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Leif went Viking in the Heberides and met Thorgunna
Leif had sailed to Norway where he was one of King Olaf Tryggvason's
men.
But when Leif sailed from Greenland that summer the ship was driven off
course to land in the Hebrides. From there they failed to get a favourable
wind and had to stay in the islands for much of the summer.
Leif fell in love with a woman named Thorgunna. She was of very good family,
and Leif realized that she knew a thing or two.
When Leif was leaving, Thorgunna asked to go with him. Leif asked whether
her kinsmen were of any mind to agree to this, and she declared she did
not care. Leif said he was reluctant to abduct a woman such high birth
from a foreign country -'there are so few of us'.
Thorgunna spoke: 'I'm not sure you'll like the alternative better.'
'I'll take my chances on that,' Leif said.
'Then I will tell you,' Thorgunna said, 'that I am with child, and that
this child is yours. It's my guess that I will give birth to a boy, in
due course. And even though you ignore him, I will raise the boy and send
him to you in Greenland as soon as he is of an age to travel with others.
But it's my guess that he will serve you as well as you have served me
now with your departure. I intend to come to Greenland myself before it's
all over.'He gave her a gold ring, a Greenland cape and a belt of ivory.
The boy was named Thorgils, did come to Greenland, and Leif recognized
him as his son. - Some men say that this Thorgils came to Iceland before
the hauntings at Froda in the summer. -Thorgils stayed in Greenland after
that, and before it was all over he was also thought to have something
preternatural about him.
Leif and his men left the Hebrides and made land in Norway in the autumn.
Leif became one of the king's men, and King Olaf Tryggvason showed him
much honour, as Leif appeared to him to be a man of good breeding.
On one occasion the king spoke to Leif privately and asked, 'Do you intend
to sail to Greenland this summer?'
Leif answered, 'I would like to do so, if it is your wish.
'
The King answered, it could well be so, you will go as my envoy and convert
Greenland to Christianity.'
Leif said the king should decide that, but added that he feared this message
would meet with a harsh reception in Greenland.
The king said he saw no man more suitable for the job than Leif - 'and
you'll have the good fortune that's needed'.
'If that's so,' Leif declared, 'then only because I enjoy yours as well.'
Leif made land in Eiriksfjord and went home to the farm at Brattahlid.
There he was received warmly.
He soon began to advocate Christianity and the true catholic faith throughout
the country, revealing the messages of King Olaf Tryggvason to the people,
and telling them how excellent and glorious this faith was.
Eirik was reluctant to give up his faith, but Thjodhild [his wife]was
quick to convert and had a church built a fair distance from the house.
It was called Thjodhild's church and there she prayed, along with those
other people who converted to Christianity of whom there were many. After
her conversion, Thjodhild refused to sleep with Eirik, much to his displeasure.
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