One of my favorite stories is of Sigurd of the Volsungs and I'd like to write down a few lines on the special meaning it holds for those of us who are rediscovering our heritage.
It is said that King Volsung had an excellent palace built in this fashion : a huge tree stood with it's trunk in the hall and its branches, with fair blossoms, reached through the roof. They called the tree Barnstock.
At the wedding feast of of Sigmund's sister Signy , a man came that was not known to the men by sight. He was dressed in this way: he wore a mottled cape that was hooded; he was barefoot and had linen breeches tied around his legs. As he walked up to Barnstock he held a sword in his hand while over his head was a low-hanging hood. He was very tall and grey with age, and he had only one eye. He brandished the sword and thrust it into the trunk so that it sank up to the hilt.
Words of welcome failed everyone. Then the man began to speak: " He who draws the sword shall receive it from me as a gift, and he himself shall prove that he has never carried a better sword than this one. Then the old man walked out of the hall, and nobody knew who he was or where he was going.
They stood up now, and no one disputed whether or not to grasp the sword; each thought the one who reached it first would be best off. The noblest men went up to it first, and then each of the others. No one who came forward succeeded in moving it, no matter which way he tried.
Now Sigmund, the son of King Volsung, came forward. He grasped the sword, and drew it from the trunk. Thus Sigmund came into possession of the sword from Odin. In Sigmund's last battle the sword was broken and Sigmund was slain. Hjordis, the wife of Sigmund now came into possession of the pieces of the sword of Sigmund.
Hjordis gave birth to Sigurd after her husband's death and he grew into a strong young man and it is said that none was his match in conduct and size.
When Sigurd was full grown, he was talked into killing the dragon called Fafnir , by Regin, Fafner's brother. After accepting the challenge he told Regin : " 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 now went to his mother. She greeted him well. They talked to 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 now met Regin and told him to make a sword worthy of these fragments. Regin became angry and went to his forge with the pieces of 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.
As time goes on in this age, more and more of our folk are discovering the religion of our Ancestors. That religion is " Asatru " ( to be true to and honor the Aesir Gods and Goddesses. ) Much like Sigurd, we have found that the spiritual strength we need in our lives is that which was given us by Odin, the Allfather and High God of Asgard.
Knowing this, we have taken up the shards of our spiritual heritage and have reforged our own sword. One that is worthy of a great people. May the Gods grant that we be worthy Smiths.
