Title: In Gøta One Day
Fandom: Viking History
Rating: G
Length: 328
Content notes: N/A
Author notes: Thanks go to Zana, Morgynleri & Icka for encouragement & sanity-checking. Inspired by this video. Author of the original song is Tróndur Olsen.
Summary: A poetic translation/filk of a Faroese folk-song. Tróndur of Gøta (945-1035) wakens in the modern world.



In Gøta one day,
There happened a wonder, a thing to dismay
A rumbling like thunder - but clear was the air
A howling of storm-winds that stirred not a hair
Rocks burst apart as though lightning did blaze
All Gøta was dazed
All Gøta was dazed.

A wonder, a joy:
In Tróndagjógv under Borðoyarlíð
Tróndur lay stretching, he pushéd so hard
That Trøllkonufingur broke into a shard
Tall Kellingin grumbled, her foot she did stamp
And Risin got cramp
And Risin got cramp.

Now all awake
The old man arose and a step tried to take
But with body so heavy, his legs were too weak
What did Tróndur do, as away strength did leak?
He summoned up Geyti, whose grave it was nigh
And Geyti stood by
And Geyti stood by.

Then 'heilsa' they cried
One to the other, that long there did bide
"Find for me knowledge, how the Faroes do fare
What word-fame there is, what bold deeds fill the air
If the people are taxed, and still meets the Thing
What songs do they sing?
What songs do they sing?"

Then Geyti went forth
To listen and learn of the fate of the North
What wonders he saw! What riddles he pondered
As steadings and towns, their pathways he wandered,
To deep Borðoyarlíð at last he did turn
That Tróndur might learn
That Tróndur might learn.

"Oh much is to hear,
They read many books, but call not on Tyr,
Mead is forbidden and all now pay taxes
Most of the land fell to [Trygvasson's] axes"
Then Trondur he sighed "And the Thing? Tell me plain."
"Well, they sell grain."
"Well, they sell grain."

No world for such men
As Tróndur and Geyti; they laid down again
In Tróndagjógv under Borðoyarlíð.
Their barrows grow grasses in fair Eysturoy
But should the need come, then again they will rise
And Gøta surprise
And Gøta surprise.