Sigurd

Sigurd is the greatest Volsung hero, raised by the smith Regin, who reforges his father's broken sword Gram so keen it splits an anvil. Goaded by Regin, Sigurd digs a pit and stabs the dragon Fafnir from below, then roasts its heart; tasting the blood, he suddenly understands the birds, who warn that Regin means to betray him, so he beheads the smith and takes the cursed gold. He wakes the valkyrie Brynhild on her flame-ringed mountain. Drugged into forgetting her and wed to Gudrun, he is murdered in his bed, his death igniting the Niflung tragedy.