The Njál's Saga on Gunnhilda

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 3. Hrut And Gunnhillda, King'S Mother

• relationship: Gunnhillda was Harold Grayfell's mother, a daughter of Auzur Toti

  "his mother's name was Gunnhillda, a daughter of Auzur Toti"

• attestation: Gunnhillda and Harold Grayfell resided at the King's Crag in the east

  "they had their abode east, at the King's Crag"

• attestation: Gunnhillda sent her servant Augmund to invite Hrut and Auzur to spend the winter with her

  "she called her waiting-man, whose name was Augmund, and said, "I am going to send thee to the Bay to find out Auzur and Hrut, and tell them that I ask them both to spend this winter with me."

• attestation: Gunnhillda promised to support Hrut's legal case and speak well of him to the king

  "if Hrut will carry out my counsel, I will see after his suit, and anything else he takes in hand, and I will speak a good word, too, for him to the king."

• attestation: Gunnhillda characterized Hrut as wise and well-bred

  "Hrut is said to be a wise and well-bred man"

• attestation: Gunnhillda sent Hrut a dress of honour to wear before the king

  "here," said Augmund, "is a dress of honour which she sends to thee, Hrut, and in it thou must go in before the king."

• attestation: Gunnhillda instructed Hrut to ask to be made one of the king's body-guard

  "Tell Hrut to be out-spoken before the king, and to ask to be made one of his body-guard"

• attribution: Gunnhillda advocated for Hrut, calling his offer the greatest honour

  "It seems to me as if this man offered you the greatest honour, for methinks if there were many such men in the body-guard, it would be well filled."

• attestation: Gunnhillda brought Hrut to a stone hall with beautiful tapestry and her high seat

  "he brought them to a hall built of stone, which was hung with the most beautiful tapestry, and there too was Gunnhillda's high seat."

• attestation: Gunnhillda took Hrut to her private chamber that first evening and they shared a bed

  "Thou shalt be in the upper chamber with me to-night, and we two together."

• attribution: Gunnhillda threatened her household with death if they revealed her relationship with Hrut

  "Ye shall lose nothing except your lives if you say to any one a word of how Hrut and I are going on."

• attestation: Gunnhillda determined Hrut's seating position, placing him in the highest room

  "she got him a seat in the highest room, and he spent the winter with the king in much honour."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 4. Of Hrut'S Cruise

• attestation: Gunnhillda gave Hrut two longships and the warrior Wolf the Unwashed to pursue Soti

  "I will give thee two long-ships, full manned, and along with them the bravest man, Wolf the Unwashed, our overseer of guests"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 5. Atli Arnvid Son'S Slaying

• attestation: Gunnhillda's son Gudred captured and hanged Soti on her orders

  "she begged Gudred to take his life. So Gudred set off at once, and came unawares on Soti, and made them lead him up the country, and hang him there."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 6. Hrut Sails Out To Iceland

• attestation: Gunnhillda suspected Hrut had a woman waiting in Iceland, though he denied it

  ""Hast thou a wife out there?" she asked; and he answers, "No."

"But I am sure that is true," she says"

• attestation: Gunnhillda gave Hrut a gold ring as a parting gift

  "Here is a gold ring which I will give thee;" and with that she clasped it round his wrist."

• attestation: Gunnhillda laid a spell on Hrut preventing him from finding pleasure with the woman he loved in Iceland

  "I lay this spell on thee that thou mayst never have any pleasure in living with that woman on whom thy heart is set in Iceland, but with other women thou mayst get on well enough"

• attestation: There was a bad harvest in Norway that year but Gunnhillda supplied Hrut with meal

  "There was a bad harvest that year in the land, yet Gunnhillda gave Hrut as much meal as he chose to have"