The Prince Who Was Given a Name

What did the nameless prince receive?

Atli, a servant searching for a bride for his king, spoke with a bird in the forest. The bird asked for temples, altars, and cattle with golden horns in return for helping the king marry the princess he wanted.

Later, the king and princess had a son. The prince spoke little, and no name would stick. One day, as he sat on a hill, he saw 9 Valkyries riding towards him.

One of them, Svava, called the prince Helgi. Helgi asked what she would give him along with the name. He said he would not accept it unless she would be his. She told him where to find a sword adorned with gold, finer than any other.

A blood-red serpent lay along the sword's edge. On the flat of the blade, a serpent's tail curled. Helgi went to fetch the sword she had described. Afterwards, Svava often protected him in battle.

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