Chapter 22 - Death of Thorolf Kveldulfsson.

King Harold was at Hlada when the brothers went away. Immediately after this the king made him ready with all haste, and embarked his force on four ships, and they rowed up the firth, and so by Beitis-sea inwards to the isthmus of Elda. There he left his ships behind, and crossed the isthmus northwards to Naumdale. The king there took ships belonging to the landowners, and embarked his force on them, having with him his guard; four hundred men they were. Six ships he had well equipped both with weapons and men. They encountered a fresh head-wind, and rowed night and day, making what progress they could. The night was then light enough for travel.

On the evening of a day after sunset they came to Sandness, and saw lying there opposite the farm a long-ship with tent spread, which they knew to be Thorolf's. He was even then purposing to sail away, and had bidden them brew the ale for their parting carousal. The king ordered his men to disembark and his standard to be raised. It was but a short way to the farm buildings.

Thorolf's watchmen sate within drinking, and were not gone to their posts; not a man was without; all sate within drinking. The king had a ring of men set round the hall: they then shouted a war-whoop, and a war-blast was blown on the king's trumpet. On hearing which Thorolf's men sprang to their weapons, for each man's weapons hung above his seat. The king caused some to make proclamation at the door, bidding women, children, old men, thralls, and bondmen to come out. Then came out Sigridr the mistress, and with her the women that were within, and the others to whom permission was given. Sigridr asked if the sons of Kari of Berdla were there. They both came forward and asked what she would of them.

'Lead me to the king,' said she.

They did so. But when she came to the king, she said: 'Will anything, my lord, avail to reconcile thee with Thorolf?'

The king answered, 'If Thorolf will yield him to my mercy, then shall he have life and limb, but his men shall undergo punishment according to the charges against them.'

Upon this Aulvir Hnuf went to the room, and had Thorolf called to speak with him, and told him what terms the king offered them.

Thorolf answered that he would not take of the king compulsory terms or reconciliation. 'Bid thou the king allow us to go out, and then leave we things to go their own course.'

The king said: 'Set fire to the room; I will not waste my men by doing battle with him outside; I know that Thorolf will work us great man-scathe if he come out, though he has fewer men than we.'

So fire was set to the room, and it soon caught, because the wood was dry and the walls tarred and the roof thatched with birch-bark. Thorolf bade his men break up the wainscoting and get gable-beams, and so burst through the planking; and when they got the beams, then as many men as could hold on to it took one beam, and they rammed at the corner with the other beam-end so hard that the clasps flew out, and the walls started asunder, and there was a wide outlet.

First went out Thorolf, then Thorgils Yeller, then the rest one after another. Fierce then was the fight; nor for awhile could it be seen which had the better of it, for the room guarded the rear of Thorolf's force. The king lost many men before the room began to burn; then the fire attacked Thorolf's side, and many of them fell. Now Thorolf bounded forwards and hewed on either hand; small need to bind the wounds of those who encountered him. He made for where the king's standard was, and at this moment fell Thorgils Yeller. But when Thorolf reached the shield-wall, he pierced with a stroke the standard-bearer, crying, 'Now am I but three feet short of my aim.' Then bore at him both sword and spear; but the king himself dealt him his death-wound, and he fell forward at the king's feet. The king called out then, and bade them cease further slaughter; and they did so.

After this the king bade his men go down to the ships. To Aulvir Hnuf and his brother he said:

'Take ye Thorolf your kinsman and give him honourable burial; bury also the other men who have fallen, and see to the binding of the wounds of those who have hope of life; but let none plunder here, for all this is my property.'

This said, the king went down to his ships, and most of his force with him; and when they were come on board men began to bind their wounds. The king went round the ship and looked at men's wounds; and when he saw a man binding a surface-wound, he said: 'Thorolf gave not that wound; his weapon bites far otherwise; few, methinks, bind the wounds which he gave; and great loss have we in such men.'

As soon as day dawned the king had his sail hoisted, and sailed south as fast as he could. As the day wore on, they came upon many rowing-vessels in all the sounds between the islands; the forces on board them had meant to join Thorolf, for spies of his had been southwards as far as Naumdale, and far and wide about the islands. These had got to know how Hallvard and his brother were come from the south with a large force meaning to attack Thorolf. Hallvard's company had constantly met a head-wind, and had waited about in various havens till news of them had gone the upper way overland, and Thorolf's spies had become aware of it, and this gathering of force was on this account.

The king sailed before a strong wind till he came to Naumdale; there he left the ships behind, and went by land to Throndheim, where he took his own ships that he had left there, and thence stood out to Hlada. These tidings were soon heard, and reached Hallvard and his men where they lay. They then returned to the king, and their voyage was much mocked at.

The brothers Aulvir Hnuf and Eyvind Lambi remained awhile at Sandness and saw to the burial of the slain. To Thorolf's body they gave all the customary honours paid at the burial of a man of wealth and renown, and set over him a memorial stone. They saw also to the healing of the wounded. They arranged also the house with Sigridr; all the stock remained, but most of the house-furniture and table-service and clothing was burnt. And when this was done, they went south and came to king Harold at Throndheim, and were with him for awhile.

They were sad, and spoke little with others. And it was so that one day the brothers went before the king, and Aulvir said:

'This permission we brothers claim of thee, O king, that we go home to our farms; for such things have happened here that we have no heart to share drink and seat with those who drew weapon on our kinsman Thorolf.'

The king looked at them, and answered curtly:

'I will not grant you this; ye shall be here with me.'

They went back to their place.

Next day, as the king sat in the audience hall, he had the brothers called to him, and said:

'Now shall ye know of that your business which ye began with me, craving to go home. Ye have been some while here with me, and have borne you well, and always done your duty. I have thought well of you in everything. Now will I, Eyvind, that thou go north to Halogaland. I will give thee in marriage Sigridr of Sandness, her that Thorolf had to wife; and I will bestow on thee all the wealth that belonged to Thorolf; thou shalt also have my friendship if thou canst keep it. But Aulvir shall remain with me; for his skill as skald I cannot spare him.'

The brothers thanked the king for the honour granted to them, and said that they would willingly accept it.

Then Eyvind made him ready for the journey, getting a good and suitable ship. The king gave him tokens for this matter. His voyage sped well, and he came north to Alost and Sandness. Sigridr welcomed him; and Eyvind then showed her the king's tokens and declared his errand, and asked her in marriage, saying that it was the king's message that he should obtain this match. But Sigridr saw that her only choice, as things had gone, was to let the king rule it. So the arrangement was made, and Eyvind married Sigridr, receiving with her the farm at Sandness and all the property that had been Thorolf's. Thus Eyvind was a wealthy man.

The children of Eyvind and Sigridr were Fid Squinter, father of Eyvind Skald-spoiler, and Geirlaug, whom Sighvat Red had to wife. Fid Squinter married Gunnhilda, daughter of earl Halfdan. Her mother was Ingibjorg, daughter of king Harold Fairhair. Eyvind Lambi kept the king's friendship so long as they both lived.



 



22. kafli - Fall Þórólfs Kveld-Úlfssonar.

Haraldr konungr sat þá á Hlöðum, er þeir Hallvarðr fóru á brott, ok þegar jafnskjótt bjóst konungr sem skyndiligast ok gekk á skip sín, ok reru þeir inn eftir firði um Skarnssund ok svá um Beitsjó inn til Eldueiðs. Lét hann þar eftir skipin ok fór norðr um eiðit til Naumudals, ok tók hann þar langskip, er bændr áttu, ok gekk hann þar á með lið sitt. Hafði hann hirð sína ok nær þremr hundruðum manna. Hann hafði fimm skip eða sex ok öllstór. Þeir tóku andviðri hvasst ok reru nótt ok dag, svá sem ganga mátti. Nótt var þá farljós.

Þeir kómu aftan dags til Sandness eftir sólarfall ok sá þar fyrir bænum fljóta langskip mikit ok tjaldat yfir. Þar kenndu þeir skip þat, er Þórólfr átti. Hafði hann þat látit búa ok ætlaði af landi á brott, en þá hafði hann heita látit fararmungát sitt. Konungr bað menn ganga af skipum gersamliga. Lét hann fara upp merki sitt. Skammt var at ganga til bæjarins, en varðmenn Þórólfs sátu inni við drykkju ok váru eigi gengnir á vörðinn, ok var engi maðr úti. Sat allt lið inni við drykkju.

Konungr lét slá mannhring um stofuna. Lustu þeir þá upp herópi, ok var blásit í konungslúðr herblástr. En er þeir Þórólfr heyra þat, hljópu þeir til vápna, því at hvers manns alvæpni hekk yfir rúmi hans. Konungr lét kalla at stofunni ok bað ganga út konur ok ungmenni ok gamalmenni, þræla ok mansmenn.

Síðan gekk út Sigríðr húsfreyja ok með henni konur þær, er inni váru, ok aðrir þeir menn, er útganga var lofuð. Sigríðr spurði eftir, ef þeir væri þar synir Berðlu-Kára.

Þeir gengu fram báðir ok spurðu, hvat hon vildi þeim.

"Fylgið mér til konungs," sagði hon.

Þeir gerðu svá. En er hon kom til konungs, þá spurði hon: "Skal nökkut um sættir tjóa at leita, herra, með ykkr Þórólfi?"

Konungr svarar: "Vill Þórólfr upp gefast ok ganga á vald mitt til miskunnar, ok mun hann halda lífi ok limum, en menn hans munu sæta refsingum, svá sem sakar falla til."

Síðan gekk Ölvir hnúfa til stofunnar ok lét kalla Þórólf til máls við sik. Hann sagði honum þann kost, er konungr gerði.

Þórólfr svarar: "Enga vil ek nauðungarsætt taka af konungi. Bið þú konung gefa oss útgöngu. Látum þá skeika at sköpuðu."

Ölvir gekk til konungs ok sagði, hvers Þórólfr beiddist.

Konungr sagði: "Beri eld at stofunni. Ekki vil ek berjast við þá ok týna liði mínu. Veit ek, at Þórólfr mun gera oss mannskaða mikinn, ef vér skulum sækja hann þar, er hann mun seint at vinna inni, þótt hann hafi lið minna en vér."

Síðan var eldr borinn at stofunni, ok sóttist þat skjótt, því at timbrit var þurrt ok bræddr viðrinn, en næfrum þakit um ræfrit. Þórólfr bað menn sína brjóta upp bálkinn, er var milli stofunnar ok forstofunnar, ok sóttist þat skjótt. En er þeir náðu timbrstokknum, þá tóku svá margir stokkinn einn sem á fengu haldit ok skutu öðrum endanum í hyrningina svá hart, at nafarnar hrutu af fyrir útan, ok hljópu í sundr veggirnir, svá at þar var útgangr mikill. Gekk þar Þórólfr fyrstr út ok þá Þorgils gjallandi ok svá hverr eftir annan.

Tókst þá bardaginn, ok var þat um hríð, at stofan gætti á bak þeim Þórólfi, en er hon tók at brenna, þá sótti eldrinn at þeim. Fell þá ok margt lið þeira. Þá hljóp Þórólfr fram ok hjó til beggja handa, sótti þangat at, er merki konungs var. Þá fell Þorgils gjallandi. En er Þórólfr kom fram at skjaldborginni, lagði hann sverði í gegnum þann mann, er merkit bar.

Þá mælti Þórólfr: "Nú gekk ek þremr fótum til skammt."

Þá stóðu á honum bæði sverð ok spjót, en sjálfr konungr veitti honum banasár, ok fell Þórólfr fram á fætr konungi. Þá kallaði konungr ok bað hætta at drepa fleiri menn, ok var þá svá gert.

Síðan bað konungr menn sína fara ofan til skipa. Hann mælti við Ölvi ok þá bræðr: "Takið nú Þórólf, frænda ykkarn, ok veitið honum umbúnað sæmiligan ok svá öðrum mönnum, er hér eru fallnir, ok veitið þeim gröft, en látið binda sár manna, þeira er lífvænir eru, en ekki skal hér ræna, því at þetta er allt mitt fé.

Síðan gekk konungr ofan til skipanna ok flest lið með honum. En er þeir váru á skip komnir þá tóku menn at binda sár sín.

Konungr gekk um skipit ok leit á sár manna. Hann sá, hvar maðr batt svöðusár eitt.

Konungr sagði, at ekki hafði Þórólfr veitt þat sár, - ,,ok allt bitu honum annan veg vápnin. Fáir, ætla ek, at þau bindi sárin, er hann veitti, ok skaði mikill er eftir menn slíka."

En þegar at morgni dags lét konungr draga segl sín ok sigldi suðr, sem af tók. En er á leið daginn, þá fundu þeir konungr róðrarskip mörg í hverju eyjarsundi, ok hafði lið þat ætlat til fundar við Þórólf, því at njósnir hans höfðu verit allt suðr í Naumudal ok víða um eyjar. Höfðu þeir orðit vísir, at þeir Hallvarðr bræðr váru komnir sunnan með lið mikit ok ætluðu at Þórólfi. Höfðu þeir Hallvarðr haft jafnan andviðri, ok höfðu þeir dvalizt í ýmsum höfnum, til þess er njósn hafði farit it efra um land, ok höfðu þess orðit varir njósnarmenn Þórólfs, ok hafði þetta herhlaup fyrir þá sök verit.

Konungr sigldi hraðbyrja, til þess er hann kom í Naumudal, lét þar skipin eftir, en hann fór landveg í Þrándheim. Tók hann þar skip sín, sem hann hafði eftir látit, helt þá liðinu út til Hlaða. Spurðust brátt þessi tíðendi ok kómu fyrir þá Hallvarð, þar er þeir lágu. Sneru þeir þá aftr til konungs, ok þótti þeira ferð heldr hæðilig.

Þeir bræðr, Ölvir hnúfa ok Eyvindr lambi, dvölðust um hríð á Sandnesi. Létu þeir búa um val þann, er þar hafði fallit. Bjuggu þeir um lík Þórólfs eftir siðvenju, svá sem títt var at búa um lík göfugra manna, settu eftir hann bautasteina. Þeir létu græða sjúka menn. Þeir skipuðu ok til bús með Sigríði. Var þar eftir allr fjárafli, en mestr hafði inni brunnit húsbúnaðr ok borðbúnaðr ok klæðnaðr manna.

En er þeir bræðr váru búnir, þá fóru þeir norðan ok kómu á fund Haralds konungs, er hann var í Þrándheimi, ok váru með honum um hríð. Þeir váru hljóðir ok mæltu fátt við menn.

Þat var einn hvern dag, at þeir bræðr gengu fyrir konung. Þá mælti Ölvir: "Þess orlofs viljum vit bræðr þik biðja, konungr, at þú lofir okkr heimferð til búa okkarra, því at hér hafa þau tíðendi gerzt, er vit berum eigi skaplyndi til at eiga drykk ok sess við þá menn, er báru vápn á Þórólf, frænda okkarn."

Konungr leit við honum ok svarar heldr stutt: "Eigi mun ek þat lofa ykkr. Hér skuluð þit vera með mér."

Þeir bræðr gengu á brott ok aftr til sætis síns.

Annan dag eftir sat konungr í málstofu, lét kalla þangat þá Ölvi bræðr: "Nú skuluð þit vita," segir konungr, "um erendi þat, er þit hófuð við mik ok beidduzt heimferðar. Hafið þit verit hér um hríð með mér ok verit vel siðaðir. Hafið þit vel jafnan dugat. Hefir mér til ykkar allir hlutir vel hugnat. Nú vil ek, Eyvindr, at þú farir norðr á Hálogaland. Vil ek gifta þér Sigríði á Sandnesi, konu þá, er Þórólfr hafði átt. Vil ek gefa þér fé þat allt, er Þórólfr átti. Skaltu þar hafa með vináttu mína, ef þú kannt til at gæta. En Ölvir skal mér fylgja. Vil ek hann eigi lausan láta fyrir sakar íþrótta hans."

Þeir bræðr þökkuðu konungi þann sóma, er hann veitti þeim, sögðu, at þeir vildu þat fúsliga þekkjast. Bjóst Eyvindr þá til ferðar, fekk sér gott skip, þat er honum hæfði. Fekk konungr honum jartegnir sínar til ráðs þessa. Greiddist ferð Eyvindar vel, ok kom fram norðr í Álöst á Sandnesi. Sigríðr tók vel við þeim. Síðan bar Eyvindr fram jartegnir konungs ok erendi sín fyrir Sigríði ok hóf bónorð sitt við hana, sagði, at þat var konungs orðsending, at Eyvindr nái ráði þessu. En Sigríðr sá þann einn sinn kost, svá sem þá var komit, at láta konung fyrir ráða. Fór þat ráð fram, at Eyvindr fekk Sigríðar. Tók hann þá við búi á Sandnesi ok við fé því öllu, er Þórólfr hafði átt. Var Eyvindr göfugr maðr. Váru börn þeira Fiðr skjálgi, faðir Eyvindar skáldaspillis, ok Geirlaug, er átti Sighvatr rauði. Fiðr inn skjálgi átti Gunnhildi, dóttur Hálfdanar jarls. Móðir hennar hét Ingibjörg, dóttir Haralds konungs ins hárfagra.

Eyvindr lambi helzt í vináttu við konung, meðan þeir lifðu báðir.











© 2008 Völuspá.org | © 2008 Articles, Analysis and Artwork to their respective creators
Eddas, Sagas and Folklore Public Domain