The Sagas of the Icelanders (55 page)

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When Olaf Hoskuldsson came to him, King Harald received him well, but Gunnhild better still. They invited him to stay with them, and pressed him to accept. Olaf agreed and both he and Orn became king’s men. The king and Gunnhild showed Olaf more honour than any other foreigner had ever been shown. Olaf gave them a number of rare and precious objects which he had brought with him from Ireland. At Christmas the king gave Olaf a complete suit of clothes made from scarlet.
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Olaf remained with the king over the winter, but as spring passed he spoke privately to the king and asked his leave to journey to Iceland that summer.

‘Many prominent kinsmen await me there,’ he said.

‘If I could decide,’ the king answered, ‘I would rather you settled here with me on whatever terms you choose.’

Olaf thanked the king for the honour he showed him but said he would prefer to go to Iceland, if the king did not oppose it.

Then the king answered, ‘I’ll not detain you against your wishes, Olaf. You will journey to Iceland this summer, as I can see your heart is set on doing so, but don’t bother about making the preparations, for I will have that taken care of.’

On this note their conversation concluded.

King Harald had a ship set afloat that spring, a knorr, of good size and seaworthy. He had it loaded with timber and all necessary provisions and, when the ship was ready, he sent for Olaf and said, ‘This ship is yours, Olaf. I won’t have you sail from Norway this summer as another man’s passenger.’

Olaf thanked the king profusely for his generosity. After completing his preparations to leave, he sailed his ship out to sea, taking leave of King Harald on the best of terms. Olaf was favoured by good winds that summer. His ship sailed south into Hrutafjord and landed at Bordeyri. News of the ship’s arrival, and of its skipper, spread quickly. Hoskuld was very glad to learn of his son’s return and set out at once northwards towards Hrutafjord, accompanied by several men. After a warm reunion, Hoskuld invited Olaf to come home and stay with them, and Olaf accepted. He had his ship beached
and his property sent south, then rode with eleven men to Hoskuldsstadir. Hoskuld gave his son a warm welcome, and his half-brothers also received him well, especially Bard.

Olaf became renowned as a result of his journey and the news that he was the grandson of Myrkjartan, king of the Irish. The story spread throughout Iceland, together with reports of the honour the powerful men whom he had visited had shown him. Olaf had also brought great wealth home.

He spent the winter at his father’s farm. Melkorka soon came to meet her son and Olaf welcomed her warmly. She had much to ask him about Ireland, beginning with news of her father and other kinsmen. Olaf answered all her questions. She soon enquired whether her nurse was still alive, and Olaf replied, that yes, she was still living. Then Melkorka asked why he had not done her the favour of bringing the woman to Iceland.

To this Olaf replied: ‘They did not want me, Mother, to bring your nurse with me to Iceland.’

‘As you say,’ Melkorka said, but it was evident that she was very disappointed.

Melkorka and Thorbjorn had a son called Lambi. He was a big, strong man, much like his father both in appearance and disposition.

The next spring following Olaf’s return to Iceland, father and son discussed plans for his future.

‘I suggest, Olaf,’ said Hoskuld, ‘seeking a wife for you and having you take over the farm at Goddastadir from your foster-father. It’s still a good piece of property; you would take over the farm under my direction.’

Olaf replied: ‘I haven’t thought about it very much yet, nor do I know where I should find a woman it would do me honour to marry. As you can imagine, I won’t be satisfied with anything but the best of matches. But I’m sure you wouldn’t have brought the matter up, had you not already decided where it should come down.’

Hoskuld said, ‘You’re right about that. A man named Egil, the son of Skallagrim, lives at Borg in Borgarfjord. Egil has a daughter named Thorgerd whom I intend to seek as a wife for you, as there’s no better match in all of Borgarfjord, or far beyond, for that matter. What’s more it will strengthen your position to make an alliance with the Myrar family.’

Olaf replied: ‘I’ll take your advice in the matter, as it seems a good enough proposal – if it’s accepted. But I warn you, father, that if we bring up the question only to be turned down, I’ll be very annoyed.’

Hoskuld said, ‘I’ll take the risk of raising the question.’

Olaf said he would take his advice.

The time of the Althing approached and Hoskuld prepared to make the journey with a large number of followers, including his son Olaf. They set up their booth at the Althing. A great number of people were there, among them Egil Skallagrimsson. Everyone who saw Olaf remarked on how handsome and imposing a figure he was. He was well dressed and carried fine weapons.

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One day, it is said, Olaf and Hoskuld paid a visit to Egil’s booth. Egil received them warmly, for he and Hoskuld knew each other well. Hoskuld brought up the question of a match between Olaf and Egil’s daughter Thorgerd, who was also attending the Althing. Egil responded positively to the idea, saying he had heard nothing but favourable reports of both father and son.

‘I know, Hoskuld,’ Egil said, ‘that you’re highly respected and a man of prominent family, while Olaf has become renowned for his journey abroad. It hardly comes as a surprise that such men, lacking neither good looks nor a good family, should set their sights high. But the question will have to be taken up with Thorgerd, because there’s no man who could make Thorgerd his wife should she be set against it.’

Hoskuld said, ‘I would like you, Egil, to discuss it with your daughter.’

Egil agreed and later spoke to Thorgerd privately.

‘There’s a man called Olaf, the son of Hoskuld,’ Egil said, ‘one of the most renowned in the country. His father has asked for your hand in marriage on his son’s behalf. I have referred the question to you, and wait to hear what you say, but it seems to me that such a request deserves a good answer, as it’s a good match.’

Thorgerd answered: ‘I have heard you say, Father, that of all your children I was your favourite. It seems to me that can hardly be true if you intend to marry me to some slave-girl’s son, however handsome and renowned he may be.’

Egil said, ‘Your nose for news doesn’t seem to have served you as well as usual in this instance; haven’t you heard that he is the grandson of the Irish king, Myrkjartan? He’s of even better family on his mother’s side than his father’s, which by itself would be more than good enough for us.’

Thorgerd was unconvinced, and the conversation ended in disagreement.

The following day Egil went to Hoskuld’s booth where he was well received. The two men spoke privately and Hoskuld asked for news of the
marriage proposal. Egil said the prospects looked glum and related what had happened.

Hoskuld agreed that it did look difficult – ‘but I still think you are doing the right thing’.

After Egil had left, Olaf, who had been elsewhere while they talked, asked for news of the marriage proposal. Hoskuld replied that Thorgerd seemed reluctant.

Olaf spoke: ‘It’s turned out just as I feared, father, and as I told you I am hardly pleased at being disgraced by a refusal. It was your idea to start this business; now I intend to carry it through to the proper end. It’s true enough as they say, when one wolf hunts for another he may eat the prey. I’m going to pay Egil a visit.’

Hoskuld said it was up to him to decide.

Olaf was wearing the suit of scarlet which King Harald had given him, a gold-plated helmet on his head and the sword given to him by King Myrkjartan. Father and son set out for Egil’s booth, with Hoskuld in the lead and Olaf following. Egil welcomed them warmly and Hoskuld sat down beside him, but Olaf remained standing and looked about the tent. He noticed a woman, seated on a cross-bench, who was both good-looking and well attired, and decided this must be Egil’s daughter, Thorgerd.

Olaf approached the cross-bench and took a seat beside her. Thorgerd greeted him and asked who he was.

Olaf told her his own name and his father’s, and added, ‘You must think it bold of a slave-girl’s son to dare to sit down beside you and strike up a conversation with you.’

Thorgerd replied, ‘You must think you’ve done more dangerous things in your life than talk to women.’

The two of them then spent most of the day in conversation but no one else heard what they spoke about. Before they were finished, however, Hoskuld and Egil were called over, and discussion of the proposal of marriage began anew. Thorgerd agreed to abide by her father’s decision and, as his consent was given readily, the two were betrothed then and there. The bride was to be brought to the wedding as an indication of respect for the people of Laxardal. It was agreed the wedding should be at Hoskuldsstadir when seven weeks of summer were remaining.

The families then parted, and Olaf and Hoskuld rode home to Hoskuldsstadir where the summer passed without event. Preparations commenced for the wedding, with nothing spared, for this was a wealthy family. The
guests arrived at the appointed time. People from Borgarfjord came in great number, led by Egil and his son Thorstein, the bride and the leaders of the entire district. Hoskuld’s own guests also attended in great number. The festival was outstanding and the visitors given handsome gifts at parting. Olaf gave the sword, Myrkjartan’s Gift, to Egil, who made no attempt to conceal his great pleasure at the gift. Everything proceeded without event and afterwards people all returned to their homes.

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Olaf and Thorgerd stayed at Hoskuldsstadir and cared greatly for each other. Everyone soon realized what a woman of strong character Thorgerd was: though she was not one to waste words, once she set her mind on something there was no swaying her – things had to go the way she wanted. Olaf and Thorgerd spent the winter months either at Hoskuldsstadir or with Olaf’s foster-father, Thord Goddi. In the spring Olaf took over the farm at Goddastadir, and that summer Thord was taken ill and died. Olaf had him buried in a mound at the spot called Drafnarnes on the banks of the Laxa river. A stone wall near the site was called Haugsgard (Mound wall).

Olaf soon had no lack of supporters and became an important chieftain. Hoskuld in no way resented this, and even urged that Olaf be consulted in all affairs of importance. Olaf’s farm was soon the most impressive in Laxardal. Among the members of his household were two brothers, both of whom were named An – one An the White, the other An the Black. A third servant was known as Beinir the Strong. They were good carpenters and capable men. Thorgerd and Olaf had a daughter named Thurid.

The lands which Hrapp had owned were deserted, as was previously written. Olaf thought this a likely piece of land, as it bordered on his own, and suggested to his father that they pay a visit to Thorkel Scarf to purchase the land at Hrappsstadir and other property connected to it. Their offer was readily accepted and the purchase concluded, as Thorkel felt that a bird in the hand was better than two in the bush. According to the terms of the bargain, Olaf was to pay three marks of silver for the lands, which was far below their worth. They included large stretches of prime pasture and plenty of other benefits, including salmon fishing and seal hunting, and large forests as well.

A short distance upriver from Hoskuldsstadir, on the north side of the Laxa, a grove had been cleared in the forest. Olaf’s sheep could, more often than not, be found gathered in this clearing in both fair weather and foul.
One autumn Olaf had a house built in this same clearing, using wood from the forest as well as driftwood. The large and imposing house stood empty the first winter. The following summer Olaf moved his household there, after having rounded up his stock beforehand. This was no small herd, as no one in the Breidafjord district owned more livestock.

Olaf sent a request that his father stand outside where he could watch them go by on their way to the new farm and wish them good fortune, and Hoskuld agreed. Olaf then organized the procession: the men at the front drove the sheep which were most difficult to handle. Next came the milking ewes and cattle from the home pastures, followed by steers, calves and heifers, with the packhorses bringing up the rear. The members of the household were placed at close intervals to keep the livestock from straying off course. Those at the front had reached the new farm when Olaf himself rode out of the yard at Goddastadir, and the line stretched unbroken between them.

Hoskuld and his household stood outside on the farm.

He spoke words of congratulation, wishing his son Olaf fair tidings and good fortune in his new residence, ‘and unless I guess wrongly things will turn out that way, and his name be long remembered’.

His wife Jorunn responded, saying ‘with his wealth the slave-woman’s son should be able to make a name for himself’.

The farmhands had just finished taking the packs off the horses when Olaf rode into the yard.

He addressed his household: ‘You must be curious to know what the farm is to be called, and I know there has been a lot of speculation about it all winter. It will be called Hjardarholt (Herd wood).’

Everyone thought it a very good idea to take a name linked to the events which had occurred on the site. Olaf set about building up his farm at Hjardarholt, and the farm was soon an impressive one, lacking nothing. Olaf’s own repute grew for a number of reasons: he himself was very popular, especially since he managed to resolve the disputes in which his advice was sought in such a manner that everyone was satisfied. His father did much to increase his honour, and his marriage alliance with the Myrar family was also to his credit. Olaf was thought to be the most outstanding of Hoskuld’s sons

During the first winter in Hjardarholt Olaf had a large number of resident servants and other farmhands. The farm chores were divided among the servants: some looked after the non-milking stock, others the milking cows. The cowshed was located in the forest some distance away from the farmhouse.

One evening the farmhand in charge of the non-milking cattle came to Olaf and asked him to assign the task to someone else and ‘give me other duties’.

Olaf answered, ‘I want you to look after your own duties.’

The man replied he would rather leave the farm.

‘Then you must think something is seriously wrong,’ Olaf said. ‘I’ll accompany you tonight when you tie the animals in their stalls, and if you’ve any cause for complaint, I won’t blame you. Otherwise you’ll pay for causing trouble.’

Olaf then took the spear known as the King’s Gift in his hand and went out, the servant following him. Quite a lot of snow had fallen.

They reached the cowshed, which stood open, and Olaf told the servant to go inside, saying, ‘I’ll herd the animals inside for you and you tie them in their places.’

The servant went towards the door of the cowshed but suddenly came running back into Olaf’s arms.

When Olaf asked what had frightened him so, the servant answered, ‘Hrapp is standing there in the doorway, reaching out for me, and I’ve had my fill of wrestling with him.’

Olaf approached the door and prodded with his spear in Hrapp’s direction. Hrapp gripped the spear just above the blade in both his hands and gave it a wrench, breaking the shaft. Olaf made a run at him, but Hrapp let himself sink back down to where he had come from, putting an end to their struggle. Olaf stood there with the spear shaft in his hand, for Hrapp had taken the blade.

Olaf and the servant tied the cattle in their places and returned to the farm where Olaf said the servant would not be punished for complaining. The following morning Olaf went out to where Hrapp had been buried and had him dug up. Hrapp’s body was perfectly preserved and Olaf found his spear blade there. He then had a large bonfire prepared, and had Hrapp’s body burned and his ashes taken out to sea. No one else was harmed by Hrapp’s haunting after that.