Alvin approaches Finn’s house in the early evening. He hesitates a moment, then knocks.

Finn opens the door, stares at Alvin, then stands aside for him to enter. Finn goes to sit back down at a table on which there’s a half-eaten plate of food. He shoves a second stool in Alvin’s direction, continues to eat, but offers no food to Alvin.

Alvin watches Finn in silence until Finn finishes his food and leans back from the table.

Finn: Well?

Alvin: I heard you kissed my wife.

Finn: I heard you married my betrothed.

Alvin: I didn’t know it at the time. You knew.

Finn: True. Are you expecting an apology?

Alvin: No. I’m just curious.

Finn: About?

Alvin: You. Why didn’t you come for Solveig, after the South Shore raid?

Finn: I thought she was dead.

Alvin: Really?

Finn: Why else wouldn’t I come?

Alvin: I don’t know. Maybe she wasn’t worth the trouble. Maybe you don’t love her enough.

Finn: Ha! This from a man who refuses to share her bed.

Finn stares fiercely at Alvin. Alvin looks uncomfortable.

Finn: It’s true, then.

Alvin: It’s none of your business!

Finn: I wonder why Solveig told me, then?

Finn pours himself a cup of ale.

Finn: Well. We find ourselves in a very interesting situation. I’d say you and I have about equal claim on Solveig.

Alvin: She’s not a goat! She’ll decide for herself.

Finn: Indeed. And if she picks me?

Alvin studies Finn’s face.

Alvin: Then I’ll give her up.

Finn: Ah. I’m happy to hear it, although I can’t promise I’ll be as magnanimous. One thing does puzzle me. I know she married you to escape Sten. But why did you marry her, if not for the pleasures of her bed? Not for her cooking, if I know my Solveig. Perhaps you knew no other woman would have you.

Finn stands and goes to open the door.

Finn: I’m so glad you stopped by, Jarl Al. Give my very best to your lovely wife. Poor girl, how you must torment her!

***

Solveig and Astrid are sitting by the fireplace, shelling peas into a wooden bucket.

Solveig: He says he still loves me.

Astrid: Of course he does! Why wouldn’t he? Then you’ll stay?

Solveig: I haven’t decided.

Astrid: Oh, Solveig! What is there to decide? Come home! To me, to Finn, to your clan. Why would you stay with those detestable South Shores, and with that…outlandish creature as a husband?

Solveig: Mama, you’re speaking from ignorance. You don’t know Al.

Astrid: And I don’t wish to!

Astrid flings some peas into the bucket; they clatter against its side.

Astrid: What I do know is that he’s holding my daughter captive!

Solveig: He is not, Mama. I told you: I asked him to marry me.

Astrid: Well, you didn’t have a choice then. You do now. He should let you go.

Solveig: He will, if I ask him to.

Astrid: Well, there you are! Why on earth would you hesitate for one moment? Unless…

Astrid peers at Solveig suspiciously.

Astrid: You’re not pregnant, are you?

Solveig blushes.

Solveig: No.

Astrid: You're sure? It may be early to tell, but it could explain your strange fancies.

Solveig: I am absolutely sure, Mama.

Astrid: Well, that’s a mercy. Solveig, my child. You’re all I have. First I lost your father, then Bjorg. But don’t stay for me. Do it for yourself. You’ve had such a dreadful time, since that horrible raid. You could forget it all, like a bad dream. The love of a fine…of a normal man, that’s the greatest happiness there is. You deserve it.

Solveig sighs and looks down at the peapod in her hand.

The door opens and Alvin walks in. Both women give a start.

Solveig: Al! Where have you been?

Alvin: Oh, I just…went for a walk. I needed a little air. There’s a full moon. Round and orange as an egg yolk.

Solveig stands.

Solveig: The Blood Moon. They’ll be harvesting the wheat tonight. I think I’ll go help.

Alvin: I could come with you.

Solveig: No need. You just got in.

Alvin: Will you be all right on your own?

Solveig: Of course. This is my clan.

Solveig opens the door and steps outside.

Solveig: Don’t wait up.

***

Solveig is sitting on Finn’s bed, wearing only a gauzy white shift. The shutters are open and through the window the bright yellow harvest moon is glowing on a square of midnight blue.

Finn enters his house, whistling.

Solveig: Finn.

Finn stops in his tracks. Solveig stands.

Finn walks over to her. He puts out a hand to stroke her hair.

Finn: Look at you in the moonlight. Copper hair. Silver dress. Gold skin. Your skin…

Finn kisses Solveig and embraces her tightly. His hands go underneath her shift and travel up and down her body. He lifts her shift over her head and lets it drop to the floor. He picks her up and carries her to the bed.

***

Pale dawn light spills through the window over Finn’s bed. Finn and Solveig are sleeping nestled together, naked and covered in a fur blanket. A bird lands on the windowsill and sings a loud trill. Solveig wakes with a start. She sees Finn’s tanned arm embracing her and smiles.

Solveig sits up, drawing the blanket up to her shoulders and leaving Finn naked to the waist. She takes a deep breath of the fresh morning air. Finn stirs and shivers.

Finn: I’m not sure I would have shared my bed with you if I’d known what a blanket thief you are.

Solveig draws the blanket even tighter around herself, leaving Finn completely exposed. She runs a hand down his bare thigh. Finn addresses the bird on the windowsill.

Finn: Did you see that? This woman has no shame.

The bird flies away.

Finn: You shocked a poor, innocent pigeon.

Finn notices a rust-colored stain on the bedsheet and runs his hand over it.

Finn: Look at that! You really were a virgin.

Solveig: I told you I was. Did you think I was lying?

Finn: No, no, I’m just…when I saw you flung sideways across Sten’s horse, I was sure you wouldn’t be, if we ever met again.

Solveig’s expression changes from dreamy pleasure to incredulous shock. Finn face registers alarm as he realizes what he just said.

Solveig: You knew I was alive. You knew! And you just…left me to my fate. And why? Because you thought I was sullied – not pure enough for you?

Solveig leaps up from the bed, stark naked.

Finn: Solveig…I was wrong. Let’s just forget about it – it’s like a bad dream, it’s not real. You and I - we’re together now. That’s what’s real.

Solveig notices that even as he speaks, Finn’s admiring gaze is following her nude form as she searches for her shift. She stops and puts her hands on her hips.

Solveig: Take a good look, Finn. It’s the last you’ll ever see!

She snatches her shift up from the floor and throws it on. She notices it’s see-through in the daylight, looks around, grabs up Finn’s leather tunic and puts that on too.

Solveig: I guess you were right. The truth does come out in bed!

Solveig stalks out of Finn’s house.