The Weaver and the Witch Queen

by Genevieve Gornichec

“People say things they don’t mean when they’re hurt and wish to make others hurt with them,” her mother had said once when Oddny was younger and had come crying to her after an argument with Signy. “You’re sisters. When two people know each other as well as you girls do, you know the exact things to say that will cause each other the most pain.”

And while I do believe Viking warrior women existed and should be celebrated, I also believe a woman does not have to pick up a weapon and engage in combat in order to have a story worth telling.

Gunnhild Ozurardottir*—a witch; later known in history as Gunnhild, Mother of Kings Oddny Ketilsdottir—a farm girl from Halogaland and sworn sister to Gunnhild Signy Ketilsdottir—Oddny’s sister; also a sworn sister to Gunnhild Vestein Ketilsson—brother of Oddny and Signy Ketil†—a farmer in Halogaland; close friend of Gunnhild’s father, Ozur Yrsa—wife of Ketil and mother of Oddny, Signy, and Vestein Ozur*—Gunnhild’s father, a hersir in Halogaland Solveig—Gunnhild’s mother Alf and Eyvind—Gunnhild’s brothers Ulfrun—Solveig’s favorite servant Vigdis—head of the cooking staff on Ozur and Solveig’s farm

Eirik Haraldsson*—the chosen successor of his father, King Harald, and second king of Norway; later known as Eirik Blood-axe Thorolf Skallagrimsson*—one of Eirik’s hirdsmen, an Icelander whose family’s interactions with Norwegian royalty are recounted in Egil’s Saga Halldor—a raider Svein—a skald, one of Eirik’s hirdsmen Juoksa—a Sámi noaidi (practitioner of magic) Mielat—Juoksa’s apprentice Heid—a seeress Kolfinna—a raider Thorbjorg—a witch in the employ of King Olaf Katla—a witch in the employ of King Halfdan Queen Gyda*—King Harald’s second wife, who oversees his estate at Alreksstadir in Hordaland; famously rejected his marriage proposal until he brought all of Norway under one rule Saeunn—head of the textile workshop at the Hordaland estate Hrolf—the Lawspeaker at the Hordaland estate; Saeunn’s father Ulla—a Sámi woman at the textile workshop at Alreksstadir Hrafnhild—the head of the cookhouse at Alreksstadir Runfrid—tattooist of King Eirik’s hird King Harald*—the first king of Norway, who united the country under one rule; father of Eirik Blood-axe, among many children by many wives

Thorir the hersir*—a friend of King Harald; foster father to Eirik; foster brother to Skallagrim (Thorolf’s father) Arinbjorn Thorisson*—Thorir’s son; foster brother to Eirik; close friend of Thorolf Olaf Haraldsson*—son of King Harald; king of the Vestfold region after the death of his brother Bjorn at Eirik’s hands Tryggvi Olafsson*—Olaf’s son; cousin and foster brother to Gudrod Bjorn Haraldsson†*—son of King Harald and king of Vestfold before being murdered by Eirik; full brother of Olaf, who has sworn to avenge him; father of Gudrod Gudrod Bjarnarson*—Bjorn’s son; fostered by King Olaf after his father is murdered by Eirik Halfdan Haraldsson*—son of King Harald; one of the kings of the Trondheim region Rognvald Haraldsson†*—son of King Harald and Snaefrid; killed by Eirik at their father’s behest for practicing witchcraft Thora*—mother of Hakon, King Harald’s youngest son Hakon Haraldsson*—son of King Harald and Thora; known in history as King Hakon the Good...