Gripla - 01.01.1993, Blaðsíða 209

SAINTS AND SINNERS
209
ok svá jafnan síðan.’116 In the battle itself, Aron defends himself well,
but ‘þótt Aron sýndi í vörn þessi meira mátt en líkindi væri á, þá kenna
menn þat meir guðs miskunn ok bænum Guðmundar biskups en eink-
um framkvæmð sjálfs hans, ok hitt annat, at þeir hafa minni ábyrgð
hafða fyrir guði, er vörðu Guðmund biskup, en hinir, er at sóttu.’117
Water blessed by Guðmundr helps Aron's wounds to heal more quick-
ly and painlessly than expected,118 and the bishop aids him indirectly
during his subsequent flight; at one point when he is in a tight sit-
uation, Aron lies on the earth with his arms stretched in a cross and
sings a psalm and the Ave Maria, explaining that Guðmundr had
taught him to do so."'1 Guðmundr’s appearance to him in a dream be-
fore another battle clearly indicates that Aron is under his protec-
tion.120 It may be added that in all the situations when Guðmundr ap-
pears, Aron ran the risk of dying unconfessed. When he finally dies in
Norway, having received all the necessary rites, we are told that ‘er þat
væntanda, at sál hans hafi gott heimili fengit, bæði fyrir meðalgöngu
vinar síns, ins góða Guðmundar biskups Arasonar, ok einkanliga fyrir
mjúkustu várs lausnara miskunn, hvers pílagrímr hann má réttliga kall-
ast fyrir þat, er hann heimsótti hans helgustu gröf ok marga aðra heil-
aga staði.’121 Although the saga contains a passing reference to a pil-
grimage vow, in context it reads almost like an excuse,122 and nothing is
heard of the journey itself. Possibly the author had no other informa-
tion about it than the brief mention in íslendinga saga.m Even without
sources, no medieval hagiographer would have allowed such an om-
mission to stand. Aron is portrayed as a heroic and Christian warrior,
and although he is a friend and supporter of Guðmundr the good, can-
not be compared to him in terms of sanctity.
Hrafns saga Sveinbjarnarsonar is introduced with a pious prologue,
116 Stu II 246.
117 Stu II 248.
118 Stu II 253.
119 Stu II 268.
120 Stu II 261.
121 Stu II 278.
122 Stu II 269.
123 jc
Stu I 308 / K I 379. Sturla Þórðarson here quotes a verse by Olafr Þórðarson
which mentions the journey. While Arons saga quotes more of the poem, there is no
additional information about the pilgrimage.
14 Gripla