In the white nights of July the chiefs gathered. They journeyed on horseback–some for a day, some for weeks, to the grand plains of assembly. Their horses plodded past hot geysers spewing scalding sea water into the heavens and with trepidation avoided bubbling sulfurous ponds.

Steam vents billowed across the horizon, reminding the leaders of each commune of desolate battlefields void of victors. In this land, between active volcanoes and tall blue glaciers, block-like rocks jutted up from the earth. Upon tectonic plates adrift upon a landscape of the gods, they arrived to settle matters of dispute.

Thirty-five men now sat about waiting for the answer to a problem that a week of discussion did not solve. At a stalemate, the decision was turned over to Thorgeir, their elected leader serving a tenure of three years. Thorgeir had now been meditating on his decision for almost twenty-four hours. Morale would have been extremely low had Erik not roasted an entire lamb to perfection.

"Já góður," said Snorri, nodding his approval of the lamb. As he bit a big mouthful of succulent meat, juice dribbled down his chin and into his thick beard. He wiped his mouth with the back of his bedraggled fur coat. Returning his focus from his meal to the topic at hand, he continued.

"Thangbrand ran back to Norway in shame. Why are we still discussing this matter?" said Snorri to the other 34 men gathered around the fire and eating.

"Quiet," said Gissur. "You were not there. The king is serious about killing all of the hostages." He shook his head in frustration. "You know one is Thorgeir's kin."The circular conversation was futile.

Snorri grunted and continued eating. A bottle of ale was passed about and everyone took a swig. For a long while the only sounds were the crackle of the fire and the howl of the wind against the rocks surrounding them.

Finally a chieftain from a remote clan stood up and pointed.

"Parna," he said

Sure enough, Thorgeir had risen from his seat overlooking the vast Thingvallavatn lake. He picked his way among the rocks. Nearly midnight, the sun hung low in the horizon giving the impression of evening falling. In two hours it would rise back up again.

The 35 other chieftains stopped eating and looked up expectantly at their leader. Thorgeir stood at attention, staff in hand in front of the fire.

"It is settled," he announced. "We shall become Christian and be baptized to satisfy the Norwegian king. But in your communes at home, you may continue your pagan rituals and go about your business in private..." He paused, clearly emotional, "...may our Icelandic kin return home."

Nods and grunts of approval rose from the group. Then everyone packed up their horses and began their arduous journeys home.

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A/N: Our family visited Þingvellir (Thingvellir) national park in Iceland last week. It is a beautiful place to visit.

Iceland has the oldest parliament in the world. The traditional  Assembly met at this area which is 40km east of Reykjavik. It served as both legislative and judicial powers and met starting in the summer of 930. In the year 1000 they decided to adopt Christianity after the Norwegian king (having sent three failed missionaries) threatened to kill several Icelandic hostages unless the country cooperated.

Game of thrones was also filmed here.