Iceland - Njal’s Saga

“Nial’s Saga” was written by “anonymous” in the 13th century.

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Hallgerda, Hauskuld’s daughter, was good looking, tall of stature, and fair-haired, but she was also lavish and hard-hearted. When her father accepted, on her behalf, a marriage proposal from Thorwald, Oswif’s son according to the custom, she was upset because her father did not consult her.  

Hallgerda was prodigal and grasping, and there was nothing that any of their neighbours had that she must not have too.  When the spring came there was a scarcity in the house.   When she complained to her husband, “thou and thy father have made your money by starving yourselves”, Thorwald got angry and gave her a blow on the face and drew blood.  

Hallgerda complained about it to Thiostolf, her foster father, who went on to kill Thorwald.  Hallgerda sent Thiostolf to seek refuge with Swan, a great wizard and Hallgerda’s mother’s brother.  

When Oswif led many men to go after Thiostoff, Swan took a goatskin and wrapped it about his own head, and said, “Become mist and fog, become fright and wonder mickle to all those who seek thee.”  A great mist then came against Oswif’s men, they could see nothing, fell off their horses and dropped their weapons.  

When Oswif confronted Hauskuld and his brother Hrut to seek atonement for his son, Hrut make an award of two hundred in silver - that was considered a good price for a man - Hauskuld did so and Hrut gave Oswif a gift of a good cloak.  

Later on, Gunnar, a great fighter proposed to Hauskuld to marry Hallgerda.  This time, Hauskuld made Hallgerda betroth herself.  

Hallgerda compelled a slave/servant to steal food and cheese by threatening to kill the servant.  When this was founded out, Gunnar got angry and gave her a slap on the cheek.  Hallgerda said she would bear that slap in mind and repay it if she could.

Gunnar is a great fighter and won many fights.  At one point, Gunnar was travelling with his brothers Kolskegg and Hjort.  They were ambushed by 30 men.  They killed 14 of the men and wounded many others.  But Hjort was also killed.  

Many chiefs joined in praying for an atonement, and so it was brought about the twelve men should utter an award in the matter.  As a result, Gunnar was sentenced to go abroad for three years.  Gunnar agreed to the award.    However, when he started his journey, Gunnar’s horse tripped and threw him off, and he decided to stay home.  

At “The Thing” the following summer, it was officially announced that Gunnar had become an outlaw.  

A very large group of men attacked Gunnar at his home.  After killing many, Gunnar was wounded and ran out of weapons.  He asked Hallgerda for two locks of her hair to be twisted into a bowstring for him.   Hallgerda said, “now I will call to thy mind that slap on the face which thou gave me.”  At the end Gunnar was killed.  

The leader of the attackers, Gizur the white, said, “We have now laid low to earth a mighty chief, and hard work has it been, and the fame of this defence of his shall last as long as men live in this land.”

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There were a lot more to Nial’s Saga. 

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It is said the Sagas inspired the works of J. R. R. Tolkien.