The Norse sagas often feel like modern soap operas when you read them, with the characters trapped in a cycle of love, betrayal, and vengeance. This is particularly true for the Volsunga Saga, probably the best-known of the Norse sagas, especially since it inspired Wagner’s Viking operas and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
What actually happens in the Volsunga Saga? This is our second of three posts looking at the Volsunga Saga.
Where we left off, our main protagonist Sigurd, son of Sigmund, has just been born. This portion of the saga tells the story of the cursed ring and the slaying of the dragon Fafnir.
Young Sigurd
When Sigurd was born, with his father dead and his kingdom lost, he lived at the court of King Hjalprek where he was treated with great affection. He was fostered to a man named Regin, who knew the runes, could speak many languages, and was also a master smith.
But Regin’s intentions with Sigurd may not have been completely pure. He often talked to the boy about how his father’s sword was in the hands of another, who was holding it for him, and how he had to be content with serving as a horse boy. He encouraged Sigurd to want more, but the boy always replied that he was content and treated well.
Eventually, Regin convinced Sigurd to demand a horse from the king, which he did. The king said that he could pick any horse that he wanted. When Sigurd went to pick, he was met by an old man with a beard who offered to help him pick the best horse. Of course, this was Odin, who led Sigurd to pick Grani, a son of Odin’s own horse Sleipnir.
Next, Regin convinced Sigurd that he needed to accumulate wealth so that he did not live like a peasant. He also happened to know exactly where Sigurd could find a great hoard of treasure. Regin now tells Sigurd his own story.
Discover Sleipnir in the VKNG Collection.
The Cursed Ring
Regin was one of the sons of a wealthy chief named Hreidmar. He had a son named Fafnir, who was the strongest, another named Otr, who was a master fisherman, and Regin, a master smith.
As part of his fishing talent, Otr could shapeshift into an otter to catch fish. He would often fish at the Andvari Falls, where there also lived a dwarf named Andvari. He had a great treasure that he kept safe beneath the water, shapeshifting into a pike to protect it.
One day, Odin, Loki, and Hoenir were on their way to visit Hreidmar and passed the Andvari Falls. Loki saw a handsome otter and killed the animal for its fine pelt. When the trio presented the pelt to Hreidmar as a gift, he immediately recognized it and demanded the pay the man-price for the death of his son. He demanded that they cover the pelt with gold.
Loki remembered seeing the treasure under the water near the falls, so he borrowed Ran’s fishing net and caught the pike. He then demanded that Andvari give him all his treasure as ransom to set him free. Andvari agreed, but kept back one ring that was particularly precious to him. Loki saw this and took the ring by force. Consequently, Andvari said that it was a curse to possess the ring or any of the gold. It took all the gold, including the ring, to cover the pelt and satisfy Hreidmar.
It was not long before Fafnir, covetous of the gold, killed his father and drove his other brother Regin away so that he could possess all of the treasure. He then shapeshifted into a dragon to drive everyone away from the area and protect his treasure.
Discover rings in the VKNG Collection.
Reforging the Sword
Having told his story, Regin convinced Sigurd that at least part of the treasure was rightfully his and that he had every right to take steps to reclaim it. Therefore, he asked Sigurd to do this for him. To prepare him for the deed, Regin offered to make him a fine sword capable of slaying a dragon.
Regin made Sigurd one fine sword, which the youth rejected, and then made him another, which was also rejected. Sigurd went to his mother and retrieved the fragments of his father’s sword Gram, which he then gave to Regin to reforge. He made a sword as fine as the original given to Sigurd’s father by Odin.
Discover swords in the VKNG Collection.
Familial Vengeance
Sigurd agreed to help Regin with Fafnir, but first had to get vengeance for his father. He visited the king and told him the plan. The king gave him a large contingent of men to ride with him and warships.
When they arrived at the kingdom of Hunding’s sons, they let loose a riot of fire and slaughter, burning down settlements and laying waste to the countryside. Word reached King Lyngvi of his arrival, and he gathered arms throughout his whole kingdom and marched out to meet Sigurd with a huge army.
There was a mighty battle, and Sigurd was the most ferocious warrior in the field. Eventually he beheaded Lyngvi, cut his brother Hjorvard in half, and killed all the sons of Hunding.
He sailed home and celebrated his victory, but Regin reminded him of his promise.
Sigurd the Dragonslayer
Regin showed Sigurd where he could find the dragon Fafnir and advised him to dig a pit and sit in it. When the dragon comes to drink, he will pass over the pit, and you can stab him in the heart from below.
As Sigurd started to dig the pit, an old man arrived. He suggested that Sigurd dig more pits, so that the dragon’s blood would run into him and he would not drown in dragon blood. The old man, certainly Odin, then vanished.
When the dragon arrived, the earth shook violently, and he breathed poison all around him. When the dragon passed over him, Sigurd shoved his sword under the dragon’s left shoulder and into his heart.
Fafnir thrashed as he died and asked Sigurd to identify himself. He did, and explained his mission. Before he died, Fafnir warned Sigurd that the treasure was cursed.
Wanting to know whether the dragon spoke the truth, Sigurd asked him other things. He asked him about the nature of the Norns, and about the place where the final battle of Ragnarok will take place. Having answered these questions well, Fafnir warned Sigurd that his brother Regin would be the death of him.
Discover dragons in the VKNG Collection.
Dragon’s Blood
With the murder done, Regin arrived on the scene. Sigurd chided him for his cowardice, but Regin reminded him that he could not have achieved the deed without the great sword he had made for him.
Sigurd cut out Fafnir’s heart, and Regin drank some of the dragon’s blood. Regin then asked Sigurd to roast the dragon heart on a fire for him to eat.
Sigurd did as he was asked. He touched the heart to see if it was ready, but it was hot, so he put his finger in his mouth. In this way, he accidentally drank some of the dragon’s blood, and it gave him the ability to understand the language of birds.
He overheard birds nearby – probably the ravens of Odin – speaking. They revealed that Regin planned to betray and kill Sigurd so that he could keep all the treasure for himself.
Sigurd heeded this warning and killed Regin. He then ate some of the dragon’s heart to gain the knowledge that Regin had wanted for himself.
Sigurd jumped on his horse and followed Fafnir’s tracks back to his lair where the treasure was hidden. He took all the treasure for himself, including the ring.
What happens next? Find out here.
FAQs
What famous modern works of fiction were inspired by the Volsunga Saga?
This classic Norse saga is well-known for serving as a primary inspiration for Richard Wagner’s famous Viking operas and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Its influence is highly visible in modern fantasy storytelling because of its intricate themes of love, betrayal, and vengeance.
How did young Sigurd acquire his extraordinary horse, Grani?
Following the advice of his foster-father Regin, Sigurd asked King Hjalprek for a horse and was allowed to choose any animal he wanted. While making his selection, he was secretly assisted by the god Odin in disguise, who guided him to pick a legendary steed descended from Odin’s own eight-legged horse, Sleipnir.
Why did a dwarf’s ring bring a deadly curse upon everyone who owned it?
The trickster god Loki captured the dwarf Andvari and forced him to hand over his entire underwater treasure hoard to pay a ransom for accidentally killing a shapeshifting otter. Because Loki cruelly stole Andvari’s favorite golden ring by force, the furious dwarf placed a permanent death curse on anyone who possessed it.
How did Sigurd obtain a sword powerful enough to slay a dragon?
After rejecting two fine swords crafted for him by the master smith Regin, Sigurd decided to retrieve the broken fragments of his deceased father’s legendary blade, Gram. He gave these pieces to Regin, who successfully reforged them into a magnificent weapon that matched the original power given to Sigurd’s father by Odin.
