Sigrún (Old Norse “victory rune”) is a Valkyrie in Norse mythology. Her story is related in Helgakviða Hundingsbana I and Helgakviða Hundingsbana II, in the Poetic Edda.

The two fall in love, and Sigrún tells Helgi that her father Högni has promised her to Höðbroddr, the son of king Granmarr. Helgi invades Granmar’s kingdom and slays anyone opposing their relationship. Only Sigrún’s brother, Dagr, is left alive on condition that he swears fealty to Helgi.

Dagr is however obliged by honour to avenge his brothers and after having summoned Odin, the god gives him a spear. In a place called Fjoturlund, Dagr kills Helgi and goes back to his sister to tell her of his deed. Sigrún puts Dagr under a powerful curse after which he is obliged to live on carrion in the woods.

Helgi is put in a barrow, but returns from Valhalla one last time so that the two can spend a night together.

Sigrún died early due to grief, but was reborn again as a Valkyrie. In the next life, she was Kára and Helgi was Helgi Haddingjaskati, whose story is related in Hrómundar saga Gripssonar.

Becoming a Valkyrie

Sigrún bitterly regretted on having cursed her own brother, and in attempt to seek redemption, she immediately joined the Valkyries so she may atone for her actions. Before becoming the Valkyrie Queen, Sigrún served under the previous queen, Freya, and like her other sisters she revered her. However, after Freya’s marriage with Odin ended bitterly, the All-Father severed Freya’s wings and banished her to Midgard. Sigrún was then named the Valkyrie Queen, but without Freya they were without freedom, as Odin saw them as mere servants. The one bright spot in her service was Mimir, Odin’s adviser, who she fell in love with during her tenure as a Valkyrie.

Corruption

Ultimately, after becoming displeased with the Valkyries, Odin cursed Sigrún and her sisters of the High Council to remain in physical forms which would corrupt them and drive them into insanity. To compound this, Mimir fell out of favor with Odin and was imprisoned within an enchanted, indestructible tree atop the tallest mountain in Midgard. To protect her sisters and the realms alike, Sigrún imprisoned each councilmember in places where they could cause no harm. Sigrún then came to visit Mimir; he would later note that not only she was in physical form, she was volatile in personality, being prone to fits of aggression. When Mimir tried to talk to her about it, Sigrún wouldn’t listen and just bid him goodbye. She then imprisoned herself between the realms to prevent herself from doing harm to others. Thus, without Sigrún and the Valkyries, the dead began to overwhelm the realm of Helheim.

Nau mai, haere mai

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