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Updated: May 16, 2025
There also was Groa with Swanhild, for now she dwelt at Middalhof; and the three fair children were set together in the hall to play, and men thought it great sport to see them. Now, Gudruda had a horse of wood and would ride it while Eric pushed the horse along.
"The draught is drugged!" he cried a third time, "and that witch has drugged it!" And he began to tear at his breast. Then Groa laughed so shrilly that men trembled to hear her. "Yes, lord," she screamed, "the draught is drugged, and Groa the Witch-wife hath drugged it! Ay, tear thy heart out, Asmund, and Unna, grow thou white as snow soon, if my medicine has virtue, thou shalt be whiter yet!
Now it chanced that Gudruda the Gentle was with child, and when her time came she gave a daughter birth a very fair girl, with dark eyes. On the same day, Groa the witchwoman brought forth a girl-child, and men wondered who was its father, for Groa was no man's wife.
For this is the rumour that I have heard: that Asmund the Priest, my father, is dead; that Groa, my mother, is dead how, I know not; and, lastly, that Gudruda the Fair, thy love, is betrothed to Ospakar Blacktooth and weds him in the spring." Now Eric sprang up with an oath and grasped the hilt of Whitefire. Then he sat down again upon the stone and covered his face with his hands.
Or my eyes play me false; for it has oft befallen bold warriors to skulk behind the skin of a beast." Then began Bess: "Maiden, seated on the shoulders of the steed, tell me, pouring forth in thy turn words of answer, what is thy name, and of what line art thou born?" Groa replied: "Groa is my name; my sire is a king, glorious in blood, gleaming in armour.
No, God be praised, they're not yours, said Groa, allowing the blows to rain on Arni. But now I'll keep the skin for you. And like an arrow she shot out of the door, all out of breath and trembling. For a few seconds Arni stood still. His eyes seemed bursting out of their sockets, and the hair in his beard stood on end. In a flash he rushed over the kitchen floor and out of the house.
But Swanhild in her wrath took counsel with her mother Groa, though there was little liking between them; and, when she had heard the maiden's tale, Groa laughed aloud: "Dost think me blind, girl?" she said; "all of this I have seen, yea and foreseen, and I tell thee thou art mad. Let this yeoman Eric go and I will find thee finer fowl to fly at."
On a couch in the chamber lay Groa, and her babe was on her breast and she was very fair to see. "Greeting, lord!" she said. "What wouldest thou here?" "I have dreamed a dream, and thou alone canst read it." "That is as it may be," she answered. "It is true that I have some skill in dreams. At the least I will hear it." Then he unfolded it to her every word.
Ever does she hide like a rat in the thatch, and as for the wolf, he must be her Familiar; for, like Groa, her mother, Swanhild plays much with witchcraft. Now I will away back to Gudruda, for my heart misdoubts me of this matter. Stay thou here till I come, Lambstail!" And Eric turns and gallops back to the head of Goldfoss.
And where could he be loafing tonight? Not home yet! Serve him right if she locked the house and allowed him to stay in the sheepcotes, or wherever it was he was dawdling. There now, those infernal brats were at the spinning wheel. Groa jumped up, darted into the passage, and went to the stairs. Will you leave that spinning wheel be, you young devils?
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