Njal's Saga

by AnonYMous

  Then he took Otkel’s horse and travelling-cloak, and Otkel went back home.

  Hallbjorn was outside and spoke to Otkel: ‘It’s bad to have a scoundrel for a best friend, and we will always be sorry that you turned back – it’s not a clever move to send the worst of liars on an errand on which, it may be said, men’s lives depend.’

  ‘You’d be terrified if Gunnar raised his halberd,’ said Otkel, ‘since you’re this way now.’

  ‘I don’t know who would be most terrified then,’ said Hallbjorn, ‘but some day you will say that Gunnar is not slow to aim his halberd, once he is angry.’

  Otkel said, ‘All of you are running scared, except Skammkel.’

  Both of them were angry.

  50

  Skammkel came to Mosfell and reported all the offers to Gizur. ‘It seems to me,’ said Gizur, ‘that these are very good offers. Why didn’t Otkel accept them?’

  ‘His main reason,’ said Skammkel, ‘was that everybody wanted you to have the honour, and so he waits for your decision – that will be best for all’

  Skammkel stayed there overnight. Gizur sent a man to Geir the Godi, and he came down from Hlid early the next morning. Gizur told him the story – ‘and now what do you think should be done?’

  ‘Just what you must have already decided,’ said Geir, ‘to settle things in the way that is best for all.1 Let’s have Skammkel tell the story once more and see how he reports it this time.’

  They did this.

  Gizur said, ‘You seem to have told the story correctly, and yet I can see you are a most wicked man. Looks are no mark of character if you turn out well’

  Skammkel went back, and rode first to Kirkjubaer and called Otkel outside. Otkel welcomed him warmly. Skammkel gave him greetings from Gizur and Geir – ‘There is no need to talk quietly about this case: it is the will of both Geir the Godi and Gizur that you make no settlement in this matter. The advice they gave is to go and serve a summons on Gunnar for receiving stolen goods, and on Hallgerd for theft.’

  Otkel said, ‘Then we’ll do exactly as they advise.’

  ‘They thought it especially good,’ said Skammkel, ‘that you acted with such authority, and I made you out to be a great man in every way’

  Otkel told his brothers about this. Hallbjorn said, ‘This must be a huge lie.’

  Time passed until the final Summons Days for the Althing.2 Otkel called on his brothers and Skammkel to ride along to Hlidarendi to make the summons. Hallbjorn agreed to go along, but said that as time went on they would regret this trip.

  They rode, twelve in all, to Hlidarendi. When they rode into the hayfield Gunnar was outside, but he did not notice them until they had come all the way up to the house. He did not go inside. Otkel thundered out the summons at once.

  When the summons had been served, Skammkel said, ‘Was that done correctly, farmer?’

  ‘You know the answer to that,’ said Gunnar. ‘But one day, Skammkel, I will remind you of this visit and the advice you’ve been giving.’

  ‘That won’t harm us,’ said Skammkel, ‘as long as your halberd isn’t in the air.’

  Gunnar was very angry and went inside and told Kolskegg. Kol-skegg said, ‘It’s too bad we weren’t all outside – their visit would have ended in full disgrace if we had been.’

  ‘Everything in due course,’ said Gunnar. ‘This visit will not bring them any honour.’

  Shortly after this Gunnar went to Njal and told him. Njal said, ‘Don’t let this trouble you, for it will bring you much honour before the Thing is over. All of us will be there to support you with advice and force.’

  Gunnar thanked him and rode home.

  Otkel rode to the Thing together with his brothers and Skammkel.

  51

  Gunnar and all the Sigfussons rode to the Thing, as well as Njal and his sons. They all went along with Gunnar, and people were saying that no other group there was as vigorous as theirs.

  One day Gunnar went to the booth of the men from Dalir. Hrut and Hoskuld were outside, and they gave Gunnar a warm greeting. Gunnar told them the whole story behind the lawsuit.

  ‘What advice does Njal give?’ said Hrut.

  Gunnar answered, ‘He asked me to come to you and say that he would be of one mind with you in this matter.’

  ‘That must mean,’ said Hrut, ‘that he wants me, as your relative by marriage, to come up with a plan, and I’ll do that. You must challenge Gizur the White to a duel if they don’t grant you self-judgement, and Kolskegg must challenge Geir the Godi. Men will be found to attack Otkel and his gang, and we already have a band of men so large that you’ll be able to do as you wish.’ Gunnar went back to his booth and reported this to Njal.

  Ulf Aur-Godi found out about these plans and told them to Gizur. Gizur then said to Otkel, ‘Who gave you the idea of summoning Gunnar?’

  ‘Skammkel told me that this was what you and Geir the Godi advised,’ said Otkel.

  ‘Where is that foul creature who told this lie?’ said Gizur.

  ‘He is lying sick in his booth,’ said Otkel.

  ‘May he never get up again,’ said Gizur. ‘And now we must all go to Gunnar and offer him self-judgement, though I don’t know whether he’ll be willing to accept it now.’

  Many people spoke ill of Skammkel, and he lay sick for the rest of the Thing.

  Gizur and his companions went to Gunnar’s booth. Their coming was noticed and reported to Gunnar inside. He and his men came out and positioned themselves.

  Gizur the White was out in front. He spoke: ‘Our offer, Gunnar, is that you judge this case yourself.’

  ‘It was not by your advice then that I was summoned,’ said Gunnar.

  ‘I didn’t advise that,’ said Gizur, ‘and neither did Geir.’

  ‘Then you will be willing to offer convincing proof of that,’ said Gunnar.

  ‘What do you require?’ said Gizur.

  ‘That you swear an oath,’ said Gunnar.

  ‘I’m willing to do that,’ said Gizur, ‘if you accept self-judgement.’

  ‘I made that offer some time ago,’ said Gunnar, ‘but it seems to me there’s more to judge now.’1

  Njal spoke: ‘The self-judgement is not to be turned down – the more at stake, the more honour to be earned.’

  Gunnar said, ‘I will do as my friends wish and judge the case. But I advise Otkel not to provoke me any more.’

  Hoskuld and Hrut were sent for, and they came. Gizur swore an oath, and also Geir the Godi, and then Gunnar decided the award and consulted no one about it, and then he announced his terms.

  ‘My terms are,’ he said, ‘that I should pay the value of the storage shed and the food that was in it. For the slave Melkolf ’s doings I will pay nothing, because you hid his faults from me, and I return him to you, since ears belong best in the place where they grew. I also find that you summoned me with intent to disgrace, and for that I award myself nothing less than the value of the shed and the contents that were burned. If you now think it better for us to be without a settlement, I still offer you that choice, but in that case I have one more plan, and it will be carried out.’

  Gizur said, ‘We are willing to have you pay nothing, but we ask that you be Otkel’s friend.’

  ‘That shall never be, as long as I live,’ said Gunnar, ‘but he can have Skammkel’s friendship – it’s what he’s been leaning on for a long time.’

  Gizur answered, ‘We still want to settle the matter, even though you make all the terms yourself.’

  All the terms of the settlement were then agreed on with handshakes.

  Gunnar said to Otkel, ‘It would be best for you to go and live with your kinsmen, but if you remain in this district, don’t ever provoke me.’

  Gizur said, ‘That’s sound advice, and he’ll follow it.’

  Gunnar had much honour from this case. People then rode home from the Thing. Gunnar stayed at home, and for a while everything was quiet.

  52

  There
was a man named Runolf, the son of Ulf Aur-Godi.1 He lived at Dal, to the east of the Markarfljot. He stayed with Otkel on his way back from the Althing. Otkel gave him a black ox, nine years old. Runolf thanked him for the gift and invited him to his home, whenever he wished, but Otkel did not take him up on the invitation for some time. Runolf often sent men to him to remind him to come, and Otkel always promised to make the journey.

  Otkel had two dun-coloured horses with a black stripe down the back. They were the best riding-horses in the district, and so fond of each other that they always ran together.

  A Norwegian named Audolf was staying with Otkel. He was in love with Otkel’s daughter Signy. Audolf was a big and strong man.

  53

  In the spring Otkel announced that they would ride east to make the visit to Dal, and everyone expressed pleasure at that. Skammkel went along with Otkel, as did Otkel’s two brothers, Audolf, and three other men. Otkel rode one of the dun-coloured horses, and the other ran loose at his side. They headed east towards the Markarfljot river, and Otkel galloped in front. Then the two horses got excited and ran away from the road, up towards Fljotshlid. Otkel was going faster than he wanted to.

  Gunnar had walked away from his house all alone, with a basket of seed in one hand and his hand-axe in the other. He went to his field to sow grain and put his finely-woven cloak and the axe on the ground and sowed for a while.

  To return to Otkel, who was going faster than he wanted to: he had spurs on his feet and came galloping up over the field, and neither he nor Gunnar saw each other. Just as Gunnar stood up straight, Otkel rode at him and his spur struck against Gunnar’s ear and made a big gash, and blood flowed at once. Otkel’s companions came riding up just then.

  ‘You can all see,’ said Gunnar, ‘that you, Otkel, have made me shed blood, and this is indecent behaviour: first you summoned me, and now you knock me down and ride over me.’

  Skammkel spoke: ‘You’re taking this well, but you were not at all calmer at the Althing when you were holding your halberd.’

  Gunnar spoke: ‘The next time we meet you’ll see the halberd.’

  At this they parted.

  Skammkel shouted out, ‘Brave riding, fellows!’

  Gunnar went home and talked of this to no one, and nobody thought that the wound was a man’s doing. One day, however, he told his brother Kolskegg.

  Kolskegg said, ‘You must report this to more people, so that it cannot be said that you bring charges against the dead1 – the matter will be disputed if no witnesses know what happened between you and Otkel.’

  Gunnar told his neighbours, and not much was said about it at first.

  Otkel arrived at Dal over in the east, and they had a good welcome there and stayed for a week. Otkel told Runolf all about what happened between him and Gunnar. One of the men present asked how Gunnar had reacted.

  Skammkel spoke: ‘If he were just an ordinary man, it would be said that he cried.’

  ‘That was an evil thing to say,’ said Runolf, ‘and the next time you and Gunnar meet you will have to admit that there is no trace of crying in his nature, and it would be a good thing if better men than you did not have to pay for your maliciousness. For now it seems best that I go along with you when you want to go home, for Gunnar will not harm me.’

  ‘I don’t want that,’ said Otkel, ‘but we’ll cross the river further down.’

  Runolf gave him good gifts and said that they would not meet again. Otkel asked him not to forget his son if that should prove true.

  54

  Now to return to Hlidarendi: Gunnar was outside and saw his shepherd galloping towards the house. The shepherd rode into the hayfield. Gunnar asked, ‘Why are you riding so fast?’

  ‘I wanted to prove my loyalty’ he said. ‘I saw some men riding down along the Markarfljot, eight of them altogether, and four were wearing coloured clothing.’

  Gunnar said, ‘It must be Otkel.’

  ‘I have often heard much provocative language from them,’ said the shepherd: ‘Skammkel said over at Dal that you cried when they rode at you. I tell you this because I hate the things bad men say’

  ‘Let’s not be overcome by their words,’ said Gunnar, ‘but from now on you must only do the work you want to do.’

  ‘Shall I tell your brother Kolskegg about this?’ said the shepherd.

  ‘You go and sleep,’ said Gunnar. ‘I’ll tell Kolskegg.’

  The boy went to bed and fell asleep at once.

  Gunnar took the shepherd’s horse and put his saddle on it. He took his shield, girded himself with the sword he had received from Olvir, put on his helmet, and took his halberd; it rang loudly, and his mother Rannveig heard it.

  She came to him and spoke: ‘You look angry, my son. I never saw you like this before.’

  Gunnar went out and thrust the halberd into the ground to vault into the saddle, and rode away. Rannveig went into the main room. There was a great din of voices there.

  ‘You are talking loudly,’ she said, ‘but Gunnar’s halberd was even louder when he went out.’

  Kolskegg heard this and spoke: ‘That means no small news.’

  ‘Good,’ said Hallgerd. ‘Now they can find out whether Gunnar will go away from them crying.’

  Kolskegg took his weapons and found himself a horse and rode after Gunnar as fast as he could.

  Gunnar rode across Akratunga and then to Geilastofnar, and from there to the Ranga river and down to the ford at Hof. There were some women out at the milking-pen. Gunnar leaped from his horse and tied it.

  Then Otkel and his party came riding up. There were slabs of hard clay on the paths to the ford.

  Gunnar said to them, ‘Now you must defend yourselves – my halberd is here. You’ll find out now if I’ll do any crying for you.’

  They all leaped from their horses and charged at Gunnar. Hallbjorn was in the lead.

  ‘Don’t you attack me,’ said Gunnar. ‘You’re the last one I would want to harm, but I won’t spare anyone if I have to defend myself.’

  ‘It cannot be helped,’ said Hallbjorn. ‘You’re planning to kill my brother, and I would be shamed if I just stood by’ – and with both hands he thrust a great spear at Gunnar.

  Gunnar brought his shield to meet the spear, and Hallbjorn’s thrust went through it. Gunnar brought the shield down so hard that it stuck in the ground, and then he grabbed his sword so swiftly that no eye could follow and swung it and hit Hallbjorn on the arm, above the wrist, and cut it off.

  Skammkel ran up behind Gunnar and swung a great axe at him. Gunnar turned quickly to face him and struck the underside of the blade with his halberd, and the axe flew out of his hand and out into the Ranga river. Gunnar thrust with the halberd a second time, right through Skammkel, and lifted him up and threw him head first on the clay path.

  Audolf seized his spear and threw it at Gunnar. Gunnar caught it in the air and threw it back and it went through both the shield and the Norwegian and into the ground.

  Otkel swung his sword at Gunnar and tried to hit the leg below the knee. Gunnar leaped into the air, and Otkel missed him. Gunnar then thrust right through him with his halberd.

  Kolskegg arrived then and rushed straight at Hallkel and dealt him a death blow with his short sword. Together they killed eight men.

  A woman who saw this ran to the house and told Mord, and asked him to separate them.

  ‘It’s just men who, for all I care,’ he said, ‘can kill each other.’

  ‘You don’t mean that,’ she said. ‘Your kinsman Gunnar and your friend Otkel are there.’

  ‘You’re always babbling away, you foul wretch,’ he said, and lay inside while they were fighting.

  Gunnar and Kolskegg rode home after these deeds and rode swiftly along the river bank, and Gunnar sprang from his horse and landed on his feet.

  Kolskegg said, ‘Brave riding, brother!’

  Gunnar said, ‘Skammkel mocked me with those words when I said “You’ve ridden over me.” ’

/>   ‘You’ve had your vengeance for that,’ said Kolskegg.

  ‘What I don’t know,’ said Gunnar, ‘is whether I am less manly than other men because killing troubles me more than it does them.’

  55

  The news spread far and wide, and many people said that it had not happened any sooner than was likely. Gunnar rode to Bergthorshvol and told Njal of these deeds.

  Njal spoke: ‘It’s a big thing you’ve done, but you’ve been greatly provoked.’

  ‘What will come next?’ said Gunnar.

  ‘Do you want me to tell you of something which has not yet happened?’ said Njal. ‘You will ride to the Thing and follow my advice and earn great honour from this matter. This will be the beginning of your career of killings.’

  ‘Give me your sound advice,’ said Gunnar.

  ‘I will,’ said Njal. ‘Never kill more than once within the same bloodline, and never break any settlement which good men make between you and others, least of all if you have broken my first warning.’

  ‘I would have expected other men to do these things sooner than me,’ said Gunnar.

  ‘That’s so,’ said Njal. ‘And yet you must bear in mind that if these two things happen, you will not have long to live – but otherwise you will live to be an old man.’

  Gunnar said, ‘Do you know what will be the cause of your death?’

  ‘I do,’said Njal.

  ‘What?’ said Gunnar.

  ‘Something that people would least expect,’ said Njal.

  Then Gunnar rode home.

  A messenger was sent to Gizur the White and Geir the Godi, since it was up to them to bring a suit following the slaying of Otkel. They met to talk about what to do. They agreed that the case should be prosecuted by law. Then it was a question of who would undertake this, and neither of them was willing.

  ‘It seems to me,’ said Gizur, ‘that there are two possibilities: one of us must bring the suit – and we decide this by lot – or else Otkel will lie without compensation. We can expect that it will be hard to bring this suit – Gunnar is well off for kinsmen and for friends. Whichever of us does not draw the lot must ride along in support and not back out until the case has been concluded.’