Slava Radulfsdóttir

My family is large by some standards, small by others. My father Radulf Thorgrimson had two wives, sisters who were the daughters of the Jarl Njall of a sept on the eastern coast of the island. Their story was a romance much enjoyed when I was a child; of how my father challenged grandfadir Njall for a wife when he was still young in his days as Jarl himself. With the tradition of the Jarls choosing mates from other septs well-established, it could be said that the challenge was a formality but it was a tradition all take very seriously and my father Radulf won a wife, Njall's eldest Audus. Audus was heartbroken, she was indeed happy to be mate to this warrior, but she and her sister were born less than a year apart and had never spent more than a night or two apart at most in their lives. So she pleaded with her father and then her new mate to allow her to bring her sister, and find a mate for her there so they could stay together. Grandfadir would not budge, believing his daughters needed their space and would get over the pain of separation when they bonded with their mates and started having children; however Radulf had no wish to cause either sister distress so he had Audus bring her sister Asta to him and they would discuss the issue.

The three spoke late into the night after grandfadir was long asleep, and the sisters proposed he take both of them as his mates – an old custom not commonly observed, but valid none the less. Radulf was open to this, and bade the sisters to think and discuss between themselves for three full days and return to him if it is what they wished, and he would present it to their father. Three days passed, and that very evening the sisters went to Radulf and informed them that their minds had not swayed, and they asked he bring the request before their father.

Thus Radulf did so, fully intending to compensate his almost father-in-law for the unplanned loss of both of his daughters at one time. Grandfadir would have none of it; his youngest would be challenged for the following year though they were both of reasonable age to be wed. The sisters were heartbroken, as Radulf was intended to return to his home with Audus the following mid-day.

But by dawn, when the kin who tended the morning fires awoke, they found twice the dowry left for the Jarl in addition to six kinfolk skilled in cooking, weaving, and household management to aid in the transition of losing both Audus and Asta at once. Radulf had left negotiators to extend his apologies and regrets to Jarl Njall, but he could not in good conscience leave his wife nor her sister in misery and saw this as the only honourable option to ensure the happiness of the sisters together. Now this raiding of a bride was not uncommon and indeed founded in tradition, but tradition also dictated that (Grandfadir) retaliate when his territory was raided. Indeed his heart was broken at losing his beloved daughters, just as broken as seeing their misery when it came time to discuss marriage and their logical separation as they moved on to mind households of their own with their own mates. A war party was gathered, and off to Kjálka á Fenris (translation: Fenris' Jaw) in Thjorsa they journeyed to have honour and duty satisfied.

However at the gates it was not a warparty defending that they saw. It was Radulf himself, flanked by Audus and Asta. His daughters were happy, healthy, and well-kept as honoured women of their status as the mates to the Jarl. Radulf stated he had done what honour and duty had required, to ensure the dear sisters would spend the rest of their days in heart-peace and happiness; as he was sure any loving father would wish for their beloved daughters.

“What can I say to this?” Grandfadir asked, because a battle now would certainly cost him his daughter's love forever regardless of how it ended.

“You can say you have come to feast with us, and celebrate our father coming for our hospitality” Audus answered for him, as she and her sister left their husband's side and moved over to their father, each kissing his cheek and looping their arms around his back to assert their intent and guide him beyond the wall-gate and towards the hall where a feast was being prepared. Grandfather could not find it within him refuse.

Radulf then welcomed his new guests with extended hospitality, and appropriate changes to the marriage agreement between the two septs, their families celebrated being joined to the happiness of the dear sisters.