Warriors Who Rise Each Night

Why do the dead warriors fight again?

While King Hogni is away, King Hedin carries off his daughter Hild. Hogni pursues him with an army and finally finds him on an island. Hild offers her father a necklace and urges him to make peace with Hedin. But she also tells him that Hedin is ready to fight.

Hild returns to Hedin and says that her father does not want peace. Hedin himself offers gold, but Hogni refuses. He has already drawn his dwarf-made sword. Every time it is drawn, it must kill someone, and its wounds never heal.

The battle lasts all day. In the evening, both kings return to their ships. At night, Hild goes to the fallen warriors and brings all the dead back to life by magic. The next day, even those who fell the day before join the fighting, and the same battle begins again.

The fighting goes on. At night, the fallen warriors turn to stone, along with the weapons and shields lying on the ground. At dawn, the dead rise and the weapons can be used again. So the battle of the Hjadnings continues until the end of the world.

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