ack wealth wherewith to make this match fairer still;
moreover, another daughter of his is married to a mighty man. You have
also told me yourself that Kalf Asgeirson is the doughtiest of men,
and their way of life is of the stateliest. It is my wish that you go
and talk to Hrefna, and I ween you will find that there great wits and
goodliness go together." Kjartan took this matter up well, and said
she had ably pleaded the case. After this Kjartan and Hrefna are
brought together that they may have their talk by themselves, and they
talked together all day. In the evening Thurid asked Kjartan how he
liked the manner in which Hrefna turned her speech. He was well
pleased about it, and said he thought the woman was in all ways one of
the noblest as far as he could see. The next morning men were sent to
Asgeir to ask him to Asbjornness. [Sidenote: Kjartan marries Hrefna]
And now they had a parley between them on this affair, and Kjartan
wooed Hrefna, Asgeir's daughter. Asgeir took up the matter with a good
will, for he was a wise man, and saw what an honourable offer was
made to them. Kalf, too, urged the matter on very much, saying, "I
will not let anything be spared (towards the dowry)." Hrefna, in her
turn, did not make unwilling answers, but bade her father follow his
own counsel. So now the match was covenanted and settled before
witnesses. Kjartan would hear of nothing but that the wedding should
be held at Herdholt, and Asgeir and Kalf had nothing to say against
it. The wedding was then settled to take place at Herdholt when five
weeks of summer had passed. After that Kjartan rode home with great
gifts. Olaf was delighted at these tidings, for Kjartan was much
merrier than before he left home. Kjartan kept fast through Lent,
following therein the example of no man in this land; and it is said
he was the first man who ever kept fast in this land. Men thought it
so wonderful a thing that Kjartan could live so long without meat,
that people came over long ways to see him. In a like manner Kjartan's
other ways went beyond those of other men. Now Easter passed, and
after that Kjartan and Olaf made ready a great feast. At the appointed
time Asgeir and Kalf came from the north as well as Gudmund and Hall,
and altogether there were sixty men. Olaf and Kjartan had already many
men gathered together there. It was a most brave feast, and for a
whole week the feasting went on. [Sidenote: The coif] Kjartan made
Hrefna a bridal gif