#gisli

The Sword Graysteel ("Grásíða") by C.E. St. John-Mildmay 1866. From 'The Story of Gisli the Outlaw', trans. Sir G. W. Dasent (Edinburgh, 1866).

"...but the sword fell on Kors head, and did not bite; but still the blow was so stoutly dealt that the skull was shattered and the sword broke asunder. Then Kol said: "It had been better now that I had got back my sword when I asked for it; and yet this is but the beginning of the ill-luck which it will bring on thy kith and kin." Thus both of them lost their lives." -Gísli Saga, Ch.1

Iveria comes home, injured and covered in blood. Gisli isn't sure if it's hers, or... someone else's. Pairing: Iveria/Gisli Character(s): Iveria Loriusa, Gisli, Gaius Maro (mentioned), Astrid (mentioned) Warnings: Blood, graphic descriptions of injury

         Gisli looks up from her book as the front door of Proudspire clicks open and closed. If Iveria comes back drunk one more time… She shuts the sixth volume of A Dance in Fire with a sigh, then stands and goes to go and greet her wife.

         The sight that greets her in the foyer takes her breath away, and not in a good way. Iveria is crumpled on the floor, bruised and bloodied, strange black armor damaged beyond repair. Blood seeps into the porous stone of the floor.

         “What in Oblivion happened to you?!” Gisli strides over to Iveria, kneeling at her side as her hands hover over her wife’s prone form. Iveria looks up and smiles at Gisli. It is a terrible sight to behold, blood staining her teeth crimson and dripping down from her broken nose.

         “I was betrayed,” she rasps, breath coming in short gasps. “Astrid… Astrid told Gaius Maro, well… It doesn’t matter. The plan didn’t work, and now…” Blood bubbles on her lips as she wheezes.

They played knattleikur at Seftjorn pond - Unknown date/artist

"Now they began the game, and Thorgrim could not hold his own. Gisli threw him and bore away the ball. Again Gisli wished to catch the ball, but Thorgrim runs and holds him and will not let him get near it. Then Gisli turned and threw Thorgrim such a fall on the slippery ice that he could scarce rise. The skin came off his knuckles, and the flesh off his knees, and blood gushed from his nostrils. Thorgrim was very slow in rising. As he did so he looked towards Vestein's howe, and chaunted: "Right through his ribs, My spear-point went crashing; Why should I worry? ’Twas well worth this thrashing." -Gísli Saga, Ch.8

The Dream Wife by C.E. St. John-Mildmay 1866. From 'The Story of Gisli the Outlaw', trans. Sir G. W. Dasent (Edinburgh, 1866).

"Spoke the Valkyr, stern beholding--   'Ne'er shall ye twain woo and kiss, Day by day your love unfolding,   All the Gods forbid your bliss. Woden, lord of worlds and ages,   Me hath sent to speak his will, Far from where the battle rages,   Lo! his bidding I fulfil.' "She, methought, her face all flushing,   Bathed my locks in reddest blood, Flames of light so rosy blushing,   Woden's balm so bright and good Still I see her fingers glowing,   Bright with gems and blazing rings, Steeped in blood so freely flowing,   Welling from the wounds of kings. "Yes! that lady, dark as raven,   Bound my brow with gory hood; All my hair was shorn and shaven--   Sad the plight in which I stood: Still her hands were gore-bedabbled,   Still her fingers dropped with blood; Something in my ear she babbled,   Then I woke--to find thee good."   Bold my heart with peril played Not a man of them came nigh me,   Blithely sang my tuneful blade: Till at last my doom was spoken,   Ten to one beat down my shield Well my death was then ywroken,   Loud clashed swords on fated field. "Thick I spread the ravens' table,   One I swept like wind away, Ere those bitter foes were able   Once to wound me in the fray Nay! my sword with temper eager   Shore a leg from off a wight; Off he limped, so wan and meagre,   Mine the pledge he lost in fight." "Methought, O wife, the blood was flowing   Down my sides in crimson rill; ’Tis but the debt of suffering owing, The toilsome task I must fulfil.   Fairly won my wounds, no snarling, Others' wives for me must weep;--   Such my visions, Auda darling, When my eyelids close in sleep. "Methought, O wife, with weapons bloody   Both my close-set lips were scored; Those twin-sisters fair and ruddy   Deeper blushed at kiss of sword. Still fond hope was ever smiling,   Blooming like the fairest flower; 'Thou shalt ’scape'--such words beguiling   Cheered me in that darksome hour. "Methought my foemen, axes wielding   Both my arms at once lopped off; Wound on wound, no buckler shielding,   Woe on woe, and bitter scoff. Worse I dreamt--my forehead splitting,   Cleft in twain by force of hand, O'er my brow, like goblin flitting,   Gaped and grinned the grisly brand. "Methought that lady wise and witty,   Wearing crown of silver sheen; O'er me bowed her head in pity,   Fast the pearls fell from her een. Mistress she of hoards unbroken,   Bound my wounds with gentle skill; What, my love, doth this betoken?--   Bodes it good or bodes it ill?" -Gísli Saga, Ch.18

The Forging of the Spear by C.E. St. John-Mildmay 1866. From 'The Story of Gisli the Outlaw', trans. Sir G. W. Dasent (Edinburgh, 1866).

"Well, they all thought that good counsel; and after that they went out of their booth to the point of the"ere," and there cut up a sod of turf in such wise that both its ends were still fast to the earth, and propped it up by a spear scored with runes, so tall that a man might lay his hand on the socket of the spear-head. Under this yoke they were all four to pass--Thorgrim, Gisli, Thorkel, and Vestein. Now they breathe each a vein, and let their blood fall together on the mould whence the turf had been cutup, and all touch it; and afterwards they all fall on their knees and were to take hands, and swear to avenge each the other as though he were his brother, and to call all the Gods to witness." But now, just as they were going to take hands, Thorgrim said: "I shall have quite enough on my hands if I do this towards Thorkel and Gisli, my brothers-in-law; but towards Vestein I have no tie to bind me to so great a charge." As he said this he drew back his hand. "Then more will do the like," says Gisli, and drew back his hand. "I will be bound by no tie to the man who will not be bound by the same tie to my brother-in-law Vestein. "Now men began to think there was some weight in Gest’s spaedom. But Gisli said to Thorkel: "All this happened as I foreboded, and this which we have done is of no good, for I guess that fate rules in this too." -Gísli Saga, Ch.4