Six Sagas of Adventure (13 page)

The king considered the maiden’s words, and he found her overbearing and haughty. He thought there was a good chance that he and his kingdom would get into trouble from her arrogance and ambition. He decided to give her a third of his kingdom in stewardship, and he granted her a royal seat along with that, called Ullarakr.
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In addition, he gave her fierce and bold men as followers, who were compliant and obedient to her will.

When she had received all of this from her father, she went to Ullarakr. At once she summoned a great assembly and had herself raised to kingship over the third of Sweden which King Eirek had agreed to let her rule in stewardship. She also gave herself the name Thorberg. No man was so bold as to call her a maiden or a woman—whoever did that would have to suffer harsh punishment. Then King Thorberg dubbed knights and appointed retainers and gave them pay, in the same way as her father King Eirek in Uppsala. Sweden maintained this arrangement for several years.

CHAPTER V

Now we turn to how King Gautrek of Gautland fell ill. He called his queen to speak with her, together with other powerful men, and he said to them: “Word has gone out that I have fallen ill, and since age weighs heavily on me, I probably won’t ever suffer any more illnesses. I want to thank all of you men, with praise for the service and fellowship that you have offered me. As you know, I have two sons to inherit after me. One is here with us, but the other is in Denmark with King Hring. It is the law of this land that a king’s elder son should rule as king after his father.
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Now, in the case of my son Ketil, I do not wish to break the law through my own obstinacy, or on behalf of you men of this land. Yet I want to ask you all together to allow the son whom I believe is better suited to inherit the kingdom after me.”

They said that they were quite willing to trust his insight, which had always served them well, and they didn’t want to reject his advice in the end, since they had always taken it before and it had served them very well. The king said that he wanted Hrolf to take the kingdom, and said that he expected he would become an excellent man and a good leader of his people. The king asked for Ketil’s approval. Ketil said that he wasn’t greedy for the kingdom, and it would be well if Hrolf took it.

After that, they thanked him for the excellent peace and quiet that they had enjoyed for a long time, thanks to his lordly governance and royal management. The king arranged his affairs as he thought best. Each man went home, but those whose duty it was stayed by the king’s side. It didn’t take long before the sickness claimed his life. The queen felt this to be a terrible blow, and so did all the folk of the kingdom. He was deeply mourned by all the inhabitants, for no king had been more beloved, on account of his generosity and wisdom. Afterwards, he was buried in a mound, according to ancient custom.

Not much time had passed, when the queen prepared to go on a journey with a splendid retinue. She didn’t stop her travels until she arrived in Denmark to meet King Hring. She brought before the king the grief and hurt that she had suffered from the death of King Gautrek. She told him all of the arrangements that King Gautrek had made before he died.

When the king had heard these tidings, he was deeply saddened by the death of his sworn brother King Gautrek. He asked Queen Ingibjorg to stay with him for as long as she liked.

The queen answered, “We didn’t make this journey just to stay in your kingdom. But if you want to do something to honor us, my lord, then I ask you to come to Gautland at our invitation, with your foster-son Hrolf, so that he may become king there under your supervision, as King Gautrek had planned. Along with that, I want you to hold the inheritance-feast on behalf of King Gautrek, according to ancient custom.”

The king said that it would be done as she asked. Not long afterwards, the king started out on his journey with a fine retinue, and he didn’t stop until he came to Gautland, with Queen Ingibjorg and her son Hrolf with him. A splendid feast had already been prepared, and many of that land’s noblest men were there. King Gautrek’s inheritance-ale was drunk, and a great assembly was summoned to the feast. At the assembly, Hrolf was raised to the kingship, on the advice of King Hring and with the consent of all the people in the whole of Gautland. When everything was fulfilled and completed, King Hring returned to Denmark, and he was sent home with worthy gifts.

Hrolf began to rule the kingdom, and he made laws and rules according to his will. He soon became well-liked by his men. He was a wise ruler, and as generous as his father. He was twelve years old when he took the rulership of the kingdom. His brother Ketil stayed with him. Ingjald, his foster-brother, set out raiding in the summers, but always made his winter quarters in Gautland with King Hrolf. So matters went until Hrolf was fifteen years old.

CHAPTER VI

It’s said that the brothers were conversing once, and King Hrolf asked what Ketil thought of his rulership. Ketil said that it was fine, in most respects.

King Hrolf answered, “Since you have insight into this, you must tell me how what I have achieved by my own will seems defective.”

Ketil answered, “I can easily find the matter in which you seem to be lacking in good fortune. You’re not married, and you would be thought a much greater king if you took a wife befitting your station.”

The king said, “Where should I go to seek a wife?”

Ketil answered, “Your honor would grow if you were to ask for the hand of a princess who is both clever and foresighted. But I certainly wouldn’t expect you to be rejected, no matter where you wanted to look.”

The king replied, “I don’t think much about such possibilities. This is a small country, and no one will think there’s much profit in our kingdom. But where would you look first, kinsman?”

Ketil answered, “I have heard that King Eirek in Sweden has a beautiful and wise daughter named Thornbjorg. I have heard that such a match is not to be found in all the Northlands, for she is skilled in every art which may well adorn a woman. But she is also skilled at jousting and fencing with shield and sword, on an equal footing with bold knights. She is greater at that than any woman I have ever heard of. King Eirek, her father, is renowned for his might and for many other accomplishments which such a celebrated king may pride himself on.”

King Hrolf answered, “We’re not bold enough for anything like that. Such an attempt would draw more attention for rashness than for wisdom—as sometimes happens to you, kinsman. It’s bad for someone who has no hope to be so conceited about how he might rise. If I go and ask for the daughter of King Eirek in Sweden, as you want me to do, I believe the woman would be refused to me, and I would probably be insulted. I would have to put up with all that, since I wouldn’t be able to take vengeance because of how powerful the king is—and I wouldn’t take that well at all.”

Ketil said that it wouldn’t happen that way. “We have no lack of men from Denmark and Gautland for an attack on King Eirek, if he denies you the girl.”

King Hrolf said, “You don’t need to taunt me, because I know how this would turn out if we attempted it.”

As before, it happened again that King Hrolf’s mind worked like this: He paid no attention to the matter and let it pass, as he did with many other things that were brought to his attention, and it wasn’t clear what he was thinking. Later, he would take up this matter which had slipped everyone’s mind. For some time, the sworn brothers stayed by turns in Denmark or in Gautland. They always went raiding in the summer, winning a great deal of wealth, and were the bravest of warriors, so that no one could withstand them. They became most famous for their heroic deeds. Almost everyone knew their names.

It is said of King Hrolf that he was the largest and strongest of all men. He was so heavy that he couldn’t ride any horse for a whole day, without it suffocating or collapsing under him—he always had to change horses.
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King Hrolf was the most handsome of men, courteous and well-shaped in every respect, with the finest hair of any man; a broad face and prominent features; the keenest eyesight, with blue and flashing eyes; a slender waist and broad shoulders. He was the most accomplished and well-mannered man in every respect, a better fighter than anyone, and more skilled in all sports and achievements than any other man in the Northlands in those days. He was the best-loved of men. King Hrolf was a wise man, foresighted in everything, intelligent and clear-sighted. He soon became famous far and wide for his rulership, near and far.

One spring, Ketil asked what King Hrolf intended to do in the summer. He answered, “Wouldn’t it be a good idea to go to Sweden and try to become King Eirek’s in-laws, as you once suggested?”

Ketil said, “You’re unbelievable. First you ignore what’s said to you and don’t pay it any attention at the time—yet it’s on your mind. Then you remember it later, once many years have passed, and act as if it had just been brought up. I feel the same way about it as I did then, and there’s no need to delay.”

The king said, “Have you heard anything about this maiden?”

Ketil answered, “Nothing at all, except for what I’ve already told you.”

The king said, “I’ve heard that she is both wise and beautiful—and, as I’ve been told, that she is so haughty and proud that she wants no man to address her as a woman. She has been raised to kingship over a third of Sweden. Her seat is at Ullarakr, where she maintains a household like other kings. I’ve also heard it said that several kings have asked for her hand in marriage. Some she has had killed; some she has shamed in some way; some she has blinded, castrated, or had their hands or feet cut off; and she’s received them all with ridicule and disgrace. This is how she wants to discourage people from courting her. I can also see that this journey could turn out either way. If we manage to arrange this marriage, the journey will increase our fame—but otherwise, we’ll get shame and disgrace and be laughingstocks forever.”

Ketil said, “Many men aren’t enough for you, even if they’ve been brought together for you in full. It’s completely ridiculous that you hardly have the confidence to propose to a woman. I think that the more arrogance she assumes, the more her ferocity will collapse once the time comes to put an end to it.”

King Hrolf said, “Now that you’re questioning my courage about this journey, I’ll send you to Denmark to find my sworn brother Ingjald. I want him to make this journey with me.”

Their conversation ended. Ketil went on his way to Denmark. Ingjald lost no time and traveled to meet King Hrolf. The king welcomed him warmly and told him his plan. Ingjald thought it was a good one, and said that with the king’s luck, they could expect their mission to turn out all right in the end.

King Hrolf told Ketil his brother to stay at home and guard the kingdom. Ketil said, “It’s your decision, lord, but I’m astonished that you’re calling me worthless, since I’m not fit to join your retinue.”

The king said, “Don’t think of yourself that way, brother, because you shall make the journey if we need you in a difficult situation. But first, we will put forth this proposal calmly and patiently, if we’re given the chance.” But Ketil was most unwilling, and predicted that it would go badly.

King Hrolf set out on his journey, riding away from home with sixty men. Those men had been carefully picked, both for their courage and for their showy trappings of clothes and weapons. They rode away, as the road took them, and didn’t stop their travels until they came to Uppsala.

CHAPTER VII

Now the story turns to King Eirek. He had a wise and beautiful queen, who set great store by dreams. Her name was Ingigerd.

One night, the queen awoke in her bed. She said to King Eirek, “I must have been thrashing around in my sleep.”
“You were,” said the king, “but what did you dream?”

She answered, “I was standing outside and looking around, and suddenly I could look out over all Sweden and much farther. I looked towards Gautland, and I could see so clearly that I saw a huge pack of wolves running from there, and I thought they were heading towards Sweden. A huge lion was running ahead of the wolves. After it came a white bear with red cheeks. Both beasts seemed peaceful, with their hackles down. They howled, but not fiercely—but that seemed odd, given how quickly the animals were coming here, and how clearly I thought I saw them. There didn’t look to be more than sixty. I realized that they must be intending to come here to Uppsala. I thought that I called out to you to tell you about it, and at that moment I awoke.”

The king said, “My lady, what do you suppose this means?”

She answered, “When I saw the wolves, those were men’s fetches.
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Since the lion ran ahead, that is a king’s fetch, and he must be their ruler. A white bear was running next to him, and that must be some champion or prince accompanying this king, because the bear is strong and indicates powerful support. I think it’s very likely that some noble king is seeking you out. That beast was much larger and stronger than I have heard could exist.”

The king said, “When do you think this king will arrive? And how much damage do you think they will do in our kingdom?”

The queen said, “I would say that I expect that this king is coming in peace at this time, because these beasts were gentle. If I had to guess, I would say that the great lion must be the fetch of King Hrolf Gautreksson of Gautland, since that’s where these beasts were coming from. I guess the white bear must be the fetch of Ingjald, his sworn brother.”

The king said, “What could Hrolf the champion want, coming here to meet with us?”

The queen said, “It’s all a riddle, but because the beasts seemed mild, I think that they are coming in peace with good intentions towards us. I think it most likely that King Hrolf will have the same mission that many others have had before: to ask for the hand of our daughter Thornbjorg. She is now the most famous woman in the Northlands.”

The king said, “I didn’t know that Hrolf intended such insolence, nor that other king who rules such a little kingdom—since high kings, with under-kings who pay them tribute, have previously asked for her hand. Don’t go on with such daydreams, my lady.”

The queen said, “Don’t pay this any mind, unless what I think proves true
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”

The king said, “How shall I go to meet King Hrolf if he comes here, or receive his proposal, if that’s his reason for coming?”

She answered, “You must receive Hrolf well if he seeks you out, and offer him the best cheer, because he is the most accomplished man in many respects. It’s not certain that your daughter could get a more famous man, or so I’m told about him.”

After that, they ended their conversation for the time being. Several days passed.

CHAPTER VIII

King Eirek was informed that King Hrolf Gautreksson had arrived with sixty men. The king got men to invite him to a feast in his hall. When the invitation reached King Hrolf, he went to meet the king, and he was welcomed well and suitably, but with no grace or good cheer. The high-seat across the table from the king was prepared for him.

They arrived late in the day. Once the tables and food were taken away, drink was brought in. When they had drunk for a while, many were quite cheerful, but King Hrolf was quite attentive and said little. King Eirek spoke to him and asked for news from Gautland or any other place from which he might have heard. King Hrolf said that there wasn’t any news from Gautland.