Vigilance was not solely so that one could protect one's self but more importantly, one's kin. In Germanic society the well being of kin was always considered over the well being of self, for it was from the well being of kin that one directly derived their own well being.

50.On the hillside drear             the fir-tree dies,
All bootless its needles and bark;
It is like a man whom no one loves,-
Why should his life be long? (Havamal 50)

23. Then first I rede thee,

  that free of guilt
Toward kinsmen ever thou art;
No vengeance have,

 though they work thee harm,
Reward after death thou shalt win. (Sigdrifulmal 23)

As we might expect praise is not lacking in the sagas for those who valued their kin above their own selves. It was expected that a person would give their own kin leeway in all matters and to strive against one's won kin was always thought ignominious.

“Kinsmen to kinsmen should be true.” (Sögumál 79)

“Olaf took her with open arms, and set the old woman on his knee, and said her foster-daughter was well settled and in a good position in Iceland. Then Olaf put in her hands the knife and the belt, and the old woman recognized the gifts, and wept for joy, and said it was easy to see that Melkorka's son was one of high mettle, and no wonder, seeing what stock he comes of. The old woman was strong and well, and in good spirits all that winter.” (Laxdaela Saga, c.21)

“A little while afterwards Hrut went to find Olaf his kinsman, and told him that he would not leave matters with Thorleik as they stood, and bade him furnish him with men to go and make a house- raid on Thorleik. Olaf replied, "It is not right that you two kinsmen should be laying hands on each other; on Thorleik's behalf this has turned out a matter of most evil luck. I would sooner try and bring about peace between you, and you have often waited well and long for your good turn." (Laxdaela Saga, c.37)

“In such a manner the blood-suit came to an end that Olaf was held to have shown himself all the greater a man, because where it was due, in the case of the sons of Osvif, to wit, he drove matters home to the very bone, but spared Bolli for the sake of their kinship.” (Laxdaela Saga, c.51)

“'I've come to see you because I'm unhappy we're not getting on so well together,' said Thorolf . 'I'd like us to set things right, and be friends again as we ought. It's wrong for us (two kinsmen) to be feuding like this.” (ES, c.33)

“Be kindly to friend and kin, and reward not their trespasses against thee; bear and forbear, and win for thee thereby long enduring praise of men.” (VS, c.21)

"Norway's brave defender's dead!
Aslak has heaped on his own head
The guilt of murdering his own kin:
May few be guilty of such sin!
His kinsman's murder on him lies --
Our forefathers, in sayings wise,
Have said, what is unknown to few,
`Kinsmen to kinsmen should be true.'" (OH, c.183)

“It was soon seen, from Hakon's speech, that he considered it to be his great duty to avenge the death of his relative, Eindride; and added, that word was come to him from Throndhjem, from which he might expect help in making head against the king.” (SHH, c.48)

“All the enmities of your house, whether of your father or of your kindred, you must necessarily adopt; as well as all their friendships.” (G, c.21)

“In the spring his kinsmen advised him to claim his godord and chieftainship from his brother Ketil, but Thorvald said he would not. 'It would be useless to do that, and my reputation would only suffer if I quarreled with my kinfolk.'” (FS, c.7)

In the society of our ancestors, the most harsh punishment was to be outlawed. If a person came across another person who had been outlawed they could freely kill them without penalty. But worse than that, the outlaw was separated from his kin. In our ancestors view, their life here was lived in way so that they would be worthy of having a seat among their ancestors in the after life.

“The king said, 'That is fated for another man; behold now, thou art great with a man-child; nourish him well; and with good heed, and the child shall be the noblest and most famed of all our kin: and keep well withal the shards of the sword: thereof shall a goodly sword be made, and it shall be called Gram, and our son shall bear it, and shall work many a great work therewith, even such as eld shall never minish; for his name shall abide and flourish as long as the world shall endure: and let this be now for thee. But now I grow weary with my wounds, and I will go see our kin that have gone before me.'" (VS, c.12)

The thought of not spending the after-life with ones ancestors was, for them, like the Christian Hell. In fact, King Radbod, who was considering converting to Christianity, refused to do so when he found out that, if he did, he would not spend eternity with his ancestors. When told that upon conversion to Christianity, he would have to spend eternity in Heaven and his ancestors, who were not Christians, would have to spend eternity in Hell, he replied saying:

"I will rather live there (hell) with my ancestors than go to heaven with a parcel of beggars."

Kin were thought to be concerned with the well being of each other even if death lay between them.

Groa's Spell
Svipdag spake:
1. "Wake thee, Groa! wake, mother good!
At the doors of the dead I call thee;
Thy son, bethink thee, thou badst to seek
Thy help at the hill of death." (Svipdagsmal 1)

24. I rede thee, Loddfafnir!         and hear thou my rede,-
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
Scorn not ever        the grey-haired singer,
Oft do the old speak good;
(Oft from shriveled skin        come skillful counsels,
Though it hang with the hides,
And flap with the pelts,
And is blown with the bellies.) (Loddfafnismal 24)

The young pup should learn to keep quiet when his elders speak.

16.The son of a king             shall be silent and wise,
And bold in battle as well;
Bravely and gladly             a man shall go,
Till the day of his death is come. (Havamal 16)


In Havamal it says:

71.A son is better,              though late he be born,
And his father to death have fared;
Memory-stones             seldom stand by the road
Save when kinsman honours his kin. (Havamal 71)