It is the third day of the Frösö Ting and in the evening a sacrifice shall be in the temple of the pagan god Fröj. The women from the various homesteads bring their contributions to the feast and arrange the decorations. Here Unn meets Gunhild. A quarrel results and the spiteful remarks of Gunhild cause Unn to disclose her proud schemes. Gunhild has difficulty in concealing her dismay.
Agitated by the quarrel, Unn has a heart attack. She has been ailing from her heart which has become worse because of her sorrows and mental anguish over the years. However, Sigurd comes and gladdens her with the news that all is going according to plans and half of Jämtland is already on their side.
The other half of Jämtland is divided into a pro-Swedish and a pro-Norwegian movement, and this is illustrated by an encounter between the leaders of these two groups, Bård of Bräcka and Heming of Ås.
Gunhild receives confirmation from her father, Östmund, of what she has heard from Unn. Gunhild cannot conceal that Arnljot seems to her to be the most suitable chieftain for Jämtland. However, she is reprimanded by her father, who says that if the country is going to have a king of its own, he has the greatest claim to this title, which shall later go to the husband of Gunhild. Gunhild admits to herself that she still loves Arnljot.
In the meanwhile Arnljot has arrived home and learns of Gunhild's faithlessness. Agitated he hurries to the meeting place af the Frösö Ting. Below him lies beautiful Jämtland. He gets peace of mind and he greets his home district in words which amount to a promise to stay, live, work and die in Jämtland.
By reminding Arnljot of the hero of his youth, King Olav, and by telling him about the disgrace she has suffered because of his father, Unn spurs Arnljot on to promise that one day he will make her dreams for the future come true.
Östmund and his son-in-law, Gudfast, for their part agree to foil these plans, primarily by taking advantage of Arnljot's violent temper - if they can succeed in leading him on to upset the peace of the Ting, he would be disgraced.
The Ting gathers and its members are seated according to ritual. During the meeting Gudfast incites Arnljot so that in his blind rage he finally kills his successful rival. He answers the alarmed accusations of the congregation with scorn about the cowardice and weakness of the people of Jämtland, about their hypocrisy and their self-righteousness. Östmund breaks off the proceedings for a while and discusses the punishment of Arnljot with the lawman and the council.
When Unn hears from Arnljot what has happened she dies. In an agitated monolog Arnljot declares that he does not intend to leave Jämtland even if he is declared an outlaw. In the vast forests which he has previously greeted he might find the last and best freedom.
Arnljot: “If
you make me your leader I will spend my power and my property to make Jämtland
a free land.“
Gunhild comes to Arnljot and suggests that the killing of Gudfast, who has won her with a lie, and her own faithlessness have evened out matters between them. Indirectly she admits that she still loves him. However, Arnljot is too agitated to be able to forgive and he dismisses her.
The Ting assembles and Arnljot is declared an outlaw. He answers by saying that the whole of Jämtland is outlaw territory. In the forests of Jämtland he will take his revenge on all those who have insulted his father and himself. “Yes, let there be war! No honor will it bring you! Against the whole hoards of you, your jurisdiction, your laws and your gods, there stands one man who relies solely on his own strength - I am that man, I, Arnljot of Gällö!“
ACT II
Vaino: “Oh, were every stitch I am netting a snare to
catch his soul“
Five years have passed. During this time the feud between Arnljot and the people of Jämtland has raged; he has plundered and killed their rich merchants and leaders, he has held their farms and granaries to ransom. The people of Jämtland for their part have burnt down his family estate and killed his sister and brother-in-law, with whom he stayed when first he was declared an outlaw. Now he is living in the district where the tributary Hjärpströmmen joins the River Indalsälven, and where the important trading route between Norway and Sweden passes. Here he receives visits from Lapps. The people of Jämtland have informed the Lapps that they will be richly rewarded if they can find Arnljot and kill him. However, Ubma, an old Lapp sorcerer, first wants to find out where Arnljot is hiding all the gold and silver he has taken before his family estate was burned down. To this end he sends the young Lapp woman Vaino to Arnljot to serve him and to discover his secret. Arnljot makes use of her services but otherwise lives a quiet and secluded life. Instead of using Ubma's magic potion to awake Arnljot's desires, Vaino feels compassion and shows a timid love for Arnljot, of which he has no idea.
He can only brood over his fate. He is tired of killing and robbing. In the desolate stillness of this northern wilderness, in the whine of the storms in the forests, his thoughts only return to the question: “To what purpose is my strength being wasted?“
At this time vast numbers of warriors and unattached people are going over the mountains to join King Olav. Driven away from his country, King Olav had lived two years in Russia, but he is now returning to Norway through Svithiod (Sweden) and Jämtland in order to regain his crown. Among those attracted by the King's friendly and stimulating personality as well as by the opportunity for free plundering are the two brigands of the forests, Göka-Tore and Åflo-Faste from northern Jämtland. When they meet Arnljot, they talk and Arnljot gets the idea of sending a gift as a greeting to King Olav, but when the two brigands suggest that he go himself to King Olav, Arnljot rejects the idea and shows signs of uneasiness.
On the way to Norway Gunhild together with her little son comes through the forest. She has had King Olav as a guest in her house and has been converted to the Christian faith. This has given rise to strife in her family, who threatened to take the child from her. She is now fleeing to Norway to put herself under the protection of the King according to the promise he has given her. She loses her way and comes to Arnljot's hut without knowing where she is. She meets Arnljot, who is gripped with a sudden passionate desire. First he pleads with her and reminds her of their love for each other in their youth. Gunhild almost gives way, but all of a sudden she discovers Vaino and becomes cool. Arnljot's mood changes and he becomes aggressive. Driven to her utmost, Gunhild puts a knife to her breast, Arnljot holds himself back and finally asks: “What about the boy - your son?“ “You kill him, if you have the courage! If he is allowed to live he will revenge his father and mother.“ Arnljot looks at the little boy who is peacefully sleeping on a mossy bank. At the sight of the child all Arnljot's longings for the peace of home and family happiness rise in his soul, and when Gunhild has gone with the child he sinks down in morose and painful brooding.
Gunhild: “Kill the boy if it is to your heart's content!
If he is to live,
he will avenge his father and mother!“
Ubma silently creeps up behind Arnljot and puts a spell over him by secret signs. Arnljot falls asleep and dreams that he is watching a pre-historic sacrificial dance which disappears when a band of Christian warriors, led by the King of Norway and Arnljot's brother Vikar, come marching through the woods singing a hymn. In his dream he also sees other dead relatives and lastly his mother who beckons to him. Now Ubma asks the sleeping Arnljot where he has hidden his treasure. Arnljot answers. Ubma is just about to stab Arnljot in the back when Vaino rushes in and awakes him with her cries.
“Blessed
he who carries the sign of light...“
In hypnotic state Arnljot hears his dead Christian relatives sing.
Alone again, Arnljot regards his dream as a foreboding of death. Death attracts him as a release - he is about to stick a spear into his breast, but again Vaino appears and prevents him. Vaino beseeches him to flee westward to the King of Norway to escape all his enemies who are waiting for him in the woods. Vaino tells him that Ubma's spell which put him to sleep only brought out his innermost thoughts in the form of dreams. This is a revelation to him. Arnljot feels as if an important part of his personality has only just been revealed; he has dimly been aware of this part of his personality, but he has lied to himself and appeared other than he really was. This comes to him like a flash of lightning. When he gets up again, he follows Vaino's advice to go to the King of Norway just as his brother Vikar had done. Arnljot now wishes to offer the King a better gift than the one he sent with the brigands. He takes his farewell of the sorrowful Vaino, after first having rewarded her for her faithfulness by freeing her from the power of Ubma.
Arnljot: “His
witchcraft won't be able to heal his broken spine!“
ACT III
Stiklestad in Norway, July 29, 1030. Olav, King of Norway, surrounded by his warriors and his bards, is awaiting the advance of the peasant army and the beginning of the decisive battle. Arnljot's gift is brought in, the arrival of Gunhild is announced, the bards pass the time by improvising stanzas relating to the events.
Arnljot appears before the King of Norway. In his audience with the King, Arnljot shows that when in the south he learned the basic teachings of Christianity and especially the commandment “Love thine enemy“ but without understanding them. However, in this isolation he has come to understand them better than the King himself. King Olav feels friendship and compassion for the man, whose conflicts in his soul have made him a wiser and nobler man. The King thanks him for coming and receives his promise of friendship and faith until his death. The King now leads him down to the spring, where his bishop is baptising the many heathens who wish to join his side. Gunhild arrives and from a distance witnesses Arnljot's baptism.
In the meanwhile, important events have taken place in Jämtland. Östmund has died after having recognised Arnljot's right to be the chieftain of Jämtland. When hearing this, Sigurd of Slandrom gathers the Jämtland leaders to a special Ting. Arnljot is declared to be an outlaw no longer, the conflicting groups have disintegrated, everyone now only wants Jämtland's independence and Arnljot as king. Sigurd, Heming and Bård are sent to inform Arnljot and to ask him to return. However, Arnljot refuses; he has a new outlook for the future of Jämtland. Up at Åre he has seen how the fjelds divide Jämtland and Norway, while a network of rivers, streams and lakes flowing to the east bind Jämtland to Svithiod. He has realised the unity of things both for Jämtland and for his own life: he rejects his dream of a kingdom and of Jämtland. Sigurd pleads and begs him with persuasive words describing the summer beauty of Frösö and the joy of the festivals. Arnljot fights a last desperate struggle in his and the greatest. He pleads with the men to return home and to choose another. All he can do is to let them wait until the battle has been fought. However, he will not hear any talk of the possibility that the King of Norway may fall in battle and he himself be unharmed; he vows to fight more manly than ever.
The battle commences. Arnljot is mortally wounded just as he has saved the King from death. The battle moves farther away. Arnljot is near to death but Gunhild is by his side. Fired by the words he has spoken to the King of Norway, he sees his own life in a clear and conciliatory light; he realises that his faith in himself and his own strength, despite everything, has been his finest quality, the Christianity, as he understands it, does not destroy or distort this belief but has only given it a higher meaning, a wider outlook. While the warriors of the King are heard in the distance lamenting the death of King Olav, Arnljot pulls out the arrow-head from his heart and dies with the word “Jämtland“ on his lips.
Arnljot: “Gunhild
- remember me to - Jämtland!“
Gunhild beckons to Sigurd, Heming and Bård, who have been waiting for the battle to end. The body of Arnljot is placed upon a bier, and after Sigurd has chanted a brief bardic ode, the body of Arnljot is carried back to Jämtland.
Arnljot is carried
home to Jämtland.
Arnold Österlund,
Conductor
Stage Director
Folke Abenius with two actors, Monica Lindberg and Haldo Högberg.