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Starkad's Fate
(© Matilda Marks)

Outside, the wind is whistling. Bright burns the hearthfire.
Come, I´ll tell you a tale!

At the time when Starkad was following King Vikar's raven banner,
one night he was awakened by his fosterfather Hrossharsgrani.
They rowed to an island and walked into a wood clearing where eleven
people where seated, and a twelfth chair stood empty. The others
greeted Hrossharsgrani as Odin, and he took the twelfth seat.

Odin spoke to the Aesir's assembly,
"Here stands Starkad, my stalwart fighter;
strong he is, and stronger I'll make him:
My gifts he'll enjoy, I grant him renown."

Thor said darkly, "I'll thwart your plans, Odin:
No love I bear for the line of Starkad.
His grandmother married a mortal and spurned me,
and always your heroes harrass my people."

"You cannot stop me bestowing my favors."
"For each of your boons I will bring him a curse."

"He'll win every battle, the victor he stays."
"He'll be badly mangled, and marred by great scars."
"A span of three lifetimes to spend I will give him."
"In each he'll be known for a nithling's deed."

"He'll wear finest clothes, his weapons are matchless."
"He'll never think aught that he owns is enough."
"His words shall be poetry, in verses he'll speak."
"To remember the rhymes his memory will fail."

"Riches he'll gain and gold beyond measure."
"No land he shall hold, no home he will find."
"Kings will admire, the mighty ones praise him."
"The simple people, the peasants shall hate him.

"..To wish Starkad ill was a waste of my breath:
Your blessings carry their curses within them."
"You only helped to heighten his glory:
Starkad's struggles will strengthen his fame."

And the Aesir, who all had listened, nodded in agreement that everything that had been spoken would come about.

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