The women and children went along when settlement was the goal. Eric the Red's daughter is said to have thought there were too many women around on, hmm, Greenland I think, and asked her husband to kill the women of the other group. He refused, so she nabbed his sword during the night, and went and killed the other women as everyone slept. Maybe getting in touch with one's feminine side isn't that great an idea sometimes. ;') And now, for something completely different:
Wife: (screaming) "I don't want ANY spam!"
Vikings: "Spam spam spam spam. Lovely spam! Wonderful spam!"