Sagas and Myths of the Northmen

by Jesse L. Byock

  ‘Afterward Fafnir killed his father,’ continued Regin, ‘and it was murder since he hid the body. I obtained none of the treasure. Fafnir became so ill-natured that he set out for the wilds and allowed no one to enjoy the treasure but himself. He has since become the most evil serpent and lies now upon this hoard. Afterward I traveled to the king and became his smith. And this is the story of how I lost the legacy of my father and compensation for my brother. Gold has since then been called Otter’s Ransom and is spoken of as such.’

  Sigurd answered: ‘You have lost much, and your kinsmen have been vile.’

  Regin Fashions Gram

  Sigurd said: ‘Make a sword now with your skill so that its equal has never been made. Do this and I will be able to work great deeds if courage helps, and if you want me to kill this dragon.’ Regin said: ‘With confidence I shall make it and you will be able to kill Fafnir with this sword.’

  Regin now made a sword. He gave it to Sigurd, who took it and said: ‘This is your smithying, Regin.’ Sigurd struck the anvil and the sword broke. He threw down the blade and told Regin to forge another, better one.

  Regin made a second sword and brought it to Sigurd. He considered it. ‘You will like this one, though you are a hard man to forge for.’ Sigurd tried the sword and he broke it like the first one. Then Sigurd said to Regin: ‘You are untrustworthy, just like your forefathers.’

  Sigurd went now to his mother. She greeted him well. They talked with each other and drank. Then Sigurd said: ‘Have I heard rightly that King Sigmund gave you the sword Gram in two pieces?’ ‘That is true,’ she replied. ‘Give it to me,’ Sigurd said. ‘I wish to have it.’

  She said he was likely to win renown and gave him the sword. Sigurd met now with Regin and told him to make a sword worthy of these fragments. Regin became angry and went to his forge with the pieces of the sword. He thought Sigurd demanding about the metalwork. Now Regin made a sword. And when he brought it out of the forge, it seemed to the apprentices as if flames were leaping from its edges. He told Sigurd to take the sword and said he was no swordsmith if this one broke. Sigurd hewed at the anvil and split it to its base. The blade did not shatter or break. He praised the sword highly and went to the river with a tuft of wool, which he threw in against the current. The sword cut the wool in two when the tuft ran against the blade. Sigurd went home contented.

  Regin said: ‘You must fulfill your vow, now that I have made the sword, and go to meet Fafnir.’ Sigurd replied: ‘I will fulfill it, but first there is another task; I must avenge my father.’ The older Sigurd grew, the more he was loved, and every mother’s child held him dear.

  [ … ]

  Regin and Sigurd Go Riding

  Now Sigurd and Regin rode up onto the heath and onto the track along which Fafnir was accustomed to crawl when he went to drink. And it is said that this cliff was thirty fathoms high at the spot where Fafnir lay to get water. Then Sigurd said: ‘You told me, Regin, that this dragon was no larger than a serpent, but his tracks seem excessively large to me.’ Regin said: ‘Dig a ditch and sit in it, and then, when the serpent crawls to the water, pierce him in the heart and thus cause his death. You will win great renown from such a deed.’ Sigurd asked: ‘But what will happen, if I get in the way of the dragon’s blood?’ ‘No one can advise you, if you are afraid of everything. You are not like your kin in courage,’ replied Regin.

  Now Sigurd rode onto the heath, and Regin ran off in fear. Sigurd dug a ditch. And while he was working on it, an old man with a long beard came to him and asked what he was doing. Sigurd told him. Then the old man responded: ‘That is ill-advised. Dig several ditches for the blood to run into; then you sit in one of them and thrust at the heart of the worm.’ Then this man disappeared. And Sigurd dug the ditches in the manner described to him.

  When the worm crawled to the water the earth quaked mightily, so that all the ground nearby shook. He blew poison over all the path before him, but Sigurd was neither afraid of nor concerned by the din. And when the serpent crawled over the pit, Sigurd plunged the sword up under the left shoulder, so that it sank to the hilt. Then Sigurd leapt up out of the ditch, and drew the sword out of the serpent. His arms were all bloody to the shoulder. And when the huge worm felt his mortal wound he thrashed his head and his tail, destroying everything that got in his way.

  And when Fafnir received his death wound, he asked: ‘Who are you, or who is your father, or who is your family, you who are so impudent that you dare to bear weapons against me?’ Sigurd replied: ‘My family is unknown to men. I am called the noble beast. I have neither father nor mother, and I have traveled alone.’ Fafnir answered: ‘If you have neither father nor mother, from what wonder were you born? And although you will not tell me your name on my dying day, you know that you are lying.’ He answered: ‘My name is Sigurd and my father is Sigmund.’

  Fafnir then asked: ‘Who urged you on to this deed, and why did you let yourself be persuaded? Have you not heard that all people are afraid of me and my helm of terror? Boy with the sharp eyes, you had a keen father.’ Sigurd said: ‘A hard mind whetted me for this deed and I was supported in it by this strong hand and this sharp sword, which you are now familiar with. Few are bold in old age who are cowardly in childhood.’

  Fafnir said: ‘I know that if you had grown up with your kinsmen you would know how to fight when angered. But it is yet stranger that a prisoner taken in war should have dared to fight me, because few captives are valiant in a fight.’ Sigurd spoke: ‘You revile me for being removed from my kinsmen. Even though I was taken in war, I was not bound, and you have discovered that I was free.’ Fafnir answered: ‘You take everything I say as spoken with malice. But this gold that was mine will be your death.’ Sigurd replied: ‘Everyone wants to have wealth until that one day, but everyone must die sometime.’ Fafnir said: ‘You do not want to heed my advice, but you will drown if you voyage unwarily by sea. Remain instead on land until it is calm.’

  Sigurd said: ‘Tell me, Fafnir, if you are so wise, who are the Norns, who separate sons from their mothers?’ Fafnir replied: ‘They are many and sundry. Some are of the race of Æsir, some are of the race of elves, and some are the daughters of Dvalin.’ Sigurd said: ‘What is the name of that island where Surt and the Æsir will mix together their blood?’ Fafnir answered: ‘It is called Oskapt, the uncreated.’

  And again Fafnir spoke: ‘My brother Regin caused my death, but it gladdens me that he will also cause your death. And it will go as he wishes.’ Again Fafnir spoke: ‘I have borne a helm of terror over all people since I lay on my brother’s inheritance. And I blew poison in all directions around me, so that none dared come near me, and I feared no weapon. I never found so many men before me that I did not think myself much stronger, and everyone was afraid of me.’ Sigurd said: ‘This helm of terror you speak of gives victory to few, because each man who finds himself in company with many others must at one time discover that no one is the boldest of all.’

  Fafnir answered: ‘I suggest you take your horse and ride away as fast as you can, because it often happens that he who receives a mortal wound avenges himself.’ Sigurd said: ‘That is your advice, but I will do otherwise. I will ride to your den and there take the massive hoard of gold which your kin possessed.’ Fafnir replied: ‘You will ride there, where you will find so much gold that it will be plentiful for the rest of your days. And that same gold will be your death, as it will be the death of all who possess it.’ Sigurd stood up and said: ‘I would ride home, even though it would mean losing this great treasure, if I knew that I would never die. But every brave man wants to be wealthy until that one day. And you, Fafnir, lie in your death throes until Hel has you.’ Then Fafnir died.

  Regin Drinks Fafnir’s Blood

  After Fafnir died Regin came to Sigurd and said: ‘Hail, my lord. You have won a great victory, as you have killed Fafnir. None before were so bold as to dare to sit in his path. And this glorious feat will live on while the world remains.’ Regin stood and loo
ked down at the ground for a long time. Then afterward he said with much emotion: ‘You have killed my brother, but I am hardly blameless in this deed.’

  Sigurd took his sword Gram, dried it off on the grass, and said to Regin: ‘You went quite far away when I performed this deed. I tested this sharp sword with my own hand, pitting my strength against the serpent’s might, while you lay in a heather bush confused, not knowing whether it was heaven or earth.’ Regin answered: ‘That serpent might have lain a long time in his den, if you had not enjoyed the sword I made for you with my own hands. Neither you nor anyone else would yet have accomplished this deed.’ Sigurd replied: ‘When men come to battle, a fearless heart serves a man better than a sharp sword.’ Then out of deep sorrow Regin repeated to Sigurd: ‘You have killed my brother and I can hardly be considered blameless in this deed.’

  Then Sigurd cut the heart out of the serpent with the sword called Ridill. Regin drank Fafnir’s blood and said: ‘Grant me one request, a trifle for you. Go to the fire with the heart, roast it, and give it to me to eat.’ Sigurd went and roasted Fafnir’s heart on a spit. And when the juice foamed out he tested it with his finger to see whether it was done. He stuck his finger in his mouth. And when the blood from the serpent’s heart touched his tongue, he could understand the speech of birds. He heard the nuthatches chirping in the brush near him.

  Sigurd Eats the Serpent’s Heart

  ‘There sits Sigurd, roasting Fafnir’s heart. Better he should eat it himself,’ said a bird. ‘Then he would be wiser than any man.’ Another said: ‘There lies Regin, who wants to betray the one who trusts him.’ Then a third spoke: ‘He should strike Regin’s head off; then he alone would control the huge store of gold.’ Then a fourth spoke: ‘Sigurd would be wise to follow their advice. Afterward he should ride to Fafnir’s den and take the magnificent hoard of gold which is there, and then ride up to Hindarfell, where Brynhild sleeps. There he will find great wisdom. He would be wise to take your advice and consider his own needs. I suspect a wolf where I see a wolf’s ears.’ Then a fifth said: ‘He is not as wise as I thought if he spares Regin after having killed his brother.’ Then a sixth spoke: ‘It would be a wise course if Sigurd killed Regin and took the treasure for himself.’

  Then Sigurd said: ‘It will not be my ill fate that Regin shall be my death. Rather, both brothers should go the same way.’ He now drew the sword Gram and cut off Regin’s head. After that he ate some of the serpent’s heart and kept some. He then leapt onto his horse and rode along Fafnir’s trail until he came to the lair, which he found open. All the doors were made of iron, as were all their fastenings. All the posts in the house were also of iron, and they had been sunk into the earth. There Sigurd found an enormous store of gold, as well as the sword Hrotti. He took from there the helm of terror, the golden coat of chain mail, and many other precious things. He found so much gold that he expected it to be more than two or even three horses could carry. He took all the gold and put it into two large chests and then took Grani by the bridle. The horse would not budge and whipping was useless. Sigurd now discovered what the horse wanted. He leapt onto his back and put spurs to him and the horse ran as if unencumbered.

  Concerning Sigurd

  Sigurd now rode a long way, until he came up on Hindarfell; then he turned south toward Frakkland. Ahead of him on the mountain he saw a great light, as if a fire were burning and the brightness reached up to the heavens. And when he came to it, there stood before him a rampart of shields with a banner above it. Sigurd went into the rampart and saw a man lying there asleep, dressed in full armor. First he removed the helmet from the man’s head and saw that it was a woman. She was in a coat of mail so tight that it seemed to have grown into her flesh.

  He sliced through the armor, down from the neck opening and out through the sleeves, and it cut like cloth. Sigurd said she had slept too long. She asked what was so strong that it could slash through her coat of mail ‘and rouse me from sleep. Or is it that Sigurd the son of Sigmund has come, the one who has the helmet of Fafnir and carries Fafnir’s bane in his hand?’ Sigurd replied: ‘He is of the line of Volsung who has done this work. And I have heard that you are the daughter of a powerful king. I have also been told of your beauty and wisdom, and these I will put to the test.’

  Brynhild said that two kings had fought. One, called Hjalmgunnar, was old and was a great warrior, and Odin had promised him the victory. The other was Agnar or Audabrodir. ‘I struck down Hjalmgunnar in battle, and Odin stabbed me with a sleeping thorn in revenge. He said I should never afterward have the victory. He also said that I must marry. And I made a countervow that I would marry no one who knew fear.’ Sigurd said: ‘Teach me the ways of mighty things.’

  She answered: ‘You know them better than I. But gladly I will teach you, if there is anything I know that will please you about runes or other matters that concern all things. Let us drink together and may the gods grant us a fair day, that you may gain profit and renown from my wisdom, and that you will later remember what we speak of.’ Brynhild filled a goblet, gave it to Sigurd, and spoke:

  Beer I give you,

  Battlefield’s ruler,

  With strength blended

  And with much glory.

  It is full of charmed verse

  And runes of healing,

  Of seemly spells

  And of pleasing speech.

  Victory runes shall you know

  If you want to secure wisdom,

  And cut them on the sword hilt,

  On the center ridge of the blade,

  And the parts of the brand,

  And name Tyr twice.

  [ … ]

  The Disappearance of Gudrun

  Everyone who now heard the news (of Sigurd’s death) said that no man of Sigurd’s like remained in the world, and never again would a man be born equal to Sigurd in all things. His name would never be forgotten in the German tongue and in the northern lands, as long as the world endures.

  It is told that one day, while sitting in her chamber, Gudrun said: ‘My life was better when Sigurd was mine. He surpassed all men as gold does iron, the leek other herbs, and the stag other animals, until my brothers begrudged me such a man, the foremost of all. They could not sleep until they had killed him. Grani made a great din when he saw his wounded master. Later I spoke with him as if he were a man, but his head dropped toward the earth and he knew that Sigurd had fallen.’

  Then Gudrun disappeared into the forest. All about her she heard the cries of wolves, and she thought it would be more agreeable to die than to live. Gudrun journeyed until she came to the hall of King Half. She stayed there in Denmark with Thora, the daughter of Hakon, for seven half years, and she was treated with generous hospitality. Gudrun wove a tapestry on which she depicted many great deeds as well as fair games, which were common in those days. It also showed swords and mail coats and all the trappings of a king, as well as the ships of King Sigmund, sailing off the coast. Gudrun and Thora embroidered the battle of Sigar and Siggeir at Fjon in the south. Such was their entertainment, and Gudrun was now somewhat comforted in her sorrow.

  Grimhild (Gudrun’s mother), finding out where Gudrun had settled, summoned her sons (Gunnar and Hogni) to speak with her. She asked them how they wanted to compensate Gudrun for her son and her husband, and said they were obligated to do so. Gunnar spoke, declaring that he would give her gold to recompense her for her grief. They summoned their friends, readied their horses, and prepared their helmets, shields, swords, coats of mail, and all kinds of armor. The expedition was outfitted most splendidly, and no champion of merit stayed at home. The horses were armored and every knight had either a gilded or a brightly polished helmet. Grimhild decided to join them on their journey, saying that their errand would be completed only if she did not stay at home. In all there were five hundred men, among them men of renown: Valdamar of Denmark and Eymod and Jarisleif. They entered King Half’s hall. There were Langobards, Franks, and Saxons. They traveled in full arm
or and wore red fur cloaks, as is told:

  Short mail coats,

  Molded helmets,

  Swords girded,

  Their hair cut short and brown.

  They wanted to select fine gifts for their sister, and they spoke well to her. Yet, she trusted none of them. Then Grimhild brought Gudrun an evil potion which she was made to accept, and afterward she remembered none of her grievances. The drink was mixed with the strength of the earth and the sea and the blood of her son, while the inside of the drinking horn was carved with all manner of runes, reddened with blood, as is here told:

  The horn was lined

  With runes manifold,

  Carved and cut with blood.

  Conceive them I could not:

  The long ling-fish

  Of the Haddings’ land,

  Ears of corn uncut,

  Entrails of beasts.

  In that ale were

  Evils aplenty:

  Herbs of all trees

  And acorn burned,

  Hearth’s black dewfall,

  Entrails offered,