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Then Eric did this: among his men were some who he knew were not willing to sail from Iceland, and Jon, his thrall, was of them, for Jon did not love the angry sea. He bade these bide a while on Mosfell and make fires nightly on the platform of rock which is in front of the cave, that the spies of Gizur and Swanhild might be deceived by them, and think that Eric was still on the fell.
"I have known younger men who would seem less brisk at bridals," said Asmund, and for that time they talked no more of the matter. Now, Swanhild heard something of this speech, and she guessed more; and it came into her mind that it would be the best of sport to make this old man love her, and then to mock him and say him nay.
Moreover, thou shalt give them the lie in the child's name, for it shall be Swanhild the Fatherless. Nevertheless that is my price. Pay it if thou wilt." "Read me the dream and I will name the child." "Nay, first name thou the babe: for then no harm shall come to her at thy hands." So Asmund took the child, poured water over her, and named her.
Now Swanhild stood silent for a while and then spoke: "Thou art a fool, Eric yes, drunk with folly. Nothing but evil shall come to thee from this madness of thine. Forget it and pluck that which lies to thine hand," and she looked sweetly at him.
Of all trials of strength that ever were put upon his might, Eric was wont to say, this lifting of Gudruda was the greatest; for she was no light woman, and there was little to stand on and almost nothing to cling to. Presently Brighteyes rose and peered at Gudruda through the gloom. She still swooned. Then he gazed about him but Swanhild, the witchgirl, was gone.
Now in this fray Eric was wounded in the foot by a spear, so that he must be borne back to Straumey, and he lay there in the hall for many days. Swanhild nursed him, and most days he sat talking with her in her bower. But Eric did not go, because of his hurt, fearing lest the wound should open if he walked overmuch.
"It shall be as thou wilt, son; to-morrow we will send to Unna and bid her here, if it pleases her to come." Now Ospakar stayed three more days at Middalhof, till his horses were found, and he was fit to travel, for Eric had shaken him sorely. But he had no words with Gudruda and few with Asmund. Still, he saw Swanhild, and she bid him to be of good cheer, for he should yet have Gudruda.
"Rouse thee, Eric," she said, "I have dreamed an evil dream." He awoke and kissed her. "What, then, was thy dream, sweet?" he said. "This is no hour for bad dreams." "No hour for bad dreams, truly, husband; yet dreams do not weigh the hour of their coming. I dreamed this: that I lay dead beside thee and thou knewest it not, while Swanhild looked at thee and mocked."
Then men ate and Ospakar drank much ale, but all the while he stared at Gudruda and listened for her voice. But as yet he said nothing of what he came to seek, though all knew his errand. And his two sons, Gizur and Mord, stared also at Gudruda, for they thought her most wonderfully fair. But Gizur found Swanhild also fair. And so the night wore on till it was time to sleep.
The tendency of the human mind and more especially of the Norse mind is to supply uncommon and extraordinary reasons for actions and facts that are to be amply accounted for by the working of natural forces. Swanhild would have needed no "familiar" to instruct her in her evil schemes; Eric would have wanted no love-draught to bring about his overthrow.
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