The Njál's Saga on Helgi

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 27. Helgi Njal'S Son'S Wooing

• attestation: Helgi was betrothed to Thorhalla and a bridal day was set

  "the end of it was that Asgrim betrothed his daughter to Helgi, and the bridal day was named."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 82. Njal'S Sons Sail Abroad

• attestation: Helgi declared they would defend themselves though the chapmen protested

  ""The will of the chapmen," answers Helgi, "is to defend themselves."

But the chapmen called out, "Wretch that thou art to speak thus! What defence can we make? Lading is less than life.""

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 83. Of Kari Solmund'S Son

• attestation: Helgi killed Gritgard by thrusting a spear through him

  "Helgi springs on Gritgard and thrusts his spear through him, and that was his death blow"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 84. Of Earl Sigurd

• attestation: Helgi displayed apparent second sight by predicting that the Scots had killed the earl's steward and blocked the Pentland Firth

  ""The Scots," says Helgi, "must have taken your steward's life, and stopped all the messengers, that none should cross the Pentland Firth.""

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 87. Thrain Took To Hrapp

• attestation: Helgi refused to shelter Hrapp, calling him an unlucky man

  "Helgi looked at him, and said, "Thou lookest like an unlucky man, and the man who will not take thee in will have the best of it.""

• attestation: Njal's sons honestly told the earl that Hrapp had come to them but refused to reveal his whereabouts to protect Thrain's life

  ""We should not tell a whit more for that," says Helgi, "when his life lies at stake.""

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 88. Earl Hacon Fights With Njal'S Sons.

• attestation: Helgi declared they would defend themselves, saying the boldest man holds his own against all comers

  ""It is said," said Helgi, "that he is the boldest man who holds his own against all comers, and so we will defend ourselves.""

• attestation: Helgi was so beloved that all his men chose to die with him rather than accept the earl's offer of peace

  "the earl offered peace and quarter to all who would neither defend themselves nor Helgi; but Helgi was so much beloved that all said they would rather die with him."

• attestation: Helgi slew Egil, the earl's banner-bearer

  "Helgi slew Egil the earl's banner-bearer."

• attestation: Helgi accepted amends from Eric but refused to deal with the earl directly

  ""I will take them," said Helgi, "from his son Eric, but I will have nothing to do with the earl.""

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 90. The Quarrel Of Njal'S Sons With Thrain Sigfus' Son

• attestation: Helgi asked Thrain for amends for the wrongs and hardships he suffered in Norway on Thrain's account

  ""Thee am I come to see, Thrain," said Helgi, "and to know if thou wilt make me any amends for those wrongs and hardships which befell me for thy sake in Norway.""

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 91. Thrain Sigfus' Son'S Slaying

• attestation: Helgi cut off Hrapp's arm and Grim finished him with a spear thrust

  "Helgi sees this and cuts at Hrapp's arm, and cut it off, and down fell the axe.

"In this," says Hrapp, "thou hast done a most needful work, for this hand hath wrought harm and death to many a man."

"And so here an end shall be put to it," says Grim; and with that he ran him through with a spear, and then Hrapp fell down dead."

• attestation: Helgi warned that Grani would never be true and Skarphedinn would regret sparing him

  ""Then the day will once come," says Helgi, "when thou wilt wish that thou hadst slain him, for never will he be true to thee""