theaðhæfingum
The aðhæfingum, a term originating from Old Norse, translates roughly to "adherences" or "bindings." In historical and cultural contexts, it refers to the deep-seated loyalties and obligations that bound individuals to their kin, their lord, or their community in early Germanic and Norse societies. These were not merely social niceties but fundamental pillars of social order and survival.
These aðhæfingum encompassed a range of duties and expectations. For a warrior, it meant unwavering loyalty
The concept also extended to familial ties, where loyalty to one's clan and the expectation of blood