the völsunga saga

6. Fafnir murdered his father, appropriated the gold and now guards it in the semblance of a dragon.
7. Sigurd agrees to slay Fafnir if Regin provides a sword.
8. Sigurd shatters his first two swords, but the third, Gram, forged from Sigmund’s broken blade,
stands every test.
9. Sigurd persuades his uncle Gripir to tell his future.
10. Sigurd avenges his father, afterwards seeking out Fafnir.
11. Helped in his strategy by Odin, he slays the dragon.
12. He roasts its heart for Regin, burns his fingers and in cooling them tastes Fafnir’s blood. He
immediately understands bird language, and from the twittering above him learns of Regin’s
proposed treachery, and of Brynhild.
13. He slays Regin, loads Fafnir’s treasure, including the sword Hrotti on to his horse, mounts and
rides off.
14. He finds a warrior asleep in a ‘shield castle’. This is Brynhild, a former Valkyrie.
15. Sigurd awakens her from an enchanted sleep, a punishment laid upon her by Odin who also
doomed her to marriage, though she swore she would accept none who knew fear.
16. Brynhild teaches Sigurd runic and other wisdom and they plight their troth.
17. Sigurd next visits Heimir, Brynhild’s brother-in-law. He finds that Brynhild is alos there and
they renew their vows.
Chapters 26-33: Sigurd’s Marriage to Gudrun, his Death, and Brynhild’s Suicide
1. King Gjuki and his wife, Grimhild, have three sons, Gunnar, Hogni, and Guttorm, and a
daughter, Gudrun, who knows Brynhild, described here as Atli’s sister.
2. Brynhild interprets Gudrun’s dream as foretelling two marriages and their consequences.
3. Sigurd arrives at Gjuki’s hall and becomes a great asset.
4. He forgets Brynhild because of a potion administered by Grimhild.
5. He marries Gudrun, becoming blood-brother to Gunnar and Hogni.
6. Gunnar determines to win Brynhild, but cannot pass the flame barrier surrounding her hall.
7. Sigurd exchanges shapes with Gunnar and succeeds in his stead.
8. Brynhild accepts the supposed Gunnar, and for three nights they share the same bed with drawn
sword between them.
9. Sigurd takes from her Andvaranaut, the ring he had earlier given her in his own person,
substituting it for another.
10. Brynhild later gives Aslaug, her daughter by Sigurd, into Heimir’s care, and marries Gunnar.
11. When bathing together, Brynhild claims precedence over Gudrun by wading farther into the
river. Quarreling, they argue the merits of their respective husbands, and Gudrun shows Brynhild
Andvaranaut, thus revealing the deception.
12. Brynhild feels herself betrayed and perjured, for she had sworn to marry him who braved the
flames. To Gunnar she implies that when Sigurd slept with her in Gunnar’s semblance, he
betrayed Gunnar’s trust, and she urges his murder.
13. Gunnar consults Hogni, alleging Sigurd’s misconduct, adding that his death would enhance their
wealth and power. Hogni stresses Sigurd’s value to them and advises against the killing.
14. Guttorm is incited to the deed; he transfixes Sigurd with a sword as he rests in bed with Gudrun.
15. Sigurd slays his murderer, comforts Gudrun who still has her brothers, and dies.
16. Brynhild laughs on hearing Gudrun’s moaning. She now denies Sigurd’s misconduct, stabs
herself, mounts Sigurd’s blazing funeral pyre, and so dies.