I
am the wife of the shipmaster (styrimaðr), Alrik af Hrafnfjall. We have
been handfasted for many years. But, this was not always so. Many years
ago, a tall, dark haired warrior took me away from kith and kin when I was
but an innocent maid of 18 years. We did reside in a village in the next
valley over from Ribe. 
I
lived with my family, who taught me the skills of the farm as I grew
older. We worked hard but had occasion to visit Ribe on Saturdays for the
market. There it was that I met he who would become my husband. He espied
me from afar, even as I covertly glanced at him. As a young girl, I liked
to braid my long blonde hair so it hung down on one side and was told that
I had eyes that were the color of aquamarine, a light greenish blue. My
skin was pale, except where it was exposed to the sun and was well tanned
from work on the farm. My friends said I was comely and I did attract
admiring glances. However, I gave him no outward sign that he was to my
taste, as he was quite manly. Little did I know that he had made plans to
take me away from my family and farm, either by force or fair trade. On a moonlit night, he came, when all in the house were abed. Suddenly, the door to our abode was stove in, as three stalwart warriors confronted my mother and father. Alrik, their leader, spoke to my father, saying that he wanted me as his wife. My father was a large and crafty man. He knew the worth of a young maiden, who was able-bodied and used to work on the farm. He gave Alrik two options, either fight or pay a bride-price (mundr) of 24 ounces of silver. Knowing that I would never forgive him if he killed my father, he paid the price. Thus it was that I became the bride of Alrik af Hrafnfjall.
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Melinda Hughes-Berland has been a professional photographer for 50+ years. Her website is www.Hughes-Photography.com. She lives in Northern California with her husband, Ed and two cats. Occasionally, she plays with the Vikings of Bjornstad, a dark ages reenactment group.
