Six Sagas of Adventure (42 page)

There’s nothing to say about their journey until they came to Jarl Thorgnyr. He came out to meet the princess with all honor and good cheer. He asked what sort of man Vilhjalm might be. Vilhjalm answered, “I am a farmer’s son of good family here in Denmark, and I went on the journey with Hrolf when he went to Russia. We’ve accomplished many deeds. In the end, he beat King Eirek’s champion Sorkvir and killed him. The king wouldn’t stand for that, and he had Hrolf captured and killed. Here are his feet, which I’ve brought with me to show you. Then I took the princess and brought her here. I have placed myself in many mortal perils out of obligation to you, as did Hrolf and I together. And no one was bolder than he, because he never surrendered until he lost both feet. I believe it’s time for me to marry your daughter Thora. It’s no disgrace for you to have me as your son-in-law, on account of my lineage and prowess. There’s no need to delay, now that both weddings can be held together.”

Most people found Vilhjalm’s story plausible. They all mourned the death of Hrolf, the jarl and his son Stefnir most of all. Ingigerd wept bitterly. The jarl comforted her and asked whether Vilhjalm had told him the truth. She said, “Vilhjalm will no more lie to you than to anyone else. But I want to ask you to delay the weddings for a month. Many things may happen that you would think impossible.”

Thora was vexed, and she looked at Vilhjalm and asked for the same thing. When Vilhjalm heard that, he began babbling, “Whatever they say, don’t let the weddings be delayed, for it’s not worth paying attention to a woman’s moods.”

Stefnir said, “It’s well established that the princess should decide this, and it’s not a long wait.”

Vilhjalm said, “You’re not speaking as a ruler should, letting women decide their own intentions for themselves or their sons, if they make even worse decisions.”

Stefnir was angered at his words and said that the women would decide, not Vilhjalm—“or else you’ll have to kill me.”

Vilhjalm said that it would be no great loss if he were killed. The jarl ordered them both not to argue, “yet Stefnir must decide this, since he has the right. But you, Vilhjalm, will be betrothed to my daughter, because you have earned it.”

Stefnir took Ingigerd by the hand and led her to his sister’s bower, locked her in, and hid the key himself. People say that Princess Ingigerd had cared for the feet and laid herbs beside them, so that they wouldn’t die.
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Vilhjalm hated Stefnir, but he had to let matters stand.

CHAPTER XXV

Now we must tell about Hrolf. He lay as if dead until the evening, because the sleep-thorn was stuck in his head. Vilhjalm hadn’t taken it out. Dulcifal stood over him, saddled and bridled, until he walked up to Hrolf and rolled him around the field with his head, and that’s when the sleep-thorn fell out. That woke Hrolf up, and he discovered that both his feet were gone, his shelter had been torn down, and Vilhjalm had left with the princess. The sword Hreggvid’s Gift was lying there. Hrolf felt that matters had taken a terrible turn, but he roused himself and took the life-stone and scraped it over his stumps. That quickly took the burning out of the wounds. Hrolf dragged himself towards the horse, who lay down. Hrolf managed to roll himself into the saddle, and then Dulcifal stood up.

Hrolf rode until he came to the estate of his friend Bjorn, for he didn’t want to ride to the fortress, and it seemed a long way to his own castle. Dulcifal lay down as soon as he came into the yard; Hrolf took off his bridle and dragged himself into the house, which he found quite opulent. Hrolf entered the kitchen and threw himself down on a seat in the shadows, and lay there for a while. Then he saw a woman walking and tending the fire. This woman appeared to be dark blue, as were her clothes, and severely swollen.
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She poked up the fire.

A little later, a man came in, wearing a scarlet outfit and a gold band around his forehead. He was short and stout. He was leading a man behind him who was tied hand and foot. Hrolf recognized his friend Bjorn, who seemed to have been harshly treated. The man laid Bjorn down and sat down by the fire. He seated the woman next to him and kissed her.
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Bjorn said, “You do evil, Mondul, seducing my wife and slandering me to the jarl so badly that he will have me hanged three nights from now, without cause. This would not have happened if Sturlaug’s son Hrolf had been in the land. He will avenge me, if he’s fated to return.”

Mondul answered, “From now on, he will never help you nor avenge you. I can tell you this much about him: both his feet are gone, and he’s barely alive. He will never come back alive.”

Hrolf forced himself up into the seat by his stumps and grabbed Mondul by the neck with both hands and said, “You’ll find out that Hrolf’s hands are still alive, even though his feet are missing.” He pressed Mondul down under himself until he was gasping and gurgling
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Then Mondul said, “Be so kind as not to kill me, Hrolf. I shall make you whole, because I have these ointments, unlike any in the Northlands. I have such healing skill that within three nights, I can make anyone who’s dying completely healthy. I will reveal to you that I am a dwarf, living in the earth, and I have natural dwarvish skill in healing and craftsmanship.
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I came here because I intended to bewitch the jarl’s daughter Thora, or Ingibjorg, and carry her off with me. But because Bjorn most clearly saw what I was, I wanted to overcome him. I took the belt and slipped it into his chest, but I took the key away so that it would seem more likely that he had stolen it, since he was unwilling to open the chest. I have turned every man’s friendship against Bjorn. Now to save my life, I will gladly do anything you ask, because I will never betray the man who spares my life.”

Hrolf said, “I’ll take a chance on sparing your life, but first you must heal Ingibjorg and free Bjorn.” He let Mondul stand up, and Mondul was swarthy and ugly, according to his true shape. He released Bjorn, and he got Ingibjorg out of her clothes and smeared her skin with fine ointments and gave her a memory-draught to drink. She quickly recovered her senses, her skin turned fair, and she regained her health—and she lost all love for the dwarf. She and Bjorn thanked Hrolf, as was fitting.

After that, Mondul left and returned only a moment later with Hrolf’s feet and a large medicine box full of ointment. He said, “Now I must heal you, Hrolf—which I had never intended to do. You must lie down by the fire and warm the stumps.” Hrolf did so. Then the dwarf smeared ointments on the wounds and fitted the feet to them and splinted them. He had Hrolf lie there for three nights, and then he untied the bandages and told Hrolf to stand up and test his legs. Hrolf did so. His feet were as painless and soft-skinned as if he had never been wounded.

Now although people find such accounts unreliable, still, everyone has to tell what he has seen and heard. It’s difficult to contradict what the wise men of old have put together. They could well have said that it had happened in another way, had they wanted to. And there have been some sages who have very often spoken figuratively about some matters, such as Master Galterus in the saga of Alexander,
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or the poet Homer in the saga of the Trojans, and the masters who have come after them have taken these things to be true, rather than denying that such things could be. There’s no need to put any more faith in this story. All the same, may everyone enjoy it as long as he’s listening.

Hrolf said to Mondul, “Now you’ve done well by healing me. You’ll get some things that you ask for, if you stay with me. I’ll ask you to come with me to Russia, if I go back there.”

Mondul said that he would—“but now I must go home to my family. I’ve taken our dealings hard, and it’s hardest for me to part with Ingibjorg. Still, that’s how it has to be now.”

Mondul the dwarf left, leaving matters as they stood, and Hrolf didn’t know what became of him.

CHAPTER XXVI

The next morning, Hrolf stood up and armed himself. He said to Bjorn, “Now the two of us must go to the fortress and stand before the jarl.”

Bjorn said, “I’m not willing to do this, because the agreed term for the truce has expired now, and it’s certain death for me if I go there.”

Hrolf said, “You have to risk it.”

They went to the fortress and entered the hall, seating themselves on the edge. The jarl sat at his feasting-table and didn’t recognize Hrolf and didn’t see that he had entered. But as soon as the jarl’s men saw Bjorn, they all shouted at him, “That thief Bjorn is a rash man to come before the jarl’s eyes. Mondul hasn’t watched him carefully, if he’s broken free.”

One man picked up a large ox bone and flung it at Bjorn, but Hrolf snatched it out of the air and sent it back at the one who threw it. The bone struck him in the chest and pierced him through and stuck fast in the timber wall. Everyone was dumbstruck, and terrified of the huge man who had come in.
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Hrolf said to Bjorn, “Go before Stefnir’s seat and say this: ‘Hrolf son of Sturlaug would invite you in, if he were here and you came to him.’”

Bjorn crept into the hall, for he was very frightened—until he came before Stefnir. Then he spoke the words that Hrolf had asked him to. When Stefnir heard his words, he jumped over the table and ran out to Hrolf and raised the hood of the cloak that was covering Hrolf’s face. He recognized Hrolf and welcomed him heartily and brought him before his father. The jarl was happy at Hrolf’s arrival and stood up to greet him in great happiness.

Vilhjalm couldn’t bear to look when he saw Hrolf. Fear made his face change back and forth, from red to pale as birchbark.

Jarl Thorgnyr said, “I do believe that Hrolf is here, Vilhjalm, not dead.”

Hrolf asked if Vilhjalm was there.

Vilhjalm said, “Here I am, my dear Hrolf, and all my affairs are in your power.”

Hrolf said, “You didn’t part with me as a friend, Vilhjalm. You must have been scheming evil in your heart for a long time, but it’s all come out now. Now I wish that you’d tell your life story, even if it’s no good, because your life must have been a dishonorable one up to now.”

“I shall do as you wish, my dear Hrolf, because that will be most helpful,” said Vilhjalm.

CHAPTER XXVII

“The beginning of my story is that my father lived by a forest, here in Denmark. His name was Ulf. He had a wife and eight children, and I was the oldest one. My father had many goats that were very unruly. It was my job to herd them, and I did every task that came to hand, but I didn’t get fed much, and I was poorly dressed. When I didn’t bring any of the goats home, I was whipped. I hated that more and more, until the night I came home and set fire to the buildings and burned my family inside. I lived at that farm for a long time, until I was fully grown.

“One night I dreamed that a huge man came to me. He gave his name as Grim. He said that I was a very promising man, and that an excellent marriage was in store for me if I could attain it. He said that he wanted to make a deal with me. I asked what sort of deal that would be. He said, ‘I will give you more strength than you’ve ever had, along with weapons and fine clothes and many other things. You are to go and find Hrolf Sturlaugsson and betray him if you can, because he has gone on a journey, intending to come to Russia and take the princess away. He will cause much harm if he is not put to death. Your luck may end up making you King Eirek’s son-in-law, but Hrolf may get his death.’ I agreed to this. He took a horn from under his mantle and gave me a drink, and I felt strength surging within me. Having made that agreement, we parted, and when I awoke, both weapons and clothes were lying there. I traveled until I met my kinsman Olvir. Everything that happened after that was my idea, because I realized that you would keep your oath and I would have the chance to kill you when I wanted, once you’d accomplished those brave deeds for me. I now realize that it must have been Grim Aegir who appeared to me. I left Russia and came after you because I was afraid that he would take terrible vengeance on me if I didn’t do what I’d promised. Now I’d meant to take Thora as my wife, and that’s why I brought Ingigerd here, not to Russia. I’d never been free from anxiety there, if the truth be told about my state of mind, and I’d meant to kill Stefnir and then the jarl and take Ingigerd as my wife and rule the kingdom alone from then on. I would have severed your head from your shoulders in the forest, my dear Hrolf, if I hadn’t been afraid of Dulcifal. And now my life story is over. Now, my dear Hrolf, I do hope that you’ll spare my life, even though I’m not worthy, because the fact that I wanted to win the honors that were offered, along with such a marriage and a great kingdom, is rather excusable.”

After that, Vilhjalm fell silent. Everyone who heard this story thought that he was the worst of traitors.

Then Hrolf began his story, starting with how he left his home in Denmark, and then with what happened afterwards. The people felt that he had great worth because of his boldness and brave deeds, and it seemed that the dwarf had been sent to him as a stroke of luck.

Bjorn now took back the rank and honors that he had formerly held. Vilhjalm was arrested, and a great assembly was summoned to judge him. They debated which manner of death was most fitting for him.
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All agreed that he should die the most dreadful death. A gag was set in his jaws and he was hanged from the highest gallows. Vilhjalm lost his life in the way that we have told, and it was to be expected that a bad man would come to a bad end, since he was such a deceiver and murderer.

Princess Ingigerd was glad that Hrolf had returned and that he had been healed. The jarl talked with her and said that there was no need to wait for the wedding any longer. She said, “You should know, lord, that my father King Hreggvid hasn’t been avenged. Besides, I will not enter any man’s bed until this is done: King Eirek must be killed, along with Grim Aegir and all the men who have done us the most harm. I also do not want the men of Russia to serve under any other leader than the man whom I shall marry.”

Hrolf said, “Since I brought the princess out of Russia, and she wanted wholeheartedly to go with me, then she may not be compelled by any man, if I have anything to say about it. But I will ask you, my lord, to let me go to Russia with our forces and accomplish there such deeds as I may do.”

The jarl said, “I want to thank you, Hrolf, for the good will that you have shown me, in this matter and in all your service. Now I am eager for you and Stefnir to lead this expedition. I shall make ready for you all the forces of ships and men that I can muster for this expedition, because I want you to bring about such vengeance as pleases the princess. And the wedding shall not take place before you come back, if it’s fated to happen.”

The princess said that this pleased her well, and this agreement between them was fixed. Hrolf’s men had waited for him in the castle while he was away, and they were glad to see him return home.

CHAPTER XXVIII

Now Jarl Thorgnyr had ships and weapons prepared throughout the summer, for as far as his kingdom extended. His kinsmen and allies sent him large forces from Sweden and Frisia, and he also got much aid from Normandy. Great preparations were made in Jutland for this expedition, and when the host was all assembled, it was a splendid host and well equipped. They had a hundred ships, most of them large. Hrolf and Stefnir were in command of this force. They spent several days waiting for a favorable wind.

One day, a man came up to board Hrolf’s ship. He was short and stout and carried a large bag on his shoulders. He walked up the gangplank onto the ship. Hrolf recognized him: it was Mondul the dwarf who had arrived. Hrolf welcomed him warmly. Mondul put down his bag and said, “I’ve come here as you asked, Hrolf, and I will go with you if you want, on the condition that I have command over every plan that I make
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and that no one will deviate from my plans. Yet it will all be necessary if it’s to turn out well.”

Hrolf replied, saying that they would all take his advice, and that he wanted very much to accept him into his following.

The dwarf said, “My first condition is that you, Hrolf, must be on the ship that leads the entire fleet, because you have the gold ring given to you by the elf-queen. You can’t get lost. We must tie all our ships together, each one to the prow of the next. I shall be in the ship that goes last. We must not cast off before the sails are raised on all the ships, and if any ship breaks away from the fleet, then no one shall sail after it. You must steer straight ahead and not veer off, no matter what noises you hear or what sights you may see, and that will be a great help to us. We must never land, or delay for any reason, until we reach Russia. We must hoist sails now, because there will be no shortage of wind.”

Everything was done as Mondul had said. Jarl Thorgnyr wished them well, and so did Ingigerd. Bjorn the Counsellor stayed behind with the jarl to keep watch over the kingdom.

Now a favorable wind blew, and Hrolf and his men sailed out to sea. Their journey started out comfortably, but they noticed that there must be different weather high in the sky. The sea was topsy-turvy all around them, and great rumblings were heard from above. Mondul sat at the tiller of the last ship. He took a large stick and bound it with a black thread and dragged it behind the ship, in the wake.

One night, a warship was seen advancing against Hrolf and pressing a fierce attack at him. Mondul called out and said that no one should pay it any attention, but the sailors said that he was so terrified that he didn’t dare to defend Hrolf’s forces. They released one ship from the fleet and wanted it to sail against the other ship, but they had no chance, because the wind turned against the ship and drove it behind all the others. The last Hrolf saw of them was a huge walrus attacking the ship and capsizing it, and every mother’s son there was lost. The others were completely astonished, and men felt that their conflict wasn’t an even fight. They lost twenty ships in all before they reached Russia.

They anchored in the Don River and raided both banks, burning farms and plundering the livestock they caught. Many people went over to their side, and this way they got a multitude of men. They soon found out where King Eirik was with his host of men. Then they laid their ships up in an anchorage. Mondul took a boat and rowed around all the ships in a ring. Then he landed  and told the men to pitch their tents against a nearby cliff; “every tent must butt against the end of another.” When this was done, he untied his bag and took out a black silk tent. He spread the tent over all the other tents, so broadly and firmly that no holes were ever found.

They had entered Russia before Winternights.
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Mondul the dwarf said, “You must carry our stores from the ships into the tent, and finish the job in three days. Then you must go into the tent and not look outside before I tell you to.” Everything was done according to his instructions. Finally, Mondul went inside, but before he did that, he walked all around the tent.

A little later they heard the wind beginning to rise, roaring outside the tent. They felt it was a wonder. One man was so curious that he loosened the tent and looked outside, but when he came back in, he had lost his mind and his speech, and in a short time he was dead. The wind kept up for three nights.