ike to Gunnar, the slayer of
Thridrandi. And if you are so great a hero as other men say, you will
not keep hidden your name." Then said Gunnar: "You speak most eagerly
on this matter; and, truth to tell, I think I have no need to hide
myself from you. You have rightly named your man; but then, what have
you chiefly bethought yourself of having done to me?" Thorkell said he
would like that he should soon know it, and spake to his men, ordering
them to lay hands on him. Gudrun sat on the dais at the upper end of
the hall, together with other women all becoifed with white linen,
and when she got aware of this she rises up from the bridal bench and
calls on her men to lend Gunnar help, and told them to give quarter to
no man who should show any doubtful behaviour. [Sidenote: The quarrel]
Gudrun had the greatest number of followers, and what never was meant
to happen seemed like to befall. Snorri Godi went between both sides
and bade them allay this storm. "The one thing clearly to be done by
you, Thorkell, is not to push things on so hotly; and now you can see
what a stirring woman Gudrun is, as she overrules both of us
together." Thorkell said he had promised his namesake, Thorleik
Geitir's son, that he would kill Gunnar if he came into the
countrysides of the west. "And he is my greatest friend," Snorri
spake. "You are much more in duty bound to act as we wish; and for
yourself, it is a matter of the greatest importance, for you will
never find such another woman as Gudrun, however far you may seek."
And because of Snorri's reasoning, and seeing that he spoke the truth,
Thorkell quieted down, and Gunnar was sent away that evening. The
feast now went forward well and bravely, and when it was over the
guests got ready to go away. Thorkell gave to Snorri very rich gifts,
and the same to all the chief men. Snorri asked Bolli Bollison to go
home with him, and to live with him as long as he liked. Bolli
accepted this with thanks, and rides home to Tongue. Thorkell now
settled down at Holyfell, and took in hand the affairs of the
household, and it was soon seen that he was no worse a hand at that
than at trade-voyaging. He had the hall pulled down in the autumn and
a new one built, which was finished when the winter set in, and was
both large and lofty. [Sidenote: Gudrun has her way] Between Gudrun
and Thorkell dear love now grew up, and so the winter passed on. In
the spring Gudrun asked how Thorkell was minded to look out for