> Þau gátu sér son er Mörður hét og er sá lengi við þessa sögu.

> The had a son named Morð and he saw long with this Saga (?long life
- major role)


Major role, I think. "And he is in this story for a long time."


> skjótráður og öruggur

Which of the various meanings of 'øruggr' would this be?
Fearless/resolute, trusty/reliable, or as resolved: MM & HP "confident
in his decisions." What do other versions have?


> lá hátt tanngarðurinn

MM & HP "prominent teeth"


> munnljótur nokkuð og þó manna hermannlegastur
> with a somewhat ill-shaped mouth and looked like a warrior

ok þó "but", "and yet." "...but the most warrior-like of men (for all
that)."


> stilltur vel
> calm tempered

Yes.


> frá Keldum
> of Keldur

Yes, plural of Kelda, f. "well, spring; bog, quagmire." But I don't
know which.


> Hann bað föður sinn ráða.
> He asked his father to advise/take care of it. (Cook - "told his
Father to see to it")


If I've understood this right, I *think* that Sk.H. is just saying:
"as you wish", "if you like, then I'll get married", "I won't object
if that's what you want". Some other examples:


Hann segir: "...ok ek skylda sjá þitt sverð."
Ásmundur bað hann ráða. Hann leit nú á og mælti...

He said: "...I must see your sword."
Asmund said alright. He looked at it now and said...


"...eg vil bjóða ykkur báðum hjónum til vistar til mín."
Þorsteinn kveðst vilja hafa umræði konu sinnar en hún bað hann ráða og
nú játar hann þessu.

"...I wish to invite you and your wife to stay with me."
Th. said he wanted to consult his wife and she deferred to him (said
she would go along with what he decided), and he now agrees.


In Laxdoela saga ch. 75, the same expression is translated "told him
to have his own way" by MM & HP. In Hjálmþés saga ok Ölvis, Ralph O'
Connor translates it "told him to have his way." In one other example
I found, the meaning is different: "ok segir honum drauminn ok bað
hann ráða" (and tells him his dream and asked him to interpret
it)--but this is a special context. You can find a similar set of
examples if you type 'bað hana ráða' into Google. And in direct
speech: 'Þú munt ráða' "as you wish" (lit. you will
decide/rule/have-your-way).


> Grim married her but even so lived with Njall
> Grímur fékk hennar og var þó með Njáli.

> Seems strange to marry and still continue to live with your Father

Is this being presented as something out of the ordinary for saga
times though?