The Sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald The Tyrant (Harald Haardraade) | Page 4

Holmgard that so great was the respect paid unto peace that it was
lawful to slay any man who himself had slain another who was
uncondemned; and therefore in accordance with their law and custom
the people made assemblage together to take into custody the person of
the boy.
Then were they told that he was in the house of the Queen in the midst
of an armed band; and this was also brought to the ears of the King.
He made him ready to go over to these armed men & give them his
commission not to fight, and forthwith did he, the King, adjudge the
geld-levy, the fine thereof being paid down by the Queen. Thereafter
did Olaf abide in the house of the Queen and waxed to find much
favour in her eyes.
¶ Now it was the law in Garda that men of royal blood should not dwell
there save with the consent of the King, therefore Sigurd made known
unto the Queen from what stock Olaf was descended and in what
manner he had come thither, saying that because of dissensions he
could not prudently be in his own country, and he prayed her to speak
with the King upon this matter. Then did she approach the King
beseeching him that he would help this son of a king even because so
hard a fate had befallen him: & the outcome of her prayers was that the
King pledged her his word and taking Olaf under his protection treated
him with honour, as it was seemly the son of a king should be held in
honour.
Olaf was nine winters old when he came to Garda, & nine more winters
dwelt he with King Valdamar. Olaf was exceeding fair & tall to look
upon and of mighty stature & of great strength withal. And in prowess

in sports, so it is told, was he the best of all the Norsemen.
¶ Earl Hakon Sigurdson abode with the Danish King, Harald Gormson,
during the winter after he had fled from Norway before the sons of
Gunnhild.
Now Hakon had so much on his mind that winter that he took to his
bed, and often lay wakeful, eating & drinking only so much as would
maintain the strength in his body. Then secretly sent he his men
northwards to Throndhjem to his friends there, & counselled them that
they should slay King Erling if it might be that they could compass that
deed; adding furthermore that he himself would fare back to his realm
in summer-time. That winter they that were of Throndhjem slew Erling,
as is aforewrit.
Betwixt Hakon and Gold Harald was there a friendship close as that of
brothers that have been laid in the same cradle and Harald would lay
bare his thoughts unto Hakon. Harald confessed he desired to settle on
the land and no more live on his ship of war, and he questioned Hakon
if he thought Harald would share his kingdom with him were he to
demand the half. 'Methinks,' quoth Hakon, 'that the Danish King will
not refuse thee justice; but thou wilt know more concerning this matter
if thou speakest thereon to the King; methinks thou wilt not get the
realm save thou demandest it.' Shortly after this talk spake Gold Harald
to King Harald when they were in company with many mighty men,
good friends unto them both. Gold Harald then demanded that he
should halve the kingdom with him, in accordance with the rights
which his birth and lineage gave him there in Denmark.
At this demand waxed Harald very wroth, & sware that no man had
ever besought his father, Gorm, that he should become King of half of
what pertained unto Denmark, nor yet of his father Horda-Knut
(Hardicanute), nor again of Sigurd Snake-i'-the-eye, nor of Ragnar
Lodbrok; & so great was his fury that none dared parley with him.
[Illustration]
¶ Thence came it that his own position was now even less than before

to the liking of Gold Harald, for no kingdom had he any more than
aforetime; while to this was added the wrath of the King. So went he to
his friend Hakon and made wail of his plight unto him, and besought of
him good counsel, if he had such to give him, as to how he might
become possessed of the realm; and he said he was minded to seek his
kingdom by force of arms. Then Hakon bade him not breathe word of
this to anyone lest it should become known: 'It might cost thee thy life,'
he said.
'Bethink thee diligently what thy strength is, for he who would risk so
great a venture must be high-hearted and dauntless, shirking neither the
good nor the evil, so