[Vehemently.] Örnulf!
Hiördis.
[In a wild outburst.] Flouted and shamed! [In a quivering voice.] This—this shalt thou come to rue!
Örnulf.
[Continuing.] A woman wedded by force is in law no more than a leman! Wilt thou regain thine honour, then must thou——
Hiördis.
[Controlling herself.] Nay, Örnulf, I know better what is fitting. If I am to be held as Gunnar’s leman—well and good, then must he win me honour by his deeds—by deeds so mighty that my shame shall be shame no more! And thou, Örnulf, beware! Here our ways part, and from this day shall I make war at all times upon thee and thine; thou shalt know no safety for life or limb, thou, nor any whom thou——[Looking fiercely at Kåre.] Kåre! Örnulf has stood thy friend, forsooth, and there is peace between us; but I counsel thee not to seek thy home yet awhile; the man thou slewest has many avengers, and it well might befall——See, I have shown thee the danger; thou must e’en take what follows. Come, Gunnar, we must gird ourselves for the fight. A famous deed didst thou do in Iceland, but greater deeds must be done here, if thou wouldst not have thy—thy leman shrink with shame from thee and from herself!
Gunnar.
Curb thyself, Hiördis; it is unseemly to bear thee thus!
Dagny.