Editing Weregild (section)

===Modern===
In the novel ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' by [[J. R. R. Tolkien]], the journal of [[Isildur]] reveals that he justified taking the [[One Ring]] as a weregild for the deaths of his father ([[Elendil]]) and brother (Anárion) in battle. This fact is mentioned by Elrond during the council in chapter II: ‘Alas! yes,’ said Elrond (…) But Isildur would not listen to our counsel. “This I will have as weregild for my father, and my brother,” he said. Appendix A of ''[[The Return of the King]]'' also mentions a rich weregild of [[gold]] sent by Túrin II, [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]] of [[Gondor]], to King Folcwine of [[Rohan (Middle-earth)|Rohan]], after the death of his twin sons, Folcred and Fastred, in battle in [[Ithilien]].

In [[Jim Butcher]]'s [[The Dresden Files|Dresden Files]] novel ''[[Skin Game (The Dresden Files)|Skin Game]]'', [[Harry Dresden]] offers [[The Dresden Files characters#"Gentleman" Johnny Marcone|John Marcone]] a cashbox of diamonds as ''weregild'' for an employee murdered by Deirdre. Dresden says "That's for your dead employee's family. Take care of them with it. And leave my people out of it. It ends here."

In [[Rick Riordan]]'s novel ''[[The Hammer of Thor]]'', Hearthstone, an elf, must pay a wergild for his brother Andiron's death when they were children. Hearthstone, the older brother, was distracted and playing with rocks when a [[Brunnmigi]] emerged from a well and killed Andiron. Since Hearthstone was deaf, he did not notice until it was too late. Hearthstone was forced by their father to skin the large beast by himself, which was turned into a rug and placed on the floor of his room. To pay his wergild, he had to cover every single hair with gold earned from his father, generally by doing chores. Every meal and any free time, among other things, cost Hearthstone earned gold. This task was not accomplished until years later, and his father, Alderman, was reluctant to consider the debt paid, but finally conceded that Hearthstone was released from the debt.