XI

It is true that, as the saying goes, ‘things learned young last longest’, and that was certainly the case with her just then.

∞

‘And don’t set so much store by yearning for just one woman. Behave as though you haven’t noticed, and you’ll never be short of women.’

∞

She often cast her eyes in Gunnlaug’s direction, and so it was proved that, as the saying goes, ‘if a woman loves a man, her eyes won’t hide it’.

∞

‘There may well be a lot of women,’ Gunnlaug replied, ‘but it doesn’t look that way to me.’

∞

But what fate decreed must come to pass.

X

In those days, the ruler of Denmark was Canute the Great, the son of Svein. He had recently come into his inheritance, and was continually threatening to lead an army against England, since his father, Svein, had gained considerable power in England before his death there in the west. Furthermore, there was a huge army of Danes in Britain at that time.

IX

In those days, Sweden was ruled by King Olaf the Swede, the son of King Eirik the Victorious and Sigrid the Ambitious, daughter of Tosti the Warlike. He was a powerful and illustrious king, and was very keen to make his mark.

∞

‘My kinsman Hrafn wants to ask for the hand of your daughter Helga,’ Skafti explained. ‘You know about his family background, his wealth and good breeding, and that he has numerous relatives and friends.’

VIII

At that time, Ireland was ruled by King Sigtrygg Silk-beard, the son of Olaf Kvaran and Queen Kormlod.

∞

In those days, the Orkney Islands were ruled by Earl Sigurd Hlodvesson. He thought highly of Icelanders.

⋅ Nota Bene ⋅

(Considering all these name drops, this saga apparently happens some time around the beginning of 11th century. And Norse people have been everywhere; they even sailed to America if I recall correctly. But The Gododin mentions that Prince Madog sailed to America as well in the 12th century so maybe sailing to America wasn’t that big of a deal as Columbus made it out to be?)

VII

King Ethelred, the son of Edgar, was ruling England at that time. He was a good ruler, and was spending that winter in London. In those days, the language in England was the same as that spoken in Norway and Denmark, but there was a change of language when William the Bastard conquered England. Since William was of French descent, the French language was used in England from then on.

∞

‘It’s not a good idea to lend money to strangers,’ Gunnlaug replied.

VI

‘One mustn’t limp while both legs are the same length,’ Gunnlaug replied.

V

‘For our friendship’s sake and because of what you’ve been saying, Helga will be promised to Gunnlaug, but not formally betrothed to him, and she will wait three years for him. And Gunnlaug must go abroad and follow the example of good men, and I will be free of any obligation if he doesn’t come back as required, or if I don’t like the way he turns out.’

IV

It was said that Gunnlaug was somewhat precocious, big and strong, with light chestnut hair, which suited him, dark eyes and a rather ugly nose. He had a pleasant face, a slender waist and broad shoulders. He was very manly, an impetuous fellow by nature, ambitious even in his youth, stubborn in all situations and ruthless. He was a gifted poet, albeit a somewhat abusive one, and was also called Gunnlaug Serpent-tongue.

∞

Helga was so beautiful that learned men say that she was the most beautiful woman there has ever been in Iceland. She had such long hair that it could cover her completely, and it was radiant as beaten gold. It was thought that there was no equal to Helga the Fair throughout Borgarfjord or in places further afield.

III

Before he left, he said to his wife, Jofrid, ‘As matters stand, you are soon going to have a baby. Now if you have a girl, it must be left out to die, but if it is a boy, it will be brought up.’

When the country was completely heathen, it was something of a custom for poor men with many dependants in their families to have their children exposed. Even so, it was always considered a bad thing to do.

When Thorstein had said this, Jofrid replied, ‘It is most unworthy for a man of your calibre to talk like that, and it cannot seem right to you to have such a thing done.’

∞

‘. . . take this child west to Egil’s daughter Thorgerd at Hjardarholt. Ask her to bring the child up in secret, so that Thorstein never finds out about it. For I look upon the child with such love that I really have no heart to have it left out to die.’

∞

‘Very well,’ he replied, ‘though one of them is by far the prettiest, and she has Olaf’s good looks, as well as the fair complexion and features we men of Myrar have.’

∞

‘I cannot blame you for this,’ Thorstein said. ‘In most cases, what will be will be, and you two have smoothed over my own stupidity well enough. I’m so pleased with this girl that I count myself very lucky to have such a beautiful child.’

∞

When he left, Thorstein was given splendid gifts, and Helga rode home to Borg with him and was brought up there, loved and cherished by her father and mother and all her relatives.

⋅ Nota Bene ⋅

(Wealthy people exposed their children as well, or otherwise had them killed either through neglect or purpose, depending on the era, so it wasn’t just a poor people thing. Also, do keep in mind that the age when the story was written down doesn’t necessarily reflect its actual age. The Slavs, for example, have preserved their myths and beliefs and folktales from Ancient India after all. But I’m going with the generally accepted age for these things.)

II

‘Dreams don’t mean anything,’ Thorstein answered.

∞

‘They will love her more strongly than is reasonable and will fight over her, and both of them will die as a result.’

I

He was a handsome man with white-blond hair and fine, piercing eyes.