The Sagas of the Icelanders (65 page)

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Halldor’s companions remarked that Gudrun had seemed to care but little that Bolli had been slain, since she followed them on their way and even spoke to them as if they had done nothing at all to offend her.

Halldor answered them, saying, ‘I suspect that it was not because Bolli’s killing meant little to her that she saw us off, but rather that she was intent on finding out exactly who had taken part in the attack. It’s no exaggeration when people say that Gudrun is a woman of exceptionally strong character. Besides, it’s only natural that she should greatly regret losing Bolli, because there’s no denying that a man of Bolli’s stature is a severe loss, despite the fact that we kinsmen were not destined to get along together.’

After this they rode back to Hjardarholt.

The news of these events soon spread and created plenty of comment. Bolli was mourned widely. Gudrun sent men to Snorri the Godi immediately, because she and Osvif felt they could place all their trust in Snorri. Snorri lost no time in answering Gudrun’s summons and arrived at Tunga with a party of sixty men.

Gudrun was very glad to see him, but when he offered to seek a reconciliation she was anything but eager to accept payment for Bolli’s killing on behalf of her son Thorleik. ‘The best help you could offer me, Snorri,’ Gudrun said, ‘would be to exchange residences with me, so that I won’t have the Hjardarholt clan in the next field to me.’

At this time Snorri was involved in extensive disputes with his own neighbours, the people of Eyrar.

He replied that he would make the change for Gudrun’s sake, ‘but you’ll have to remain at Tunga for a year yet’.

Snorri then prepared to leave and Gudrun gave him worthy gifts at parting. He returned home and the year followed without event. Gudrun gave birth to a child the winter after Bolli’s death, a boy, who was named Bolli. Even as a young child he was large and handsome and Gudrun loved him deeply. The winter passed and spring arrived, and the time came for the exchange of lands which had been agreed upon between Gudrun and Snorri. Snorri settled down at Tunga and lived there for the remainder of his life, while Gudrun and Osvif moved to Helgafell, where they built up a substantial farm. Gudrun’s sons, Thorleik and Bolli, grew up there. Thorleik was four years of age when his father Bolli was slain.

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There was a man named Thorgils who was identified with his mother and known as Halla’s son (Holluson), because she had outlived his father. His father Snorri was the son of Alf from Dalir, while his mother Halla was the daughter of Gest Oddleifsson. Thorgils’s farm Tunga was in Hordadal. He was a large, handsome man, very haughty, and not at all fair in his dealings. There was no love lost between him and Snorri the Godi, who considered Thorgils to be an interfering fellow who liked to make his presence felt.

Thorgils often travelled to the district to the west on one pretext or another. He was a frequent visitor at Helgafell and offered Gudrun his assistance. She answered him politely enough but refrained from giving any definite answer. Thorgils offered to have her son, Thorleik, come and stay with him, and the boy was at Tunga for quite some time, where he learned law from Thorgils, who was clever at the law.

Thorkel Eyjolfsson, a renowned man of prominent family and a great friend of Snorri the Godi, was sailing at this time on merchant voyages. When in Iceland he generally stayed with his kinsman, Thorstein Kuggason. Once, when Thorkel’s ship was beached at Vadil on the coast of Bardastrond, the son of Eid of As was slain by the sons of Helga of Kropp. The killer himself was named Grim and his brother Njal. Njal was drowned soon afterwards in the Hvita river, while Grim was sentenced to full outlawry for the killing and fled to the mountains after being outlawed. He was a big, strong man. Eid was an old man when this occurred and no action was taken against the outlaw and many people criticized Thorkel Eyjolfsson for not acting in the case.

The following spring, when Thorkel had made ready to sail, he went south to Breidafjord, where he got himself a horse and rode alone all the way to his kinsman Eid at As without slowing his pace. Eid welcomed him with great pleasure. Thorkel told him that the reason for his coming was to seek out the outlaw Grim, and asked Eid if he had any idea where his lair might be.

‘I’m not sure I like this idea,’ Eid answered. ‘It seems to me you’re taking quite a chance on the outcome in confronting a fiend like Grim. If you must go, at least take some other men with you, so you will control the course of events.’

‘There’s little prestige to be gained from it,’ said Thorkel, ‘if a whole group attacks a single man, but I would like you to lend me your sword Skofnung. With it, I’m sure I’ll manage to deal with a single man, no matter how capable a fighter he is.’

‘Please yourself, then,’ Eid said, ‘but I wouldn’t be surprised if you ended up regretting your stubbornness sooner or later. And since you feel you are doing this for my sake, I won’t refuse your request, as I think Skofnung will be in good hands with you. But the sword can only be used under certain conditions: the sun must not be allowed to shine on its hilt, nor may it be drawn in the presence of women. Any wound it inflicts will not heal unless rubbed with the healing stone which accompanies it.’ Thorkel promised to follow these instructions carefully and took the sword, asking Eid to show him where Grim had his lair. Eid said it was most likely that he hid east of As, on the Tvidaegra heath by the Fiskivotn lakes. Thorkel then rode northwards up into the highlands following the trail Eid had pointed out to him. After travelling a long distance he saw a hut by a large lake and headed towards it.

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As Thorkel approached the hut he caught sight of a man wearing a fur cloak who sat fishing near the mouth of a stream emptying into the lake. Thorkel dismounted and tethered his horse by the wall of the hut, then headed towards the lake where the man sat fishing.

Grim saw the shadow of a man on the water and sprang to his feet. By that time Thorkel was right beside him and struck a blow at him. The blow landed on his arm just above his wrist, but the wound was not deep. Grim took hold of Thorkel and as they wrestled with one another the difference in strength soon became apparent, with Thorkel falling to the ground and Grim on top of him.

Grim then asked who he was, but Thorkel replied that it was none of his concern.

Grim said, ‘Things have turned out differently than you expected, and now it’s your life which seems to be in my hands.’

Thorkel replied that he wouldn’t ask to be spared. ‘Things have turned out unluckily for me.’

Grim replied that he had caused enough misfortune already, even if this deed were to go undone. ‘Fate has other things in store for you than to die at this meeting of ours, so I’ll spare your life. You can reward me in whatever way you wish.’

They both then got to their feet and walked back to the hut. Thorkel saw that Grim was weakened by the loss of blood and took Skofnung’s healing stone, rubbed it on the wound and bound the stone against it. All the pain and swelling disappeared from the wound immediately. Both of
them spent the night there, and the next morning Thorkel prepared to leave and asked Grim if he wished to come along. When Grim accepted, Thorkel rode westward, without returning first to Eid. They did not stop until they reached Saelingsdalstunga, where Snorri the Godi gave him a warm welcome.

Thorkel told him that his journey had turned out badly, but Snorri said things had gone well, ‘and to my mind Grim has a lucky look about him. I want you to treat him generously. And if you take my advice, my friend, you’ll put an end to your voyaging, settle down and get married and become the leader that a man of such good family should.’

Thorkel replied, ‘Your counsels have served me well often enough’, and asked whether Snorri had given thought to what woman he should propose to.

Snorri answered, ‘You should propose to the woman who is the finest possible match and that is Gudrun Osvifsdottir.’

Thorkel said there was no denying the match was a worthy one, ‘but it’s her single-mindedness and fanaticism that cause me concern; she will presumably be intent on seeking revenge for Bolli, her husband. Thorgils Holluson seems to be involved in this with her and I’m not sure that he would like this. Not that I don’t find the prospect of Gudrun appealing.’

Snorri replied, ‘I’ll see to it that you won’t be in any danger from Thorgils, and I expect we’ll see developments in the matter of Bolli’s revenge before the end of the coming winter.’

Thorkel answered, ‘You may be speaking more than just empty words when you say that, but I can’t see that there’s any more likelihood of Bolli’s being avenged now than before, unless some of the leading men are ready to lend a hand in it.’

Snorri said, ‘I think you should sail abroad once more this summer, and we’ll see what happens.’

Thorkel agreed to this and on this note they parted company.

Thorkel travelled west across Breidafjord to his ship. He took Grim along with him on his voyage abroad. They had good winds that summer and made land in the south of Norway.

Thorkel then spoke to Grim: ‘You know well enough the events and circumstances of our acquaintance, so that there is no need for me to speak of it. But I would like it to end with less hostility than we once showed each other. You have proved a staunch fellow, and I would like to part with you as if I had never borne any ill will towards you. Money enough will you have to enable you to join a company of courageous men. But you should
avoid dwelling in the north of this country, as many of Eid’s kinsmen sail on merchant voyages and they will bear you ill will.’

Grim thanked him for his words and said he had been offered more than he could ask for. Thorkel gave Grim plenty of trading goods at parting, and many men called his act a very generous one. After this Grim went east to the Vik region where he settled and was considered a valiant man. This is the last that is said of Grim.

Thorkel spent the winter in Norway and was regarded as a man of importance. He was both very wealthy and boldly ambitious. This scene will now be left for a while, and the thread taken up again once more in Iceland, with news of the events taking place while Thorkel was abroad.

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At hay-time Gudrun Osvifsdottir left home and rode to the Dalir district and to Thykkvaskog. At the time Thorleik either stayed at the farm at Thykkvaskog with the Armodssons, Halldor and Ornolf, or at Tunga with Thorgils. That same night Gudrun sent word to Snorri the Godi that she wished to meet with him straight away the following day Snorri responded at once and taking a companion with him rode off directly until he came to the Haukadalsa river. There is a cliff on the north bank of the river known as Hofdi, on the land belonging to the Laekjarskog farm. Gudrun had said they should meet there. They arrived at much the same time. Only one person followed Gudrun as well, Bolli Bollason. He was twelve years old at the time, but had the strength and wit of a full-grown man, and many a man would never be more mature though fully grown. He also bore Leg-biter.

Snorri and Gudrun spoke to each other privately, while Bolli and Snorri’s companion sat at the top of the cliff to keep watch for people travelling in the district. When Snorri and Gudrun had exchanged the usual news, Snorri asked what Gudrun’s purpose was – what had happened recently to bring about this sudden summons?

Gudrun replied, ‘Nothing could be fresher in my mind than the event which I intend to refer to although it occurred twelve years ago. It is Bolli’s revenge I intend to discuss, and it cannot come as a surprise to you, as I have reminded you of it now and again. And I remind you as well that you promised me your assistance, if I waited patiently. By now I have lost all hope of you giving your attention to our case, and I have waited as long as my patience admits. I want to ask your advice in deciding where to take revenge.’

Snorri asked what she had in mind, and Gudrun answered, ‘That not all the Olafssons will remain unscathed.’

Snorri said he would forbid any action against those men who were of highest standing in the district, ‘as their close kinsmen will take no small revenge and it is important to put an end to this feud’.

Gudrun said, ‘Then Lambi should be attacked and killed, and that will get rid of the most malicious of them.’

Snorri answered, ‘Lambi is certainly guilty enough to be killed, but I don’t feel it would avenge Bolli to have Lambi killed, nor will you get the difference in compensation that Bolli’s death deserves if those killings are equalled out.’

Gudrun spoke: ‘It may well be that we won’t be able to take an equal toll of the men of Laxardal, but someone is going to pay the price, whatever dale he dwells in. Let’s turn then to Thorstein the Black; no one has played a less honourable part in this affair than he.’

Snorri spoke: ‘You have no more complaint against Thorstein than any of the others who went along on the attack but inflicted no wound on Bolli. But you pass over completely men who to my mind are more worthy of taking revenge upon, and actually dealt Bolli his death-blow, such as Helgi Hardbeinsson.’

Gudrun said, ‘That is true enough, but I am not content to let off all the others against whom I’ve nurtured such hostility.’

Snorri answered, ‘I see a good plan. Lambi and Thorstein will assist your sons in the attack, as a fair way of settling their debt to you. If they refuse, I won’t attempt to protect them or deter you from punishing them in any way you wish.’

Gudrun asked, ‘How do we go about getting these men you have named to take part?’

Snorri replied, ‘Those who head the attack will have to look after that.’

Gudrun said, ‘I should like you to suggest who is to lead and direct the attack.’

Snorri smiled at this and said, ‘You have already picked the man for the job.’

Gudrun replied, ‘By that you mean Thorgils?’

Snorri said that indeed he did. Gudrun replied, ‘I have spoken of this to Thorgils, but the subject is as good as closed. He set the one condition that I could not consider: he would not refuse to avenge Bolli, if I would agree
to marry him. Of that there is no hope at all, and so I will not ask him to make the journey.’

Snorri spoke: ‘I will tell you a way to go about it, because I would not mind Thorgils making this journey. He will, naturally, be promised a match, but with the catch that you should otherwise marry no other man in the country. That promise you can keep, as Thorkel Eyjolfsson is not in this country at the moment, and it is he whom I intend you to marry.’

Gudrun replied, ‘Surely he will see the catch.’

Snorri replied, ‘He surely will not. Thorgils is a man more given to acting than thinking. Make the agreement with him in the presence of only a few witnesses; have Halldor, his foster-brother, present but not Ornolf, who is cleverer, and I’ll take the blame if it doesn’t work.’

Snorri and Gudrun then brought their conversation to an end and said their farewells to one another. Snorri rode home and Gudrun to Thykkvaskog. The following morning Gudrun left Thykkvaskog in the company of her sons, and as they travelled westward along the Skogarstrond shore they noticed men following them. As these men were riding hard, they soon caught up and proved to be Thorgils Holluson and followers. They greeted each other warmly and rode on together to Helgafell that day.