I prayed to the gods that this might not be so, and when my prayers availed me nothing I sought the counsel of Freydisa.
She listened to my story, then said briefly, "Let be.

Things will go as they are fated.

You are no madder than the rest of men.

I can say no more." It was the custom of that time and land that, if possible, the wife to be should not pass the night before her marriage under the same roof as her future husband.

Therefore Athalbrand, whose mood had been strange of late, went with Iduna to sleep in his beached ship.