Hænsna-Þóris Saga
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One day Odd said it would not be such a bad thing for them to have some of the produce of the land at Orn³lfsdal, where other men have wrongfully set themselves up on my property.
The women agreed, and said, The cows are getting practically dry, and there I will be much better milking if we do so.
Then we'll drive our herd there, said Odd, because the pasture's good.
I'll lead the herd, said Th³rod, so people will be less likely to try to stop us from grazing.
Odd said that was alright with him, and they left with the cattle. After they had come a long way, Th³rod suggested that they drive the cattle to a certain place where there was the worst hay and the rockiest ground. The night passed, and in the morning they drove the cattle home. After the women finished milking, they said that that was the worst milking they had ever had, so the thing was not tried any more. Then time passed quietly for a while.
It happened that early one morning Odd came to talk with his son Th³rod. Go around the district, he said, and assemble a force of men. I want to drive those others from our property. Torfi will go up to Hals¡ and tell them about the meeting; we'll all meet at Steinsva° [Stoneford]
They did so, and gathered a band of men. Th³rod recruited ninety men and then rode to the ford. Th³rod and his men came to the ford first; he asked the others to ride on ahead so that he could wait for his father.
As the men approached the fence at Orn³lfsdal, Gunnar was about to load a cart. Then the lad who was with Gunnar rode up.
Men are coming to the place, he said, and there are many of them.
Yes, said Gunnar, That's so. He went into the house and took his bow, for he was an excellent archer, and often compared with Gunnar of Hli°arend. His house was well-built; there was a window in the outer door that was so large that a man could put his head through. Gunnar stood at this door with his bow.
Then Th³rod came to the door with a few men [He had evidently gone through the woods in order to be able to parlay with Gunnar alone] and asked whether Gunnar wanted to offer any settlement.
Gunnar answered, I don't know that I owe any damages, but I do expect that my feathered maid-servants [his arrows] will put some of your followers to sleep [i. e. kI will them] before you get me in your power and before I bite the grass.
Th³rod answered, I admit that you are foremost of men now living, but a force might come against you that is so strong that even you won't be able to resist it, because my father even now is riding here with a great band and intends to kI will you.
That is fine, but if I go down, I'll get my man first. Anyway, I'm sure that your father won't live up to any agreements.
The fact is, said Th³rod, we are willing to come to terms; merely stretch forth your hand in good I will and give me your daughter J³fri° in marriage.
Gunnar answered, You are not going to force my daughter from me. On the other hand, this offer would seem fair enough as far as you are concerned, because you are a man of honor.
Worthy men would not think that I had forced your daughter from you, said Th³rod, and I would be very grateful to you if you would accept this proposal under the appropriate conditions.
Finally, after getting the advice of friends and considering the fact that Th³rod had conducted his suit justly and well, Gunnar stretched forth his hand and his matter was settled.
At that moment Odd came into the yard, and Th³rod went immediately to meet his father and asked him what he intended to do. Odd said that he was going to burn the house and the men as well.
Th³rod said, This case has taken on a new light, and I am now reconciled with Gunnar. And he told all that had happened.
For shame! said Odd. Would it have been any worse to have had the woman after we killed Gunnar, our greatest enemy?We made a mistake in giving you any authority in the matter.
Th³rod answered, You'll have to fight me first, then, if there is no other way.
But then other men intervened and bought about a reconciliation. The outcome of the matter was that J³fri° was given to Th³rod, and Odd disliked that greatly. Thereupon everyone went home. After that the wedding took place, and Th³rod enjoyed his situation greatly. When winter ended, Th³rod left the country, because he had heard that his brother Thorvald had been enslaved and he wanted to purchase his freedom. He went to Norway, but neither he nor his brother ever came back to Iceland. Odd began to age greatly, and when he heard that neither of his sons would come back, he became very sick. As the sickness began to press upon him, he told his friends that they should move him up to Sk¡neyjarfjell when he died because from there, he said, he would be able to see out over the entire Tungu, and it was done.
J³fri°, Gunnar's daughter, was afterward given in marriage to Thorstein Egilsson at Borg and was a great woman.
And there ends the saga of H¸nsa-Th³ri.
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