Njal's Saga by Anonymous

who were at Kaldbak thought they saw Svan enter the mountain Kaldbakshorn and get a warm welcome there. Some denied this and said that there was nothing to it. Everyone was certain, however, that he was never found, alive or dead. When Hallgerd heard of this, she thought the loss of her mother’s brother a big event.
    Glum asked Thorarin to exchange farms, but he said he didn’t want to – ‘but if I outlive you, then I will take over Varmalaek.’
    Glum told this to Hallgerd. ‘Thorarin has a right to expect this from us,’ she said.

15
    Thjostolf had beaten one of Hoskuld’s servants, so Hoskuld sent him away. He took his horse and weapons and said to Hoskuld, ‘Now I will go away and never come back.’
    â€˜Everyone will be pleased at that,’ said Hoskuld.
    Thjostolf rode until he came to Varmalaek. He received a warm welcome from Hallgerd, and a not unfriendly one from Glum. He told Hallgerd that her father had sent him away, and he asked her to look after him. She replied that she could not promise anything about his staying there until she had seen Glum.
    â€˜Are things going well between you?’ asked Thjostolf.
    â€˜Yes, our love goes well,’ she said.
    Then she went to talk to Glum and put her arms around his neck and said, ‘Will you grant me the favour I am about to ask of you?’
    â€˜I will, as long as it’s honourable,’ he said. ‘What do you wish to ask?’
    She said, ‘Thjostolf has been sent away from Hoskuldsstadir, and I’d like you to let him stay here. But I won’t take it badly if you’re not keen to do so.’
    Glum said, ‘Since you’re being so fair about it, I shall grant yourrequest, but I tell you this – if he starts any trouble he must leave at once.’
    She went to Thjostolf and told him. He answered, ‘You have done well, as was to be expected.’
    He stayed on there and controlled himself for a time, but soon he was thought to be harmful in every way. He showed no respect for anyone but Hallgerd, and yet she never spoke up for him when he clashed with others. Thorarin scolded his brother Glum for allowing him to stay there and said that something terrible would happen, and that things would go as they had before if Thjostolf remained. Glum answered politely but followed his own counsel.

16
    One autumn they had a bad time bringing in the sheep, and Glum was short many wethers. He spoke to Thjostolf, ‘Go up to the mountain with my servants and see if you can find any of the sheep.’
    â€˜Searching for sheep does not suit me,’ said Thjostolf, ‘and besides, the simple fact is that I don’t want to follow in the footsteps of your slaves. 1 You go yourself, and then I’ll come along.’
    This led to a strong exchange of words.
    Hallgerd was seated outside; the weather was fine. Glum went to her and spoke: ‘Thjostolf and I have had a bad clash, and we will not live together much longer.’ He told her what had passed between them.
    Hallgerd spoke up for Thjostolf, and they had a strong exchange of words. Glum struck her with his hand and said, ‘I’m not quarrelling with you any longer’ – and then he went away.
    She loved him greatly and was not able to calm herself, and wept loudly. Thjostolf came to her and said, ‘You’ve been badly treated, but this won’t happen again.’
    â€˜You are not to take vengeance for this,’ she said, ‘or take any part in our affairs, no matter what happens.’
    He went away grinning.

17
    Glum called his men to go out with him, and Thjostolf also got ready and went along. They went up South Reykjadal and then up along Baugagil as far as Thverfell and there they split up; some went to the Skorradal area, and others he sent south to the Sulur hills, and they all found many sheep.
    Then it came about that the two of them, Glum and Thjostolf, were alone. They went