Six Sagas of Adventure (46 page)

The king found this a good plan, and he went ahead with it as Annis had said. Jarl Melans came from Scotland with a large force. There was also the fine force that King Duncan sent to King Heinrek. Leading the force were two berserks, one named Amon and the other named Hjalmar, outstanding in strength and hardiness. Heinrek now had an overwhelming host. His messengers came to Lindsey and told Hrolf and his men that a field was marked with hazel stakes and prepared for battle next to Ashingdon. Some found it ill-advised to land such a small force on the mainland, since there was a great multitude facing them. They sailed for the place called Sherston,
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and there they left their ships behind and prepared to go ashore. They didn’t break their journey until they came to Ashingdon. King Heinrek and Jarl Melans were there ahead of time with an overwhelming force, and in the forest were Amon and Hjalmar with a great force. Hrolf was not aware of this.

Now the armies were arranged in formation. King Heinrek deployed three ranks. He himself was in the center, and Jarl Melans was on one side. On his other side was the count named Engilbert, the greatest champion. With him was a man named Raudam, both tall and strong, the most fearless of men. Banners were borne before them all. Annis was not in the battle. Harald wanted to deploy facing King Heinrek, and Stefnir facing Jarl Melans. Hrolf drew up his forces facing Raudam and Engilbert.

There was a blast on trumpets, and both sides pressed the attack with battle-cries and shouts of encouragement. First a storm of arrows broke out, and then the fiercest fight at close quarters, as both sides charged forward. At first the Scots and Englishmen were very fierce, but the Danes met them well and sharply. Engilbert and Raudam encountered Hrolf at the beginning, as the ranks were closing up, and they both attacked him at the same time, but he defended himself well and bravely. He was in his armor, and wearing Vefreyja’s Gift on the outside. Raudam and Englibert were both agile and strong, and Hrolf never landed a blow on them, but he chopped off all their armor. Hrolf grew weary, but no weapon landed on him, on account of his protection. He was terribly exhausted. He was forced to throw away his sword, and he rushed headlong under Count Engilbert, heaving the count up over his head and flinging him down on his head, breaking his neck. At that moment Raudam struck Hrolf in the back with both hands, shattering his sword below the hilt. He wanted to own the treasure Hreggvid’s Gift. Hrolf leaped at him and let him feel the difference in their strength, and pinned him under himself and forced his knee down onto his breast, so hard that his ribs were smashed in. Raudam and Engilbert laid down their lives. They seemed the boldest of men.

Now Hrolf took up Hreggvid’s Gift and struck right and left. The Scots found it a most keen edge, and they recoiled from it. Hrolf could not pursue them at the time, but he killed everyone that stood before him. The Danes suddenly realized that their weapons wouldn’t bite. Although they struck doggedly, as if there was no armor before them, it was as if they were striking with cudgels—except for Hreggvid’s Gift, which cut as if it were plunging into water. That had not been able to be blunted except by Grim Aegir, as men had seen. Now more Danes fell than Englishmen.

Just then they heard a trumpet blast and a battle cry. The berserks charged out of the forest in full force and attacked Hrolf’s men on the flank. They made a fierce attack, and the Danes fell in heaps. Hrolf ordered his men to turn to face them and stand back to back, and he advancedagainst the berserks with his own banner. Now the battle was at its fiercest.

Stefnir traded blows with Jarl Melans, and that was a difficult encounter, because he was a great champion and Stefnir’s sword didn’t bite. Amon and Hjalmar now came against Hrolf. They both struck at him, but he held his shield before him and bore up bravely. Hrolf swept his sword at Hjalmar and hit him on the thigh, above the hip, cutting his leg off. He died shortly afterwards. Then Annis came forward, holding a shield as big as a door before him, but carrying a little knife in the other hand. He stabbed Hrolf’s standard-bearer in the midriff, running him through, and the banner fell to the earth. As soon as Annis had advanced, the Danes’ weapons bit. Now everyone fought as best he could. Many fell on both sides, yet more fell on the Danes’ side.

Hrolf wanted to avenge his standard-bearer, and he struck at Annis. The blow went down to the center of the shield, cleaving it down to the handle. The sword stuck fast, but Annis held his shield so strongly that it never quaked. Hrolf wanted to let the sword slip, but this was impossible, because both his hands were stuck to the hilt. Annis ordered the Scots to punish Hrolf—“because the wolf’s been caught in a trap.” They did so: a great many of them crowded around Hrolf. Others struck or beat him. He was pelted with stones and hewed with axes and bashed with cudgels. Hrolf grimaced horribly and struggled fiercely with hard kicks. He still couldn’t get free.

Now we must tell how Stefnir fought with Jarl Melans. His sword began to bite. He struck the jarl on the helmet with all his strength. That blow was so great that it cleaved the helmet and head and all his armored body completely through, so that the sword stuck fast in the earth. They had fought for a long time.

Stefnir was amazed that he couldn’t see Hrolf’s banner, nor Hrolf himself. He searched for him until he saw the fix he was in: they were trying to cut his feet out from under him. He rushed to help him and attacked Annis by surprise, striking the rim of his helmet with his sword and splitting it, along with his entire face and both arms at the elbow-joints. He butchered Annis crudely. Hrolf got free, and it wasn’t a good idea to stand in front of him. He turned on Amon and swung his sword at him with both hands. The sword landed on his shield and split it in two, and the point of the sword sliced his chest and belly so that his intestines fell out, and Amon fell dead to the ground. Hrolf was so enraged that he spared no one. He struck boldly wherever he could reach quickly with his drawn sword, and three or four men fell before each of his strokes. The slaughter could best be compared to chips flying furiously from a stump that men are making into charcoal. Stefnir did the same. The Englishmen now fell so quickly that they amounted to many hundreds.

King Heinrek and Harald had encountered each other early in the battle and had been fighting all day. They were both wounded and weary, but Harald was getting the worst of it. Hrolf saw their encounter. By then he had gone through King Heinrek’s ranks and back again four times. He charged the king and struck him from behind, so that he fell dead to the ground in two pieces. When the Scots and Englishmen saw that their king had fallen, everyone fled who had feet to run with. The other side pursued the fleeing host, killing everyone they caught and offering no quarter. Hrolf pursued the host for a long time. Whoever he caught with his sword had no need for a truce, and a multitude of the fleeing warriors fell.

Then the Danes turned back and stripped the dead, taking a great plunder. Annis was captured in the battle. Hrolf had him torn to pieces by cattle, and thus his life ended. Hrolf was badly wounded on his arms and legs, and he was bruised and sore from mighty blows all over his body, although they hadn’t cut.

Harald and his men went to the town of Winchester, which surrendered to them. All the inhabitants gladly submitted to Harald. Now he was raised to kingship over all the kingdom which his father had had. He thanked Hrolf and Stefnir for their support and valor, as was right.

The Scots who escaped went to find Duncan and told him of their misfortune and losses. They said that Hrolf was more like a troll than a man, on account of his strength and size. Duncan wasn’t at all pleased with the losses he had suffered, but he had to put up with them.

CHAPTER XXXVII

Hrolf and Steinir now stayed quietly with Harald until the winter was over. Harald had his sister Alfhild fetched from the fort of Brentford, and she went with a goodly retinue and following, as befitted her. Harald and his sister were glad to see each other. She was the loveliest young maiden, skilled in the arts that were seemly for a king’s child. Stefnir soon fell in love with her and went to speak with her, and he found her both wise and well-mannered. Stefnir proposed marriage to her, and she responded favorably but turned to her brother. Harald readily gave his consent, because Stefnir’s great bravery and valor were well known to him. In the end, Stefnir betrothed himself to Alfhild, and Harald provided her with a dowry of gold and fine treasures.

As soon as spring came, they all prepared to return to Denmark. They loaded their ships with malt, mead, wine, and costly clothes, and all the wares that were most treasured in Denmark and that could be bought in England. Then they set sail back to Denmark, and Alfhild went with them. All the folk in Jutland were glad that they had come back. The young maidens welcomed them warmly, and so did Bjorn the Counsellor. Alfhild came to Ingigerd and Thora, and there was much rejoicing among them all together. They had their ship unloaded, and they arranged for a noble feast with all the best provisions that could be had in Denmark or nearby lands. No expense was spared for the halls and tapestries and everything that was to be found in the Northlands. To this feast there were invited burgesses and retainers, counts and jarls, along with dukes and kings and all other men of high degree. Most of the nobles in Denmark attended this feast. All the men who had come there were arranged in their seats, and courteous squires and well-mannered courtiers served there. All sorts of dishes were brought out, with the costliest spices: the flesh of beasts and birds of all kinds, reindeer and stags and excellent wild boar, geese and ptarmigans, with peppered peacocks. There was no lack of the costliest drink: ale and English mead, together with the finest of wines, and also spiced and honeyed wines.
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And with the wedding appointed and the feast arranged, one might hear all manner of stringed instruments: harps and viols, hurdy-gurdies and psalteries. Drums were beaten and pipes were blown, and there were all manner of delightful games that one’s body might enjoy. After that, the young maidens were led in with their splendid coiffures and delightful throng of ladies. Two noblemen led each lady whom the bridegrooms were to marry. Over them was borne a cloth canopy on painted posts, intended to shade their bright raiment and fair procession until they had reached their seats. Then the canopy was taken away, and no color surpassed the color of their skin and hair shining, and their gold glowing, set with gemstones gleaming. Everyone found that even Alfhild and Thora seemed pallid next to Ingigerd.

Now the feast was at the height of its splendor, and at this feast Hrolf married Ingigerd, Stefnir married Alfhild, and Harald married Thora. For seven nights continued the feasting, being appointed and arranged in the manner that I am now describing, and in glory and splendor concluding, with the bridegrooms bestowing fine gifts upon all noble men and thanking them for coming. Each fared to his own household, praising their lordliness as much as their magnificence, with everyone in friendship parting.
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Great love began to grow between the wedded couples.

King Harald did not stay for long in Denmark before preparing to go home to England. He parted with his brother-in-law Stefnir and with Hrolf in friendship and went straight to his kingdom. Thora was his queen, and they settled down peacefully. They had children together, though they aren’t named.

England is said to be the richest of all the western lands, because all metals are smelted there, and wheat and grapes are produced there, and all sorts of crops may be had there. Also, clothes and many sorts of fabrics are made there, more than in other places. London is the principal city there, along with Canterbury. Scarborough and Hastings
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are there, along with Winchester and many other cities and towns which will not be named here.
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The title of jarl over all Jutland was given to Stefnir. He usually stayed in Ribe.

Denmark is divided into many parts, but Jutland makes up the greater part of the kingdom; it lies to the south along the ocean. It is called Jutlandside along the west coast from Skagen southwards to Ribe. There are many important cities in Jutland. The southernmost is Hedeby; next is Ribe, a third is Aarhus, and a fourth is Viborg, which is where the Danes choose their king. The Limfjord cuts through Jutland and runs from north to south. In the interior of the fjord, Harald’s Neck leads west to the sea; that’s where King Harald Sigurdsson had his ships dragged, when he escaped the enmity of the King of Sweden.
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To the west of the Limfjord lies Skagen, which curves northwards. The principal town is Hjorring. Between Jutland and Fyn lies the Little Belt. The principal town on Fyn is Odense. The Great Belt runs between Fyn and Zealand; the principal town on Zealand is Roskilde. The Oresund runs to the north of Zealand, and north of that is Skane; there the principal town is Lund. Many great islands lie between Jutland and Skane; there are Samso, Als, Lolland, and Langeland. Bornholm lies in the sea to the east. The Skjoldung kings held this kingdom at this time. Although other kings and jarls had kingdoms to rule, no smaller than the kings in Denmark had, the Skjoldungs bore greater distinction on account of their name and descent.
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CHAPTER XXXVIII

It’s said that Jarl Stefnir must not have lived long, and he had no children that survived infancy. Hrolf and Stefnir parted in great friendship, and maintained their fellowship for as long as they both lived. It’s not said that Hrolf ever came to Ringerike again—but it’s said that Harald traveled westward to England that summer. Hrolf sailed east from Denmark to Novgorod with ten ships, and Ingigerd went with him. There, Hrolf was raised to the kingship over all Russia, on the advice of the princess and other powerful personages.

One third of Russia is called Kiev. It lies along the mountain range that separates Russia from Jotunheim. There are also Ermland and many other small realms.

Hrolf ruled his kingdom and was highly respected. He was both wise and a good ruler. No chieftains dared to invade his lands, on account of his fame and his boldness. Hrolf and Ingigerd loved each other very much and had many children. One son of theirs was named Hreggvid, an outstanding man; he went raiding in the Eastern realms and never came back. Wise men say that another son of Hrolf’s was King Olaf, who was attacked by Helgi the Bold. Hromund Gripsson aided Olaf and killed Helgi, as is told in his saga.
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Hrolf’s daughters were Dagny and Dagbjort, who healed Hromund, but it isn’t recorded whether they were Ingigerd’s children or not.
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Hrolf’s third son was named Hord, the father of Kari, father of Horda-Knut.
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It’s said that Hrolf lived to be old, but it’s not clear whether he died of illness or was slain with weapons.