Njals Saga

Hallgerd sends Sigmund and his men to kill Thord. When they approach him, Thord says that Skarphedin will avenge his death; they proceed to kill him anyway. They send word to Hallgerd of Thord’s death. When Gunnar’s mother hears of it, she remarks that “the hand’s joy in the blow is brief, and so it will be here” (71). She cautions the men against following Hallgerd’s orders again because it will ensure their demise.

Gunnar is distressed by the news of Thord’s death, and he offers Njal “the right of self-judgment for this slaying” (72). Njal accepts, but he notes that Bergthora and his sons will be unhappy. When Skarphedin sees the settlement money, he asks his father how far the situation must progress before he will retaliate. Njal responds, “Not far,” but he warns Skarphedin to adhere to the settlement.

Gunnar reprimands Sigmund for listening to Hallgerd. However, even after these events, Njal and Gunnar remain friends.

Gossiping “itinerant women” arrive at Hlidarendi from Njal’s home. They imply to Hallgerd that Njal’s sons are readying for a fight. She encourages Sigmund to recite slanderous poetry about Njal and his sons, calling them “Old Beardless” and “Dung-beardlings.” Gunnar rebukes Sigmund for being “foolish and unable to follow good advice” (74).

The itinerant women return to Njal’s farm to report news about Hallgerd to Bergthora. She encourages her sons to take vengeance, despite Njal’s protests. That night, Njal hears his sons preparing their weapons.

Njal’s sons make their way to Hlidarendi. Skarphedin tells his half-brother Hoskuld Njalsson to stand down while he slays Sigmund. Helgi and Grim take Skjold. Njal’s sons kill both men. Afterward, the Njalssons return home and inform their father of the slayings.

Hallgerd’s shepherd tells her about the killings. She laments that the man failed to bring Sigmund’s head to her because, if he had, she could have shown it to Gunnar and forced him to take avenge the death. However, Gunnar takes no action despite Hallgerd’s prodding.

Three years later, Njal comments that Sigmund’s slaying was uncompensated. Gunnar admits that he would accept an offer; he sets an amount, and Njal pays it. Gunnar then gives notice of the settlement at the Thingskalar Assembly and speaks well of Njal’s sons. In this way, Gunnar and Njal’s friendship continues.

Gizur the White, a respected chieftain, and Geir the Godi, another chieftain, are closely allied. Meanwhile, Mord Valgardsson now lives at Hof. His mother is deceased, and his father is abroad. Valgardsson is disliked because of his poor character. He is jealous of Gunnar’s wealth and fame.

The wealthy Otkel befriends a dishonest man named Skammel. Otkel’s brother, Hallbjorn the White, has an unpleasant Irish slave named Melkolf. One day, Melkolf remarks that he would prefer Otkel to be his master, so Otkel asks his brother to Melkolf to him. Hallbjorn agrees to give Melkolf to him, but soon after, Otkel realizes that Melkolf is not a good worker.

Iceland falls victim to famine, but Gunnar shares his resources with others until he runs out. He goes to purchase hay and food from Otkel, who rudely refuses to sell to Gunnar. However, he agrees to sell Melkolf to Gunnar. When Njal hears that Gunnar is running out of resources, he arrives at Hlidarendi with supplies. Gunnar thanks him, noting that his friendship is more valuable than any gifts.

Gunnar travels to an uneventful Althing. Meanwhile, Hallgerd tells Melkolf to steal butter and cheese from Otkel. Melkolf does as she commands, and he then kills Otkel’s dog and burns down the storage shed. While returning, he leaves his knife and belt along the Ranga River. Otkel’s men inform him of the incident.

After the Thing’s conclusion, men return to their homes. Hallgerd brings out cheese and butter to her guests at Hlidarendi. The food raises Gunnar’s suspicions, so he questions his wife. She provides a dismissive response, leading Gunnar to strike her. Hallgerd is furious about this, and she says “she [will] remember this slap and pay it back if she could” (82).

Otkel’s friend Skammel finds Melkolf’s knife and belt and brings them to Otkel. They show the items to witnesses and consult Mord Valgardsson, who knows about Hallgerd’s stolen food. The men pay Valgardsson to assist them. He comes up with a plan to send some women with gifts for Hallgerd, and he thinks that, in return, Hallgerd will give the women the stolen items in return, “because people tend to get rid of stolen property first, if they have any, and that will be the case here” (83).

Rightly enough, Valgardsson discovers that Hallgerd gave a great deal of the cheese to the women he sent out. He reports this finding to Otkel. Gunnar’s brother, Kolskegg, recounts to Gunnar that there is a rumor blaming Hallgerd for the theft, so they approached Otkel with compensation. Skammel advises Otkel to consult Gizur the White and Geir the Godi about the offer, so they go to them. When they are halfway there, Skammel cunningly offers to go on Otkel’s behalf. Otkel agrees, but upon his return home, he faces his brother Hallbjorn’s disapproval for letting Skammel go on his behalf.

Skammel tells Gizur the White that Otkel has not yet accepted Gunnar’s offer because he wants Gizur’s input. However, Geir the Godi sees through Skammel’s treachery. Skammel returns to Otkel and lies that Gizur and Geir advised Otkel to serve Gunnar a summons for receiving stolen goods and told him to serve Hallgerd a summons for theft. Hallbjorn, however, realizes Skammel’s deceit.

The final Summons Day for the Althing arrives, so Otkel delivers his summons. Gunnar is angry about this and consults Njal, who predicts that the Althing will go well for him. Otkel and his men journey to the Althing.

Gunnar and his kinsmen travel to the Althing, as do Njal and his sons. Hrut advises Gunnar to challenge Gizur the White to a duel if he does not give Gunnar the right of self-judgment. Likewise, Kolskegg will challenge Geir, and others will attack Otkel’s party. Gunnar tells Njal of Hrut’s plan.

However, when Gizur confronts Otkel about the summons, Skammel’s lies are revealed. Gizur thus offers Gunnar self-judgement in the dispute with Otkel. Gunnar sets his terms after receiving oaths from Gizur and Geir. The matter is settled, and Gunnar warns Otkel not to instigate more conflict. Everyone returns to their respective homes.

Runolf, a friend of Otkel’s, invites Otkel to visit his home in Dal; Otkel promises that he will. Meanwhile, a strong Norwegian visitor called Audolf is living at Otkel’s home and falls in love with Signy, Otkel’s daughter.

Otkel and his men ride to Dal in the spring. He runs into Gunnar along the way, inadvertently injuring him with his riding spur. Though the injury is an accident, Gunnar assumes it is retaliatory and berates Otkel. He threatens to use his halberd against Otkel if they clash again. Kolskegg recommends that Gunnar tell his neighbors about Otkel to establish witnesses, should further disputes arise.

Otkel and his party spend a week with Runolf at Dal. There, they relate this encounter with Gunnar. Skammel falsely claims that Gunnar wept after the injury, for which Runolf chastises him. Runolf offers to accompany Otkel’s party when they depart, but Otkel turns him down. Runolf predicts that they will never meet again.

Gunnar’s shepherd reports that he saw Otkel and his men riding along the Markarfljot River; he also recounts Skammel’s gossip about Gunnar weeping. Gunnar arms himself and gallops away on his horse to find Otkel’s group. He orders them to defend themselves, and a brawl erupts. Kolskegg arrives and joins in the fray, and he and Gunnar kill eight men, including Otkel. Meanwhile, Mord Valgardsson refuses to help stop the fight. Gunnar and Kolskegg return home, and Gunnar questions his own masculinity because he does not take pleasure in slaying others.

Gunnar tells Njal of the slayings while word about it spreads across Iceland. Njal prophesizes that Gunnar will kill again. He warns him not to kill more than once within the same bloodline or break a settlement with “good men.” He also tells Gunnar that he foresees what will kill him; however, he does not tell him the cause of his death, merely that it will be unexpected.

Gizur the White and Geir the Godi prosecute Gunnar for the killings. Geir brings forth the suit after the drawing of lots. They travel to the site of the murders, uncover the corpses, and “[name] witnesses to the fatal wounds. Then they [give] notice of their findings and [summon] a panel of nine neighbors” (95). Word of the lawsuit spreads, and everyone expects that the coming Althing will be rife with hostility.

Skaft, and his son, Thorodd, are skilled lawyers and chieftains. They are Gizur the White’s allies, and Thorodd is known for his guile. When men gather for the Althing, many support Gunnar. Others, like Skaft and Thorodd, support the opposition. The parties go to the Law Rock where Geir “[gives] notice of a suit for homicide against Gunnar” for the deaths of Otkel and the others; he also files a suit against Kolskegg.

The prosecution and defense gathered at the Ranga district court. Witnesses find Gunnar guilty of the charges. Gunnar make his defense, stating that Otkel must be declared an outlaw for trying to injure Gunnar with his spur. However, Njal intervenes, and Thorodd suggests that the men reach a settlement. Gizur and Gunnar agree. A panel of six decides the case at the Althing, with Gunnar paying compensation for some of the killings. Gunnar returns home honorably.

Starkad is married to Hallbera, and they have several sons, including Thorgeir, Bork, and Thorkel. Their sons are violent and disrespectful. They also have a daughter, Hildigunn the Healer.

Egil has several violent, troublesome sons who often ally with Starkad’s sons. Egil also hosts two Norwegian visitors: Thorgrim and Thorir. They are well-liked and known for their bravery.

Starkad’s sons challenge Gunnar to a horse-fight. Gunnar agrees, provided they are doing so for sport and not conflict. He requests that they refrain from shaming him, and promises to do the same. Then, the men return and tell Starkad of the arrangement while Gunnar seeks Njal’s input. Njal prophesizes that the fight will go well for Gunnar, but it will lead to many deaths and longstanding hostility between Starkad’s men and Gunnar.

Hallgerd’s father dies, and her daughter gives birth to a son named Hoskuld Thrainsson, after his deceased grandfather. Gunnar and Hallgerd have two sons, Grani and Hogni. Grani takes after his mother while Hogni is of good character.

The horse-fight takes place with many in attendance, including the Njalssons, Sigfussons, Egil, and Starkad. Gunnar maintains a steady demeanor until Starkad’s sons attack. Thorgeir maims Gunnar’s horse so badly that it has to be killed. Gunnar strikes Thorgeir in retaliation. Njal offers to negotiate a settlement, but Thorgeir refuses. Yet, no one attacks Gunnar and he refuses to be drawn into further fighting. Everyone rides home from the horse-fight.

At the Althing the following summer, Gunnar meets Olaf Peacock, his brother-in-law. Olaf warns him to travel in a group and to be on guard against an attack from the Starkad’s sons.

At the Althing, Gunnar supports a petitioner named Asgrim Ellida-Grimsson when his case against Ulf Uggason fails. Gunnar challenges Ulf to a duel, and Ulf ultimately pays what Asgrim was owed. As a result, Asgrim promises to always support Gunnar.

Soon after, Njal warns Gunnar that some men are planning to attack him. Njal also cautions Gunnar that no one should know about his upcoming visit to Asgrim, lest he be ambushed. He also promises to have his sons accompany Gunnar and protect him. Gunnar gets ready to visit Asgrim eight weeks before winter’s onset, but he does not notify Njal’s sons.

Gunnar, Kolskegg, and Hjort set out for Tunga. Gunnar carries his halberd, and the others are armed, too. They spend time with Asgrim. Gunnar declines Asgrim’s offer to travel with them when they depart. Sigurd Swine-herd spies on Gunnar’s party and reports them to the men at Thrihyrning. Starkad plots an ambush. Thorgeir brags to his sister, Hildigunn, that by the evening, Gunnar will be killed. However, she predicts that Thorgeir will return in shame. Egil and his sons join Starkad, and the Norwegian, Thorir, accompanies them begrudgingly.

Gunnar and his men stop to rest. Gunnar dreams that wolves attack him, and though he defends himself, they kill his brother Hjort. Hjort knows the dream foretold his slaying; however, he chooses to remain with Gunnar. The men see Starkad and his group coming through the hills. They ride to a base along the Ranga and ready themselves to fight.

Gunnar fires from his bow as the men approach. He soon takes up his halberd. Together, Gunnar and Kolskegg kill many men. Thorir the Norwegian enters the fray when Gunnar kills his host, Egil. Thorir kills Hjort, fulfilling Gunnar’s prophetic dream. Gunnar slays Thorir in vengeance, and he also kills several others. Starkad and his remaining men flee, but not before Gunnar injures Starkad and his son, Thorgeir. Fifteen men, including Hjort, die in the fighting. Gunnar returns home with Hjort’s body. Hjort is entombed in a burial mound and mourned by many.

Hildigunn tends to Thorgeir and Starkad when they return from the fight. She remarks that it would have been wiser to remain on good terms with Gunnar, and Starkad agrees.

Egil’s widow asks the other Norwegian lodger, Thorgrim, to oversee her property. He hesitates because Thorir predicted that he would also die at Gunnar’s hands if he remained in Iceland. Egil’s widow offers to arrange his marriage to her daughter, Gundrum, to get him to stay. He agrees, and they marry in the summer.

Gunnar and Kolskegg seek Njal’s advice, and he comes up with a legal strategy that will help them. Starkad’s son, Thorgeir, impregnated Thorfinna, Njal’s kinswoman. Njal offers to turn over the lawsuit for seduction to Gunnar, as well as a case for outlawing Starkad, who cut down trees on Njal’s forest land. He orders Gunnar to return to the site of battle, dig up the corpses, “and name witnesses to the fatal wounds and then declare all the dead men outlaws because they attacked [him]” (108). He tells Gunnar to also visit a man named Tyrfing at Berjanes, who will pass on a suit to him against Onund, Egil’s brother, who is likely to avenge Egil’s death. Gunnar follows Njal’s directions.

After discovering that Gunnar has managed to declare so many of his attackers outlaws, Thorgeir approaches Valgard the Grey and his son Mord Valgardsson for support. Mord arranges to marry Gizur the White’s daughter, Thorkatla, and the marriage takes place two weeks later. Mord encourages Thorgeir to take legal action against Gunnar while also urging Onund to initiate a case for the deaths of Egil and his sons. Thorgeir promises to start a case against Gunnar on behalf of his brothers and for the injuries Gunnar inflicted on him and Starkad. They begin proceedings by summoning a panel of nine witnesses to the battle site.

Gunnar informs Njal that proceedings against him have begun. Njal advises him to summon neighbors to the site and charge Kol with killing Hjort, despite Kol’s death. Gunnar is to “name witnesses and summon neighbors to ride to the Althing to testify” (110). Njal notes that Gunnar should also summon Thorgeir and Onund on the grounds he previously outlined. Gunnar follows Njal’s advice. He, Njal, the Njalssons, and the Sigfussons traveled together to the Althing. Gunnar enlists the support of his brothers-in-law and their men, who also attend. Mord, Runolf of Dal, Starkad’s men, and Onund likewise journey to the Althing.

Starkad and his supporters meet Gizur the White and Geir the Godi while Gunnar’s group makes a dramatic entrance. The lawsuit is the subject of much discussion, and the cases soon come before the court. Mord Valgardsson oversees the prosecution while Njal effectively defends Gunnar against various charges. A man named Hjalti Skeggjason intervenes with a proposition: Would Gunnar allow the affair to go to arbitration? Gunnar agrees to do so if Hjalti promises not to betray him. Hjalti goes on to negotiate a settlement in conjunction with Njal and Asgrim Ellida-Grimsson. Njal gives funds to Gunnar that help him to cover the settlement cost. Gunnar “earn[s] great honor from all this and everyone agree[s] he [has] no equal in the South Quarter” (112). Gunnar goes home satisfied with the outcome, while his enemies stew in jealousy.

Otkel’s son, Thorgeir Otkelsson, grows up strong, well-liked, and virtuous, albeit “somewhat pliable.” Meanwhile, Starkad’s son, Thorgeir Starkadsson, complains to Mord Valgardsson about the settlement with Gunnar. He asks Mord to concoct a plan of retaliation because Mord Valgardsson hates Gunnar. According to Mord Valgardsson:

Kolskegg is going to bring a suit to regain one-fourth of the farm at Moeidarhvol, which was paid to [Starkad] in compensation for his son. He has taken over this case from his mother, and it is Gunnar’s plan to pay cash and not let the land go. Let’s wait until this has been done, and then charge Gunnar with breaking the settlement with [Starkad]. He has also taken a grainfield from Thorgeir Otkelsson and thus broken the settlement with him. [Thorgeir Starkadsson] must go to see Thorgeir Otkelsson and bring him into this, and then attack Gunnar (113).

Mord Valgardsson knows of Njal’s prophecy that Gunnar will meet his death if he kills more than once within a bloodline, and likewise, if he breaks a settlement made for such slaying. So, he plots to lure Gunnar into fulfilling the prophecy. Starkad and his son Thorgeir decide to implement Mord Valgardsson’s scheme.

Thorgeir Starkadsson goes to see Thorgeir Otkelsson, and they reach a “friendly alliance.” 

Kolskegg’s suit proceeds as planned at the autumn meeting of the Thingskalar Assembly, and Thorgeir Starkadsson accuses Gunnar of breaking his earlier settlement. The assembly concludes and the year passes with Thorgeir Starkadsson and Thorgeir Otkelsson conferencing frequently. Gunnar sends everyone away from his farm at Hlidarendi in the autumn since it is time for haymaking. Meanwhile, the two Thorgeirs plan to attack Gunnar while he is alone.

Thorgeir Starkadsson, Thorgeir Otkelsson, and their allies ride toward Hlidarendi and fall asleep in the neighboring forest. That night, Njal is restless because he could foresee “the fierce personal spirits of many of Gunnar’s enemies, but there is something strange about them—they seem in a frenzy but act without purpose” (115). A shepherd soon reports that he found numerous men asleep in the woods, so Njal instructs him to warn Gunnar so he can gather supporters. Njal, meanwhile, plans to go to the forest and scare the men into leaving. When Thorgeir Starkadsson and Thorgeir Otkelsson hear from Njal that Gunnar is preparing to fight, they become nervous and decide to call off their attack. They will pay compensation for their plot, which Njal promises to save for Gunnar should he need it.

Njal forces Thorgeir Starkadsson and Thorgeir Otkelsson to agree to a settlement, which he would arbitrate at the coming Althing. Soon, they approach Mord Valgardsson for help—he is unhappy with their capitulation. At the Althing, Njal selects 12 men to reach judgment, and they dictate fines for the two Thorgeirs and their supporters. Njal saves the money, and the parties agree to a truce.

Gunnar visits Olaf Peacock after the Althing. Olaf gifts Gunnar with a dog for protection. The dog could “see in any man whether he means […] well or ill, and he will lay down his life out of loyalty” (117). Olaf warns Gunnar to guard against those covetous of his reputation, who want to harm him.

Thorgeir Starkadsson and Thorgeir Otkelsson meet Mord Valgardsson again. He has crafted a new plan of retribution. He suggests that Thorgeir Otkelsson seduce Gunnar’s kinswoman, Ormhild, to engender Gunnar’s wrath. Thorgeir follows the plan. Gunnar is disgruntled about this and tensions mount. Meanwhile, Mord Valgardsson and Thorgeir Starkadsson plot to attack Gunnar at the Ranga River when he is looking after his land at Eyjar. A party of 13 men joins them alongside the 12 men Thorgeir Starkadsson brought.

“Wound rain,” or prophetic blood, appears on Gunnar’s halberd as he and Kolskegg travel toward the Ranga. Gunnar tells his brother that it predicted “great battles.” They ride into the ambush, and “Kolskegg kill[s] a good number of men and wound[s] many others” (119). Thorgeir Starkadsson chastises Thorgeir Otkelsson for being a coward, urging him to attack Gunnar, who kills Thorgeir Otkelsson with his halberd. Gunnar’s foes retreat, and he does not pursue them. He and Kolskegg return home to inform a pleased Hallgerd about the fighting. Gunnar’s mother, Rannveig, however, predicts that more trouble will come.

Word of the slayings spreads, with many mourning Thorgeir Otkelsson’s death. Gizur the White and Geir the Godi travel to the site of the clash to give notice and summon neighbors to the Althing. Njal warns Gunnar to make sure to keep the new settlement since he has partly fulfilled the prophecy about his death.

Gizur the White prosecutes the case and gives notice at the Law Rock during the Althing. He claims Gunnar should become a full outlaw for slaying Thorgeir Otkelsson. Gunnar and his supporters as well as Gizur and the opposition gather at the Ranga court. Gizur follows procedures, gathers a panel of neighbors, and asks Gunnar’s side “to challenge the legitimacy of the panel members” (121).

Njal and his associates remove four of the panelists. The panel decides in Gunnar’s favor by concluding that Thorgeir Starkadsson and Thorgeir Otkelsson “had set out with the intention of meeting up with Gunnar and killing him” (122). The settlement exiles Gunnar and Kolskegg for three years. Gunnar is subject to death if he fails to leave Iceland; he gives no indication that he is unhappy with this settlement.

Njal asks Gunnar to stick to the settlement as they depart from the Althing. Gunnar promises to do so.

Grim and Helgi, Njal’s sons, ask to travel abroad. Their father predicts that their venture would prove challenging and bring trouble upon their return to Iceland, but they go anyway. Gunnar’s sons, Hogni and Grani, are now grown—Grani is of poor character, like Hallgerd, but Hogni is “a fine person” (123).

Gunnar and Kolskegg set off for their ship, but Gunnar’s horse throws him along the way. Gunnar then decides to stay on in Iceland, saying, “Lovely is the hillside—never has it seemed so lovely to me as now, with its pale fields and mown meadows, and I will ride back home and not leave” (123). Kolskegg bids Gunnar farewell and asks him to say goodbye to their mother, for he notes his return to Iceland is unlikely. Olaf Peacock asks Gunnar and Hallgerd to move to the west, but Gunnar refuses.

Gizur the White and Geir the Godi declare Gunnar a full outlaw at the Althing. His opponents, including Starkad, Mord Valgardsson, and Thorgeir Starkadsson, meet before the Althing’s conclusion to plot his assassination: “They [shake] hands on it and [fix] a penalty for anyone who withdrew” (124). Then, they leave the Althing.

In the autumn, Mord Valgardsson reports that Gunnar is alone at Hlidarendi. Gunnar’s enemies gather and first kill Sam, the guard dog.

Gunnar wakes abruptly, knowing Sam is dead and foreseeing his own demise. Thorgrim the Norwegian checks a window to see Gunnar within and meets Gunnar’s halberd, which causes him to fall from the roof and drop dead. The other men besiege Gunnar’s home while he returns a volley of arrows. Mord Valgardsson suggests they burn the house, but the others refuse. Then, they pull the roof off using a series of ropes and manage to injure Gunnar. He asks Hallgerd to give him two locks of her hair so he can replace his bowstring. Hallgerd refuses, recalling that he had slapped her once, for which she had promised to punish him. Gunnar’s mother calls Hallgerd evil. Gunnar puts up a strong defense against his attackers, but they succeed in killing him. Afterward, many mourn Gunnar and his death is remembered sorrowfully throughout Iceland.

Njal grieves Gunnar’s death, and the Sigfussons ask him for legal advice. They cannot bring a lawsuit over Gunnar’s murder because he was an outlaw at the time of his slaying. Instead, Njal advises them to retaliate.

Gunnar is entombed in a sitting position within a burial mound. His mother, Rannveig, refuses to bury him with his halberd. She rages at Hallgerd, so Hallgerd and her son Grani flee to Grjota. Hogni inherits the land at Hlidarendi.

One day, at the mound, Gunnar’s voice can be heard—he seems “to be in high spirits and reciting verses” (129). Rannveig immediately sends word to Njal, who dispatches Skarphedin to Hlidarendi. Skarphedin and Hogni see the mound open. Gunnar turns to view the moon and happily recites a verse celebrating his heroism in death. Then the mound closes, and Skarphedin vows to help Hogni avenge his noble father’s slaying.

Skarphedin and Hogni arm themselves while the household slumbers, but Rannveig awakes when she hears Hogni take the halberd. She advises him to use it to avenge Gunnar. The two travel to Oddi, accompanied by two ravens, and they kill two of the men who attacked Gunnar. Then, they go to Thrihyrning where Skarphedin kills Starkad and Hogni slays Thorgeir Starkadsson using the halberd. When they reached Mord Valgardsson, he begs for “full reconciliation,” and Hogni spares him.

Njal brokers a settlement and all the parties reconcile. Geir the Godi files a separate case against Hogni for Geir’s son’s slaying. They reach a settlement at the Althing.