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026 - Book 3 Chapter 5 · Bridal Wreath

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  Speaker 1: Book three, Chapter five of The Bridal Wreath by sigared Unset.
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  Speaker 1: This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter five
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  Speaker 1: spring came at a single bound only a few days
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  Speaker 1: after the sudden thaw. The whole parish lay dark brown
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  Speaker 1: under the flooding rain. The waters rushed foaming down the
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  Speaker 1: hill sides. The river swelled up and lay in the
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  Speaker 1: valley bottom like a great leaden gray lake, with lines
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  Speaker 1: of the tree tops floating on its waters, and a
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  Speaker 1: treacherous bubbling furrow where the current ran at yuringard. The
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  Speaker 1: water stood far up over the fields, But everywhere the
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  Speaker 1: mischief done was less than folk had feared of necessity.
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  Speaker 1: The spring work was thrown late, and the people sowed
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  Speaker 1: their scanty corn with prayers to God that he would
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  Speaker 1: save it from the night frosts in autumn. And it
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  Speaker 1: looked as though He would harken to them and a
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  Speaker 1: little ease their burdens. June came in with mild, growing weather.
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  Speaker 1: The summer was good. The folk set their faces forward
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  Speaker 1: in hope that the marks of the evil year might
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  Speaker 1: be wiped out in time. The hay harvest had been
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  Speaker 1: got in when one evening four men rode up to Urreingard.
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  Speaker 1: First came two knights, and behind them their serving men.
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  Speaker 1: And the knights were Sir moon and Bardsen and Sir
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  Speaker 1: Bard Paterson of Hesnes. Ronfret and Laverrens had the boards
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  Speaker 1: spread in the upper hall and beds made ready in
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  Speaker 1: the guest room over the storehouse, but Laverrens begged the
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  Speaker 1: knights to tarry with their errand till the next day,
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  Speaker 1: when they should be rested from their journey. Sir Moonin
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  Speaker 1: led the talk throughout the meal. He turned much to
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  Speaker 1: Kristen in talking, and spoke as if he and she
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  Speaker 1: were well acquainted. She saw that this was not to
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  Speaker 1: her father's liking. Sir Mounin was square built, red faced, ugly, talkative,
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  Speaker 1: and something of a buffoon in his bearing. People called
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  Speaker 1: him dumpy Moonin or die once Moonin. But for all
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  Speaker 1: his flighty bearing, Lady Oshild's son was a man of
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  Speaker 1: understanding and parts, who had been used by the Crown
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  Speaker 1: more than once in matters of trust, and was known
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  Speaker 1: to have a word in the counsels of them that
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  Speaker 1: guided the affairs of the kingdom. He held his mother's
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  Speaker 1: heritage in the Skokim hundred, was exceeding rich, and had
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  Speaker 1: made a rich marriage. Lady Catrine, his wife, was hard featured,
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  Speaker 1: beyond common, and seldom opened her mouth, but her husband
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  Speaker 1: ever spoke of her as if she were the wisest
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  Speaker 1: of dames, so that she was known in jest as
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  Speaker 1: Lady Catrine, the ready witted or the silver tongued. They
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  Speaker 1: seemed to live with each other well and lovingly, though
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  Speaker 1: Sir Mouonin was known all too well for the looseness
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  Speaker 1: of his life both before and after his marriage. Sir
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  Speaker 1: bard Paterson was a comely and stately old man, even
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  Speaker 1: though now somewhat ample of girth and health limbed. His
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  Speaker 1: hair and beard were faded now, but their hue was
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  Speaker 1: still as much yellow as twas white. Since King Magnus
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  Speaker 1: Howkinson's death, he had lived retired, managing his great possessions
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  Speaker 1: in Nordmourah. He was a widower for the second time
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  Speaker 1: and had many children, who it was said, were all comely,
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  Speaker 1: well nurtured, and well to do. The next day, Laverns
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  Speaker 1: and his guests went up to the upper hall for
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  Speaker 1: their parley. Lawns would have had his wife be present
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  Speaker 1: with them, but she would not. This matter must be
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  Speaker 1: in your hands. Holy. You know well twill be the
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  Speaker 1: heaviest of sorrows for our daughter if it should come
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  Speaker 1: to nought. But I see well that there are but
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  Speaker 1: too many things that may make against this marriage. Sumunin
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  Speaker 1: brought forth a letter from Erlan Nicholson. Reland's proffer was
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  Speaker 1: that Lawrence should fix himself each and all of the
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  Speaker 1: conditions if he would be betrothed his daughter Kristin to him.
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  Speaker 1: Arlon was willing to have all his possessions valued and
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  Speaker 1: his incomings appraised by impartial men, and to grant to
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  Speaker 1: Christian's such extra gift and morning gift that she would
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  Speaker 1: possess a third of all his estate besides her own dowry,
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  Speaker 1: and all such heritages might come to her from her kin,
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  Speaker 1: should she be left a widow without living children. Further,
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  Speaker 1: his proffer was to grant Christin full power to deal
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  Speaker 1: at her pleasure with her share of the common estate,
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  Speaker 1: both what she had of her own kindred and what
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  Speaker 1: came to her from her husband. But if Lavererens wished
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  Speaker 1: for other terms of settlement, Rlon was most willing to
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  Speaker 1: hear his wishes and to follow them in all things
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  Speaker 1: to one thing only. He asked that Christian's kindred on
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  Speaker 1: their side should bind themselves, that should the guardianship of
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  Speaker 1: his children and Christians ever come to them, they would
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  Speaker 1: never try to set aside the gifts he had made
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  Speaker 1: to his children by Elina or Arm's daughter, but would
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  Speaker 1: let all such gifts hold good, as having passed from
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  Speaker 1: his estate before his entry into wedlock with Christin Lavren's daughter.
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  Speaker 1: At the end of all Erlon made proffer to hold
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  Speaker 1: the wedding in all seemly state at Husseby Laverren's spoke
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  Speaker 1: in reply, this is a fair proffer. I see by
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  Speaker 1: it that your kinsman has it much at heart to
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  Speaker 1: come to terms with me. All the more is this
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  Speaker 1: plain to me by reason that he has moved you,
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  Speaker 1: Sir Moonin, to come for the second time on such
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  Speaker 1: an errand to a man like me, who am of
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  Speaker 1: little weight beyond my own countryside, and that a knight
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  Speaker 1: like you, Sir bard hath been at the pains of
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  Speaker 1: making such a journey to further his cause. But concerning
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  Speaker 1: Arlon's proffer, I would say this, my daughter has not
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  Speaker 1: been bred up to deal herself with the ordering of
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  Speaker 1: goods and gear. But I have ever hoped to give
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  Speaker 1: her to such a man as that I can could
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  Speaker 1: lay the maid's welfare in his hands with an easy mind.
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  Speaker 1: I know not, indeed whether Christen be fit to be
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  Speaker 1: set in such authority, but I can scarce believe that
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  Speaker 1: twould be for her good. She is mild of mood
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  Speaker 1: and biddable, and twas one of the reasons I have
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  Speaker 1: had in mind in setting myself against this marriage, that
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  Speaker 1: tis known Rlon has shown want of understanding in more
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  Speaker 1: matters than one. Had she been a power loving, bold
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  Speaker 1: and headstrong woman, then indeed the matter had taken on
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  Speaker 1: another face. Sir Mounin burst out, laughing, Dear Lavern's lament
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  Speaker 1: you that the maid is not headstrong enough. And Sir
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  Speaker 1: Bard said, with a little smile, methinks your daughter has
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  Speaker 1: shown that she lacks not a will of her own.
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  Speaker 1: For two years now she has held to Erlon clean
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  Speaker 1: against your will. Lavren said, I have not forgotten it yet,
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  Speaker 1: do I know well what I say? She has suffered
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  Speaker 1: sorely herself all this time she has stood against me.
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  Speaker 1: Nor will she long be glad with a husband who
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  Speaker 1: cannot rule her. Nay, then the devil's in it, said
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  Speaker 1: sir Mouonin. Then must your daughter be far unlike all
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  Speaker 1: the women I have known, For I have never seen
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  Speaker 1: one that was not fain to rule herself and her
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  Speaker 1: man to boot. Lavernz shrugged his shoulders and made no answer.
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  Speaker 1: Then said bard Petersen, I can well believe, Lavrenz Bjorgolfson,
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  Speaker 1: that you have found this marriage between your daughter and
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  Speaker 1: my foster son no more to your liking, since the
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  Speaker 1: woman who had lived with him came to the end
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  Speaker 1: we know of last year. But you must know it
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  Speaker 1: has come out now that the unhappy woman had let
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  Speaker 1: herself be led astray by another man. Rlon's steward at
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  Speaker 1: husseby Erlan knew of this when he went with her
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  Speaker 1: down the dale. He had proffered to portion her fitting
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  Speaker 1: if the man would wed her. Are you well assured
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  Speaker 1: that this is so? Asked Lavren's And yet I know not,
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  Speaker 1: he said again, if the thing is any way bettered
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  Speaker 1: thereby hard must it be for a woman come of
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  Speaker 1: good kindred, to go into a house hand in hand
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  Speaker 1: with the master and be led out by the serving man.
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  Speaker 1: Moon and Bardsen took the word tis plain to me,
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  Speaker 1: lavns Burgelsen that what goes against my cousin most with
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  Speaker 1: you is that he has had these hapless dealings with
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  Speaker 1: Sigurd Saxulson's wife. And true it is that twas not
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  Speaker 1: well done of him. But in God's name, man, you
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  Speaker 1: must remember this. Here was this young boy dwelling in
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  Speaker 1: one house with a young and fair woman, and she
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  Speaker 1: had an old, cold, strengthless husband. And the night is
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  Speaker 1: a half year long up there. Methinks a man could
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  Speaker 1: scarce look for aught else to happen. Unless Ereln had
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  Speaker 1: been a very saint. There's no denying it. Arlon had
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  Speaker 1: made at all times but a sorry monk. But methinks
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  Speaker 1: your young fair daughter would give you little thanks should
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  Speaker 1: you give her a monkish husband. True it is that
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  Speaker 1: Erlon bore himself like a fool then, and a yet
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  Speaker 1: greater fool sense, But the thing should not stand against
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  Speaker 1: him forever. We his kinsman have striven to help the
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  Speaker 1: boy to his feet again. The woman is dead, and
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  Speaker 1: Rlon has done all in his power to care for
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  Speaker 1: her body and her soul. The Bishop of Oshlo himself
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  Speaker 1: hath absolved him of a sin, and now is he
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  Speaker 1: come home again, made clean by the Holy blood. At Scherin.
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  Speaker 1: Would you be stricter than the Bishop of Oshloh and
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  Speaker 1: the Archbishop at Scherin, or whoever it may be that
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  Speaker 1: hath charge of that precious blood, Dear Lavern's true it
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  Speaker 1: is that chastity is a fair thing, indeed, but tis
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  Speaker 1: verily hard for a grown man to attain to it
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  Speaker 1: without a special gift of grace from God by Saint Olaf. Ay.
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  Speaker 1: And you should remember too that the Holy King himself
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  Speaker 1: was not granted that gift till his life here below
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  Speaker 1: was drawing to an end. Very like twas God's will
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  Speaker 1: that he should first beget that doughty youth King Magnus,
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  Speaker 1: who smote down the Heathen when they raged against the Nordlands.
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  Speaker 1: I WoT well, King Olaf hath that son by another
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  Speaker 1: than his queen, Yet doth he sit amidst the highest
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  Speaker 1: saints in the host of heaven. Ay, I can see
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  Speaker 1: in your face that you deem this unseemly talk, Sir
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  Speaker 1: bard broke In, lavrens Buoragelson. I liked this matter no
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  Speaker 1: better than you. When first Earlon came to me and
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  Speaker 1: said he had set his heart on a maid that
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  Speaker 1: was hand fast to another. But Since then I have
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  Speaker 1: come to know that there is so great kindness between
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  Speaker 1: these two young folk, that twould be great pity to
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  Speaker 1: part their loves. Rlon was with me at the last
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  Speaker 1: Yule tide feast in king and held for his men.
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  Speaker 1: They met together there, and scarce had they seen each
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  Speaker 1: other when your daughter swooned away and lay a long
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  Speaker 1: while as one dead. And I saw in my foster
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  Speaker 1: son's face that he would rather lose his life than
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  Speaker 1: lose her. Lavern sat awhile before answering, Ay, All such
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  Speaker 1: things sound fair and fine when a man hears them
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  Speaker 1: told in a knightly saga of the Southlands. But we
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  Speaker 1: are not in Bretln here, and tis like you too
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  Speaker 1: would ask more in the man you would choose for
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  Speaker 1: son in law than that he had brought your daughter
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  Speaker 1: to swoon away for love. In all men's sight, the
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  Speaker 1: two others were silent, and Lavern's went on. Tis and
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  Speaker 1: my mind, good sirs, that had ere Lon Nicholason not
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  Speaker 1: made great waste both of his goods and of his fame,
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  Speaker 1: you would scarce be sitting here pleading so strongly with
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  Speaker 1: a man of my estate that I should give my
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  Speaker 1: daughter to him. But I would be loath that should
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  Speaker 1: be said of Christen that twas an honor for her
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  Speaker 1: to wed a great estate and a man from amongst
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  Speaker 1: the highest in the land. After the man had so
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  Speaker 1: be shamed himself that he could not look to make
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  Speaker 1: a better match or keep undiminished the honor of his house,
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  Speaker 1: he rose in heat and began walking to and fro.
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  Speaker 1: But Sir Moonin started up now before God Laverns. If
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  Speaker 1: the talk is of shame, I would have you know
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  Speaker 1: you are over proud in, Sir bard broke in, quickly
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  Speaker 1: going up to Laverrens. Proud you are, Laverrens. You are
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  Speaker 1: like those utile farmers we have heard of in olden
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  Speaker 1: times who would have naught to do with the titles
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  Speaker 1: the kings would have given them, because their pride could
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  Speaker 1: not brook that folk should say they owed thanks to
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  Speaker 1: any but themselves. I tell you that were Erlan still
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  Speaker 1: master of all the honor and riches the boy was
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  Speaker 1: born to. Yet would I never deem that I demeaned
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  Speaker 1: him or myself in asking a well born and wealthy
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  Speaker 1: man to give his daughter to my foster's son. If
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  Speaker 1: I knew that the two young creatures might break their
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  Speaker 1: hearts if they parted, and the rather, he said in
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  Speaker 1: a low voice, laying his hand on Lavern's shoulder. If
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  Speaker 1: so it were that twould be best for the souls
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  Speaker 1: of both, they should wed each other. Laverns drew away
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  Speaker 1: from the other's hand. His face grew set and cold.
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  Speaker 1: I scarce believe I understand your meaning, Sir Knight. The
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  Speaker 1: two men looked at each other for a space. Then
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  Speaker 1: Sir Bard said, I mean that Herlon has told me
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  Speaker 1: they two have sworn troth to each other with the
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  Speaker 1: dearest oaths me. You would say that you have power
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  Speaker 1: to loose your child from her oath, since she swore
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  Speaker 1: without your will. But Rln, you cannot loose and for aught.
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  Speaker 1: I can see what most stands in the road is
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  Speaker 1: your pride and the hate you bear to sin. But
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  Speaker 1: in that tis to me as though you were minded
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  Speaker 1: to be stricter than God himself. Lavern's bjorgolfsn Lavrens answered
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  Speaker 1: somewhat uncertainly. It may be there is truth in this
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  Speaker 1: that you say to me, Sir Bard, But what most
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  Speaker 1: has set me against this match is that I have
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  Speaker 1: deemed Erlon to be so unsure a man that I
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  Speaker 1: could not trust my daughter to his hands. Methinks I
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  Speaker 1: can answer for my foster son, now, said Bard quietly.
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  Speaker 1: Christen is so dear to him that I know if
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  Speaker 1: you will give her to him, he will prove, in
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  Speaker 1: the event such a son in law, that you shall
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  Speaker 1: have no cause of grief. Lawrence did not answer at once.
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  Speaker 1: Then Sir Bard said, earnestly, holding out his hand in
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  Speaker 1: God's name, Lawrence Bjorgolfsen, give your consent. Lawrence laid his
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  Speaker 1: hand in Sir Bard's in God's name. Ronfrete and Christin
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  Speaker 1: were called to the upper hall, and Lawrence told them
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  Speaker 1: his will. Sir Bard greeted the two women in fair
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  Speaker 1: and courtly fashion. Sir Mounin took Reinfried by the hand
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  Speaker 1: and spoke to her in seemly wise. But Christin he
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  Speaker 1: greeted in the foreign fashion with a kiss, and he
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  Speaker 1: took time over his greeting. Christin felt that her father
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  Speaker 1: looked at her while this was doing. How like you
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  Speaker 1: your new kinsman, Sir Mouonin, he asked jestingly. When he
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  Speaker 1: was alone with her for a moment late that evening,
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  Speaker 1: Christin looked beseechingly at him. Then he stroked her face
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  Speaker 1: a little and said no more. When Sir bard and
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  Speaker 1: Sir Mouonin went to their room, Moonin broke out. Not
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  Speaker 1: a little would I give to see this Lavyrenz Buorgelson's
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  Speaker 1: face should he come to know the truth about this
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  Speaker 1: precious daughter of his. Here have you and I had
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  Speaker 1: to beg on our knees to win for Erlin a
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  Speaker 1: woman he has had with him in Brynhild's house many times.
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  Speaker 1: Hold your peace, No word of that, answered Sir bard
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  Speaker 1: In Wrath. Twas the worst deed Rlon ever did to
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  Speaker 1: lure that child to such places, and see that Laverren's
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  Speaker 1: never hear aught of it. The best that can happen
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  Speaker 1: now for all is that those two should be friends.
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  Speaker 1: The feast for the drinking of the betrothal ale was
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  Speaker 1: appointed to be held that same autumn. Lavren said he
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  Speaker 1: could not make the feast very great the year before
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  Speaker 1: had been such a bad one in the dale, but
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  Speaker 1: make up he would bear the cost of the wedding
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  Speaker 1: himself and hold it at Urengard in all seemlely state.
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  Speaker 1: He named the bad year again as the cause why
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  Speaker 1: he required that the time of betrothal should last a
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  Speaker 1: year end of Chapter five,