The House of the Wolfings · Chapter
XIII: The Hall-Sun Saith Another Word explained
The Hall-Sun delivers a prophetic song to the gathered folk in the feast-hall, foretelling both victory and loss for the House of the Wolfings.
What happens
The Hall-Sun delivers a prophetic song to the gathered folk in the feast-hall, foretelling both victory and loss for the House of the Wolfings. She describes a vision of battle, the War-duke standing unhelmed, and the eventual triumph, but ends with confusion and a vision of a captain of the foe speaking with a Goth-folk man. She then falls into a deep sleep, leaving the folk heavyhearted.
Themes in this chapter
Fate and Prophecy
The Hall-Sun delivers a prophetic song that foretells the outcome of the battle and the fate of the Wolfing House, emphasizing the inescapable nature of destiny.
Sacrifice and Loss
The prophecy speaks of the ancient fallen, the young man smitten dead, and faces gone from the feast-hall, highlighting the cost of war.
The Cycle of War and Return
The Hall-Sun's vision describes the ebb and flow of battle, the rising of the wounded, and the eventual triumph, illustrating the cyclical nature of conflict.
Characters to notice
- Hall-Sun
Delivers a prophetic song to the folk in the feast-hall, foretelling victory and confusion, then falls into a deep sleep.
- Gisli
Has gone back to his kindred and the wain-burg in the Upper-mark.
- Thiodolf
Referenced in the Hall-Sun's vision as the War-duke shaking Throng-plough and standing unhelmed before the alien host.
Key passages
“The days of the world thrust onward, and men are born therein A many and a many, and divers deeds they win In the fashioning of stories for the kindreds of the earth, A garland interwoven of sorrow and of mirth.”
Time moves forward, and countless men are born, each achieving various deeds that weave stories for their people—a mix of sorrow and joy.
The Hall-Sun begins her prophecy by reflecting on the passage of time and the human condition.
“Unscathed as yet it standeth; it bears the stormy drift, Nor bows to the lightening flashing adown from the cloudy lift. I see the hail of battle and the onslaught of the strong, And they go adown to the folk-mote that shall bide there over long.”
The House still stands firm, enduring the storm and lightning. I see the battle's fury and the strong attacking, and they go to the assembly that will last a long time.
The Hall-Sun describes the House's resilience amidst the coming battle.
“I wot not what hath befallen nor where my soul may be, For confusion is within me and but dimly do I see, As if the thing that I look on had happed a while ago. They stand by the tofts of a war-garth, a captain of the foe, And a man that is of the Goth-folk, and as friend and friend they speak, But I hear no word they are saying, though for every word I seek.”
I do not know what has happened or where my soul is, for I am confused and see dimly, as if the scene I witness happened long ago. A captain of the enemy and a Goth-folk man stand by a war-garth speaking as friends, but I cannot hear their words.
The Hall-Sun's vision becomes unclear, showing a troubling scene of a Goth speaking with an enemy captain.