Njals Saga

Thrain Sigfusson, Gunnar’s uncle, travels to Norway where he encounters Earl Hakon, who takes him into service. Thrain volunteers to kill Kol, a Viking outlaw. The earl accepts and grants him five ships. Thrain finds Kol in Denmark.

Kol dreams of the ships the night before, so he recognizes them. He and his men gather their arms. Kol leaps onboard Thrain’s ship, slaughtering many, yet he meets his death. Thrain reunites with Earl Hakon in Norway, bringing much booty. The earl gifts Thrain an ornamented ship called Griffin, promises his friendship, and asks Thrain to remain in his service.

Njal’s sons, Grim and Helgi, depart Iceland. Squalls blow their ship southward, where they are engulfed in fog. Eventually, they near land and sail into a fjord where they see Viking ships approaching. The Viking leader, Grjotgard, provides them with two options: They can either surrender their property or be killed. The Icelanders refuse to submit.

As the Icelanders valiantly defend themselves against the Vikings, they see several ships approaching from the south. A man on the leading ship who is “wearing a silk tunic and […] a gilded helmet on his head” identifies himself as Kari Solmundsson and says he came from the Hebrides. He promises to assist the Icelanders. Together, the men again attack the Vikings. Helgi kills Grjotgard and they rampage through the remaining Viking ships until their opponents surrender. Then, the Icelanders and Kari’s men take the Vikings’ booty and sail away.

Kari is a member of Earl Sigurd of Orkney’s retinue. He returns to Orkney with Grim and Helgi, introduces them, and requests that they be permitted to serve the earl. Earl Sigurd agrees. Helgi has the gift of second sight, like his father, and he tells Earl Sigurd that the Scots have seized control over some of his land in Scotland and have killed his overseer. The earl sends some of his men to confirm Helgi’s prediction. Then, Earl Sigurd sets off with his men for Scotland to reclaim his lands when his man, Arnljot, establishes that two Scottish earls have indeed taken his property.

Grim, Helgi, and Kari accompany Earl Sigurd to Scotland. Earl Sigurd meets his Scottish opponents in battle at Duncansby Head and defeats them. They celebrate with a feast in Orkney, where Grim and Helgi formally became the earl’s followers. The earl bestows lavish gifts upon the Njalssons and Kari. Grim and Helgi remain in Orkney until the next summer when they join Kari’s raiding party. They get Earl Sigurd’s permission to travel to Norway in the spring, where they bring tribute to Earl Hakon.

A sailor named Kolbein Arnljotarson transports a devious Icelander named Hrapp to Norway; Hrapp then refuses to pay him. Kolbein cautions him to “never betray [his] lord” (141). Hrapp later threatens another man named Gudbrand into taking him into service, and Hrapp then attempts to seduce Gudbrand’s daughter, Gudrun. Gudbrand tasks his overseer, Asvard, with keeping watch over the two. Hrapp kills Asvard when he finds them in a compromising position and flees into the nearby forest since he has impregnated Gudrun. Hrapp finds a hideout in the forest from where he “manage[s] to see Gudrun frequently” (144). He is outlawed.

The Njalssons trade in Norway while Thrain Sigfusson prepares to return to Iceland.

Earl Hakon attends a feast that Gudbrand hosts. Meanwhile, Hrapp sneaks into the temple the men co-own where he steals valuables, pulls three idols outside, lights the temple aflame, and flees. He kills three men who attack him while he is fleeing. He tries to return to his forest hideout but sees men looking for him, so he hides in some shrubbery.

Earl Hakon and Gudbrand conclude that Hrapp likely set the fire, but they fail to locate him. Thrand, a man who survived Hrapp’s earlier assault, reports that he hid in some bushes. The earl’s men give chase, but Hrapp outruns them.

Hrapp arrives in Lade, where both Thrain and the Njalssons are about to depart. Helgi refuses to help Hrapp, so he asks Thrain. Thrain hides Hrapp at the base of two barrels. The earl boards the ship several times as Hrapp moves from one hiding spot to another. Helgi and Grim cast off. Meanwhile, the earl grows increasingly frustrated because he knows Hrapp is hiding nearby. As the Griffin sails into the distance, Thrain speaks the following verse: “Let Griffin fly forward, / Thrain does not flinch” (149).

Thrain returns to his farm and grants Hrapp land at Hrappsstadir. Yet, Hrapp spends a great deal of time with Hallgerd at Grjota, which generates gossip.

Earl Hakon pursues the Njalssons, presuming they conspired with Thrain. Grim spots the earl’s ships while Helgi remarks that they must ready their defenses. The earl tries to convince Helgi’s men to abandon him and save themselves, but they refuse. The earl takes the Njalssons prisoner. However, the brothers escape while the earl sleeps; they travel to the other side of the island, where they meet Kari, who protects them. The earl’s son, Eirik, convinces his father to make peace, and the brothers accept a settlement from Eirik on the earl’s behalf. Kari, Grim, and Helgi return to Earl Sigurd, with whom they take refuge.

Kari asks the brothers to go raiding with him in the springtime; they agree on the condition that he later go with them to Iceland. They raid along the western coast and islands of Great Britain.

The Njalssons return to Iceland with Kari. They ride to Bergthorshvol, where their family greets them warmly and Kari stays for the winter. Kari weds Njal’s daughter, Helga.

Hrapp remains at Grjota, and Thrain treats him well. Ketil of Mork, Thrain’s brother, visits Bergthorshvol, where the Njalssons tell him of the events in Norway and Thrain’s role in their ill-treatment. Njal asks Ketil to speak to his brother, but he later reports that the conversation went poorly. Njal encourages his sons in a scheme to get Thrain to make disparaging comments about them that others witness, eventually culminating in justified violence. Thrain indeed speaks slanderously about Njal’s sons.

Thrain has a large entourage that includes Hrapp and Gunnar’s son, Grani. These two speak most disparagingly about the Njalssons. Kari accompanies the Njalssons to Grjota, where they approach Thrain and his men. Hallgerd remarks that they are unwelcome, causing Skarphedin to say she is “either a cast-off hag or whore” (155). She threatens vengeance. Helgi requests compensation for the treatment the Njalsson’s endured in Norway because of Thrain. He refuses, and his companions further insult the Njalssons, with Hallgerd even commenting on Njal’s inability to grow a beard. The Njalssons do not depart before “all those who faced them, except Thrain, had made themselves guilty of using those words” (156). Then, Njal’s sons and Kari return home. Skarphedin argues that they should prosecute the men via violence. Njal, Kari, and his sons “[have] a long hushed talk” (156).

Thrain visits his friend Runolf. Then he leaves, armed with eight men, and he visits Ketil who, like Runolf, encourages Thrain to make peace with the Njalssons. However, Thrain refuses. Thrain plans to return home one evening when the Markarfljot River “was flowing between ledges of ice, with frozen arches spanning the stream here and there” (157).

A group of women that Thrain’s party helped cross the river on the way to Runolf arrive in Bergthorshvol and report on his movements and the slanderous comments he made about the Njalssons. Njal awakes the next morning to find Kari and his sons preparing to accost Thrain and his men. The Njalssons ambush Thrain’s party at the icy river, with Skarphedin killing Thrain. Grim and Helgi slay Hrapp. Skarphedin spares Grani’s life for the sake of his brother Hogni, with whom Skarphedin shares a bond of friendship, though Helgi warns he will regret it. Njal predicts that at least one of his sons will die because of these events. Thrain’s men bury him in a mound at Grjota.

Ketil of Mork approaches Njal about compensation for Thrain. Njal agrees to pay if Ketil gets his brothers to settle. Ketil summons to Hlidarendi each man entitled to compensation; they reach peace and settle on compensation via arbitration, and “[t]hings [are] quiet for a while” (161).

Ketil goes to Grjota, where he asks Thrain’s widow and Hallgerd’s daughter, Thorgerd, if he can foster their son, Hoskuld Thrainsson. She consents, and Hoskuld Thrainsson returns to Mork with Ketil.

Njal visits Mork, where he asks young Hoskuld Thrainsson about his father’s slaying. Hoskuld Thrainsson replies that they need not speak of it since a settlement was reached. Njal foresees that Hoskuld Thrainsson will grow up a worthy man and offers to foster him. So Hoskuld returns to Bergthorshvol with Njal, where he is beloved. Njal’s sons “[take] him along everywhere and [do] all they [can] to favour him” (162).

Hoskuld Thrainsson grows up strong, handsome, kind, and good-tempered. He is much loved and never quarrels with Njal’s sons.

Flosi is a “great chieftain” at Svinafell. He has a niece called Hildigunn who is admirable yet ill-tempered.

Hall of Sida is a virtuous man with a son named Kol. Kari eventually kills Kol in Wales.

Njal works to arrange a marriage between his foster son, Hoskuld Thrainsson, and Flosi’s niece, Hildigunn. She is only willing to wed a godi, so Njal seeks a chieftainship for Hoskuld.

The next Althing is troublesome, with many lawsuits left unresolved. The following year, Njal proposes the establishment of a new Fifth Court as an appeals court for the four Quarter Courts. He proposes this addition to the godis at the Law Council. However, the Quarter Courts were established around the number of godis, so Njal advises creating new chieftainships. The Law Council consents, and Hoskuld Thrainsson becomes one of the newly established godis. He and Hildigunn marry and live on land Njal purchases at Ossabaer. Hoskuld Thrainsson and the Njalssons remain close friends and “[invite] each other to a feast every autumn and [exchange] generous gifts” (167).

A troublesome man called Lyting marries Thrain’s sister. He holds a feast that he invites Hoskuld Thrainsson and the Sigfussons to attend.

Hoskuld Njalsson and his mother, Hrodny, live at Holt, and they often pass Lyting’s farm when travelling to and from Bergthorshvol.

Lyting tells Hoskuld Thrainsson that he will happily accompany him to slay Hoskuld Njalsson and thus avenge his father’s death at Skarphedin’s hands. Hoskuld Thrainsson refuses and leaves the feast. Lyting asks Grani Gunnarsson to accompany him, but Grani refuses to break his settlement with the Njalssons. Lyting feels entitled to vengeance because he received no compensation for Thrain’s death. He and his brothers thus murder Hoskuld Njalsson.

Hrodny brings her son’s body to Njal. His family performs the pagan burial ritual for him. Hrodny charges Skarphedin with avenging his half-brother’s death.

Skarphedin and his brothers ambush Lyting and his men, but Lyting escapes and flees to Ossabaer. Lyting asks Hoskuld Thrainsson to approach Njal on his behalf for a settlement. Njal agrees, if Lyting pays full compensation, receives nothing for his wounds, and his brothers become outlaws. The Njalssons keep to the settlement.

Olaf Tryggvason becomes king of Norway and the country converts to Christianity, as do the western islands. Njal finds the new religion more appealing and favors conversion.

A Christian priest, Thangbrand, arrives in Iceland at the Norwegian king’s behest. Hall of Sida invites Thangbrand to his farm. Thangbrand sings the Mass on Michaelmas in the autumn, which peaks Hall’s interest. Hall and his household receive baptism.

Thangbrand travels throughout Iceland, preaching conversion. However, he also slays a non-believer called Thorkel when challenged about his faith. He gains many converts, including Flosi’s household.

A pagan sorcerer, Hedin, makes a sacrifice to the Norse gods to stop Thangbrand. As a result, as Thangbrand rides westward, “the earth split[s] open under his horse; he leap[s] off the horse and climb[s] up the rim of the chasm, but the earth swallow[s] up his horse […]. Then Thangbrand [gives] praise to God” (175).

Thangbrand’s companion, Gudleif, pursues and kills Hedin. They also kill Veturlidi the Poet and his son for speaking against them. Njal and his household are baptized. Mord and his father, Valgard, resist conversion.

Gest Oddleifsson is a knowledgeable man who can foresee the future. He hosts a feast that Thangbrand’s party attends. Thangbrand sets up a test of faith at the feast. They build three fires: One blessed by the pagans, another by the Christians, and the final left without a blessing. When the fearsome berserker, Otrygg, arrives, he walks through the pagan fire unafraid but stops at Thangbrand’s fire “and [says] he [is] burning all over” (179). Otrygg swings his sword, but the Christians kill him. Gest’s household converts and many others accept baptism, too. Gest suggests that support from the Althing is necessary if Christianity is to succeed in Iceland. Thangbrand soon leaves Iceland.

Thangbrand’s difficulties in Iceland cause the Norwegian king to order all the men of Iceland to be imprisoned. However, Hjalti and Gizur the White intervene and volunteer to return to Iceland to encourage conversion. They arrive at the Althing, having sent word to the Christian Icelanders to be prepared. Christians and pagans assemble in opposition, tensions grow, but no fighting ensues.

Christians and pagans meet at the Law Rock where each proclaim they are not legally bound to the other. The Christian party names Hall of Sida their lawspeaker, but he pays Thorgeir of Ljosavatn, a pagan and a godi, to recite the law instead. Thorgeir ultimately proclaims Christianity the “foundation of [Icelandic] law” (181). Within a few years, the old religion is outlawed completely. The attendees return to their homes.

Amundi the Blind, who is Hoskuld Njalsson’s son, attends the Thingskalar Assembly a few years later, where he confronts Lyting for compensation. Lyting refuses to pay. As soon as Amundi leaves Lyting’s booth, a miracle occurs—he can see. So, he returns to kill Lyting. After finishing the deed, Amundi is blind again. Njal offers a settlement and restores peace between the parties.

Valgard the Grey returns to Iceland. Mord tells him about the creation of the Fifth Court and new godis. Mord bemoans the loss of some of his thingmen to Hoskuld Thrainsson. Valgard chastises his son for being “unmanly” and encourages him to foment trouble between Hoskuld Thrainsson and the Njalssons so that the Njalssons will murder their foster brother. Valgard predicts that such a slaying will lead the Njalssons to death. He concocts a plan for Mord to befriend the Njalssons, gain their trust, and turn them against Hoskuld Thrainsson. Valgard refuses Christianity; soon, he becomes ill and dies.

Mord rides to Bergthorshvol to implement his plan, and he soon becomes good friends with the Njalssons. However, “Njal [is] always displeased when Mord [comes] there, and he always let[s] his dislike be known” (184). Mord showers the Njalssons with gifts, and Njal predicts that they would “end up paying the full price for them” (184).

Hoskuld Thrainsson and the Njalssons visit each other and exchange gifts to reaffirm their friendship. They promise “that no one would ever come between them” (185).

Mord Valgardsson tries to convince Hoskuld Thrainsson that the Njalssons mocked him with inferior gifts. He also suggests that Skarphedin plotted Hoskuld’s death. Hoskuld Thrainsson is unconvinced, and says: “I would much rather suffer death from them than do them any harm. You are the worse a man for having spoken these things” (186). Mord then goes to the Njalssons and lies, telling them that when they attended the feast at Ossabaer, Hoskuld Thrainsson put them in the storehouse because he planned to burn it. The Njalssons are in disbelief, but Mord convinces them.

Flosi asks Hoskuld Thrainsson about the tension with the Njalssons. Hoskuld says he would rather die than have any of them harmed because of him.

Njal fosters Kari’s son, Thord, as well as Asgrim Ellida-Grimsson’s son, Thorhall. Thorhall becomes skilled in law through Njal’s teaching.

Mord spreads more lies to Kari and the Njalssons. Skarphedin agrees to attack Hoskuld Thrainsson if Mord Valgardsson will accompany them. Njal suspects that his sons have nefarious plans, though they do not let him in on them. That evening, the brothers and Kari go off with Mord to kill Hoskuld.

The Njalssons and their men find Hoskuld Thrainsson in his fields, wearing Flosi’s gift of a red cloak. First, Skarphedin inflicts a head wound. Hoskuld drops to his knees and asks for God’s help and forgiveness for his attackers. The others deal death blows. Mord volunteers to go to Grjota with the news and rides off.

Njal is heartbroken when he hears of Hoskuld Thrainsson’s murder. He predicts that his own death and that of his family will result from his sons’ misdeed. Njal grieves Hoskuld’s death for the rest of his life.

Hildigunn and her men find Hoskuld Thrainsson’s body and discover who was responsible. She collects his red cloak and some blood. Thorgerd tells Ketil of Mork to keep the promise he made to Hoskuld when he became his first foster father. Ketil laments his problematic position because Njal is his father-in-law. He agrees with the others to have Mord give notice of Hoskuld’s killing and prepare for the lawsuit, despite his reservations about Mord.

Mord and his men ride to Ossabaer and summon nine neighbors as witnesses to Hoskuld Thrainsson’s fatal wounds. He “name[s] a man for every wound but one. He pretend[s] not to know who caused that one, but it was the one he had inflicted himself” (190). He levels charges against Skarphedin for the slaying and Kari and the others for causing wounds. He summons the nine witnesses to the next Althing. News of Hoskuld’s murder spreads throughout Iceland “and [is] spoken badly of” (190).

The Njalssons approach Asgrim Ellida-Grimsson for backing. He consents but notes the slaying troubles him.

Gudmund the Powerful is a rich godi with 100 servants; he treats the other godis poorly. Asgrim seeks his assistance because of their friendship.

Asgrim also pursues support from one of the most intelligent men in Iceland, Snorri the Godi. Everyone goes to the Althing that summer.

Flosi asks his father-in-law, Hall of Sida, to bring a large contingent of supporters to the Althing. He also gathers many other supporters. Runolf, who lives near the site of the slaying, tells Flosi that Hoskuld Thrainsson was killed unjustly and that Njal mourns him more deeply than anyone. He expresses distrust of Mord and asks Flosi to restrain his anger to prevent further conflict.

Hildigunn asks what Flosi would do on her behalf. He says he would prosecute the case for Hoskuld Thrainsson’s death. Hildigunn indicates that she wants blood vengeance and shows Flosi Hoskuld’s bloody cloak. She puts it around his shoulders and requests that he avenge her husband’s death in God’s name. Flosi angrily retorts, “Cold are the counsels of women” (195). He departs to join the Sigfussons and other supporters.

Hrodny’s brother, Ingjald, is wed to Flosi’s niece and enlisted as his supporter, despite his connection to Njal.

The Sigfussons and other supporters join Flosi at Holtsvad. Flosi reports Runolf’s story. Ketil expresses his preference for a settlement but promises to persist regardless. Grani Gunnarsson and Gunnar Lambason indicate they want vengeance and outlawry. Grani vows never to reconcile with the Njalssons and wishes them dead. Flosi acknowledges that killing Njal and his family would inspire significant blowback. Flosi allies with Mord, who agrees to bring supporters to the Althing.

Njal agrees to attend the Althing with his sons and their allies, saying that his presence will help their case. Njal predicts that his foster son, Thorhall, will prove his worth when necessary. They set off for the Althing with a group of 30 supporters and are joined by others along the way. Njal asks Asgrim to bring his thingmen along as he fears what might happen at the Althing.

Flosi sets up at his booth at the Althing. Runolf, Hall of Sida, and Mord are also there. Hall entreats Flosi to reach a peaceful settlement with his opponents and expresses concern about Mord’s involvement with the prosecution. He predicts that Mord’s wickedness will be proven before the Althing’s conclusion.

Njal’s party enlists the support of many prominent men, including Gizur the White. Snorri the Godi is congenial, but he does not offer his support and instead predicts that Skarphedin would soon die. Gudmund the Powerful agrees.

Asgrim and others approach a troublesome and violent man called Thorkel the Bully for support. He refuses since Gudmund has not given his support. Then, he insults Skarphedin, who responds with even more disparaging remarks. The two men nearly come to blows before Thorkel backs down. Gudmund the Powerful opts to support the Njalssons when he hears about the argument between Thorkel and Skarphedin since he, too, has a dispute with Thorkel.