Norna-Gest Storm Retelling

Now it is to be told of how Sigurd prepared for battle against the sons of Hunding. He had a large and well armed force. Regin had planned much for the troops. He had a sword called Ridil, which he had forged. Sigurd bade Regin to lend him the sword. He did so, and bade him kill Fafnir, when he returned from this journey. Sigurd promised him this.

Then we sailed south along the coast. Then we met up with a storm raised by witchcraft, and many recognized the work of the sons of Hunding. Then we sailed along the shore a bit. There we saw a man standing on a promontory, which went out from the sea-cliffs. He was dressed in a green cloak and blue pants, and high buttoned shoes on his feet, with a spear in his hand. This man sang to us and said:

"Who rides here
Raevil's horse
On the high waves
And resounding sea?
Are your sails
Swollen with the sea
Will the wave steed
Withstand the wind."

Regin said in reply:

"Here are we, with Sigurd,
Come on the sea
Good wind is given to us
To death itself.
The waves break high
Over the ship's prow
Hlunvigg will plunge down
Who asks of this?"

The man in the cloak said:

"I am called Hnikar
Who gladdened Odinn's wise raven
And as a Volsung
Vanquished widely.
Now you must call
The man on the cliff
Feng or Fjolnir
Such a journey will I accept."

Then we made for land, and the weather immediately lessened, and Sigurd bade the man to come out onto the ship. He did so. Now the weather fell, and the most favorable breeze sprang up.

The man sat at Sigurd's knee and was most pleasant. He asked if Sigurd would accept some advice from him. Sigurd said that he would, and said that he supposed that he must have a lot of good advice, if he wished people to benefit from it. Sigurd said to the cloaked man:

"Tell me, Hnikar
All you know
Of both the gods and men:
Which are the best
If there shall be fighting
Fortunate when swords are sweeping."

Hnikar said:

"Much is good
If men know
Fortunate when swords are sweeping.

A faithful companion
I think the dark raven
To be for a warrior.

That is the second
If you have come outside
And prepared for a journey:

You gaze at two
Praiseworthy men
Standing on the path.

That is the third
If you hear the whistling
Of the wolf and ash tree.

Destined for good luck
From the helmeted head to you
If you wish to travel on.

A man shall not see
Against the horizon
The late shining
Of the moon's sister.

They have victory
Who can see
The rapid sword-play
Or the column arrayed.

That is great harm
If your feet stumble
On the way to battle:
Guileful spirits
Stand on two cliffs
And wish to see you injured.

Combed and washed
Shall each appear
And at morning meal
Although it is unknown
What comes after.
It is ill to stumble before good luck."

And after that, we sailed south along Holsetuland and east of Friesland, and there to land. There the sons of Hunding heard of our expedition, and collected troops and soon there was a large army. When we met them, there was a great battle. Of the brothers, Lyngvi was the most valiant in all of the advances. They all fought bravely. Sigurd advanced so forcefully that everyone fell back before him, since the sword Gram was likely to wound them, but there was no need to question Sigurd's courage. And when he met Lyngvi, they exchanged many blows and fought quite bravely. There was a pause in the battle, as people were watching hand-to-hand combat. For a long time, neither of them could inflict a wound on the other, since they were so skilled in arms. Then Lyngvi's brothers attacked fiercely and killed many men, although some fled. Then Hamund, Sigurd's brother, turned toward them and I with him. There was then another encounter. It so ended with Sigurd and Lyngvi, that Sigurd seized him, and he was set in irons. But when Sigurd joined us, there was soon a change. Hunding's sons and all of their troops fell, as night was coming on.

When morning light came, Hnikar had disappeared, and was never seen again. Men think that it must have been Odinn.

There was then a discussion of what sort of death Lyngvi should have. Regin advised that a blood eagle should be carved on his back. Regin then took his sword from me, and with it carved Lyngvi's back until the ribs were cut from the back, and the lungs drawn out. Thus Lyngvi died with great valor.


- The Story of Norna-Gest (Norna-Gests þáttr), Chapter 6