The King Who Died Laughing

Why was the king unafraid of the dream of fire?

The warrior Innsteinn warned King Half not to trust Asmund. He believed Asmund was plotting something. Innsteinn had also dreamed of the king's army engulfed in flames. In another dream, fire burned on his shoulders. He feared these dreams foretold bad news.

But the king said that what looked like flames was the gleam of helmets and armor. Certain that Asmund would never break his oath, he put an end to the talk of dreams. He took half his warriors to the feast. Strong drink sent them into a deep sleep, and while they slept, the hall was set on fire.

The king awoke, roused his companions, and ordered them to take up their weapons. The warriors hurled themselves at the walls. They broke through the logs and escaped the flames. But a great enemy force overwhelmed them, and the king and his warriors fell. Their companions who had stayed aboard the ships joined the battle too.

The fighting lasted into the night, and Innsteinn also fell. At the end of the poem, he spoke the words that people would repeat in years to come: King Half died laughing. This was how Innsteinn foretold the story people would tell of the king's death.

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