Well, thanks for all the questions you have answered. Vastly
helpful, as ever! Mér varð, I happened to come across another
today. In Hrólfs saga kraka, King Helgi has just reluctantly let a
miserable-looking ragged rain-soaked creature shelter in his bed.
Konungr snýr sér frá henni. Ljós brá í húsit. Ok er stund leið, varð
honum litit um öxl til hennar. Þá sér hann, at þar hvílir kona svá
væn, at eigi þykkist hann aðra konu fríðari sét hafa. Hún var í
silkikyrtli. Hann snýr sér þá skjótt at henni með blíðu.
Bryant Bachman & Guðmundur Erlingsson: "...and in a little while the
king looked back over his shoulder."
Gwyn Jones: "...and after a while he peered over his shoulder at
her."
Jesse Byock "...and after a time, he glanced over his shoulder at
her."
But "happened to look/glance" would fit the situation perfectly.
Okay, for narrative purposes it's a forgone conclusion that he will
look, but from his point of view pure chance, and a bit of a
surprise.