiness. She couldn’t believe that the one shadow over her big day had been lifted by Halvar’s thoughtfulness. Surely her heart would burst with love.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the pfaffo said. “Landwulf, you may kiss your bride.”
Landwulf tenderly lifted the lína from Kaarina’s face and looked into her eyes. Then he lowered his head and kissed her, his lips firm and warm on hers. She couldn’t believe that they were finally married. She was sure her heart couldn’t hold more happiness.
Beside them stood Eira and Halvar, exhilaration beaming from their faces as they watched Kaarina and Landwulf make the same promises that they had just made.
“You may now congratulate the couples,” the pfaffo told the crowd that had squeezed into the dingstat. The villagers started clapping and cheering as both couples made their way to the door, stopping to receive well wishes and hugs along the way.
Kaarina felt as if her face would soon fall off from smiling so much. “My face hurts from smiling!” she told Landwulf.
“Soon we’ll be able to relax, my love,” Landwulf replied, patting her hand as it rested through his arm. “Soon we shall be able to dance and eat with everyone else. What a fine celebration it will be!”
“I cannot believe we are really married!” Kaarina exclaimed. “Now we can be together always!”
The fiddle struck up a new tune and the psaltery and rebec joined in. Torsten sat on a bench along the barn wall, smiling as he tapped his feet to the rhythms of the fiddle. He’d already enjoyed several of the dances and had decided to sit this one out. He’d eaten well at the wedding feast; the women surely knew how to cook. Some of the dishes were unfamiliar to him but they were all delicious.
His eyes turned to Frida, whirling past with Landwulf, her brother. They were both good dancers and he found himself watching with admiration. She’d been the most beautiful heimbringa he’d ever seen. Her dark hair was long and loose; it flew out in a shining arc as Landwulf whirled her around. Her brown eyes sparkled with delight and she laughed as Landwulf stomped and flapped his arms, overplaying his role in the chicken dance. Torsten couldn’t keep his eyes off her.
“Torsten! Are you dreaming?”
His younger brother Einar stood in front of him, waving a hand in front of his face. Torsten blinked in surprise.
“I saw you watching her,” Einar teased.
“Who?”
“The heimbringa of Kaarina,” Einar replied. “She is beautiful, is she not?”
“She is. But it is because she reminds me of Revna.”
“Revna is gone,” Einar said. “Treasure her memory but live for the living.”
“Wise words, brother.”
“Come on then, go out and dance. You will never speak a word to her if you sit here.”
Torsten rose to his feet and followed his brother into the happy crowd. Soon he was whirling and stomping as enthusiastically as the rest of them. But he was unable to get close to
