The Story of Burnt Njal: The Great Icelandic Tribune, Jurist, and CounsellorDasent, George Webbe, Sir
General
The Story of Burnt Njal: The Great Icelandic Tribune, Jurist, and Counsellor
Dasent, George Webbe, Sir
Njáll Þorgursson, approximately 930-1011
Mord Valgard's son rode to meet Flosi, and said he would ride to
the Thing with him with all his men. Flosi took that well, and
raised a matter of a wedding with him, that he should give away
Rannveiga his daughter to Starkad Flosi's brother's son, who
dwelt at Staffell. Flosi did this because he thought he would so
make sure both of his faithfulness and force.
Mord took the wedding kindly, but handed the matter over to Gizur
the White, and bade him talk about it at the Thing.
Mord had to wife Thorkatla, Gizur the White's daughter.
They two, Mord and Flosi, rode both together to the Thing, and
talked the whole day, and no man knew aught of their counsel.
117. NJAL AND SKARPHEDINN TALK TOGETHER
Now, we must say how Njal said to Skarphedinn.
"What plan have ye laid down for yourselves, thou and thy
brothers and Kari?"
"Little reck we of dreams in most matters," said Skarphedinn;
"but if thou must know, we shall ride to Tongue to Asgrim
Ellidagrim's son, and thence to the Thing; but, what meanest thou
to do about thine own journey, father?"
"I shall ride to the Thing," says Njal, "for it belongs to my
honour not to be severed from your suit so long as I live. I
ween that many men will have good words to say of me, and so I
shall stand you in good stead, and do you no harm."
There, too, was Thorhall Asgrim's son, and Njal's fosterson. The
sons of Njal laughed at him because he was clad in a coat of
russet, and asked how long he meant to wear that?
"I shall have thrown it off," he said, "when I have to follow up
the blood-feud for my foster-father."
"There will ever be most good in thee," said Njal, "when there
is most need of it."
So they all busked them to ride away from home, and were nigh
thirty men in all, and rode till they came to Thursowater. Then
came after them Njal's kinsmen, Thorleif Crow, and Thorgrim the
Big; they were Holt-Thorir's sons, and offered their help and
following to Njal's sons, and they took that gladly.
So they rode altogether across Thursowater, until they came on
Laxwater bank, and took a rest and baited their horses there, and
there Hjallti Skeggi's son came to meet them, and Njal's sons
fell to talking with him, and they talked long and low.
"Now, I will show," said Hjallti, "that I am not blackhearted;
Njal has asked me for help, and I have agreed to it, and given my
word to aid him; he has often given me and many others the worth
of it in cunning counsel."
Hjallti tells Njal all about Flosi's doings. They sent Thorhall
on to Tongue to tell Asgrim that they would be there that
evening; and Asgrim made ready at once, and was out of doors to
meet them when Njal rode into the "town."
Njal was clad in a blue cape, and had a felt hat on his head, and
a small axe in his hand. Asgrim helped Njal off his horse, and
led him and sate him down in his own seat. After that they all
went in, Njal's sons and Kari. Then Asgrim went out.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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