United States or Canada ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
She had come with a heavy heart to Middalhof in the company of Ospakar; but when she saw Skallagrim, her husband whom she had betrayed, and who had turned Baresark because of her wickedness shame smote her, and she crept away and hid herself behind the hangings of the hall. The sword sped along point first, it rushed like a spear through the air.
Now Jon, Eric's thrall, watched all night on Mosfell, but saw nothing except the light of Whitefire as it smote the Baresark's head from his shoulders. He stayed there till daylight, much afraid; then, making sure that Eric was slain, Jon rode hard and fast for Middalhof, whither he came at evening. Gudruda was watching by the women's door.
So Groa stayed on at Middalhof, and was lowly in her bearing and soft of speech. Now Atli the Good, earl of the Orkneys, comes into the story. It chanced that Atli had sailed to Iceland in the autumn on a business about certain lands that had fallen to him in right of his mother Helga, who was an Icelander, and he had wintered west of Reyjanes.
Eric shall come no more to Middalhof till Gudruda is gone hence, led by Ospakar Blacktooth." "And if Eric does not come here, how shall I see his face? for, mother, I long for the sight of it." "That is thy matter, thou lovesick fool.
"I am no longer afraid, since thou comest to bear me company. Thou art dear to my sight ay even in yon death-sheet. Greeting, sweet, my May! I laid thee stiff and cold in the earth at Middalhof, but, like a loving wife, thou hast burst thy bonds, and art come to save me from the grip of trolls. Thou art welcome, Gudruda, Asmund's daughter! Come, wife, sit thou at my side."
She saw the hall of Middalhof red with blood. She saw a great gulf in a mountain's heart, and men fell down it. And, last, she saw a war-ship sailing fast out on the sea, afire, and vanish there. Now the witch-hag who wore Swanhild's loveliness stood upon the cliffs of Straumey and tossed her white arms towards the north. "Come, fog! come, sleet!" she cried. "Come, fog! come, sleet!
Then the first passed upward to the sky, the second southward towards Middalhof, but the third swept over Mosfell, so that the brightness of her flaming form shone on the rock where they sat by the cave, and the lightning of her eyes was mirrored in the byrnie of Skallagrim and on Eric's golden helm.
Having found them he told them Eric's words, and a great gladness came upon them when they learned that Brighteyes still lived, and was in Iceland. Then they gathered food and gear, and rode away to the foot of Mosfell that is now called Ericsfell. Ospakar sat in the hall at Middalhof, near to the high seat. He was fully armed, and a black helm with a raven's crest was on his head.
Also she desired to see the wedding of Ospakar and Gudruda, for she had been bidden to it by Björn, her half-brother. Now Ospakar came to Middalhof, and found Gudruda waiting his coming. She stood in the great hall, pale and cold as April snow, and greeted him courteously.
So they sat down by the turning place that is over the gulf and waited, singing of the taking of the Raven and of the slaying in the stead at Middalhof, and telling tales of deeds that they had done. And the thrall and his six men climbed on till at length they gained the crest of the fell, and, looking over, saw Eric and Skallagrim beneath them.
Word Of The Day