Sigurd

The Legendary Dragon Slayer

Sigurd is the son of the hero Sigmund and Hjordis. Sigmund dies before the boy is born, leaving pieces of his broken sword. Sigurd grows up at the court of King Hjalprek and is fostered by Regin, a clever smith. Before accepting Regin’s dangerous plan, Sigurd secures a horse. With advice from an old one-eyed stranger, Odin in disguise, he chooses Grani, a descendant of Sleipnir. Regin tells the history of Fafnir’s treasure. Odin, Loki and Hoenir accidentally kill Regin’s brother Otr while he is in otter form. His father Hreidmar demands enough gold to fill and cover the skin. Loki takes the dwarf Andvari’s treasure, including a ring Andvaranaut that Andvari curses. Fafnir murders Hreidmar for the gold and becomes a dragon or serpent to guard it.

Regin wants Sigurd to kill him. First, Sigurd asks Regin to forge a sword. Two attempts break when tested. Sigurd’s mother gives him the pieces of Sigmund’s weapon, and Regin reforges them into Gram. Sigurd proves the blade by splitting an anvil. He then avenges his father before turning towards Fafnir, showing that family duty matters as much as treasure. Sigurd digs a pit on the dragon’s path and stabs upwards as Fafnir crawls over him. The dying creature warns that the gold will bring death. Regin drinks Fafnir’s blood and asks Sigurd to roast the heart. When Sigurd touches the meat and puts his burnt finger in his mouth, he understands birds. They warn him that Regin plans murder. Sigurd kills Regin, eats part of the heart and takes the hoard.

He finds a sleeping armoured figure surrounded by shields or flame. Cutting away the armour, he wakes Brynhild, a Valkyrie punished by Odin with enchanted sleep. She teaches him rune lore and wisdom, and they promise themselves to each other. Later Sigurd reaches King Gjuki’s family. Queen Grimhild gives him a drink that makes him forget Brynhild, and he marries Gudrun. Gudrun’s brother Gunnar wants Brynhild but cannot ride through the surrounding fire. Sigurd and Gunnar exchange shapes. Disguised as Gunnar, Sigurd crosses the flames and wins Brynhild for him, placing Gram between them at night. When Brynhild later discovers the deception, humiliation and fury tear the family apart.

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