Chapter 35 - Thorolf goes abroad.

Thora bare a child in the summer; it was a girl. She was sprinkled with water, and named Asgerdr. Bera got a woman to look after the girl. Bjorn stayed for the winter with Skallagrim as did all his shipmates. Thorolf struck up a friendship with Bjorn, and was ever in his company. But when spring came, one day Thorolf had a talk with his father, and asked him what counsel he would give about Bjorn his winter guest, or what help he would lend him. Grim asked Thorolf what Bjorn had in view.

'I think,' said Thorolf, 'that Bjorn would soonest go to Norway, if he could be there in peace. Methinks, father, this plan lies before us, that you send men to Norway to offer atonement for Bjorn; Thorir will greatly honour your word.'

Thorolf by his persuasion so managed that Skallagrim yielded and gave men for the outward voyage that summer. These went with message and tokens to Thorir Hroaldsson, and sought atonement between him and Bjorn. But no sooner did Brynjolf hear this than he, too, set his whole mind to offer atonement for Bjorn. And the end of this matter was that Thorir took atonement for Bjorn, because he saw that it had come to this now that Bjorn had nothing to fear. Thus Brynjolf got atonement accepted for Bjorn, and Skallagrim's messengers abode with Thorir for the winter. In the summer following they went back; and on their coming back in autumn they told their tidings that Bjorn was admitted to atonement in Norway. Bjorn was with Skallagrim for yet a third winter. But next spring he made him ready for departure with his following. And when Bjorn was ready for going, then Bera said she would fain have Asgerdr, her foster-child, left-behind. This Bjorn accepted, and the girl was left behind and brought up with Skallagrim's family. Thorolf, Skallagrim's son, settled to go with Bjorn, and Skallagrim gave him mean for the journey. So he went abroad in the summer with Bjorn. Their voyage sped well, and they came off the main into Sogn-sea. Bjorn then sailed into Sogn, and thence on home to his father, and Thorolf with him. Brynjolf received them joyfully. Then word was sent to Thorir Hroaldsson. He and Brynjolf set a time for a meeting; to this meeting Bjorn also came. He and Thorir there ratified their atonement. Then Thorir paid out of hand such property in his house as belonged to Thora; and thereafter Thorir and Bjorn were good brothers-in-law and friends. Bjorn then stayed at home at Aurland with Brynjolf, Thorolf also being there in much favour both with father and son.



 



35. kafli - Fædd Ásgerðr. Þórólfr ferr útan.

Þóra ól barn um sumarít, ok var þat mær. Var hon vátni ausin ok nafn gefit ok hét Ásgerðr. Bera fekk til konu at gæta meyjarinnar.

Björn var um vetrinn með Skalla-Grími ok allir skipverjar hans. Þórólfr gerði sér títt við Björn ok var honum fylgjusamr.

En er vár kom, þá var þat einn hvern dag, at Þórólfr gekk til máls við föður sinn ok spurði hann þess, hvert ráð hann vildi leggja til við Björn, vetrgest sinn, eða hverja ásjá hann vildi honum veita. Grímr spurði Þórólf, hvat hann ætlaðist fyrir.

"Þat ætla ek," sagði Þórólfr, "at Björn vildi helzt fara til Nóregs, ef hann mætti þar í friði vera. Þætti mér þat ráð fyrir liggja, faðir, at þú sendir menn til Nóregs at bjóða sættir fyrir Björn, ok mun Þórir mikils virða orð þín."

Svá kom Þórólfr fyrirtölum sínum, at Skalla-Grímr skipaðist við ok fekk menn til útanferðar um sumarit. Fóru þeir menn með orðsendingar ok jartegnir til Þóris Hróaldssonar ok leituðu um sættir með þeim Birni. En þegar er Brynjólfr vissi þessa orðsending, þá lagði hann allan hug á at bjóða sættir fyrir Björn. Kom þá svá því máli, at Þórir tók sættir fyrir Björn, því at hann sá þat, at þá var svá komit, at Björn þurfti þá ekki at óttast um sik. Tók Brynjólfr þá sættum fyrir Björn, en sendimenn Gríms váru um vetrinn með Þóri, en Björn var þann vetr með Skalla-Grími. En eftir um sumarit fóru sendimenn Skalla-Gríms aftr. En er þeir kómu aftr um haustit, þá sögðu þeir þau tíðendi, at Björn var í sætt tekinn í Nóregi.

Björn var inn þriðja vetr með Skalla-Grími, en eftir um várit bjóst hann til brottferðar ok sú sveit manna, er honum hafði þangat fylgt. En er Björn var búinn til ferðar sinnar, þá sagði Bera, at hon vill, at Ásgerðr, fóstra hennar, sé eftir, en þau Björn þekkðust þat, ok var mærin eftir ok fæddist þar upp með þeim Skalla-Grími.

Þórólfr, sonr Skalla-Gríms, réðst til ferðar með Birni, ok fekk Skalla-Grímr honum fararefni. Fór hann útan um sumarit með Birni. Greiddist þeim vel ok kómu af hafi útan at Sognsæ. Sigldi Björn þá inn í Sogn ok fór síðan heim til föður síns. Fór Þórólfr heim með honum. Tók Brynjólfr þá við þeim feginsamliga. Síðan váru ger orð Þóri Hróaldssyni. Lögðu þeir Brynjólfr stefnu sín í milli. Kom þar ok Björn til þeirar stefnu. Tryggðu þeir Þórir þá sættir með sér. Síðan greiddi Þórir af hendi fé þat, er Þóra átti í hans garði, ok síðan tóku þeir upp, Þórir ok Björn, vináttu með tengðum. Var Björn þá heima á Aurlandi með Brynjólfi. Þórólfr var ok þar, í allgóðu yfirlæti af þeim feðgum.

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