“Nay, how from thine hands
These gifts may I have,
But if thou hast fared
By the last way of fate.”
The king said: “I would not give thee this, but that I deem it will soon be so, for I sicken now. But of all men I would that thou shouldst have the joy of this; for thou art the crown of all Norway. The name of king will I give thee also; and all this, because Ingibiorg's brethren would begrudge thee any honour; and would be slower in getting thee a wife than I am.”
Said Frithiof: “Have all thanks, lord, for thy goodwill beyond that I looked for! but I will have no higher dignity than to be called earl.”
Then King Ring gave Frithiof rule over all his realm in due wise, and the name of earl therewith; and Frithiof was to rule it until such time as the sons of King Ring were of age to rule their own realm. So King Ring lay sick a little while, and then died; and great mourning was made for him; then was there a mound cast over him, and much wealth laid therein, according to his bidding.
Thereafter Frithiof made a noble feast, whereunto his folk came; and thereat was drunken at one and the same time the heritage feast after King Ring, and the bridal of Frithiof and Ingibiorg.
After these things Frithiof abode in his realm, and was deemed therein a most noble man; he and Ingibiorg had many children.
CHAPTER XV. Frithiof King in Sogn.
Now those kings of Sogn, the brethren of Ingibiorg, heard these tidings, how that Frithiof had gotten a king's rule in Ringrealm, and had wedded Ingibiorg their sister. Then says Helgi to Halfdan, his brother, that unheard of it was, and a deed over-bold, that a mere hersir's son should have her to wife: and so thereat they gather together a mighty army, and go their ways therewith to Ringrealm, with the mind to slay Frithiof, and lay all his realm under them.
But when Frithiof was ware of this, he gathered folk, and spake to the queen moreover: “New war is come upon our realm; and now, in whatso wise the dealings go, fain am I that thy ways to me grow no colder.”