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Updated: May 2, 2025
The next summer he had a battle with Asmund, son of the king of Scotland, and when it was over they became friends and foster-brothers and went on viking cruises together. Next spring Rolf armed and manned six ships and, taking Kettil and Ingiald and Asmund with him, set sail for Upsala. He proposed now to woo the warrior princess in another fashion.
All agreed to this, even Kettil, so Rolf was sent for and made king of Gothland, which he ruled with skill and valor. One day Rolf and Kettil, who loved each other as brothers should, were talking together, and Kettil said that one thing was wanting to the glory and honor of Rolf's rule, and that was a queen of noble birth and goodly presence. "And whom have you in mind?" asked Rolf.
So he stayed unmarried for several years more, though Kettil often spoke of the matter, and one day said to him contemptuously: "Many a man has a large body with little courage, and I fear you are such a one; for though you stand as a man, you do not dare to speak to a woman." "I will show you that I am a man," said Rolf, very angry at these words.
But being greatly overmatched, he ordered his men to mount, and they rode away unscathed. Back to West Gothland they went and told Kettil how poorly they had fared. "You have suffered a sore insult and affront at a woman's hand," said Kettil, "and my advice is that it be speedily avenged," but Rolf replied that he was not yet ready to act.
Not a soul was to be seen, but in every room they found well-cooked food and many articles of value. "This is a fine capture," said Kettil. "Let us enjoy ourselves and divide the spoil." "Not so," said Rolf. "It is a lure to draw us off. I will not rest till I have the princess in my power." They sought the palace through and through, but no one was there.
"That is the way we treat our dogs when they bark too loud," she said. Kettil sprang up, burning with anger, but at the same moment Rolf rushed forward and grasped the warlike princess in his powerful arms, so that she was forced to surrender.
She interpreted this dream to mean that Rolf was coming again to avenge the affront he had received, and that the fierce hog must stand for Kettil, of whose character she had been told. When Rolf now arrived King Erik received him with honor, and again agreed to remain his friend, no matter how stormy a courtship he might have.
His elder son Kettil he kept at home, but did not love him much on account of his pride and obstinacy. So it happened that when Götrik was very old and like to die, he decided that Rolf, who was very tall and strong, and very fit and able, should succeed him, though he was the younger son.
Rolf now bade Kettil to take Torborg prisoner, but not to wound her, saying that it would be shameful to use arms against a woman. Kettil sprang forward and gave the princess a sharp blow with the flat of his sword, reviling her at the same time with rude words. In return, Torborg gave him so hard a blow on the ear with her battle-axe that he fell prostrate, with his heels in the air.
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