The action in the Game about Saint Olav

The family at Sul

On the farm Sul, a few days' march from Stiklestad, lives a peaceful farming family. They find themselves at the center of huge events in a struggle for power over land and kingdom. This takes place in a time when both the right belief and the right side in the struggle could mean the difference between life and death.

The secret

The farmer, Torgeir Flekk, and his wife, Gudrid, are happy with each other, but they keep a secret; five or six years ago, Gudrid gave birth to a deformed child, which the old woman on the farm, Grima, carried into the forest so that the child would die. This was in accordance with the pagan customs of the time. Torgeir, who has accepted the Christian faith, cannot forgive Gudrid for this. He was himself in the forest when this happened.

Their youngest daughter, Gudrun, was then a little girl, and the story of the dead child has marked her. She is tormented by seeing a ghost, the ghost of a child. Gudrun has become a restless child who cannot tolerate conflict and arguments, because then the ghost starts screaming. In her world, it is a sign that Ragnarok, the end of the world, will come, which will begin with people killing each other and the Fenris wolf devouring the sun.

Her most faithful support in difficult situations is her grandfather Gamal-Jostein, Torgeir's blind father. He tells her tales from old times and teaches her pagan songs. They comfort her and give her pictures of how life can be lived and understood.

Big politics at the farmyard

One summer day in July 1030, the farm Sul finds itself in the middle of a major event. Rumor has it that Olav Haraldsson is on his way from Gardarike (Russia) to regain the power he lost in 1028. The farmers of Trøndelag do not like this. They have gained independence and freedom under the Ladejars and do not want a king over them. Gudrid's brother-in-law, Torgeir Kvistad (the farmer of Kvistad) and his son Halle, come to Sul to ask if they can get support from Torgeir Flekk to go against Olav "The Big One", who is now on his way to regain control of the country. The farmer of Kvistad says that a large peasant army led by Kalv Arnesson is ready at Stiklestad and awaits the battle that must come. Torgeir Flekk decides to side with Olav, and the farmer of Kvistad and his son ride away with their cause unscathed.

Olav Haraldsson comes to the farm

A skald named Tormod Kolbrunarskald comes to Sul. He tells the farmhands that King Olav is on his way and will have to spend the night at the farm. Torgeir wants to welcome the king, while Gudrid refuses to accept an intruder who wants to unjustly seize power over free peasants. She is also afraid of what will happen if the king learns the secret about the dead child.

King Olav arrives with his army and settles in the yard. Tormod tells the King that his opponents have gathered a large army against him and that they are many more than the men the King has. The King does not care about this because he believes that he has God on his side. Tormod advises him to accept help from an army from Jämtland, but since they are not Christians, Olav does not want them in his army.

When the army is about to set up camp, the son on the farm tells them that the king's army has raided the cornfield. Then the King rides around the field and blesses it. Everyone sees that there is something about this King, and Gudrun sings about it. She and the King meet each other, and the meeting with Gudrun awakens something in the King.

The king has a dream, and out of the dream comes Arnljot Gelline, an outlaw from Jämtland. He wants to join the king's army, even though he is not a Christian. Olav is challenged on his own faith, and when a Swedish band of robbers enter the yard, the king must decide whether to welcome them or not.

All this warlike excitement scares Gudrun, and she has to dance a pagan dance to calm down. The king sees this and becomes furious because this is not in line with Christian faith. He hears the story of the child who was driven out into the forest, becomes very upset and wants to punish them according to Christian law. The king helps Gudrun to know peace. This miracle makes Arnljot and the robbers want to be baptized. Thorgeir then offers himself and his sons as soldiers.

The battle

Night fell. The army rests. At dawn, the army left the farm to meet the farmers in battle at Stiklestad. The blind Gamal-Jostein decides to follow them to experience the events up close.

After the battle

After the battle, Gudrun meets Gamal-Jostein again and he has regained his sight. He tells how he found the king in a den, and that he got the king's blood on him, and then he could suddenly see: "He was a holy man."