"You don't know, Mother Åshild, how kind my father is." "Those who don't know him cannot know   how kind he's always been to me." "But I have behaved shamelessly towards him." "When he thought I was at the convent, I was bedding with Erlend." "No sin is so great   that God's grace is not greater." "Did he not hear the dove cry so" ""the hawk took my beloved away"" "then he rode so far away the hawk took to the sky" "it flew to a garden far away that blooms every day" "in the garden there is a hall the walls are clad in purple" "there lies a knight a'bleeding he is the great and goodly king under a sheet of blue he lies Corpus Domini before our eyes." "Look at yourself, Kristin." "Over 600 years ago, before the plague reached Norway,  the Jørundgård people lived in The Gudbrand Valley." "When the girl Kristin was seven, her father let her come with him  to the summer pasture." "It was a beautiful summer morning." "She'd never been in the mountains before." "Next to Lavrans and his daughter rode Arne, Kristin's best friend." "Ulvhild wants to come!" "A pleasant journey, Lavrans!" "Lavrans had married young." "He was 28 and younger than his wife." "As a swain he had served the king as a housecarl  but after marrying he settled down on his farm." "Tastes good, does it?" "Kristin knew that this was wolf and bear country  and behind the waterfall there lived trolls, goblins and fairies." "She was frightened because there were many more of them  then of Christian people." "Father!" "Jesus Christ." "Her father was pale, as if he knew she had been in great danger." "She whispered that a woman had waved with a golden wreath." "Perhaps it was the midget maiden she had seen." "Kristin's younger sister Ulvhild showered everybody with love." "Her mother Ragnfrid loved her youngest child so much  that all her joy for Ulvhild made her flourish." "Lavrans had never seen her happier and more beautiful  in all the years they had been married." "Can no one put an end to Ulvhild's pain?" "God help everyone in this house." "She will soon forget her pain." "I've lost three sons." "I cannot lose her, too." "Do you hear me, Father Erik?" "God does not grant all prayers." "Do not force your will upon him." "I've sent for Mistress Åshild." "If God does not help, I'll ask her." "Yes, you know her." "I do not." "I'd go to hell if the devil would help me." "We'll hit you and kick you!" "Every single day we'll trample on you!" "Ragnfrid had sent for Mistress Åshild." "Kristin had heard that she was a witch who, when she was rich,  had poisoned her first husband and had been excommunicated." "Now she lived in a poor farmhouse  with Bjørn, the man she had bewitched." "Finn Arnesen he rode at the front" "how pretty that little foot is in its bright red sock." "The king himself taught me that song." "I've had my days of glory, Kristin, and I'm wise enough not to complain   if I have to drink sour milk now   because I've drunk all the wine and the beer." "Good days can last long, if you are careful." "All wise people know that." "That is why I think   that wise people will make do with their good days." "For the best days are precious." "Well, what do you say to me   who threw away the best thing I had?" "And I've been punished for it." "Oh, how I've been punished." "You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs, Ragnfrid." "And he who will sacrifice his life must stake it and see what he wins." "That night they collected dew for Ulvhild's morning wash." "As Mistress Åshild bent over,  she almost floated across the meadow like the midget maiden." "And the child whispered that she saw the maiden." "But she dared not take the golden wreath, because it felt wrong." "It's good when you dare not do something that is wrong." "But it's not good if something seems wrong   because you dare not do it." "There's something evil about her." "Even the dogs become quiet." "They say that she walks the nights as a woolf at Haugen." "It would probably be the best thing for you to become like Lavrans." "Both in body and soul." "You ought to marry a knight, Kristin." "My nephew, Erlend Nikulaussøn from Husaby,   he'd make you a fine groom." "You probably can't have him   but I wouldn't mind spreading the bridal quilt over the two of you." "His hair is as black as yours is blond." "And he has beautiful eyes." "You've never seen eyes like that, Kristin." "It was early autumn, but already frosty weather." "Ulvhild's pilgrimage to the Nidaros Cathedral  had to cross snowy mountains." "Stand quite still here." "The light from Christ's clothes falls right upon you." "You see, Kristin ..." "The church is the body of Christ." "They are one." "As your body and soul are inextricably bound together." "Would you sacrifice you lovely hair and serve the Lord as a nun?" " I'm going to marry Simon Darre." " I see." "Then you must look for me at your wedding." "I'll come on the ray of sun upon which you hang your bridal crown." "She's the only thing I own that God has not taken from me." "And her little sister ..." "May he watch over her." "When my three sons died, I became so lonely." "It wasn't even in the war." "Friar Edvin ..." "War!" "Fighting ..." "It was the best thing I knew." "Then the war ended." "But then I got my two daughters." "And all my adventures became dear to me   when I held those two   little lives in my arms." "You have to learn to live with it." "To bear the fate God has given you." "Arne!" "Come on!" "Arne, my dear." "Is that my chest?" "The Bishop of Hamar had promised Lavrans to help Arne,  so now he was going off with Father Erik's son Bentein  to become a priest's apprentice." "And one day, Anders Darre took his son Simon to Jørundgård  to meet his bride." "When I see you two I know this is what all the songs are about." "I raise my cup to you, Simon Darre." "My son." "There's no one better for my Kristin to share her bridal bed with." "I raise my cup to you, Lavrans Bjørgulfssøn, Knight of Olav,   who has given my son Simon the loveliest maid in the valley." "It is said about you, Lavrans ..." "It is said about your father, Kristin, that courage and joy   live in his heart." "Cheers!" "Arne ..." "There is a dance at Munkholm upon the whitest sands" "Simon." "The dog." "I've brought a dog for Kristin ..." "To comfort you when I go back to Oslo." "Do you remember the song from our wedding, Bjørn?" "In my nightmares." "In my nightmares ..." "It occurred to Kristin that if she swore her faith to God," " God might give Ulvhild the use of her limbs back  and she could put off marrying Simon for a while." "Holy Cross!" "Give me a sign that you will perform a miracle for Ulvhild   and I'll swear to serve you." "Mistress Åshild." "Have you got any more of that water you once gave a young girl,   so she could become a virgin again before her wedding night?" "Shut that dirty mouth of yours, you fire-and-brimstone preacher!" " You'll never be a priest, Bentein." " Go away!" "Go away!" "You're going to be a priest's apprentice now." "I let Bentein ride ahead." "We can be alone then." "I have never seen anyone as beautiful as you are today, Arne." "Would you rather have married me than Simon?" "Yes, I think so." "I know you better." "This is for you." "Put it in your chest." "A buckle, so you'll think of me." "I'll never forget you and my sorrow." "You have no idea how much my heart aches because I'm losing you." " I'll never be happy again." " Don't say that, Arne." "Can't you ask Lavrans   for permission to let Simon go?" "He would never force you." "I think I have to follow the wish of my parents." "If you cared for me   you'd go to Lavrans and ask him." "I can't!" "No man is dear enough to me   for me to oppose my parents' will for his sake." "Show me a bit of kindness too, Kristin." "I'm cold." "You won't tell anyone." "We're going to enjoy ourselves." "If you can't hide it, blame Arne." "I'm sure your mother would understand." "Jesus ..." "Kristin, what happened?" "It was your son." "He did this." "Bentein?" "But he's on his way to Hamar." "He's lying in the woods." "I hit him with a stone." "When your father comes back from Nidaros, we'll have the wedding." "They say the King's men will be back by Easter." "Jesus." "Arne Gyrdsøn just came home." "Dead, on a sledge." "He was sitting at the table in Hamar." "Bentein came in." "Nobody wanted to talk to him." "Arne let him sit next to him." "Then Bentein said something." "I don't know what." "Arne flew at him, and Bentein pulled a knife   and stabbed Arne in the throat and several times in the chest." "Arne died almost instantly." "Ragnfrid sends this and asks God to watch over you." "Have you come too, Kristin?" "Do you want to see my son as he came home to me?" "Perhaps kiss him?" "Arne is cold now and not as beautiful as when you met in the woods." "You don't want to kiss him now, but back then you liked it well enough." "Please tell me how I can help you." "I can't stand it here any longer." "Send me to a convent, Father." "I have wanted to go for a long time." " She wants to go to a convent." " Yes, I know." "The best thing would be to send her to the convent in Oslo for one year." "Are you in love with Kristin?" "I understand her." "And you." "I haven't met anyone I would rather share my life with." "THE WREATH" "This is Kristin Lavransdatter whom we told you about." "Ingebjørg and Helga are going to be your bed mates." "You'll have to make friends with them." "I'm Ingebjørg." "This is Helga." "She's going to make her vows." "In a week we can go to Oslo." "We can buy from foreigners as long as we don't talk to them." "They say I talk too much, but that's not true." "Welcome to the convent, Kristin Lavransdatter." "We thank God who let your father have you come to Mary's house   so you can learn to obey and serve   before you are allowed to order and decide." "I have also been betrothed." "He is old." "Ugly." "Twice a widower." "But he's rich." "These juniper bushes have been with us for ten thousand winters." "They are the sign of the cross and will protect us from evil." "If I give you great freedom it is freedom with responsibility." "For none of my sisters have ever brought shame on my house." "By the will of God." "Let it be so, in the name of Jesus Christ." "Håkon sewed his hat himself." "You can buy clothes like that in Oslo." "Kristin!" "They're going to hang someone!" " No, I don't want to watch!" " Kristin, wait!" "When I get married, I'll give Håkon a new hat." "When I get married, I'll never eat something I don't like again." "When I get married ..." "We can let down our hair now." "And wear our own clothes." "And we can dance and stay out all night." "It's so beautiful, Kristin." "Your hair." " Can I comb it before you leave?" " Aren't you coming?" "Those of us who'll take the vow can only speak to the nuns." "Do you love Simon Darre so much that you can only dance with him?" "Because you're always so kind to me." "Careful." "Haven't you learnt to stay away from other men's women?" "Were you not my friend and were this not God's house, I'd knife you." "Will you dance with me tonight, Kristin Lavransdatter?" "It's a long walk to the arbour on such small pretty feet." "Will you make do with my simple horse?" "Me?" "My name is Erlend Nikulaussøn." " Is Mistress Åshild your aunt?" " Yes." "I am Kristin Lavransdatter from Jørundgård." "I'd like to know what Aunt Åshild has said about me." "Only that compared to Erlend and his family, we were not very grand." "Well, if that is a comfort to her ..." "Is that all she has said about me?" "My father's brother was Åshild's first husband." "They were never happy together." "Suddenly he died, and she married Bjørn." "People said she had poisoned him." "In any case, they were excommunicated." "Dance with me tonight, Kristin." "Later I'll tell you everything about me." "But not tonight." "I'm cold." "Aren't you afraid, Kristin?" "I would never offend you." "You'll never shed a tear for my sake." "Sleep." "Sleep, Kristin ... here with me." "Now you've slept in my arms." "Safe as a child with its mother." "Kristin ..." "Will you love me when the night is over?" "I will love you, Master Erlend." "I will love you as long as you want." "And afterwards   I will love no one else." "May God abandon me   if ever another woman should find way into these arms." "Say it too." "May God ... abandon me   if I ever take another man in my arms as long as I live." "Have you thought about what will happen now?" "That is for you to decide, Master Erlend." "I'll never be happy again if you're not mine." "I'll wait for you every day for a week." "I'm at the Nuns' Pasture every day until I leave." "At the beach!" "Did you spend all night with Erlend Nikulaussøn?" "Beware of him." "What will Simon say?" "What about your future husband?" "Would he like it   that you danced with Munan Stumpe?" "Einar Einarssøn and Munan are friends." "Look." "He gave me this as a keepsake." "But Erlend ..." "They say that his sweetheart, Eline Ormsdatter, lives with him   even though she's married to someone else." "He enticed a married woman   in spite of the king's ban and the archbishop's excommunication." "They have two children together." "He had to flee to Sweden and has had to sell so much land   that he'll become a poor man unless he betters his ways,   which he never will, says Master Munan." "But he can't hurt you." "You're marrying Simon Darre." "Remember in Nidaros many years ago?" "Yes." "I knew you were here with the Barefoot Friars." " What's the matter, Kristin?" " I have such evil dreams." "Everybody talks about the lust of the flesh ..." "Everybody has a sinful body that wraps itself around the soul." "I heard a story   once, when I was travelling in foreign countries   about a monk who could not believe that God loves   all us miserable sinners." "But an angel came and touched his eyes   and he saw a stone at the bottom of the ocean   under which lived a blind and naked animal." "And he looked at it until it awakened his love   because it was so small and fragile." "When I saw you for the first time,   it was clear to me that God loves creatures like you." "You were so beautiful and innocent." "But you still needed protection." "And I thought I saw   the whole church lying there with you   in God's open hand." "And that's why I am here with you." "I will never make you unhappy." "Nobody should pay heed to what you say." "You should be judged by what you do." "Chess." "Kristin!" "When I go to Oslo for the winter, you must stay here, Ulv." "I've decided you're not going to war." "I'll go without you." "You'll stay here and take care of her." " Helga!" "Hurry up." " What is it, Kristin?" "I have to see Friar Edvin." "He's going to help me." " What does Mistress Groa say?" " I can go if you come with me." "You mean me?" "Do you want me to go with you?" "I can tell that you know." "About Eline." "We'll keep our promises to each other." "Later you'll get as many rings as your hands can bear." "Look at me." "Are you cold?" "Do you want me to warm you?" "Are you frightened?" "A bit." "I have to go." " I was on my way to brother Edvin." " I suppose you were." "Don't look at me that way." "Do you think I wanted this?" "To take you by force?" "Force?" "You would have let me go if I had asked you to." "I don't know." " I had better go now." " I suppose so." "If two people swear to be true to each other for as long as they live   and then sleep together after that,   then they are married in the eyes of God." "It is only a sin if they break their promise." "I know that law in Latin, but I can't remember it." "Before we part, I ask you not to mourn." "You'll be my wife before you know it." "Are you leaving me?" "Yes, I've been called up." "I'm leaving in two days." "Ingebjørg ..." "It's colder now." "I'm freezing." "Do you understand?" "Ingebjørg ..." "One day I'll have to answer for everything." "When I think about it, it's as if   my heart stops beating out of fear." "Don't be frightened." "When I think of Mother and Father,   it is as if they've disappeared from me." "It is as if I've been carried away by a wild river." "Oh, Ingebjørg ..." "I wish it could carry me into Erlend's arms forever." "He tore out the hearts of babies to make ointment   and drank the blood from a snake." "Talk to Simon first." "You're staying there over the New Year." "Tell him everything." "He'll help you." "Perhaps he'll relieve you from your betrothal." "I don't mind new faces, such as Einar Einarssøn's." "Forgive me!" "God is evident, but not alive." "I have to see him to believe in him!" "See him!" "Otherwise I have to marry the 23 men who love me." "I have a rosary of children playing in my lap." "Nobody is as great a sinner as I am." "Christ our Saviour's death hasn't held me up and made me grateful." "I'm the worst one of you." "I love no man." "No man has tempted me." "I love only myself and the Devil." "The Devil is all-powerful on earth and in heaven." "Come with me, little Helga." "God bless both of you this Christmas." "I tell you, Kristin, every day we have looked forward   to bidding you welcome here." "You are like a queen who has descended from heaven." "You are just as shy in the dark as in the light, Kristin." "But at least let me hold your hand." "Can I lie under your blanket?" "I won't kiss you if you don't want to,   but we can talk, can't we?" "Do you have anything against me?" "No." "Give me a kiss and I will stop pestering you." "Do you know that when there is a new moon, Mistress Åshild told me,   you can curtsey or bow to it and make a wish." "I think they're practising for the dance tomorrow." "Or maybe Simon is teaching Kristin how to greet the king." "Make a wish that no one may know." "God bless Lady Ingeborg and your son, in the name of Christ." "Thank you for receiving us, Lady Ingeborg." "We pray for your son, King Magnus Vll,   that he will honour his mother and his country in God's name." "We pray that the king will learn to disregard the longing   planted by the Devil in all men's souls to win the praise of others." "He who keeps his eyes on the cross does not lapse into heresy." "In Christ's name, what is wrong?" "It was too hot." "Come here, Kristin." "Sit down, Simon." "Erlend Nikulaussøn, come here." "I have a greeting for you from Ingebjørg Filippusdatter." "Thank her for remembering me." "I thought she had forgotten me." "How could we young maidens forget the man   who protected our honour?" " Ask your father if we can go now." " Now?" "To think that you are so resourceful." " I wouldn't have imagined it." " I can hide my feelings." "I've been thinking about you every day." "The worst thing was not getting word from you." "Is that why you're with the Dyrfrin people now?" " There's so much to talk about." " I'm going to the convent tomorrow." "Kristin Lavransdatter ..." "Don't forget that God's kingdom will come   and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven." "Master Andres asks for you, Kristin." "They want to see you in Oslo." "Tomorrow." "Do you know the messenger?" "Yes." "No ..." "I dare not let you stay any longer." "I dare stay here all night ..." "if you want me to." "Take me back home with you to Husaby." "I can't take you to Husaby, Kristin." "Eline came in the autumn." "She brought both of the children." "I hadn't seen them for one year." "I thought you had broken up with her." "I have spoken with my kinsmen." "They want me to marry." "I told them I only wanted you." "And they disapproved?" "They cannot approach your father before Simon lets you go." "It didn't make it easier for us when they saw you with him at the King's." "Forgive me." "It was wrong." "Kristin, my dear ..." "Here is a new cloak for you   to show them at the convent." "You wore those colours the first time I danced with you." "I have to confess, Friar Edvin." "You must help me." "I cannot make this confession at the convent." "I cannot absolve you, Kristin." "But I can keep what you say to myself   as if you had told me in confession." "The thing is   I cannot marry Simon Darre." "Because he ..." "Simon is too good." "To good to   eat from the sprig where another man has picked the flower." "No, Kristin." "He is everything I want." "Everything I've longed for." "Were it not for my parents, I would not mind being called a concubine." "If only I could be his." "We couldn't control ourselves." "If he stood here now, I'd follow him if he asked me to." "At home, I never thought anyone could gain so much power over me,   that I forgot my fear of sinning." "Now I know that if one cannot repent the sins one commits out of lust,   heaven is a deserted place." "I have heard about you ..." "That you almost killed a man." "You have no right to speak of it, Kristin." "I was a sculptor then." "I had finished a Saint Claire   who was carried away by the angels at Christmas." "A band of evil men tore down the walls, and stones fell on my figure   and shattered it." "And I ..." "I struck a man to the ground with my hammer." "I couldn't control myself." "You're smiling, Kristin." "Don't you understand that you are in a bad way?" "Now you want to hear about other people's frailties." "As if they would lessen your own sin." "It has been decided." "I have to marry in the spring." "All winter I've prayed for him to die,   but he's not dying." "He has no teeth in his mouth, only a few black stumps." "He's so ugly." "Kristin Lavransdatter." "Mistress Groa wants to see you." "Your betrothed is waiting for you." "They are well." "At Jørundgård." "Ulvhild is as well as one could hope for." "They are beginning to prepare our wedding at home." "At your farm." "I told Lavrans that I would go here and talk to you." " Let's go to the parlour." " I know what you're going to say." "Do you know who this Brynhild Fluga is?" "Munan Bårdssøn put her in a house here when he married someone else." "She sells things there." "Wine ..." " ... and other things." " Do you know her?" "Erlend Nikulaussøn from Husaby!" "I'll never be happy again if I cannot live with him." "You must support me   so the deal between us can be annulled." " I know you'll do it." " You do?" "God knows if you know what you're saying." "Erlend and I have sworn by our Christian faith   that if we cannot marry   neither of us will have a husband or a wife." "Have you considered what kind of man he is?" "You'd marry someone who took another man's wife as his concubine   and now wants to marry another man's betrothed?" "You're just saying that to hurt me." "Me hurt you?" "Nobody asked you either, Simon." "It was your father and mine." "You know that's not true." "You're a man." "Whom you marry is your decision." "You want me to take the blame." "I'll do it in my own home." "But Lavrans must know   that I will never fail my word to him." "You look cold." "May the Virgin Mary watch over you." "You'll bring honour to my farm again." "You shall not share my dishonour." "You will never be able to pretend you didn't own me." "I remember the first time I drank Christmas brew   and the first time I saw the green braes after winter." "I remember the first time I had you." "But to own you   will be like drinking Christmas brew   and hunting birds on green braes, always." "Let me in, in the Devil's name!" "Open up, if you're a man!" "Erlend!" "You have to open up." " Why have you come here?" " You cannot stay here." "You have no say over Kristin Lavransdatter any more." "She's mine." "I suppose she is." "What a beautiful bridal bed you have taken her to." "But I am her betrothed until her father fetches her,   and until then I'll defend as much of her honour as I can." "Do you think I'll let a mere boy threaten me?" "I'll fight you, Erlend Nikulaussøn." "You'll go to hell if your kinsmen do not ask for Kristin's hand." "I won't do it because you say so, Simon Darre." "No." "Do it to make up for the harm you've done to Kristin." "Go, Simon!" "Go!" "Go!" "What have you got to do with us?" "Go." "Go!" " Do you think I deserve this?" " It's not for your sake, Kristin." "It's for your father." "Tell her to come with me." "Now." "You must ..." "You must go with him, Kristin." "Simon Darre and I will have to talk another time." "Stop running!" " Your father must never know!" " How did you find me?" " I sent for him." " Listen to me!" "He's lost his sons." "Must he see one daughter   without her mobility and the other without honour?" "Why do you care so much about my father?" "I remember   first time I saw you   at Jørundgård." "May the devil take me alive   the day I trust a maiden's eyes again." "Yes?" "Who is he?" "If I had been able to marry, " " I would never have turned my back on Simon." "Go to Tordis, Ulvhild." "I have to talk to Kristin." "He said I could keep the dog   because I'm so fond of it." "Your father is afraid you've fallen in love with a man   whom he would give you to unwillingly." "What have you heard?" "That you once went to see him unaccompanied." "Leave me alone." "Do you want to feel if my waist has filled out?" "Sit down." "Sit down, I said." "I know, Kristin,   that you have never been very fond of me." "Perhaps   because you thought I didn't love you." "Not the way your father loves you." "Already when you were an infant   when Lavrans came near us,   you'd let go of my breast and stretch out towards him   laughing so the milk spilled over your lips." "God knows I did not grudge you   the joy in your father's eyes every time he saw you." "But God also knows   as the Virgin Mary does   that I did not love you any less than Lavrans did." "You were so sweet and calm ..." "my little one." "I didn't appreciate it enough   that God let me keep you." "I thought more of what I had lost then of what I owned." "But now I'll tell you, Kristin,   as one woman to another ..." "I hope you get a husband you love." "But don't let Lavrans think you have chosen a Jonah." "Because he would never let you have one,   not even to save you from open shame." "Now you know." "Forget Kristin." "Have a safe journey to Tunsberg and pray for my Ulvhild." "Yes, Ulvhild will have candles and songs and sacrifices." "Remind her every day, so she can count the days." "Munan!" "We must ride now." "Tunsberg is far away." "And Lavrans will not wait." "If I meet Jesus Christ in heaven   and he asks me:" ""Where were you happiest?"" "I'll answer him:" ""l know not where, my Lord,   but I know I was with Kristin Lavransdatter."" "Little Kristin ..." "Nothing's so painful that you cannot ask God to bear the pain for you." "Shoe, shoe the housecarl's horse before he sets out on his course" "iron shoes fit a housecarl's horse." "I wandered north,   fearing that it was God's will that I died on those roads   where I have wandered all my life." "I do not understand why you show me such great love." "I had to come here and see you once more, my daughter." "I want you to come to God with your wreath." "When I was a boy I got lost in the woods once." "When my mother found me after several days, she held me   and bit my neck." "I thought it was because she was angry at me,   but since then I have become wiser." "My lost child." "You think it's only voluptuousness, wealth and power   that rule the world?" "But it's the small things you find along the road." "You have to learn to love the road itself,   and discover which person God wants you to be." "And now I want to go home." "I want to put down all my own thoughts   and rest in God's grace." "Where are Halvdan and Kolbein?" "Did you leave them behind?" "I just longed to come home." "When they went to bed, I rode off." "I'm thirsty and tired." "Kristin, come and help your father." "My daughter." "I only want what is good for you." "I wouldn't do this to you if I did not know it would save you   from a lot of future grief." "Did you buy grain?" " Yes, I bought grain and malt." " Where?" "In Tunsberg and Oslo." "Foreign goods." "It could have been worse." "It can't get worse than the birch bark." "People fear the winter." "It's best that you hear it now, Kristin." "You see ..." "You will have to forget the man to whom you have lost your heart." "Erlend Nikulaussøn and Munan Bårdssøn met me in Tunsberg." "Master Munan asked for your hand on Erlend's behalf, and I said no." "Why?" "Don't you know he has been excommunicated?" "I also know that he was very young when he met his concubine." "You call that woman a "concubine"?" "He has lived with her for ten years!" "Father!" "Mother!" "Have you lived without sin all your lives since you can judge so harshly?" "Haven't you been young?" "Don't you remember?" "It's not easy to beware   of the sin that follows love." "No!" " You cannot separate Erlend and me." " Don't you know he has children?" "No." "You will never have that man." "Not as long as I live." "Then I will pray to God night and day   night and day   that if you do not change your mind, he will carry me off from here." "I have to make choices   that I can answer for when God asks me." "He is beautiful, but all he is good for is seducing women,   and I don't want a man like that to secure the future of my children." "And Sir Munan showed me Erlend's seal that he got from his father,   as if it were an honour that they asked for my daughter." "Look at your daughter instead." "She loves this man so much   that if you don't give in, a great misfortune might happen." "She only has one thought in her mind:" "The fact that she loves." "And one day she may show us that he is more dear to her   than her honour." "Or her life." "Here, on my own farm, I can protect my child." "At least my last one." "And you?" "You wanted someone else than me, didn't you?" "That man didn't want me." "Have you mourned him all these years?" "When you wanted ..." "When you wanted me to   to do things to you in bed   that I couldn't ..." "Were you thinking of him?" "When I couldn't give you what you wanted?" "No." "No, Lavrans." "I was so frightened." "I don't understand the minds of women." "I just wanted to live with you." "I didn't want you to reach out for my heart's secrets." "I know." "I was so fond of you." "I loved you more than anything else." "More than the children we lost." "I loved you more than is good for the human soul." "But I was older than you and you were so shy." "I couldn't give you the love you needed,   because I was frightened." "I was frightened." "But I have cherished you with all my heart." "Tonight ..." "Tonight I'll sleep with you." "If you want to be with me the way you once were, I won't withdraw." "It's Lent." "Yes ..." "Yes." "You and I have always fasted   and kept all of God's commandments." "Perhaps we would have been happier if we had more to repent." "God help me." "What kind of a woman am I ... .. who still wants to taste that drop of sweetness   which he never wanted to give me?" "You must help me!" "I cherish her above all else." "What should we say when Lavrans wants us to account for his daughter?" "That we were four armed men, and that Kristin came willingly." "Leave her alone, Erlend." "It's time you show your kinsmen you can do other things than steal women." "How close have you been to her?" "I met her several times at The Nuns' Pasture." "Yes ..." "We were alone there." "I will ride to Jørundgård tomorrow   and tell her that you are here." "And then she must choose." "By God and Saint Olav." "I don't like this deal, nephew." "I dreamt that my three sons whispered to me   that it is not very long, the time that death keeps friends apart." "Today I am surprised when I count the winters that have passed,   since they died." "That there are so many." "Did you know that, Ulvhild?" "I know that   God, who gave them their souls, owned them." "Not us." "And now they are waiting for us up there." "And when our time comes   we'll find each other." "We, who are friends in life." "I think Erlend should have spoken to your father himself." "Father might have killed Erlend." "Will he be less angry when you elope with Erlend?" "Will that be easier to bear?" "What about fodder for the horses?" "Nobody has any for sale her." "You'll have to lend us food and fodder for three days." "Ulv can go to Erlend's home later and send a load before Christmas." "Abundance is a rare thing in our house in good years and bad." "Perhaps things will change when you become head of the household." "Munan is in Hamar with a letter for the king's mother." "Ulv will have to go there with a message from us." " It sounds as if you eloped before." " I've thought about it all autumn." "I'll light the fire in the smoke house and the men will sleep there." "You'll stay here with me, Kristin." "I want to be able to swear to Lavrans that you were not alone in my house." "Where in the Devil's name did you come from?" "What do you want?" "I've come from Husaby." "Your children send their greetings." "They are well." "They are asking for you." "I heard you got money to get married." "Was she there with you at Husaby all the time?" "I haven't been at Husaby." "I've been with my foster father most of the summer." "You don't have to stay with friends anymore." "I can run your house now." "I was widowed this autumn." "If you want, you can keep the promise you made me." "Remember the night I gave birth to your son?" "You promised to marry me when Sigurd died." "Yes, I remember." "Will you keep your word now?" "It's ten years ago, Eline." "Since then we've lived together like two damned souls in hell." "Not only that." "It's been years ago since it was anything else!" "Did you forget about this summer?" "It's better that the two of you talk alone." "Go to the smoke house." "We have to light the fire there anyway to house all those   who visit us tonight." "Go out, I said." "Shame on you for letting Kristin witness this!" "I never realised before   that it follows with sin   that you must trample other people down." "You won't let go of Erlend now?" "I'll never let Erlend go." "Not even if I have to trample down my father." "Aunt Åshild ..." "Are you never frightened of the day you have to stand before God?" "I never asked for His mercy when I broke His commandments." "And I never asked God nor man to release me   from a penny of the debts I owe here on earth." "Love has no laws." "It breaks them all." "She's with child." "Which one of them?" "It's not mine, but who will believe that?" "Behave like a man, Erlend." "Do you swear that it's not yours?" "I haven't touched Eline since I met Kristin first time." "Then you must find the father and make him marry her." "I'm sure it's the caretaker at Husaby." "He wanted her when she became a widow, if I paid well." "Is that such a misfortune?" "You have to ride back with her to Husaby tomorrow   and settle their marriage." "Don't you understand, Aunt ..." "What will Kristin think?" "You look tired, Kristin." "You have to sleep." "Are you afraid of lying near me?" "You and I have been sisters in bed before, haven't we?" "Kristin Lavransdatter   who has separated me from Erlend's friendship." "You know best   if there was any friendship to separate." "What would you do   if Erlend grew tired of you and told you to marry his caretaker?" "Would you let him have his will then, too?" "Shall we play dice for our man?" "Erlend Nikulaussøn's two concubines?" "Perhaps you'll deny that you are his concubine." "I can't be bothered lying to you." "I know Erlend." "He jumped at you the second time he saw you, I'll bet." "Poor you." " I don't want to talk to you." " You think he'll treat you better?" "I was a virgin, too,   when he had me." "Even though I'd been that old man's wife for seven years." "You can't imagine how awful my life was." "You are young." "It is your turn now." "Will you drink with me, Kristin?" "At least you can show me that honour." "Of drinking with me." "Promise me you won't be an unkind stepmother to my children." "What is this?" " We drink to you." "Your concubines!" " You're not drinking with her." "Drinking with me won't make her a leper." "A leper?" " Drink!" "You're going to drink now." " No!" "Drink!" "It was hell with Sigurd, but you promised ..." "You've been worse to me, Erlend!" "One of us will have to drink it." "You can't keep both of us." "No!" "Drink it!" "Drink the brew you poured for Kristin." "It was for you, Erlend." "The drink ..." "For all the times ..." "Fetch Aunt Åshild." "She must not have died at Haugen." "Any talk of poison, and people will remember what I was accused of." "Bjørn." "Someone will have to swear that he saw her kill herself." "And you want that person to be me." "My days are over anyway, you mean." "Or do you mean that there's enough left of the man I once was   that I would dare to commit perjury to save him from damnation." "Because he will be pulled down as I myself was   many years ago." "Pulled down, I say." "You say that because I'm old now." "She must be buried in consecrated ground, even if it costs me Husaby." "Tonight we'll dress her in her travelling clothes   and put her in the sledge." "And you must sit next to her." "I can't." "God knows how much man there will be left in you   when you've lived another 20 years." "Can you drive the sledge, then?" "I'll sit with her." "We'll both swear that you had an argument sitting in the sledge." "She stabbed herself when you said you wouldn't live together with her." "It's not pretty, no." "But it's your own fault that it's not any prettier." "God help you." "You've never felt this before, have you?" "What it's like to have a knife at your throat?" " Do you still dare to stay with me?" " Yes ..." "I still do." "You've had Sir Bjørn at your side day and night all these years." "Yes, that too, I have had." "She took her life, that poor woman he had enticed away from her kinsmen." "Are you the next one?" "Erlend has confessed to the Bishop in Oslo." "You know that?" "Yes, I know that." "Sweet Jesus." "Doesn't that make you change your mind?" " No." " Nor me." "Why does God put me through all this?" "You have to give him a broken heart." "You have to put everything behind you   and ask Jesus Christ for forgiveness." "A pilgrimage?" "You've always been so strong." "You could always pay a poor man to go to Nidaros instead of you." " Can we never be as boys again?" " No." "No, I don't think so." "Those days when the sea and the battlefield   were the world and the temptation." "When the sea and the battlefield were the world and the temptation." "Now we walk the way of prayer and penance." "You have shown me the right way." "Send me your holy angel   so your angel can tell you about my sin and shame   and you can forgive me at last." "Look, Kristin." "Look at the light." "Remember the log that fell on Ulvhild?" "I put it there as a punishment   for striking down my beautiful little girl." "Perhaps we should have put it above the door   to show our gratitude that it saved her from sorrow and shame?" "If it had been Arne, would you have let me have him?" "Yes." "You never told me while Arne was alive." "I was fond of him, but he never said anything." "If I had seen you tormented by love for him ..." "Jesus Christ." "Little Kristin ..." "Are you that unhappy?" "I think it will kill me, father." "My dear Kristin, tell me how I can help you." "Kristin Lavransdatter." "I never would have believed it." "Never." "That we would live to see this day." " No ..." " Yes." "Not now." " Yes!" " No, no!" "Help us, Saint Olav!" " Look at the tree!" " Jesus Christ!" "Mother!" "Goodbye." "Goodbye, my Olav's Church." "God bless you for every time I have sung and said Mass inside you." "My Olav's Church ..." "Good night." "Chastity is like a lamp, but love for God is the flame." "Would I serve the Devil, my chastity would be worth no more   than a rusty lamp with neither flame nor oil." "Before we wed Erlend Nikulaussøn and Kristin Lavransdatter   in the face of God, let he who has any objections to this marriage   step forward or forever hold his tongue." "You can't lie here." "There ..." "You didn't look at me when you sat in the bridal bed." "But our daughter wasn't that shy when she was about to ..." "She's waited so long for him." "No, by the Devil, they didn't wait!" "Forget." "Forget everything, Kristin." "Except that you are my wife." "She came into the bridal bed with the one she loves." "Neither you nor I did." "But we've had a good life together all the same, Lavrans." "Yes, I thought so." "You were the best." "Perhaps you would have had a better life   if you had been married like Kristin was today." "So you know?" "That I had slept with him   when I came into the bridal bed with you." "So when our first son   was struggling with death   I dared not ask God to spare his life." "Because I   wasn't his father?" "I wasn't certain." "In God's name!" "Why do you tell me now, Ragnfrid?" "So you can avenge yourself on me   and run me out of the farm." "I remember how you judged Erlend Nikulaussøn." "So how do you judge me?" "It's no use crying." "You won't get anything back." "Oh, God!" "Every day   it felt as if my heart was bleeding." "And every day it felt as if " " I was grinding clay for you to eat." "I want you to have it." "Why are you doing this now?" "I was only a young boy when you and I were married." "Throughout my manhood you have stood by me." "When I had sorrows   and when things went well for me." "When I leave this life it will be you   that I shall find it hardest to part with." "All the bad things there were   shall no more part us." "And the friendship which is there will be restored by God." "To something better." "You and I, Ragnfrid,   are not strangers to each other." "Now that I have married you in the face of God and all men,   everything bad will be erased from my life." "I will forget it ever was there." "You and I are not strangers to each other."