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Updated: May 16, 2025
Then, having scattered the fire with her foot, Groa took the pot and threw it into a deep pool of water, where it could not be found readily, and crept back to the stead before men were awake. Now the day wore on and all the company were gathered at the marriage-feast to the number of nearly two hundred.
She was even incited to his embraces by the splendour of his beauty; nor did he fail to offer her the gifts of love. Having won Groa, Bess proceeded and learnt that the road was beset by two robbers. These he slew simply by charging them as they rushed covetously forth to despoil him.
His mother Aud thereupon built a ship in Caithness, and sailed for the Faroes and Iceland with her retinue and possessions, marrying off two grand-daughters on the way, one, called Groa, to Duncan, Maormor of Duncansby in Caithness, the most ancient Pictish chief of whom we hear in that district, and probably ancestor of the Moldan, or Moddan, line in Cat.
"Ah," answered the other, "it will be well for the south when Eric Brighteyes and Gudruda are gone over sea, for their loves have brought much bloodshed upon the land." "Well, indeed!" sighed the first. "Had Asmund the Priest never found Groa, Ran's gift, singing by the sea, Valhalla had not been so full to-day. Mindest thou the day he brought her here?"
She passed about the stead like a rat at night, speaking few words and with downcast eyes. She was busy also making all things ready for the feasting. Now as Asmund went up the hall seeing that everything was in order, Groa drew near to him and touched him gently on the shoulder. "Are things to thy mind, lord?" she said. "Yes, Groa," he answered, "more to my mind than to thine I fear."
"Never too soon can the hour come, Blacktooth," said Eric, and turning on his heel, he limped to the hall to clothe himself afresh. On the threshold of the men's door he met Groa the Witch. "Thou didst put grease upon my shoes, carline and witch-hag that thou art," he said. "It is not true, Brighteyes." "There thou liest, and for all this I will repay thee.
They came there, and Swanhild kissed Asmund, and talked a while with Groa, her mother, and bade farewell to all men. But she bade no farewell to Eric and to Gudruda. "Why sayest thou no word to these two?" asked Atli, her husband. "For this reason, Earl," she answered, "because ere long we three shall meet again; but I shall see Asmund, my father, and Groa, my mother, no more."
Of this marriage there were two children, Björn and Gudruda the Fair; but Björn grew up like his father in youth, strong and hard, and greedy of gain, while, except for her wonderful beauty, Gudruda was her mother's child alone. The mother of Swanhild the Fatherless was Groa the Witch.
Now Ospakar and Groa were ill pleased at the turn things had taken; but all the others rejoiced much, for Eric was well loved of men and they had grieved if the waters had prevailed against his might. But Swanhild brooded bitterly, for Eric never turned to look on her. The hour of the feast drew on and, according to custom, it was held in the Temple, and thither went all men.
On Sheep-saddle she stood and cursed them. Björn took a bow and set a shaft upon the string. He drew it and the arrow sung through the air and smote her, speeding through her heart. With a cry Groa threw up her arms. Then down she plunged. She fell on Wolf's Fang, where Eric once had stood and, bouncing thence, rushed to the boiling deeps below and was no more seen for ever.
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