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Updated: June 14, 2025
Now Atli came to Middalhof just as men sat down to meat and, hearing the clatter of arms, all sprang to their feet, thinking that perhaps Ospakar had come again as he had promised. But when Asmund saw Atli he knew him at once, though they had not met for nearly thirty years, and he greeted him lovingly, and put him in the high seat, and gave place to his men upon the cross-benches.
"It is pleasant, lord," said Skallagrim, "when good tidings dog the heels of bad, and womenfolk can spare some tears and be little poorer. I have horses in a secret dell that I will show thee, and on them we will ride hence to Middalhof and there thou must claim peace for me."
"It is wise to go soon to Middalhof, for such a bloom as this maid does not lack a bee. There is a youngling in the south, named Eric Brighteyes, who loves Gudruda, and she, I think, loves him, though he is but a yeoman of small wealth and is only twenty-five years old." "Ho! ho!" laughed great Ospakar, "and I am forty-five.
Now Asmund rode back to Middalhof somewhat troubled at heart, for these tidings must be told to Groa, and he feared her and her witchcraft. In the hall he found her, standing alone. "Where hast thou been, lord?" she asked. "At Coldback," he answered. "To see Unna, Eric's cousin, perchance?" "That is so." "What is Unna to thee, then, lord?"
Listen now: in the second week of spring, if all is well, I will send thee a messenger with words of token, then shalt thou come down secretly to Middalhof, and there, Eric, we will be wed. Then, on the next day, we will sail for England in a trading-ship that I shall get ready, to seek our fortune there."
But Eric stopped at Coldback that night, saying that he would be at Middalhof within two hours of sunrise, for he must talk with a shepherd who came from the fells. Saevuna and her company came to Middalhof and was asked, first by Gudruda, then by Swanhild, why Brighteyes tarried. She answered that he would be there early on the morrow.
"Haste, haste!" she cried; "a daughter is born to thee, and Gudruda thy wife is dying!" "Is it so?" said Asmund; "after ill dreams ill tidings." Now in the bed-closet off the great hall of Middalhof lay Gudruda the Gentle and she was dying. "Art thou there, husband?" she said. "Even so, wife." "Thou comest in an evil hour, for it is my last. Now hearken.
"Thou art a lawman, and well canst thou meet the suit; moreover Gudruda has wedded an outlaw and shall suffer for her sin. Now go, and see thou tarry not, or thy back shall pay the price." The man rode away swiftly. Then Gizur turned to Swanhild, asking: "Whither, then, go we?" "I have said to Middalhof."
Men marvelled at his greatness and his wonderful beauty, and to Gudruda he seemed like a God. "Here I see faces that are known to me," said Eric. "Greetings, comrades!" "Greetings, Brighteyes!" shouted the Middalhof folk and the company of Swanhild; but the carles of Ospakar laid hand on sword they too knew Eric.
To this Asmund said that it might be so. Hay-harvest being done, Asmund made ready for his wedding with Unna, Thorod's daughter and Eric's cousin. Now it was agreed that the marriage-feast should be held at Middalhof; for Asmund wished to ask a great company to the wedding, and there was no place at Coldback to hold so many.
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