Northumbria

Leif and Asta have just married and live in a Norse longhouse. Arable land is scarce and thinking of a large family to come, they are concerned about the future. They consider emigrating to Northumbria, England.

Asta: We can't keep pretending this land will feed us, let alone our children.
Leif: I know. We have a choice to make. Stay here or find elsewhere to live. More arable land and hopefully a milder climate. I heard from sailors about Northumbria. It offers all that we wish for.
Asta: Sailors exaggerate. How can we trust their tales?
Leif: The stories are consistent among many. I'm willing to chance it. The issue is how to afford it. We haven't the money, but we have jewellery items and I could become a labourer onboard a ship.
Asta: We have to do it now. It will only get harder with a family.
Leif: Let's go down to the coast and see if we can convince a captain to accept what we can offer.
Asta: If we do this, we must be ready to start over. No complaining about what we leave behind.
Leif: Our children will be Englars. Laughs. We must try and if we cannot secure a passage, then we still have somewhere to live back here.

The young couple gather a few items of value and food, then they travel the short distance to the coast. They see a cargo boat ready to set sail and approach hurriedly to the captain, who is ready to give orders to depart.
Leif: Excuse me sir. I am Leif and my new bride Asta. We are seeking passage to Ángulland.
The captain looks at these two young people, suspecting they have little to offer.
Captain: And what do you have to pay me with?
Asta: We have a silver pendant and a ring and we can work during the voyage to earn our keep. Asta keeps back some of the items in case the price is higher and needs to offer more items.
Leif: I am not large of stature but am deceptively strong and hard working.
Captain: You understand this will be rough living conditions?
Asta: We understand. We are used to harshness.
Captain: Alright. You can board but you will be sleeping wherever there is space.
Leif: Thank you. Asta hands over the jewelery items and they board, suspecting that being a late arrival worked in their favour. The captain already has enough payment to make the voyage and this was a bonus. Maybe he takes pity on them as well.
Captain: Leif, come with me. You will indeed earn your keep. We need to get going while conditions are favourable.
Asta finds a place near another few families while Leif helps with rigging. The winds are kind and the seas not too choppy but some are seasick along the way. The journey takes just four and a half days.

They reach the shore in Northumbria and disembark. There is a well settled town on the banks of a river. It is bustling with trade and fish mongers along the waterfront. As they move into the town, they see narrow streets and general vendors selling many basic goods. They get temporary shelter at a monastery.
Leif: Spring won't last for long. We need to get to a farming area and grow some crops before winter.
Asta: There is plenty of land around here but we need to secure permission from whoever owns it.

They move to an area and seek permission for some land from the local lord. He agrees to give them a plot in return for three days labour per week for him. He provides for them some simple accommodation in the form of a wooden hut. He also provides a bundle of seed for crops. They get settled, plant their seed and help on the Lord's land as agreed. They sow oats and barley at first. The winter sown wheat and rye seed is stored for planting later.

Leif: So what do you think? The seeds are starting to sprout already. This land is indeed productive.
Asta: I will believe it when we have food to store for the winter. Until then, we must work hard. There are still some silver pendants left. We must keep them for emergencies.

The crop comes and the agree amount that the lord exacts to be paid. In this case mainly made up of bread, cheese and ale. A few animals that were procured over time provided dairy products.

Winter arrives and the stored food is reasonable but not excessive. Wheat and rye seed is planted but now there is more time on their hands. They get together with other peasant farmers for some dancing and music. Ale is plentiful.

A few good years are eventually followed by a poor season.
Leif: I think we have enough food for now but another poor crop next year and we will be in trouble. We need to economise on food consumption, now that we have a baby and another on the way.
Asta: I wonder if we can get more land further inland. Some people are moving west to claim land. There is also talk of war and you may be recruited.
Leif: I was wondering about moving. Can you travel with a child on the way?
Asta: It's better to have the baby first but winter is coming and we have little choice.
Leif: I made a small cart that I can haul stored grain and a few household items. I will speak with neighbours to see if others will join us. Safety in numbers.
Asta looks at Leif with admiration: You always have a plan.

They uproot and move into a valley some miles away. They get a similar arrangement as before and are soon settled. It seems good and they are soon better off than before.

As time passes, on the birth of their fifth child, Asta gets an infection of the uterus after delivery which escalates into full-blown sepsis. She dies, leaving Leif a father without the support of a wife. He mourns the loss of Asta but he is in dire straits so must act quickly.

Leif goes to a neighbour: I need a wife. You have a daughter of marriable age. Edith.
Neighbour: She is young but another mouth for us to feed. You have land and a house. It is better she goes to a neighbour we know and trust. It is a good match.
Leif: I have five children as you know.
Neighbour: She is strong, hard working and Edith will do well with them.
Leif: It is agreed.

The ceremony involves the couple exchanging vows and simple rings with witnesses present. A village feast ensues, bride-ale is consumed in quantity and a bedding ritual follows. The next morning, it is all on, with five hungry mouths to feed and care fo. Leif off to work in the fields. Later that night, the newly weds have their first chance to talk.
Leif: Edith, did your day go well?
Edith: Your children are all beautiful. The youngest was crying a lot but the eldest was very helpful. There is much for me to learn.
Leif: You have experience, helping your mother with your younger siblings.
Edith: It's not the same as being in charge.
Leif: You will do well. You will soon have your own children as well.
Edith blushes: It is the way of things.
Leif: They will be as lovely as their mother.
Edith smiles: I will try to be a good wife to you.