Hrolf Kraki

• Frodi and the Children of Halfdan

• Helgi and Ysra

• Svipdag

• Bjorn and his Sons

• Bodvar and Hott

• Treachery of King Adils

• End of an Era

Frodi and the Children of Halfdan

Two brothers – Halfdan and Frodi – each ruling his own kingdom, were different in many ways. Halfdan was described as being mild-mannered and good-natured, but his brother was portrayed as greedy and treacherous. So treacherous that Frodi killed his brother, taking Denmark, Halfdan's kingdom, by force. Although some of Halfdan's followers survived and fled, those who were captured were forced to swear allegiance to Frodi.

Halfdan's children survived. His daughter Signy was the eldest, and she married Jarl Saevil. They had a son named Hrok. Halfdan also had two sons, Hroar and Helgi. His wife was named Sigrid. Regin was the boys' foster-father. Among those who were forced to become Frodi's subjects were Helgi's wife, Signy and Saevil and Regin. Although Frodi accepted them, he would have murdered the young princes, had he found his nephews.

Regin could not protect Halfdan's sons so he had Vifil spirit the boys to his island, hiding Helgi and Hroar. Vifil was a crafty man; although he was a fisherman, he was master of old magic. Before the boys' arrival on Vifil's island, he lived alone with his dogs, Hopp and Ho.

Frodi tried searching for his nephews in every possible place, and even searched Vifil's home once before. No one knew where the boys were hiding. He sent spies to find them, and later on soothsayers and seeresses, but none could reveal their location. Finally, he sought the aid of a sorcerer who told him to search Vifil's island again. The sorcerer suspected that Vifil was more powerful than he looked.

So Frodi sent his men back to Vifil's island, but returned to the king, empty-handed. Frodi angrily told them to search again, but his men returned with a similar result. Frodi realised that Vifil must be hiding them, so the king went to the island himself. Despite being threatened, Vifil denied keeping the boys in his care, and did not disclose the location of Hroar and Helgi.

When the king could not find his nephews and left his island, Vifil told the two boys he could no longer hide them, so he would send them to the home of Jarl Saevil, the boys' brother-in-law. To hide their identities, Hroar changed his name to Ham, and Helgi to Hrani. They also wore hoods over their heads, so their sister Signy would not recognise them.

They stayed with Saevil and Signy for three winters, before their sister recognised them. Although Helgi was the youngest in Halfdan's family (he was ten), he was smarter and braver than Hroar (twelve), but they were trouble-makers.

One day, while riding to Frodi's court at the king's invitation, Saevil had told the boys to remain behind, but the boys decided to come with them, and borrowed a couple of horses from the Jarl's stable. The boys had never ridden horses before, and though Hrani (Helgi) rode the right way, his older brother rode, mounted backwards. Because the horses had not been tamed and properly trained, the horses bucked frequently. Signy recognised Helgi immediately, when his hood feel back. Signy cried, and Saevil feared the king's discovery of these boys would lead to all of their deaths. He told his wife to keep silent about the identities of the boys. At this point, from Signy's lament, it was revealed that she and her brothers were descendants of the Skioldungs or the Scyldings; the same dynasty of Hrothgar, in the epic Beowulf.

Saevil tried unsuccessfully to order them to go home, but Ham and Hrani continued to follow them to Frodi's palace. They refused to listen to their sisters too, when she told them not to enter Frodi's feasting hall. With the boys within their enemy's den, neither Saevil nor Signy could save them.

In Frodi's hall, a seeress (or a sibyl) named Heid was seated on the high platform, which was used when she went into a trance and foretold the future. Frodi wanted to discover his elusive nephews, promising great rewards if she could deliver. Heid revealed that they were hiding at first on Vifil's island, but before she could continue, Signy threw a gold ring to Heid. Frodi threatened Heid with torture if she did not reveal more, so she pronounced that Frodi would die by his nephews' hands.

At this time, Ham and Hrani became frightened and fled the hall into the woods, but not before Regin, their foster-father, recognised them. The seeress Heid also escaped. When Frodi ordered his warriors to capture them, Regin immediately extinguished the torches in the hall. Many within the hall were loyal to Helgi's sons, despite having sworn an oath of allegiance to the king, and grappled with Frodi's men in the dark. Frodi threatened those people who would conspire with the boys.

Regin and others began serving drinks with Frodi's ale, until most of them passed out from drunken slumber. Regin then set about finding his foster-sons in the woods. They tried to hail Regin, but he deliberately refused to acknowledge their presence. Helgi then understood Regin's silent message that something must have happened back at their uncle's palace.

So the boys returned to the palace, blocking all the exits except one. Those who were loyal to Halfdan's sons were allowed to leave the palace, which included Saevil and Signy. Before Frodi's death, the king heard Odin's voice saying that 'They had come home to Hel'. So Frodi and his warriors had no palace in heaven or in Valhalla. Frodi, seeing the fire, tried to negotiate with his nephews, but they knew full well that their uncle was treacherous, and rejected any compensation from Frodi. Frodi tried another exit, but Regin menacingly blocked his escape. Frodi returned to the hall, where he was burned to death, along with his followers, and Sigrid, the mother of Helgi and Hroar, who had refused to escape.

Helgi and Ysra

For awhile, Hroar and Helgi shared the kingdoms that had belonged to their father and uncle, until King Nordri of Northumberland, in England, invited Hroar to marry his daughter Ogn. So Hroar ruled Northumberland with Nordri, leaving Denmark to his younger brother to rule alone. Hroar and Ogn had a son named Agnar. Jarl Saevil and Signy continued to live in their land with their son, Hrok.

Only Helgi remained single and childless. So he sought a wife, and looked to Saxland (or Saxony) in northern Germany, where the kingdom was ruled by Olof. She was also single, but didn't want to marry. Olof liked to dress in armour, wear a helmet and carry a sword and shield around. Olof knew immediately of his intentions, when Helgi invited himself to her court. Had she known earlier, she would have gathered her forces to prevent his entry into her kingdom.

So Olof was forced to play a hostess to an unwanted guest. So a feast was prepared for Helgi and his companions. She got the king drunk, and he fell into slumber before she struck him with a sleep thorn. Olof then shaved off all of Helgi's hair, and smeared his body in tar, before bundling him in a bag. She sent him back to his men waiting on his ship.

Helgi was outraged at his treatment, but was powerless to attack Olof's kingdom, since she managed to gather her army. But he would not let the queen get away with the humiliation. He had hoped to marry her, but now he only wanted revenge.

Helgi returned to the island with a plan. The king disguised himself as a beggar, and duped one of Olof's thralls that there was hidden treasure in the woods. Olof was known for her greed, so it was easy for Helgi to lure the queen into coming alone to the woods.

So Helgi captured her and brought to her to his ship. Olof pleaded with the offended king that he could marry her, and that she would make amends to him, but he flatly refused. She was raped for several days on Helgi's ship, before she was freed to return to her island.

Olof carried Helgi's child, named Yrsa, whom she did not love. The queen neglected her daughter, and she was brought up by old, poor farmer. Yrsa grew up thinking that this farmer was her father. Yrsa grew into a lovely girl, but unlike her mother, she had a sweet disposition and was wise beyond her years.

Helgi returned to Saxland some years later, to find out any news about Olof, but he didn't know that he had a daughter. So by chance he came upon a farm and fell in love with Yrsa. Helgi took her back to his kingdom and married her. Yrsa was indeed in love with a much older man, not realising that she had committed incest with her father.

Olof found out what Helgi had done, and she patiently bided her time when she could reveal her secret to Helgi and her daughter, to extract her own vengeance upon her rapist, and cause him the most grief.

The story then shifted its focus slightly away from Yrsa to Helgi's most precious possession – a gold ring. This ring brought turmoil in Helgi's family. Both Hroar and Helgi's sister Signy also desired the ring.

Hroar visited his brother and told him that he wanted the ring, and was willing to share his kingdom at Northumberland with Helgi. Helgi agreed with his brother's offer, and didn't hesitate to relinquish the ring to Hroar.

Jarl Saevil, Helgi's brother-in-law, had died, so his son Hrok became the new jarl. Signy told her son about this ring that belonged to her brother, Helgi. She encouraged Hrok to gain the ring, since she had helped Hroar and Helgi, when Frodi was ruler of Denmark. So Jarl Hrok went to Denmark, but Helgi flatly rebuked his nephew and told him that he didn't have the ring, since he had given it to Hroar. The king also told Hrok that he and his brother had won it through their own courage, and not by Signy's aid.

So Jarl Hrok went to Northumberland to demand the ring from his other uncle. Hroar refused to give away the ring, but he did let his rash nephew look at the ring. Since Hrok couldn't have the ring, he vowed that Hroar couldn't have it either. Hrok flung the ring out to sea.

Hroar, angry at his nephew's action, captured him, and had one of Hrok's feet chopped off. Hroar then sent him back home. When Hrok recovered, he massed an army and returned to Northumberland. Hrok's men attacked Hroar while he was feasting with only a few men. Hroar died.

Hrok decided to rule Northumberland, so he wanted to forcibly marry his uncle's widow, Ogn. But Ogn was already pregnant with Hroar's child, and she didn't want to marry someone who had killed her husband, so Ogn managed to persuade Hrok to delay a marriage, a delay long enough to call for aid from her brother-in-law, King Helgi.

Shortly after the birth of her son, Agnar, Helgi arrived with his army and captured Hrok. Helgi didn't kill his nephew, but he did return Hrok home, with broken arms and legs.

Hroar's son Agnar grew very strong. At the age of twelve, Agnar went looking for the ring that Hrok had thrown into the sea. Agnar dived for the ring three times before he found his father's ring. Agnar won fame for this achievement.

It was around this time that Yrsa finally gave birth to a healthy baby boy, who was named Hrolf. When Olof heard how happy Helgi and Yrsa were, she decided to spoil it for them. She came to visit, and told her daughter, that she was her mother, and Helgi, Yrsa's husband was really her father. This shocking news upset Yrsa, and had no choice to leave her father-husband and return to her mother's kingdom. Helgi was still in love with his daughter-wife and asked her not to leave, but Yrsa believed that was not possible. Helgi was devastated that Yrsa had left but could not stop her, and felt even worse when he heard that Olof had arranged for Yrsa to marry another man – Adils, a king in Sweden. Yrsa was reluctant to marry Adils, because she knew of his reputation as being a cruel and unjust king. He was also known for performing sacrifice (perhaps human sacrifice) and sorcery.

Helgi was depressed at losing his wife, but one Yule, he heard someone outside of door, in freezing cold weather. Helgi let in a strange woman, but she wanted to sleep in the same bed with him. Helgi didn't want to sleep in bed with this strange woman, because she was ugly, but didn't refuse her request.

As the night rolled on, Helgi found her to be more and more attractive. So that night, Helgi slept with her. When they woke the next morning, he saw that she was beautiful. Apparently her stepmother had laid a terrible curse upon her that transformed her into an ugly hag; this spell could only lifted if someone was to sleep with her.

She was going to leave, but Helgi persuaded her to stay for only one more night. He made love to her, and she knew she had become pregnant. She asked him to meet her the next Yule at the ship's landing, or else he would face the consequences.

Helgi was no longer depressed, but he forgot the rendezvous. Three winters later, three people came at night with a young girl, saying that her name was Skuld. One of the three adults was the woman Helgi had slept with. This woman was apparently an elf or elfin woman. She left Skuld with Helgi to care for. Skuld grew up into a wicked woman, with a vicious temperament.

To forget his sorrow, Helgi spent much of his time, vikinging, which is raiding and plundering other kingdoms, and let his son Hrolf rule during his absence.

One day, Helgi decided to visit his daughter/ex-wife, and came to Uppsala. Adils invited Helgi to a feast, to test Yrsa's affection for Helgi. Seeing that Helgi was still in love with his wife, Adils plotted to ambush Helgi after the feast, when the Danish king returned to his ship.

Adils had powerful a group of twelve berserker warriors, and told them to ambush them from one side, while Adils would attack with his men on the other side, in order to prevent Helgi's escape. A battle ensued when Helgi became aware of the ambush. Despite his skill as a warrior, he and his warriors were overwhelmed by a larger force. Some of Helgi's warriors managed to escape and returned to Denmark.

When Adils returned to the palace, boasting of his victory, Yrsa showed her displeasure at the death of her father. Although she was powerless to do anything, particularly against her husband, she was determined to bring about the downfall of Adils' 12 berserkers.

With Helgi's death, their son became king.

Svipdag

Svipdag was a son of a farmer named Svip. They lived in a remote farmland near one of the mountains in Sweden, with his two brothers – Hvitserk and Beygad. Svipdag, at eighteen, wanted a different lifestyle instead of being a farmer. He decided to become a warrior and serve under King Adils, but his father warned him that their king was a cruel king, unjust and ungenerous. It would be better to find someone else to serve. Despite the warning, Svipdag was insistent that he didn't want to live on a farm for the rest of his life.

Svipdag arrived at Adils' court, and the king's berserkers had an instant disliking towards the stranger. Adils also didn't like the newcomer, when Svipdag broke through the gate and rode his horse into the courtyard. To Adils, the stranger was arrogant. When the king heard who Svipdag's father was, he recognised the name. The berserkers wanted to test Svipdag and the king agreed. The leader of the berserkers challenged Svipdag to fight them, and the young hero agreed, but one at the time. Yrsa was the only one in her husband's court to be pleased that someone was bold enough to confront her husband's berserkers.

The next day, Svipdag killed the first berserker with his sword, and he proved that the berserkers were no match for him in single combat. Another three berserkers died in quick succession. Adils was angry at the loss of his champions and ordered the other berserkers to attack him, but his wife intervened. Yrsa told Adils that since Svipdag had killed four berserkers then surely he was worth more to the king as a new champion. Adils begrudgingly agreed.

So he gave Svipdag a seat at his table as his warrior, but he secretly incited the other berserkers to attack Svipdag when he was alone. Svipdag knew that the berserkers were plotting his death, but he wasn't afraid of them. Another fight erupted when he was alone, and another berserker died at his hand, before Adils intervened and banished the rest of his berserkers from his kingdom.

The berserkers left, humiliated by their exile and their failure to kill a lone warrior. So the berserkers gathered a force, and continued to raid Adils' kingdom. Adils promoted the reluctant Svipdag to be the leader of his army, in the hope of driving off the berserkers.

Another berserker was killed when Svipdag's force repulsed the raiders. But this did not stop the berserkers from regrouping and raiding Adils' land again. So the king sent Svipdag off again with the army. The army was smaller than before, but Adils promised that he would gather a larger army to join and support Svipdag's force.

Svipdag's men were outnumbered by the large berserkers' forces. The battle was now going against Svipdag, but no help arrived from the king. Adils was hoping that either Svipdag would crush the remaining rebellious berserkers or that Svipdag would die; for he didn't care about Svipdag and he was willing to accept the berserkers back at his table; such was Adils' treacherous nature.

Back at the farm, Svip woke with foreboding that his son was in trouble because of Adils' treachery, so he sent his other sons. Armed with good armour and weapons, Beygad and Hvitserk set out for the battlefield. Svipdag's men were hard-pressed, and the hero had many wounds, including the loss of one eye. Howerver, Svipdag had killed three berserkers, so he accomplished many great deeds in this battle. When Svipdag's brothers joined the battle, the course of the war changed again, and many of rebels were killed, including the remaining three berserkers.

Due to Svipdag's wounds, it was a while before he was healed and his strength returned, but he would remain one-eyed. It was the queen who nursed him back to health. The three brothers decided to leave Adils' service since the king rewarded them poorly. Svipdag wanted to find another king who would do him justice. They rejected Adils' offer to compensate them.

First they returned home, to the farm. Svip could not persuade his sons to stay, so he advised them to become King Hrolf's champions, since the Danish king was wise and generous, unlike their own king.

Although, Adils and Hrolf were enemies, Hrolf accepted Svipdag and his brothers into his household. At first, Hrolf's own berserkers challenged Svipdag, but the king refused to let them fight. So the leader of Hrolf's beserkers became a friend of Svipdag, and regarded Svipdag as his equal.

Hrolf, as king of Denmark, ruled from his royal seat in Hleidargard. Many great warriors from all parts of the world came to join him, because they all knew of his bravery, wisdom and generosity. He had two daughters, Skur and Drifa, but the name of his wife was never given. Hrolf's half sister Skuld was married to Hjorvard.

As wise as he was, he had the uncanny knack of making enemies unnecessarily. When Hjorvard came to Hleidargard during a festival, Hrolf tricked him into kissing Hrolf's sword belt for a moment, like a servant. Although Hjorvard was a powerful king, he begrudgingly accepted Hrolf as his liege lord, and paid tributes to his brother-in-law annually. In his heart, Hjorvard decided to cause trouble later for Hrolf.

Bjorn and his Sons

In Uppdales, north of Norway, there was a king named Hring who had a son named Bjorn, but his wife (who was unnamed) died. So his advisers suggested that he should remarry. His counsellors went everywhere to find the king a new bride. In Lappland, they came across two women, mother and daughter, named Ingebjorg and Hvit. Hvit was a daughter of the King of the Lapps, and her mother was the king's mistress. Her beauty was such that they thought she was the best candidate for their king's new queen, but they were unaware of the young woman's skill in sorcery and her cruelty and treachery in demeanour.

So Hring married Hvit. Hvit, on the other hand, was more interested in her handsome stepson, when he became older. When her husband went to war with another kingdom, she one-day suggested that his son should help her rule in his absence, for she hoped to seduce young Bjorn. However, Bjorn was in love with his childhood friend Bera, daughter of a wealthy freeman.

When Bjorn rejected her amorous advances, she angrily cursed Bjorn, transforming him into a bear. He would be aware of his transformation, but could do nothing about it. As a bear, he fled his father's palace, living in the woods, not far from the king's farmlands.

No one knew of Bjorn being cursed by his stepmother, nor where he had disappeared to. No one could find the young prince, but the king noticed that some sort of wild animal was killing his cattle and sheep. It was Bjorn killing his father's animals.

One day, Bjorn came upon the farm of Bera's father, and she immediately recognised that the bear was really Bjorn. The bear didn't harm her, so she followed the bear into the cave as the night fell. Bera found Bjorn in human form. Apparently, he resumed in his natural form by night, but during daytime, he was transformed into a bear.

Bera stayed with Bjorn for some time, and slept with Bjorn until she became pregnant with triplets. Their short moment of happiness was interrupted, when Bjorn realised he would die in the next day. He left instructions for Bera: at his death she must ask the king to have whatever was underneath the bear's left shoulder. She must not at any circumstance eat the bear's flesh, otherwise their sons would be born deformed. He also gave the names of their three future sons. Also, he instructed Bera that when each of their sons had grown strong, each should receive their inheritances in that cave. In a chest were runes that would reveal which gift would go to which son. These gifts were weapons embedded into the stone. Their sons could only draw out the weapon that they were destined to receive.

By morning, Bjorn was transformed into a bear and left the cave. Bera followed him to witness her husband's death. It was at Hvit's urging that Hring should hunt for that bear ravaging his land. They tracked down the bear (Bjorn), and surrounded him. Bjorn killed all the dogs and a number of the king's hunters, before Bjorn fell exhausted and was killed.

Bera, having witness her husband's death, went immediately to the king as instructed and secretly took the ring under Bjorn's shoulder. Hring had the bear's corpse brought back to his palace, along with Bera. Hvit, suspecting who Bera was, tried to trick the young woman into eating the cooked bear's flesh. Bera only reluctantly ate a bit of the meat, when the queen threatened to punish her. Bera ate only a tiny piece of Bjorn's meat, but spat out the rest. Hvit just laughed as Bera stormed out of the palace.

Bera returned to her father's farm, revealing everything to him. Her pregnancy was difficult, and as Bjorn had warned and predicted, her sons would be born deformed if she was to eat her husband's flesh.

The firstborn, Elk-Frodi; above his navel he was normal human being, but below it, the rest of his body was an elk. Thorir was her second son, and he was only deformed at his feet, for they were the feet of a hound; other than that he was quite handsome. Thorir was nicknamed as Thorir Hound's Foot. The last son was Bodvar, and he had no deformity. Each son was extraordinarily strong, but Elk-Frodi was the strongest.

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Elk-Frodi was to first to leave home when he was old enough. So his mother instructed Frodi to get his inheritance in the bear-cave. Frodi wanted the longsword or the axe, but he could draw neither from the stone, so he was unhappy with the shortsword. Frodi chose to live in the mountain, where he would attack and rob travellers.

Thorir decided some time later to leave, and he too went into the cave and took the axe; he too couldn't pull out the longsword. Thorir went into the mountain to visit his brother, where Frodi treated him hospitably only when he recognised him. Frodi offered his wealth, but Thorir refused. So Frodi advised his brother to go to Gautland, because the king had recently died. The people would only accept a new king who could sit on the wide seat of the king's throne. Thorir did as his brother instructed, and he became king of the Gauts. Thorir Hound's Foot was a strong and brave king, always victorious in battles.

Bodvar remained with his mother longer than his brothers. When Bodvar was eighteen, he asked his mother who was his father, and she told him the truth about what had happened to Bjorn and to herself, and why Frodi and Thorir had been born the way they were. Bodvar said that his father should be avenged, and he would do it for his brothers. Bera warned her son that Hvit must not be allowed to cast any spell.

So Bera and Bodvar went to visit the king, and reveal the truth about his son's fate and the wickedness of his wife. Hring had already realised what had happened, but chose to keep silent about it, since he still loved Hvit. Hring offered Bodvar the title of jarl and make him heir upon his death, if he was to spare his wife. Since Hring refused to take action and banish his queen from the kingdom, Bodvar decided to act. Bodvar went into the queen's chamber, covered Hvit's head with a sack, then beat her and dragged her body through the street, until she died. Only Hring mourned for his wife's death, but none of his subjects ever did.

Bodvar and Hott

Bera and Bodvar stayed in Hring's palace until the king died, and Bodvar succeeded his grandfather. He only ruled for a short time, and then he decided to abdicate. He married his mother to a jarl named Valsleyt, and left the kingdom to them. His mother told him to visit bear-cave, and received the last weapon in the cave, the longsword. However, this sword could only be drawn three times, and each time, it would have to kill at least one man.

Afterwards, Bodvar visited his brothers. At Frodi's mountain, he wrestled with his brother until Frodi recognised him. Frodi not only offered him to stay with him, but to share in his wealth. Bodvar politely declined, wanting to find his own destiny. Frodi suggested that he should become Hrolf's champion. But before Bodvar could leave, he wanted to test his brother's strength. Being far stronger, Frodi could easily push Bodvar around. Frodi made his brother even stronger, by giving Bodvar drinking a sip of his blood from his elk's calf.

Frodi then stamped his foot into the rock. If Bodvar died from illness, the hoof-print would be filled with earth, and from drowning if it was filled with water. If he was killed by a weapon, then the hoof-print would be filled with blood; in this case, Frodi would find his killer to avenge him.

Bodvar then visited his other brother in Gautland, but Thorir was absent at the time. The people thought he was Thorir, because he resembled the king so much. So they escorted Bodvar to the throne. Since Thorir was married, his subjects brought him to the queen's bed. Bodvar did not sleep under the covers with his sister-in-law, but he revealed his true identity to her. They kept this a secret from everyone until the real Thorir returned. Thorir warmly offered him position in his kingdom, but Bodvar refused. Bodvar only stayed for a short time, before he set out for Denmark.

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Before Bodvar could reach Hleidargard, he stayed in a poor farmer's house. When they found out his destination, they revealed that their son, Hott, had been mistreated by Hrolf's retainers. Hott was of small stature compared to their warriors. They would throw bones at Hott when they were having their supper, often injuring him. Because of their kind hospitality, Bodvar promised to help their son.

When Bodvar arrived at Hrolf's palace at Hleidargard, he immediately went looking for Hott. The hero found the frightened man hidden behind a pile of bones. Hott used the bones to shield himself. He was dirty and his hand was badly damaged.

Bodvar carried Hott out of the hall and washed him in the lake, before returning to the hall. Bodvar seated Hott next to him at one of the tables. When the hall began filling with Holf's warriors, some of the more hostile warriors saw that Hott was sitting at the table. When one warrior threw a large knucklebone at Hott, Bodvar caught it in his hand and threw it back at the one who threw the knucklebone in the first place. He was killed.

When Hrolf learned of this, he also found that the man who was killed was at fault, not the newcomer. After questioning Bodvar, Hrolf offered him to stay as one of his champions, but Bodvar was only willing to do so if Hott could stay with him.

When it was Yuletime, Bodvar learned of the monster, possibly a troll, that would come out that very day to ravage the countryside. Furthermore, this troll seemed to have wings and could fly. No one was strong enough to confront this creature. The creature had been attacking the land for two autumns, and that Yule's Eve, Hrolf ordered his warriors not to confront the creature.

However, Bodvar sneaked out with Hott in tow. Hott was too frightened to resist, so he just laid there, cowering in terror. Bodvar immediately attacked the creature and found that an ordinary sword could not harm the troll, so he drew his father's magic sword. He thrust the sword into the beast's body, and pierced its heart. The creature dropped dead.

The hero then forced Hott to drink the creature's blood and eat the heart. Hott was remarkably transformed into a strong man, without fear. Bodvar tested his companion's strength by fighting with him for several hours.

In the morning, in front of witnesses including the king, Bodvar then explained it such that Hott had killed the creature. Hott borrowed Hrolf's sword, Golden Hilt. Hott attacked the already dead creature, but Hrolf suspected that Bodvar was the true warrior who had slain the beast.

Nevertheless, Hroft made Hott one of his champions, and changed his name to Hjalti.

The following year, Hrolf's berserkers returned. The berserkers considered themselves to have no equal. The berserkers would ask each warrior, including the king, if he was their equal. Except for the king, every other warrior would concede that the berserker were greater than them.

Neither Bodvar nor Hjalti (Hott) would admit that the berserkers were superior to them, and they fought with two of them. Hrolf put a stop to the fight, and persuaded his champions to reconcile.

Bodvar and Hjalti sat on Hrolf's right, while Svipdag and his brothers sat on the king's left. Hrolf later had his daughter Drifa, married to Bodvar.

Below is the list of the champions of Hrolf Kraki:

• Bödvar Bjarki

• Hjalti the Magnanimous (originally Hott)

• Svipdag

• Beygard

• Hvitserk the Bold

• Hromund

• Hard

• Hrolf the Swift-Handed

• Haklang

• Hardrefil

• Haki the Valiant

• Vott the Arrogant

• Storolf

These names were given in a later chapter (32). Snorri Sturluson also named Veseti as one of the champions in the Prose Edda, which was omitted from the above list.

Treachery of King Adils

The Hospitality of Hrani

One day, Bodvar persuaded Hrolf to reclaim his inheritance, which King Adils had denied Hrolf. Adils was Hrolf's father-brother-in-law, and Hrolf knew that the king of Uppsala was a treacherous man, especially the way he treated Svipdag (see Svipdag). Even more concerning was that Adils was a powerful practitioner of dark magic, often using this power to overcome his enemies.

Hrolf brought his twelve champions, twelve berserkers, and a hundred warriors with him. But before reaching Uppsala, a farmer named Hrani greeted the king and offered his hospitality, which Hrolf accepted.

Everyone enjoyed the meal that Hrani managed to provide everyone, but at night it was so freezing that everyone, except for Hrolf's champions, felt the chill.

Hrani counselled the king that he should send half of his company back home before leaving his farm, since they hadn't endured the cold so well. If they couldn't deal with cold nights, then they couldn't deal with Adils' sorcery. Hrolf agreed, and sent half his retinue back to his kingdom, while he returned on his journey to Uppsala.

But before it night had fallen, Hrolf and his retinue came across another farm. Hrolf immediately recognised that it was the same farmer, Hrani. That night, all but the champions suffered from unbearable thirst; those who couldn't endure drank from Hrani's vat of wine. Again in the morning, Hrani advised that half of this current company should be sent home.

Before they could leave, a storm kept them indoors, so Hrolf and his warriors stayed for another night. When a fire was lit for warmth, everyone except Hrolf and his twelve champions moved towards the fire. Hrani advised that no one should go Adils' palace, except the king and his twelve champions. Hrolf admired Hrani's wisdom, and decided to follow Hrani's instructions. When he left the next morning, the king only took his twelve champions.

Adils and Yrsa

Hrolf and his champions arrived at Adils' palace. Suspecting treachery from his former king, Svipdag advised the king and his companions not to reveal the identity of Hrolf.

Adils' idea of safe conduct was to have his warriors ambush the small company. Adils' men hid behind nooks and attacked Hrolf's company; but they were repulsed, with many falling to the champions' weapons.

Seeing that this ambush was not going well, Adlis put a stop to it. Then he had the champions seated. Adils still couldn't recognise who the king was. Adils decided to put the champions through a trial of fire, hoping that the heat would cause the king to reveal himself. Since the guests' seats were closer to the fire, Adils' men kept putting more fuel into the fire.

Bodvar and Svipdag decided to act, or they would all burn to death. Each hero grabbed Adils' man who was feeding the fire with more fuel, and tossed them into the fire. Hjalti followed suit, as did the other champions, throwing the attendants of the fire into the flames, where they died.

Hrolf and his champions then all jumped over the fire, with the intention of seizing Adils. In fear, Adils fled to the tree in the middle of his hall. The tree was hollow in the inside, and with his magic, he was able to escape.

Adils went to his wife, Yrsa, who rebuked him for not only her father-husband, Helgi, but for attempting to murder of her son, when Hrolf was supposed to be under safe-conduct. Adils replied to his wife that he would no longer come into her presence, since he could no longer trust his wife.

Yrsa went to greet her son, and she called upon her most faithful servant, Vogg, to serve Hrolf as he had served her. Vogg made a comment about how thin and angular like "a ladder carved from a pole", and this gave the king the nickname of Kraki, meaning pole ladder.

When Hrolf gave him his gold ring, for giving him a new name, Vogg made a solemn oath that he would avenge Hrolf's death, if the king was killed before him. Vogg then warned the king that Adils would send a troll in the shape of a wild boar that he had conjured up, against the Danish king. While they rested, the boar tried to attack them.

Hrolf had a hound named Gram which intercepted the troll-boar, defending its master. Bodvar attacked the boar with his sword, but the blade would not cut the boar's hide. However, the king's hound managed to tear off the boar's ears and cheeks, which caused the boar to withdraw.

Adils brought a company of armed men to the house Hrolf was staying in (Vogg's house?), which they set fire to. Bodvar told the king that he would prefer to die fighting outside, than be burnt alive. So Hrolf's champions broke through the wall of the house, and attacked Adils' warriors. Despite having superior numbers, Adils' men were no match for Hrolf and his twelve champions. A large number died or were badly wounded, and the rest surrendered. Adils escaped again when he saw that he was losing the battle.

Hrolf's hawk returned to him, and it was learned that his hawk had killed every single hawk belonging to Adils. However, the news was not good concerning Hrolf's horses in Adils' stable; each horse had been maimed.

Hrolf returned to his mother in the palace, and told Yrsa of his purpose of getting his inheritance, which Adils had stolen when he had Hrolf's father, Helgi, murdered. Yrsa advised her son that he should leave, since her husband was gathering troops to confront him. The Queen gave his son a silver horn filled with Adils' valuable rings; the Sviagris was Adils' most prized ring. Ysra also gave her son some gold and silver, as well as twelve reddish horses, and a white horse for her son. She also provided whatever clothing, armour, shield or weapon Hrolf and his champions needed. She also gave whatever properties that were formerly owned by Yrsa's former husband. Hrolf and his champions then left Adils' palace.

As he rode away from Uppsala, Hrolf spotted a gold ring on the track. Hrolf wisely guessed and informed his champions that the ring had been put there, hoping to delay him from leaving Adils' kingdom. Hrolf heard and saw that a large force was pursuing them. Hrolf delayed them by spilling the horn filled with gold on the tracks. Adils' army of warriors stopped their pursuit to pick up the gold, fighting among themselves out of greed.

Angered at the delay of his own men, Adils pursued Hrolf with a smaller company. Seeing Adils coming towards him, Hrolf took off the ring Sviagris had given him and threw it on the ground behind him. Adils, being himself greedy, bent over to pick up his ring. Hrolf, seeing this, turned and rode at Adils. He swung his sword and cut off a large part of Adils' buttocks. Shamefully wounded and bleeding copiously, Adils fled. Hrolf regained the ring of Sviagris.

They continued on their journey home and came upon a farm, and once again they met with the farmer Hrani. Hrani again offered them hospitality, and knew that Hrolf and his champions had been successful in their venture in Adils' kingdom. Hrani offered the king a gift – helmet, shield, coat of mail and a sword, but Hrolf unwisely rejected them, because he thought they were ugly weapons. This offended the farmer, and Hrani rebuked the king.

Hrolf and his champions rode away instead of staying at Hrani's farm. But Bodvar and Hrolf realised the king's mistake in offending the farmer. They realised only afterwards that farmer had one eye, so this Hrani actually had to be the god Odin. They rode back, perhaps to apologise to Hrani, but Hrani and the farm had vanished. This boded ill towards Hrolf, now that he had angered Odin (Hrani).

Upon their return to Hleidargard in Sjaeland, Denmark, Bodvar advised the king avoid battles for some time. Hrolf refused to change his lifestyle, just because he had offended the spirit of Odin. Odin was not only a god of war; he was also god who decided on who should be the victor in battle. Hrolf's fortunes had changed, and he would soon be facing his greatest challenge.

End of an Era

Skuld, the half-sister of Hrolf Kraki, incited her husband Hjorvard into rebellion against her brother, and he attacked Hrolf's kingdom. Hjorvard was still sore from having been tricked into becoming Hrolf's vassal king; therefore he had to pay tribute to Hrolf.

Skuld was a sorceress of great power; her power came from her birth, being part elf. It was Skuld's plan that Hjorvard went along with. She secretly assembled an army, but she didn't just rely on men. She also summoned elves, norns and other creatures to aid her in her cause. It was at Yule that she planned to attack her half-brother's domain.

Denmark enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity after the incident with King Adils. There were festivities in Hrolf's capital, Hleidargard, where people were celebrating. Hrolf and his warriors were eating and drinking in Hrolf's hall. Hrolf had his sister and brother-in-law join in the holiday, but in Hjorvard's camp, outside of Hrolf's stronghold, there was no celebration.

Hjalti the Magnanimous (Hott) saw the sombre atmosphere in Hjorvard's camp but paid no attention to this and he wasn't in the least suspicious, because he was enjoying his mistress. It was only after he had enjoyed his liaison with the woman, that he noticed armed men breaching the walls of Hrolf's stronghold. Hjalti went to Hrolf and immediately warned the king of an attack.

Hrolf and his warriors began arming themselves for battle, including the twelve champions and the twelve berserkers. For the first time, the saga listed all twelve champions, which I have already listed (see Bodvar and Hott article (chapter 32 in the book)). Hrolf and his champions had one last drink of ale before going out to face the army of Skuld and Hjorvard.

A fierce battle took place outside of the palace, but Bodvar was nowhere to be seen. Hjalti admired Hrolf Kraki's skill and courage in battle, who was leading the fight to his enemies, slaying anyone who got in his way with his sword Skofnung. Hrolf alone seemed to be worth as much as twelve warriors.

Not only that. A great bear appeared out of nowhere, fighting side by side with King Hrolf. The bear killed more men with its claws and teeth than any five champions had killed. It was this bear that brought fear in the army of Skuld and Hjorvard.

Hjalti was upset that he couldn't find his friend Bodvar in the forefront of the battle. The king reproached Hjalti for questioning Bodvar's courage, but Hjalti wouldn't listen. He went in search of Bodvar and found him sitting in the empty hall of Hrolf.

Hjalti angrily accused his friend of being a coward, but didn't realise that Bodvar was already fighting in the battle. He was the bear that was fighting beside their king; he was not merely controlling the bear; Bodvar was the bear. Hjalti distracting Bodvar caused the bear to disappear. Now Bodvar had to head into battle as a man, instead of as a bear. Hrolf would have won the battle with Bodvar as a bear.

When Bodvar and Hjalti left the building, the bear was indeed gone, and the battle was beginning to turn in favour of Skuld and Hjorvard. Skuld sat away from the battle, on top of the witch's scaffold, where she was performing her sorcery. She couldn't use her power previously, when the bear was present in battle, but with the bear gone, she was able to summon evil creatures to fight her battle.

Her main monster she had conjured up was a grey boar that was larger than a bull. The bristles shot out like arrows at Hrolf's men. Also Skuld used necromancy to raise the dead, so no matter how many warriors Hrolf's forces killed, there was no diminishing in number on Skuld's side. More and more of Hrolf's warriors fell before the onslaught of Skuld's magical creatures.

In battle, Bodvar killed more warriors than any other, proving to Hjalti that he was no coward or weakling, but this was still not enough for them to gain victory.

Hrolf got separated from the main body of his army, including his twelve champions. He was surrounded by Skuld's rabble. Hrolf's entire bodyguards had fallen, and most of his champions were mortally wounded. None of the champions, including Bodvar Bjarki, could aid their king. Hrolf eventually fell dead from exhaustion, and all of his champions died with him. But Skuld's victory was not without cost: her entire army was decimated. Her husband Hjorvard had also fallen in battle.

Skuld became queen of Denmark as well as her husband's kingdom, but she didn't live very long to enjoy her success. Bodvar's brothers, Elk-Frodi and King Thorir Hound's Foot, heard the news of Bodvar's death, as well as that of King Hrolf. Thorir assembled an army of Gauts to attack Skuld. Also, Queen Yrsa raised a strong Swedish army to support Thorir's army. Ysra sent Vogg as commander of the Swedish contingents.

They caught Skuld by surprise, and because she had had no time to organise a defence, she was easily taken captive. As Vogg had promised to Hrolf Kraki several years before, he avenged the king's death by torturing her to death.

The kingdom was given to Hrolf's daughters, Drifa and Skur, to rule, and the foreign armies left.

The saga ended with the people raising a burial mound to King Hrolf Kraki, with his sword (Skofnung) at his side, and other mounds for the twelve champions were raised next to his.

Related Pages

• House of Skiold

• Heroes II

Genealogy

House of Halfdan-Hrolf