THE GUESTS OF THE HERSIR OF SVITHJOD
THE daughters of the Hersir of Svithjod had many of their young
kinswomen visiting them at this time. They had arrived during the summer
months, having been invited to be present at the games. Among those were
Thora, daughter of one of the great Hersirs who ruled over one of the
largest herads in Gardariki; Alfhild, daughter of one of the Hersirs of
Holmgard, which realm, together with Gardariki, comprised a great part
of what is now known as European Russia.
Hildigunn was the daughter of a powerful Hersir of the island of Funen,
almost the equal of the Hersir of Zeeland in power. Randgrid, Geirlaug,
Ingegerd, and Sigrid, were also daughters of great Hersirs.
One of the prettiest and most intelligent of their kinswomen was Thorny.
She had attained her eighteenth year the preceding spring. Her large
hazel eyes were full of poetry and fire, and when she looked at one it
seemed as if she read the inmost thoughts of one’s mind. Her broad
forehead showed intellect, and her head was adorned with a mass of light
brown hair. When she smiled she showed a bewitching set of pearly teeth.
She was full of life, and was not ashamed to say that she preferred
men’s society to that of women.
The third evening, when the men of highest lineage had assembled in the
great banqueting hall and were seated in their respective seats, Astrid,
her two younger sisters, and all their feminine guests entered the hall.
A murmur of admiration greeted them, and no wonder; for it had never
happened within the recollection of the oldest men that so many
high-born and beautiful maidens, daughters of chiefs who ruled over
powerful realms, and who were of Odin’s kin, had been in Upsalir at the
same time. It was certainly the greatest gathering of men and women
within the recollection of anyone. The flower of womanhood was there,
and all that was chivalrous and brave in the land had come also.
Each maiden had in her hand a drinking horn of gold, filled either with
mead, ale, or wine, and she offered it to the guests. Afterwards, lots
were drawn by the warriors to decide where they were to sit, and
fortunate were the men who had drawn the lots which permitted them to be
by the side of maidens. Ivar had as a seat companion Randalin; Hjalmar,
Astrid; Sigurd, Svanhild; Sigmund, Solveig. They talked much to each
other during the evening, and were delighted at their good fortune; and
all hoped to have the same chance again, so pleased were they with each
other.
It happened thereafter that almost always the four foster-brothers had
as companions the same maidens, which attracted everyone’s notice; and,
as they enjoyed so much each other’s society, many began to think that
more than one wedding would take place within a year among them.
* * * * *
The day before the games took place Astrid had a dream, in which her
Disir appeared to her. Every family in these Norselands had, like the
Etruscans and Romans, their guardian spirits. Their belief and worship
of them corresponded somewhat to that of the Lares and Penates of the
Romans. The Disir were supposed to watch over every individual member of
the family. These were thought to be the representatives of the
departed, and when there was danger ahead often made their appearance in
dreams to warn them in time. They always appeared in the shape of women.
Astrid had dreamt that, as she was standing outside of her house, and
while looking over the sea, she saw a woman walking over the waves and
directing her steps towards her house. She was so very tall that she
seemed as high as the highest mountains. Astrid went to meet her, and
invited her to come to her home.
After the guest had seated herself, she said: “Thou, Astrid, and thy two
sisters, must be most careful at the games not to fall in love with the
sons of a great berserk who are coming to Upsalir.”
Then she saw twelve eagles tearing the flesh of men. Then the tall woman
told her to receive Ivar and his foster-brothers well; after saying this
she rose, and as she was ready to depart she said: “I will continue to
protect thee and thy family. Now we will separate for some time. Fare
thee well.”
Thereupon Astrid awoke. She was very much concerned in regard to this
dream, and went to Thorhalla, a woman who was reputed very wise in the
interpretation of dreams. When she came to her door, she said: “I should
like thee to explain a dream which I have dreamt.”
Thorhalla said: “I will not hear thy dream. Go away as quickly as thou
canst to the house of Bryngerd; she will explain it to thee.”
Astrid wondered why Thorhalla would not explain her dream, but she did
as she was bidden; and, after walking quite a while, she came to the
house of Bryngerd, and told her dream to her.
Bryngerd listened very attentively, and said to her: “This forebodes
great events. The woman thou hast seen is thy Disir, and has come to
forewarn thee of danger. The twelve eagles mean the twelve sons of the
berserk Hervard, and many valiant men will fall on thy account.”
On her return home, Astrid told of her dream to her father and to her
sisters, and made preparations for a sacrifice to her Disir, or guardian
genius. The sisters had a special hall near their skemma, with a stone
altar in the room, for sacrificing to their Disirs. Two beautiful black
oxen and a very handsome favorite horse were to be sacrificed.
Ivar and his foster-brothers, unaware of the preparations for a
sacrifice that were being made by the three sisters, wended their way
towards their bower, just as they were beginning to sacrifice, and were
ready to redden the altar with blood. As they approached the house, the
bondmaid who was watching saw them, and went into the hall to warn her
mistresses that some one was coming.
On hearing this, Astrid, full of alarm, came out of the door, and as she
saw Ivar and his foster-brothers she exclaimed: “Do not come here, for
this place is holy! We are making a sacrifice to our Disirs. Do you not
fear the anger of Odin, that you dare to come to us?”
Ivar replied: “We are not afraid to incur the anger of Odin, fair
maidens of Svithjod. We would brave it for your sake, but we will not
come within the holy precincts when you are making a sacrifice.”
After saying this, the foster-brothers went off in another direction.
Astrid returned to the room, and with her sisters reddened the altar
with the blood of the sacrificed animals, and asked their Disirs to
continue to watch over them.
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