On the approach of spring (A.D. 1018) King Olaf went down to the coast,
had his ships rigged out, summoned troops to him, and proceeded in
spring out from Viken to the Naze, and so north to Hordaland. He then
sent messages to all the lendermen, selected the most considerable men
in each district, and made the most splendid preparations to meet his
bride. The wedding-feast was to be in autumn, at the Gaut river, on the
frontiers of the two countries. King Olaf had with him the blind king
Hrorek. When his wound was healed, the king gave him two men to serve
him, let him sit in the high-seat by his side, and kept him in meat and
clothes in no respect Norse than he had kept himself before. Hrorek was
taciturn, and answered short and cross when any one spoke to him. It was
his custom to make his footboy, when he went out in the daytime, lead
him away from people, and then to beat the lad until he ran away. He
would then complain to King Olaf that the lad would not serve him. The
king changed his servants, but it was as before; no servant would hold
it out with King Hrorek. Then the king appointed a man called Svein
to wait upon and serve King Hrorek. He was Hrorek's relation, and
had formerly been in his service. Hrorek continued with his habits of
moroseness, and of solitary walks; but when he and Svein were alone
together, he was merry and talkative. He used to bring up many things
which had happened in former days when he was king. He alluded, too,
to the man who had, in his former days, torn him from his kingdom and
happiness, and made him live on alms. "It is hardest of all," says he,
"that thou and my other relations, who ought to be men of bravery, are
so degenerated that thou wilt not avenge the shame and disgrace brought
upon our race." Such discourse he often brought out. Svein said, they
had too great a power to deal with, while they themselves had but little
means. Hrorek said, "Why should we live longer as mutilated men with
disgrace? I, a blind man, may conquer them as well as they conquered
me when I was asleep. Come then, let us kill this thick Olaf. He is not
afraid for himself at present. I will lay the plan, and would not
spare my hands if I could use them, but that I cannot by reason of my
blindness; therefore thou must use the weapons against him, and as soon
as Olaf is killed I can see well enough that his power must come into
the hands of his enemies, and it may well be that I shall be king, and
thou shalt be my earl." So much persuasion he used that Svein at last
agreed to join in the deed. The plan was so laid that when the king was
ready to go to vespers, Svein stood on the threshold with a drawn dagger
under his cloak. Now when the king came out of the room, it so happened
that he walked quicker than Svein expected; and when he looked the king
in the face he grew pale, and then white as a corpse, and his hand sank
down. The king observed his terror and said, "What is this, Svein? Wilt
thou betray me?" Svein threw down his cloak and dagger, and fell at the
king's feet, saying, "All is in Gods hands and thine, king!" The king
ordered his men to seize Svein, and he was put in irons. The king
ordered Hrorek's seat to be moved to another bench. He gave Svein his
life, and he left the country. The king appointed a different lodging
for Hrorek to sleep in from that in which he slept himself, and in which
many of his court-people slept. He set two of his court-men, who had
been long with him, and whose fidelity he had proof of, to attend Hrorek
day and night; but it is not said whether they were people of high
birth or not. King Hrorek's mood was very different at different times.
Sometimes he would sit silent for days together, so that no man could
get a word out of him; and sometimes he was so merry and gay, that
people found a joke in every word he said. Sometimes his words were very
bitter. He was sometimes in a mood that he would drink them all under
the benches, and made all his neighbours drunk; but in general he drank
but little. King Olaf gave him plenty of pocket-money. When he went to
his lodgings he would often, before going to bed, have some stoups of
mead brought in, which he gave to all the men in the house to drink, so
that he was much liked.