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Updated: June 15, 2025
'I am weary, said Njal to his wife, 'let us lay down on our bed and rest; and Bergthora bowed her head, and spoke to the boy Thord, the son of Kari: 'Come to the door with me and go forth with your kinsmen. I will not have you stay here to burn. But the boy shook off the hand she had laid on his shoulder.
But she pretended not to care, and went out among her neighbours as usual, telling all who would listen the tale of the killing of Swart. At length this reached the ears of Bergthora, and she was sore angered, but bided her time in silence.
'You promised me when I was little, grandmother, that I should never go from you till I wished it of myself. And I would rather die with you than live after you. Bergthora was silent, but she led the boy to the bed, and he climbed in, and laid himself down.
'Are you riding back to your wife? asked he of Kari, his son-in-law; and Kari made answer, 'Whatever happens to you, happens to me! and they all stayed at Bergthorasknoll. In the house dwelt an old, old woman, so old that she had nursed Bergthora, Njal's wife, and she was wise and could see into the future.
But Bergthora was left alone in the house with her servants. Then she called Atli, the new man, and bade him seek out Kol, that he might slay him, so Atli took his horse and his sword and spear and departed. He found Kol in the place where some men had shown him, and he spoke to Kol civilly, but only received rude tones in answer.
But Flosi was close behind, and stretched Helgi dead in front of him. After that he went back to the house, and offered Njal that he should come outside, but Njal answered that he was too old to avenge his sons, and that he would not outlive them, for that would be a shame and disgrace to him. 'Come out, then, Bergthora, said Flosi, 'for I will not suffer you to burn inside.
So Gunnar laid down the money and gave it to Bergthora his wife when he came home with his sons from the Thing. And Bergthora was content, but said to her husband that it should not be spent, as it would some day do to make atonement for Kol.
When Njal and his sons went up to the pastures to see after the cattle, and the thralls were busy working in the fields, Bergthora the mistress was left alone in the house. On this day a man mounted on a black horse and armed with a spear and a short sword rode up to the door and asked her if she could find something for him to do.
But Atli told Njal that he would sooner be slain in his service than live free in the service of another master, and he would gladly stay where he was if Njal would grant him the atonement due to a free man. This Njal granted, and Atli remained in his house. Hallgerda soon came to know what had happened, and she sent messengers both to Bergthora and to Gunnar at the Thing to tell them about it.
Then Njal fixed a hundred ounces of silver, and Gunnar laid it down before him. 'Hallgerda does not let our servants die of old age, said Skarphedinn, as they rode home from the Thing. Now the words came true, that Gunnar had spoken, and 'blow for blow' grew to be the rule between Hallgerda and Bergthora; but for all that there was no quarrel between Njal and Gunnar.
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