Liv

Liv is the wife of the rich farmer Olvar prior to his death in the Holmgang he initiated with Arvid; following this, all of Olvar's possessions, which Liv is considered such, are given to Arvid. She is obsessed by power and self-interest. Her character is summed up in Season 0 when she says: "It's.. about Liv to start thinking a little about Liv again".

History
Liv is initially a slave along with her husband Arnstein and their three children. On their Liberation Day, however, Liv is bought free from Olvar for a "significant amount of silver".

The relationship with Olvar quickly becomes unsatisfactory and boring for Liv, and she considers fleeing to Iceland with Arnstein. She decides against it when Olvar gives her jewellery and so she sells Arnstein and the children to Sturla Bonecrusher, who is supposed to bring them to a decent new owner.

Life with Arvid
Liv's relationship with Olvar ends abruptly when Arvid challenges Olvar to a holmgang (duel). Arvid and Liv's relationship quickly sours ("the new husband has failed again"). Liv is controlling and unpleasant, sometimes preventing Arvid from raiding and working as he did in the past. Liv is only interested in gaining social status, which goes against the grain of Arvid's down-to-earth personality. Arvid does not distinguish himself as Liv's husband either: during a poetry reading, he punches Liv's best friend in the face.

Trivia

 * She is very determined and likes men with power.
 * She also has a penchant for culture and poetry and likes to meet with a few others (including Orm) to share this love.
 * Briefly exiled by Arvid, when she actually enjoys being "raped" by enemy Jarl Varg. She wanders the forest together with the two other Nidings, Rufus and Orm, until the strange company breaks up, and both men are captured by Sturla Bonecrusher. Liv returns to Norheim shortly after.
 * She is jealous and doesn't like Frøya or Hildur very much.