Ælfhild Raggnarsdóttér
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[[2015]] ' | ||||||||||
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 Argent, a double headed eagle sable maintaining in its talons two swords inverted and crossed in saltire Or, on a chief gules three mullets of eight points argent | ||||||||||
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Member since 1993.
Persona
Born in Tønsberg, Norway in 948 my marriage to Álarr was arranged by our fathers early to unite our families. Álarr’s father left to the silk road when Álarr a mere 6 months old taking his whole family. I was a year old when they left my bride price paid in half so that upon the rest would be paid securing the marriage. This also gave me the option to back out though it would complicate the business arrangement our fathers came to.
Álarr’s father, a master trader and swordsmith partnered with my father also a swordsmith. Our marriage ensured wealth of our families’ union. Growing up my life was peaceful. I was told of my pending marriage but it really never meant anything to me. I grew studying laws of our people, making jewelry, as well as helping the local healer with herbs.
When I was 15 my father took me to assist him on a trade with some of the Mercian’s and some from the Kingdom of Wessex. While we were there I meet a monk who painted in books. It was during this time I learned to make books. I continued to return for three years learning to scribe and practicing the Saxons way of writing hoping to bring it to my people.
Upon our return in my 19th year things changed when my father Ragnar fell ill. My mother took over running our business and traded for extra slaves so our farm would be well tended while I tended to father with the herbs the healer taught me about.
Mother gifted me with a monk so I could continue my studies without leaving fathers side. Raggnar did get better after about 6 months and his strength and weight came back.
What I didn’t know is that Mother had sent word to Álarr’s father to return from China with his wife. When I was 20 they arrived. I went that night to speak with the Seerer father often spoke with and he said the marriage was blessed but I must wait to marry under the light of a blood moon to ensure not only love but friendship, it would be a union stronger than any other.
When I did finally meet Álarr I looked deep into his eyes and saw his soul. It was then I knew I loved him and would heed the seer’s words because I never wanted to lose my husband to be.
I can only guess he felt the same for he paid the rest of the bride price but also gifted me with many gifts from his travels including jewelry and fabrics so my dress for our union would be perfect. I had taken a liking to the Saxons dresses and began my women to work on it. Within 6 months we feel in love and united as lovers and best friends, husband and wife.
In the years following we had our first child a strong Norse boy and the image of my father. Raggnar and Álarr’s father killed a bull in his name feasting the village and opened barrels of mead. After we had two more girls whose beauty was touched by Freya herself. Each daughter was celebrated with a whole doe and more mead. After that I was warned by the seer to have no more children. It was very odd to only have 3 and stop. Although we tried many times most we knew had at least 6 children. However, we listened as the seer as he has never been wrong.
Álarr and I are happy with our little family and he began to trade swords and daggers made by our two families. I continue to learn for the Saxon monk scribal and book making.
Offices & Positions
- Webminister, Barony of Dun Or – January 2015 to Current
- Acting Social Media Officer, Barony of Dun Or – September 2015 – current
- Deputy Chronicler, Tower Tails - January 2015 - current
- Scribe – October 2015 - Current
Event Staff
- Barony of Dun Or Yule 2015 - Tokens
- Barony of Dun Or Anniversary – April 15th 2016 - Deputy Feast Stewart for Royal feast
- Volunteer at Great Western War 2015
- Co-Coordinator for Calf-to-Codex project on behalf of Caid for 50th Anniversary - 2015
- Assisting with Scribal digital template project for Caid - 2015
Projects
- Period Binding and Illustrated book, leather cover with vellum pages gilded cover - ongoing
- Scribal assignments from Caid – 2015-2016
- Learning pewter work for tokens and coins – on going
- Redesigned website for Barony of Dun Or, Kingdom of Caid - 2014 - 2016
- Digitized Twin Towers newsletter for Barony of Dun Or - 2014- 2016
Publications
- "Tower Tales” issues, 2015 -
- The year death engulfed the world
- Alfred the Great: first King of England
- Bloody History
- Eadgyth, the Anglo-Saxon Queen
- Foodies Corner: special Scandinavian dishes
- Histories Mysteries - February
- Ivar the Boneless
- Histories Mysteries – March
- Ulfbert- the master of Norse swords
- Worst nicknames of medieval rulers
Miscellany
- Leatherwork
- Archery
- Period board games
- Bookbinding
- Scribal
- Cordials and Mead
- Pewter work
- Woodwork
- Autocrat
