It happened one night that Queen Thyre and Ozur ran away in the dark,
and into the woods, and, to be short in our story, came at last to
Denmark. But here Thyre did not dare to remain, knowing that if her
brother King Svein heard of her, he would send her back directly to
Vindland. She went on, therefore, secretly to Norway, and never stayed
her journey until she fell in with King Olaf, by whom she was kindly
received. Thyre related to the king her sorrows, and entreated
his advice in her need, and protection in his kingdom. Thyre was a
well-spoken woman, and the king had pleasure in her conversation. He saw
she was a handsome woman, and it came into his mind that she would be a
good match; so he turns the conversation that way, and asks if she will
marry him. Now, as she saw that her situation was such that she could
not help herself, and considered what a luck it was for her to marry so
celebrated a man, she bade him to dispose himself of her hand and fate;
and, after nearer conversation, King Olaf took Thyre in marriage. This
wedding was held in harvest after the king returned from Halogaland
(A.D. 999), and King Olaf and Queen Thyre remained all winter (A.D.
1000) at Nidaros.
The following spring Queen Thyre complained often to King Olaf, and wept
bitterly over it, that she who had so great property in Vindland had no
goods or possessions here in the country that were suitable for a queen;
and sometimes she would entreat the king with fine words to get her
property restored to her, and saying that King Burizleif was so great
a friend of King Olaf that he would not deny King Olaf anything if they
were to meet. But when King Olaf's friends heard of such speeches, they
dissuaded him from any such expedition. It is related at the king one
day early in spring was walking in the street, and met a man in the
market with many, and, for that early season, remarkably large angelica
roots. The king took a great stalk of the angelica in his hand, and went
home to Queen Thyre's lodging. Thyre sat in her room weeping as the king
came in. The king said, "Set here, queen, is a great angelica stalk,
which I give thee." She threw it away, and said, "A greater present
Harald Gormson gave to my mother; and he was not afraid to go out of the
land and take his own. That was shown when he came here to Norway, and
laid waste the greater part of the land, and seized on all the scat and
revenues; and thou darest not go across the Danish dominions for this
brother of mine, King Svein." As she spoke thus, King Olaf sprang up,
and answered with loud oath, "Never did I fear thy brother King Svein;
and if we meet he shall give way before me!"