King Magnus proceeded north to the merchant town (Nidaros), and on his
arrival went straight to the king's house, and there took up his abode.
He remained here the first part of the winter (A.D. 1094), and kept
seven longships in the open water of the river Nid, abreast of the
king's house. Now when King Hakon heard that King Magnus was come to
Throndhjem, he came from the East over the Dovrefield, and thence down
from Throndhjem to the merchant town, where he took up his abode in the
house of Skule, opposite to Clement's church, which had formerly been
the king's house. King Magnus was ill pleased with the great gifts which
Hakon had given to the bondes to gain their favour, and thought it was
so much given out of his own property. This irritated his mind; and he
thought he had suffered injustice from his relative in this respect,
that he must now put up with less income than his father and his
predecessors before him had enjoyed; and he gave Thorer the blame. When
King Hakon and Thorer observed this, they were alarmed for what Magnus
might do; and they thought it suspicious that Magnus kept long-ships
afloat rigged out, and with tents. The following spring, after
Candlemas, King Magnus left the town in the night with his ships; the
tents up, and lights burning in the tents. They brought up at Hefring,
remained there all night, and kindled a fire on the land. Then Hakon and
the men in the town thought some treachery was on foot, and he let the
trumpets call all the men together out on the Eyrar, where the whole
people of the town came to him, and the people were gathering together
the whole night. When it was light in the morning, King Magnus saw the
people from all districts gathered together on the Eyrar; and he sailed
out of the fjord, and proceeded south to where the Gulathing is held.
Hakon thanked the people for their support which they had given him, and
got ready to travel east to Viken. But he first held a meeting in the
town, where, in a speech, he asked the people for their friendship,
promising them his; and added, that he had some suspicions of his
relation, King Magnus's intentions. Then King Hakon mounted his horse,
and was ready to travel. All men promised him their good-will and
support whenever he required them, and the people followed him out
to the foot of Steinbjorg. From thence King Hakon proceeded up the
Dovrefield; but as he was going over the mountains he rode all day after
a ptarmigan, which flew up beside him, and in this chase a sickness
overfell him, which ended in his death; and he died on the mountains.
His body was carried north, and came to the merchant town just half a
month after he left it. The whole townspeople went to meet the body,
sorrowing, and the most of them weeping; for all people loved him with
sincere affection. King Hakon's body was interred in Christ church, and
Hakon and Magnus had ruled the country for two years. Hakon was a man
full twenty-five years old, and was one of the chiefs the most beloved
by all the people. He had made a journey to Bjarmaland, where he had
given battle and gained a victory.