_Helga_ (_shades her eyes_).--You, were beheaded ten years ago! Has the lad Guttorm Kalfsson risen from his grave? _Kolbein_.--Do we see apparitions in the light? _Broddi_ (_to_ BRAND).--How did your wife Jorun come among our company? (BRAND _leaps up on the dais and carries_ JORUN _down on his arm. About all the hall men are heard to say in a low voice_, 'LADY JORUN.' _While she is being carried down to the floor she extends her arms toward_ HELGA.) _Jorun_.--Take my life as you have taken my father's and my brother's; then you need fear no longer that I am egging on my kinsmen to avenge me on you. (BRAND _sets her down on the floor. They embrace each other fervently_.) _Helga_.--Of little worth I hold your life, Jorun; but in order to keep my promise I shall take it instead of your husband's life. (_Calls out_.) Take my prisoner away from Brand Kolbeinsson! _Broddi_.--Let us protect her with our bodies! _Brand_.--Look you, Helga my kinswoman, you will not reach your prisoner so very easily for the first. (DEACON SIGURD _picks up_ HELGI SKAFTASON'S _axe, for he is weaponless. They take_ JORUN _in their midst_.) _Helga_.--To arms! Wrest my prisoner from among them! _Broddi_.--Hold my place for a moment, my men, if it should be vacant a short while.--Is it really so, Kolbein the Young, that your wife has made you so senselessly mad that you are about to attack us in order to butcher a woman? _Kolbein_.--Lady Helga's matter this is, not mine. If we cannot reach terms of peace, it is because of Helgi Skaftason and Alf of Grof! _Broddi_.--And you let her attack us in order to butcher a woman? _Kolbein_.--I let it come as it may. _Broddi_.--Then more will have to come as it may. Be on your guard, Kolbein! (KOLBEIN _has been sitting in his high seat without drawing his sword, but has had it lying on his knees and now and then unsheathed it halfways_. BRODDI _rushes at him to deliver a blow_; KOLBEIN _dodges the blow and grasps_ BRODDI'S _wrist with both hands, so that his sword drops on the floor. Then he forces_ BRODDI _to sit beside him on the high seat_.) _Kolbein_.--Be calm now, Broddi! The slaying of Thorolf was an ill deed and a needless one. _Broddi_.--Let go of me, you hell-hound! _Kolbein_ (_laughs_).--How furious you are now, brother-in-law! _Helga_.--What fell there to the floor? _Kolbein_.--The action for avenging Thorolf Bjarnason, which slipped from your hands, lady! _Helga_.--That would not have made so great a sound. _Brand_.--Lady Helga! you who once were my mother's sister! I shall surrender my arms and myself to you if all others will then be granted to make atonement for the slaying of Thorolf. _Helga_.--Keep your arms yourself, for no one does less harm with them than you. My promise to your wife I shall keep; I wonder only that she goes not herself voluntarily from among your midst, in order to save us difficulties. _Jorun_.--I cannot, for they hold me.