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Updated: May 8, 2025
Beorn, too, was brought in at the same time, and we were set opposite to one another, to right and left of the earl, below the high place, closely watched by the armed guards, bound also, though not tightly, and only as to our hands. And there on a trestle table before us lay the body of Jarl Lodbrok, my friend, in whose side was my broken arrow.
For my father, having the same full belief and trust in the stranger's word, would no more than I treat him in any wise but as an honoured guest. Then said Lodbrok: "Good shall surely ever be to the house that will thus treat a wanderer. Hardly would a castaway meet with so great kindness in my own land.
"What is this?" he said, and his voice was low, and yet clear in the silence that had fallen, for all his men behind him had stopped as if turned to stone where they stood. Then from my side sprang Osritha before any could answer, meeting him first of all, and she threw her arms round his neck, saying: "Dead is Lodbrok our father, and nigh to death for his sake has been Wulfric, your friend.
Then so wistfully looked he at me that I could not forbear saying to him: "You must hold me as in Halfden's place, for this will be your house, if you will, until there comes a ship that will take you home. Gladly will some of the Frisians we know take you at least to the right side of the broad seas." "Aye, gladly would some have Lodbrok the Jarl with them," he answered, smiling strangely.
At that I shouted and spurred swiftly towards those two letting the other horse go free with I know not what wild thoughts in my mind. And when I came near I knew that the living man was Beorn, and that the dead was Lodbrok my friend. Then I took my horn and wound it loud and long, charging down upon that traitor with drawn sword, for I had left my hunting spear with the slain deer.
Nor does he yet know that Lodbrok will not take them." Then I began to see that this matter was deeper than I had thought, and told my father of the first meeting of Lodbrok and Beorn. But I said that the falconer had seemed very friendly of late. "Aye, too friendly," said my father; "it is but a little while since he held aloof from him, and now he is ever close to Lodbrok in field and forest.
Soon I knew all that an hour or two of pleasant talk would teach me of his home and sons and sports, and the king asked now and again of Danish customs, not yet speaking of the voyage. "For," said he, "it is ill recalling hardships until the feast is over. Then may one enjoy the telling." And at length we looked at Lodbrok, wondering if he could take his turn.
And because there was no proof, our great earl, who loves even-handed justice, would have us cast adrift, even as was Lodbrok; that the guilty might suffer, and the innocent escape." Then Ingvar rose up, white and shaking with wrath, and drew out his sword. Whereon Beorn yelled and fell on the floor, grovelling with uplifted hands and crying for mercy.
So he bided with us until I went to sea, and there I met Halfden, and went on a raid with him, coming back from the South Saxon shores to wait at our place for his coming to take Lodbrok home. But he came not last winter, and so we waited till this spring should bring him. For my ship was lost, and no other came." "What!" said Ingvar; "he died not of stress of storm, but lived so long!
So we rode to Thetford, and how we were received there is no need for me to tell, for I came back as it were from the dead, and Egfrid after years of absence. And there with Eadmund were my father and mother, and Eadgyth, and Lodbrok, and Egfrid's folk also, with many more friends to greet us, and the king would have us keep Yuletide with him.
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