Njal's Saga

by AnonYMous

  11

  Thorvald rode home from the feast, along with his wife and Thjostolf Thjostolf rode close to Hallgerd’s horse and they spoke constantly.

  Osvif turned to his son and said, ‘Are you pleased with the match? What was it like talking with her?’

  ‘Fine,’ he said. ‘She shows me nothing but sweetness. You can tell by the way she laughs at everything I say’

  ‘Her laughter doesn’t seem as good to me as it does to you,’ said Osvif, ‘and the proof of this will come later.’

  They rode on until they reached home. That evening she sat next to her husband and placed Thjostolf at her other side. Thjostolf and Thorvald had little to do with each other and little to say, and it went that way all winter.

  Hallgerd was bountiful and high-spirited and demanded to have whatever the neighbours had and squandered everything. When spring came there was a shortage of both flour and dried fish. Hallgerd went to talk to Thorvald and said, ‘You can’t afford to sit around -the household is in need of flour and dried fish.’

  Thorvald said, ‘I didn’t lay in any less than before, and it always used to last well into the summer.’

  Hallgerd said, ‘It’s none of my business if you and your father starved yourselves to get rich.’

  Thorvald got angry and struck her in the face so hard that she bled and then went off and called together his servants and they launched a skiff, and eight of them jumped aboard and rowed out to the Bjarneyjar. There they took on dried fish and flour.

  *

  To return to Hallgerd: she was sitting outside and was upset. Thjostolf came to her and saw that she was cut on the face and said, ‘Why have you been so badly treated?’

  ‘My husband Thorvald did this,’ she said, ‘and if you cared for me you would not have been so far away.’

  ‘I knew nothing about this,’ he said, ‘but still, I’ll avenge it.’

  He went down to the shore and launched a six-oared boat and held in his hand a large axe which he owned, with an iron-wrapped handle. He got on board and rowed out to the Bjarneyjar. When he got there everybody had rowed away except Thorvald and his companions. He was loading the skiff, and his men were carrying the provisions to him. Thjostolf came over, jumped up on the skiff and helped him with the loading and spoke:‘You’re both a sluggish worker and a clumsy worker.’

  Thorvald spoke: ‘Do you think you can do better?’

  ‘I can do better than you in whatever we try,’ said Thjostolf. ‘The wife you have is badly matched, and your dealings with her deserve to be brief.’

  Thorvald grabbed a short sword which lay near him and made a lunge at Thjostolf. Thjostolf had already raised his axe shoulder-high and struck a return blow; it hit Thorvald on the arm and broke it, and his sword fell to the ground. Thjostolf then raised his axe a second time and brought it down on Thorvald’s head, and he met his death at once.

  12

  Thorvald’s men were now coming down with their loads. Thjostolf acted quickly: with both hands on his axe he hacked at the side of the skiff and made an opening as wide as the space between three seats, and then he jumped into his boat. The coal-black sea poured into the skiff and it sank with all its cargo. Thorvald’s body sank too, and his men could not see how he had been killed, but they knew one thing – that he was dead.

  Thjostolf rowed away up the fjord, and they cursed him and wished him ill. He made no answer and rowed until he reached home and beached the boat and went up to the house with his axe on his shoulders; it was quite bloody.

  Hallgerd was outside and spoke: ‘Your axe is bloody. What have you done?’

  ‘I’ve done something,’ he said, ‘which will permit you to marry a second time.’

  ‘You’re telling me,’ she said, ‘that Thorvald is dead.’

  ‘That’s right,’ he said. ‘Now you must come up with a plan for me.’

  ‘I will,’ she said. ‘I’ll send you north to Svanshol on Bjarnarfjord and Svan will welcome you with open arms; he is so daunting that no one will go after you there.’

  He saddled his horse and mounted it and rode north to Svanshol on Bjarnarfjord. Svan welcomed him with open arms and asked for news, and Thjostolf told him about the slaying of Thorvald and how it had come about.

  Svan said, ‘That’s what I call a man, someone who doesn’t let little things seem large, and I promise you that if they follow you here they will be greatly humiliated.’

  To return to Hallgerd: she asked Ljot the Black, her kinsman,1 to saddle their horses for a trip together – ‘for I want to ride home to my father.’

  He made ready for their journey. She went to her chests, unlocked them and called together all her household and gave everybody gifts. They were all sorry at her leaving. She rode until she came to Hoskuldsstadir, and her father welcomed her, for he had not heard the news.

  Hoskuld said to Hallgerd, ‘Why hasn’t Thorvald come with you?’

  ‘He’s dead,’ she answered.

  Hoskuld said, ‘Thjostolf must have done it.’

  She said that he had.

  Hoskuld spoke: ‘Whatever Hrut tells me can be trusted – he said that great misfortune would come from this marriage. But there’s no use blaming oneself for what has already happened.’

  To return to Thorvald’s companions: they waited until a boat came out and then announced the slaying of Thorvald and asked for a boat to reach the mainland. They were lent one quickly and rowed to Reykjanes,2 found Osvif and told him the news. He said, ‘Evil designs have evil results, and now I see how it has gone. Hallgerd has probably sent Thjostolf to Bjarnarfjord, and she herself has gone home to her father. Let’s gather men and follow him north.’

  They did this; they went around in search of support and put together a good number of men and rode to Steingrimsfjord and to Ljotardal, and from there to Selardal and on to Bassastadir and from there across the ridge to Bjarnarfjord.

  Just then Svan had a yawning attack and declared, ‘Osvif’s personal spirits are coming this way’3

  Thjostolf leaped up and took his axe.

  Svan said, ‘Come outside with me. This won’t take much doing.’

  They both went outside. Svan took a goatskin and waved it over his head and spoke:

  I.

  Let there be fog,

  And let there be monsters,

  And fantastic sights to all

  Who follow you.

  To return to Osvif and his men: they rode up to the ridge and a great fog came towards them. Osvif said, ‘This must be Svan’s doing – we’ll be well off if nothing worse follows.’

  Soon there was such a thick blackness in front of their eyes that they could see nothing and fell off their horses and lost them and walked into the bog – some into the woods – so that they came close to harm. They also lost their weapons.

  Then Osvif spoke: ‘If I could find my horses and weapons, I would turn back.’

  As soon as he had said this, they were able to see a little and found their horses and weapons. Many of the men urged that they give the pursuit another try, and so they did, but the same sights came to them as before. This happened three times.

  Then Osvif spoke: ‘Though our trip has brought us no honour, we must turn back. We’ll try another plan, and what I have in mind now is to go to Hoskuld to ask for compensation for my son, for there’s hope for honour where honour abounds.’

  They rode from there to the valleys of Breidafjord, and there is nothing to tell of until they arrived at Hoskuldsstadir. Hrut had already come there from Hrutsstadir. Osvif called to Hoskuld and Hrut to come out. They both went out and greeted Osvif, and then they went off to talk. Hoskuld asked Osvif where he had come from. He said he had gone in search of Thjostolf, but had not found him.

  Hoskuld said he had probably gone north to Svanshol – ‘but it’s not for everybody to catch him there.’

  ‘That’s why I’ve come here, to ask you for compensation for my son,’ said Osvif.

  Hoskuld answered, ‘I
didn’t kill your son, and I didn’t plan his death, but it’s understandable that you should try somewhere.’

  Hrut spoke: ‘The nose is near to the eyes,4 brother. We must forestall evil rumours and compensate him for his son and in this way restore your daughter’s standing; our only choice is to have this case dropped, for it will be better if it’s not much talked about.’

  Hoskuld said, ‘Will you arbitrate the case?’

  ‘I will,’ said Hrut, ‘but I will not favour you in the settlement, for if the truth must be told, your daughter caused his death.’

  Hoskuld turned blood red and said nothing for a while. Then he stood up and said to Osvif, ‘Take my hand and give your consent to drop the case.’

  Osvif stood up and spoke: ‘It’s not a fair settlement if your brother arbitrates, and yet you’ve been so helpful, Hrut, that I am quite willing to entrust the matter to you.’

  He shook Hoskuld’s hand, and they made an agreement to the effect that Hrut should arbitrate and reach a settlement before Osvif went away.

  Hrut made his decision and spoke: ‘For the slaying of Thorvald I award two hundred ounces of silver’ – this was considered good compensation – ‘and you are to pay this at once, brother, and do it readily.’

  Hoskuld did.

  Then Hrut said to Osvif, ‘I want to give you a good cloak which I brought from abroad.’

  Osvif thanked him for the gift and was well pleased with the way things had turned out and went home.

  Hrut and Hoskuld went to Osvif to divide the property, and they made peace with him and went home with their share. Osvif is now out of the saga.

  Hallgerd asked Hoskuld whether Thjostolf could move to Hos-kuldsstadir. He agreed to this, and the slaying of Thorvald was long talked about. Hallgerd’s property grew in value and became quite large.

  13

  Three brothers are now brought into the saga. One was called Thorarin, the second Ragi, and the third Glum. They were the sons of Oleif Hjalti, and were men of high esteem and well off for property. Thorarin had the nickname Ragi’s Brother. He held the office of lawspeaker after Hrafn Haengsson and was a very wise man. He lived at Varmalaek, and he and Glum owned that farm together.1

  Glum had been making trips abroad for a long time. He was big and strong and handsome. Ragi, their brother, was a great fighting man. These brothers owned Engey and Laugarnes in the south.2

  One day Glum and Thorarin were talking, and Thorarin asked Glum whether he was going abroad, as was his custom.

  He answered, ‘I’d been thinking rather of giving up these trading voyages.’

  ‘What do you have in mind?’ said Thorarin. ‘Do you want to take a wife?’

  ‘I’d like to,’ he said, ‘if I could make a good arrangement.’

  Thorarin then listed the women in Borgarfjord who were unmarried, and asked if he wanted to marry any of these – ‘and I’ll ride along with you.’

  He answered, ‘I don’t want to marry any of these.’

  ‘Then name the one you want to marry’ said Thorarin.

  Glum answered, ‘If you want to know, her name is Hallgerd and she’s the daughter of Hoskuld out west in Dalir.’

  ‘Then you’re not letting another man’s woe be your warning, as the saying goes,’ said Thorarin. ‘She had a husband, and she had him killed.’

  Glum spoke: ‘Perhaps she won’t have such bad luck a second time. I know for certain that she will not have me killed. If you want to do me honour, then ride with me to ask for her hand.’

  Thorarin said, ‘There’s no stopping this. What is fated will have to be.’

  Glum often raised this matter with Thorarin, and for a long time Thorarin avoided it, but finally they gathered men and rode off, twenty in all, westwards to Dalir and they came to Hoskuldsstadir, and Hoskuld welcomed them and they stayed there overnight. Early the next morning Hoskuld sent for Hrut, and he came at once. Hoskuld was outside when he rode up to the house. Hoskuld told Hrut who had come.

  ‘What do they want?’ asked Hrut.

  ‘They haven’t yet talked of any business,’ said Hoskuld.

  ‘But their business must be with you,’ said Hrut. ‘They will ask for the hand of your daughter Hallgerd, so how will you answer?’

  ‘What would seem best to you?’ asked Hoskuld.

  ‘Answer them favourably, but tell them the good and bad sides of the woman,’ said Hrut.

  While the brothers were talking the guests came outside. Hoskuld and Hrut went towards them, and Hrut greeted Thorarin and his brother warmly. Then they all went off to talk, and Thorarin spoke: ‘I have come here with my brother Glum for the purpose of asking, on his behalf, for the hand of your daughter Hallgerd. You must know that he is a worthy man.’

  ‘I know that you are both men of great standing, but I must answer by saying that I arranged her first marriage, and it ended in great misfortune for us,’ said Hoskuld.

  Thorarin answered, ‘We will not let that prevent our making a agreement, for one oath does not invalidate all oaths.3 This marriage may turn out well, though the other ended badly, and in any case Thjostolf had most to do with ruining it.’

  Then Hrut spoke: ‘I’ll give you some advice, if you are not going to let what happened before with Hallgerd stand in your way: Thjos-tolf must not move south with her if this marriage takes place, and he must not visit for more than three nights, unless Glum consents, and if he stays longer Glum may slay him as an outlaw. Glum is free to permit a longer stay, but I don’t advise it. Also, this must not be done without Hallgerd’s knowledge, as it was before. She is to learn all the terms of the agreement now and meet Glum and decide for herself whether or not she wishes to marry him, and then she will not be able to blame others if things do not turn out well. Everything must be free of deceit.’

  Thorarin said, ‘Now, as always, it’s best that your advice be followed.’

  Then Hallgerd was sent for, and she came there with two other women. She was wearing a woven black cloak and beneath it a scarlet tunic, with a silver belt around her waist. Her hair was hanging down on both sides of her breast and she had tucked it under her belt. She sat down between Hrut and her father; she greeted everyone with kind words and spoke well and boldly and asked for the news. Then she said no more.

  Glum spoke: ‘My brother Thorarin and I have had some words with your father about an agreement by which I would marry you, provided it is your wish as well as theirs. Now tell us, as a woman with a mind of your own, whether this match is to your liking. If you have no heart for an agreement with us, we will say no more about it.’

  Hallgerd spoke: ‘I know that you brothers are men of great standing, and I know that I will now be much better married than before, but I want to know what you have already discussed and how far you have come in deciding things. I like you well enough that I could come to love you, as long as our tempers match.’

  Glum told her the terms himself, in full detail, and then asked Hoskuld and Hrut if he had put it correctly. Hoskuld said that he had.

  Then Hallgerd spoke: ‘You’ve treated me so well in this matter, father, and you, Hrut, that I’m willing to agree to your plan and let the marriage terms be as you have determined.’

  Then Hrut spoke: ‘I propose that Hoskuld and I name witnesses and that Hallgerd betroth herself – if this seems correct to the law expert here.’

  ‘It is correct,’ said Thorarin.

  Hallgerd’s property was then valued, and Glum was to add the same amount. They were to share equally in the property. After this Glum betrothed himself to Hallgerd, and the brothers rode south to their home. Hoskuld was to hold the wedding feast at his place.

  Then things were quiet until it was time for men to ride to the feast.

  14

  Glum and his brothers gathered a large band of people, and they rode west to Dalir and arrived at Hoskuldsstadir. Many guests had already arrived. Hoskuld and Hrut were seated on one bench, and the bridegroom on another. Hallgerd sat on the cross-benc
h and made a good impression. Thjostolf walked around with his axe at the ready and behaved loutishly but no one took any notice of him. When the feast was over, Hallgerd went south with the brothers. When they got to Varmalaek, Thorarin asked Hallgerd if she would like to take charge of running the household.

  ‘No, I don’t want that,’ she said.

  Hallgerd controlled herself very well that winter, and people were not displeased with her.

  In the spring the brothers discussed their property, and Thorarin said, ‘I want to turn the farm at Varmalaek over to you, since that is handiest for you, and I will go south to Laugarnes and live there. We’ll hold Engey in common.’

  Glum was willing to do this. Thorarin moved south, and Glum and Hallgerd remained behind. Hallgerd took on more servants; she was lavish and bountiful. In the summer she gave birth to a girl. Glum asked her what her name should be.

  ‘She shall be named after my father’s mother, Thorgerd, because she was descended on her father’s side from Sigurd Fafnisbani.’1

  The girl was sprinkled with water2 and given that name. She grew up there at Varmalaek and came to be like her mother in appearance. Glum and Hallgerd got along well together, and things went this way for a while.

  News came from up north in Bjarnarfjord that Svan had rowed out to fish in the spring and a great storm had come on them from the east. It drove them into Veidilausa bay and they were lost there. Fishermen who were at Kaldbak thought they saw Svan enter the mountain Kaldbakshorn and get a warm welcome there. Some denied this and said that there was nothing to it. Everyone was certain, however, that he was never found, alive or dead. When Hallgerd heard of this, she thought the loss of her mother’s brother a big event.

  Glum asked Thorarin to exchange farms, but he said he didn’t want to – ‘but if I outlive you, then I will take over Varmalaek.’

  Glum told this to Hallgerd. ‘Thorarin has a right to expect this from us,’ she said.

  15

  Thjostolf had beaten one of Hoskuld’s servants, so Hoskuld sent him away. He took his horse and weapons and said to Hoskuld, ‘Now I will go away and never come back.’