Einar.—I did not know that. Farewell, friends! (Exit.)
Helgi Skaftason (approaches closely to DEACON SIGURD).—I dreamed last night that I stood out of doors and looked up at the sky, and I thought I saw streams of blood run over all the sky. And down below on earth shone flames that licked up to the vault of heaven from all directions.
Sigurd.—You became aware in your sleep that the hut was burning about you.
Helgi.—No! I dreamed this dream three times, and awoke each time and never became aware of the fire. The end of the dream was most terrible and always the same.
Sigurd.—And what was the end of it?
Helgi.—Meseemed Thorolf Bjarnason drowned me in blood, and then I awoke and thought I was in hell.
Sigurd.—Put no faith in that hellish dream. You dreamed about the end of the world.
Helgi.—Yes, my world is at an end. The eyes of Lady Helga marked me for death, when I dried the blade of my axe on the fringes of her veil.
Sigurd.—That was indeed a most unfortunate act!
Helgi.—Thorolf had been her lover for many years.