she was mistress of her own ways, but that he
was not going. So she hurried away to greet Thorfinn and embraced him
joyfully. He was rejoiced to see her and said: "God be praised that I
see you well and my daughter too. But what has happened to you since I
left?"

"It has ended well," she said. "But we were nigh to suffering a disgrace
which could never have been wiped out, had not your winter-guest aided
us."

Thorfinn said: "Let us sit down and you shall tell me everything."

Then she told him fully all that had happened, praising highly Grettir's
courage and resourcefulness. Thorfinn was silent while she was speaking,
and when she had finished he said: "True indeed is the word, `Long shall
a man be tried'. But where is Grettir?"

"He is at home in the hall," she answered.

Then they went up to the house. Thorfinn went to Grettir and turned
towards him and thanked him with the fairest words for his courageous
conduct.

"I will say a word to you," he said, "which few would say to their
friend. I would it might happen that you should need the help of a man,
for you to know whether I count for anything or not; I cannot repay what
you have done for me as long as you are not in straits. You shall have
in my house whatever you desire, and shall be in the highest honour in
my household."

Grettir thanked him and said he would have accepted his offer even if he
had made it earlier.

Grettir stayed there the rest of the winter in high favour with
Thorfinn. The fame of his deed spread through all Norway, especially
in those parts where the berserks had ravaged most mercilessly. In the
spring Thorfinn asked him what he would like to do. He said he would go
North to Vagar while the fair was on there. Thorfinn said that any money
which he required should be at his service; Grettir said he did not want
more just then than enough to pay for his living. Thorfinn said that
was his due, and brought him to a ship, where he gave him the excellent
short sword. Grettir kept it as long as he lived; it was a most precious
possession. Thorfinn bade him come to him if ever he wanted any help.

Grettir then travelled to Vagar, which was crowded with people. Many
whom he had never set eyes on before greeted him warmly because of his
exploit in killing the vikings, and several of the leading men invited
him to stay with them, but he preferred to return to his friend
Thorfinn. So he took his passage in a trading ship belonging to one