Vikings. Now, they had some true heroes, and I have decided to tell you a little about them. I guess many of you have heard about Leif Eriksson? Now, he was a true hero–at least we in Scandinavia think so. When he found America he saved a lot of lives. How? It is simple really, but not everyone thinks about it. Back in those days the Vikings travelled far and wide. When they settled on Greenland they where met with a problem: they needed timber to build their houses. Now, to get their hands on proper timber, they fetched it in Norway, and needless to say, that was one long journey and many died during it. When Leif Eriksson found America (though he called it Vinland) he also found mighty forests. This meant that they no longer had to travel all the way to Norway to get timber. Now, was Leif a true hero? I believe so, but he wasn’t the kind of hero that wielded his sword and laid young virgins.

Still, the Vikings where feared by some, and loved by others. It all depended on whether you were a friend or not. One Viking said about working as a guard for a wealthy Arab:

“I find these people strange. They have to fall onto their knees when praying to their God, something Odin would never allow, for a Viking should on no account fall onto his knees for another man. Yet we have found this peculiar behaviour useful when in battle, for even in battle must they all pray to their god, and when they do, we walk around and cut off their heads!”

If this story is true I do not know, but I have heard it told to me many times, and I read about it in a book called Red Snake (roughly translated) which was written by the Swedish author Frans G. Bengtsson. It is said that the Swedish author wrote the book about the ferocious Viking Red Snake using historical facts. Many of the people and places in the book are real, and several of the described battles also took place. One of the most feared and respected Viking warriors was Styrbjorn from the town of Uppsala in Sweden. Styrbjorn is mentioned many times in stories written down by the monks. One monk wrote about his mission to Christian Styrbjorn and the people of Uppsala, and it wasn’t a happy story. The monk said that Styrbjorn agreed to help build a wooden church. The monk was pleased, and he started persuading the townsfolk to be christened, to turn away from Odin and the other Aesir. Some listened and turned up for the first mass, and were expecting to be christened by the monk. As the mass started, Styrbjorn and his warriors blocked every exit and set fire to the church. Most of the people died, but the monk survived. He asked Styrbjorn why he had done such a thing. He answered that he hadn’t been able to hold his anger back at those that had betrayed Odin, but promised not to do it again. He helped rebuild the church and the monk once more set about persuading the townsfolk to come to mass. Many refused at first, but when the monk said that Styrbjorn had promised not to harm them, they agreed to come to mass. As the mass began, Styrbjorn and his warriors once again blocked every entrance and burned the church to the ground. Once more the monk was one of the few that survived. Once more he was promised by Styrbjorn that he wouldn’t do it again, and of course, he did. The monk gave up and fled to Denmark where he took service at the court of Harold Bluetooth, who had recently been christened. Styrbjorn was left alone after that. The monk also writes that the warrior sailed only one ship instead of a fleet, which was common back then. Whenever a fleet of three or more longboats met him, he always stood at the bow of the ship and yelled: “This is Styrbjorn! Leave us alone or die!” Evidently most chose to leave him alone. However, if he was in a bad mood, then he killed them all. Styrbjorn is buried somewhere in Uppsala after dying in battle–the only way to die for a Viking. To die of old age was embarrassing and meant you were NOT welcome into Valhalla. This is why many Vikings, when they started feeling old, went into battle with the sole purpose to die with sword in hand.

Another Viking, from Denmark, went to Norway to try and claim the king’s daughter as his wife. Of course battle ensued, and the Viking, by the name of Erik the Red since he had long red hair and beard, was caught by the Norwegian king. He and his men were sitting on a log, waiting to be beheaded, when something amazing happened. As Erik watched the executioner take his friends heads, he had an idea. As the man with the bloody axe came to him, he said that he had a final wish. He didn’t want his hair covered in blood, and asked the executioner to grab hold of it, and keep it away from the neck area. The executioner agreed, grinning and making fun of the warrior’s vanity. He grabbed hold of Erik’s hair and raised his axe. As he brought it down, Erik pulled his head back. Since the executioner was holding on to his long hair, this resulted in himself cutting off his own hand! The Norwegian king roared with laughter while the executioner howled with pain. One of Erik’s men, who had a keen eye for the executioner’s wife, took the axe from him and planted it in his forehead. The king was so impressed by Erik the Red that he granted him and his remaining men freedom, and he also gave Erik his daughter. Now, this tale is said to be true, and I must say that it is amusing.

All of us here are writers in one way or another, and as such, we are doing one of the most important things a Viking had to be able to master. You see, to master the sword, axe, and bow was only half of the skills needed. To be able to make up poems on request, and to tell tales, were just as important. For as they believed, in Valhalla they had to compete in making up poems and telling stories in addition to fighting.

So let us share our tales here on RBE, just like the Viking warriors once did, and when we come to Valhalla, then we will have great tales to share with Odin.