Sigurd, Regin and Fafnir - Informative Dragon Articles written by Fantopia.net

Sigurd, Regin and Fafnir

According to Norse mythology, Sigurd, the son of Sigmund and Hjordis, is sent to be fostered in the home of Regin, son of the dwarf king, Hreidmar. Regin tells Sigurd the story of the Otter's gold and how his brother Otr was killed and his father received gold as compensation. Regin's other brother, Fafnir, murdered his father and took the gold for himself. Fafnir, from his evil and greed turned into a dragon, watching and protecting his gold. Regin convinces Gigurd to kill the dragon and Regin agrees to make him a sword powerful enough to do the deed. The first 2 swords break when Sigurd strikes them on an anvil to test their strength, so Sigurd brings Regin the fragments left to him from his father's broken sword to forge. When this sword was reforged and tested, when it struck the anvil, the anvil was cut in half. This truly was the strong, powerful sword that Sigurd would have to have to slay a dragon. In making plans to kill Fafnir, the dragon, Regin tells him to dig a pit that he can hide in and when the dragon crosses over it, he can strike him from underneath with his sword. An old man also advised Sigurd to dig a trench so when the dragon lay dead, he can drain the dragon's blood and bathe in it to give him special powers. Sigurd carries out their plans and slays the dragon. After he bathes in the dragon's blood, Regin asks him for Fafnir's heart which Sigurd cuts out and begins to cook over a fire. Sigurd touching the heart while it is cooking, burns his hand and puts it to his mouth and tasted the dragon's blood only to realize that the birds' warbles and chirping was a language he could now understand. The dragon's blood he had tasted had given him some of the knowledge and understanding that the dragon had. The birds spoke of Regin's treaturous plot to murder him and take the gold for himself. Sigurd turned and looked at Regin and saw the truth of their words in his eyes so he kills Regin for his betrayal.