This is the tale of Welund the Smith God, and how he perfected his art, as well as how he became lame. Welund was an important figure in Anglo-Saxon culture, as well as other Germanic cultures. This is evident by the amount of places named after him thoughout England. Because of this fact his tale gets it's own page.
A scene from the Fank Casket showing the imprisonment of Welund
Three Swan Maidens (Wælcyrige or Wicce) called Alvit, Swanwhite & Olrun are flying south over Mirkwood to Wolfdales and rest by a lake, where they take human form and spin precious flax. Three brothers (gods?) called Egil, Slagfid, & Welund are out hunting & come across the Swan Maidens. The brothers are so taken by the Swan Maidens beauty, and the Swan Maidens with the three brothers, that they become lovers. Egil takes Olrun, Slagfid takes Swanwhite, and Alvit, who when she sees him throws her arms around his 'white neck', takes Welund for a lover.
For seven years they live in blissful harmony, but in the eighth year the swan maidens start to yearn for their home north of Mirkwood. In the ninth year, whilst the brothers are away hunting, they finally give in to their yearning and fly off. When the brothers return from their hunt and notice they have fled they are heartbroken and immediately vow to search for them. Egil sets out to search the east, Slafgid sets out to search the west, but Welund decides to stay in Wolfdales in case they return.
As he waits in Wolfdales, he perfects his smithy skills, producing wondrous weapons and jewels. Soon his reputation spreads & Nidud, Lord of the Niars learns of Welund's skills. When he realises Welund is now alone, he sends armed warriors in the night. When the warriors arrive, Welund is out hunting, and so they steal one of the rings he has made. On his return from hunting, Welund notices the ring is missing and thinks Alvit has returned and taken it. He stays awake hoping to catch sight of her but after many days finally falls asleep.
Waking he finds himself bound in chains and is dragged to Nidud, who accuses him of stealing his gold. Nidud takes Welund's sword for himself and gives the ring to his daughter Beadohild. When Welund sees this he snarls and grinds his teeth in anger, this is spotted by Nidud's wife, who tells the king that he should beware of Welund's anger. Nidud has the sinews in Welund's legs cut,
thereby hamstringing him, and then has him set down on the Island of Sævarstod. Here he makes him fashion all kinds of treasures and precious work for him, allowing no one to visit him except himself.
But Nidud's sons, tempted by the tales of treasure created by Welund, sneak to the island one day and demand the keys to Welund's chest. Welund promises them the key if they keep silent about their visit and return the next day, this they swear an oath to. When they return Welund is prepared for them this time and slays them all, beheading them. He mounts their skulls in silver as a present for their father Nidud, for their mother he makes precious gems out of their eyes, and from their teeth he makes carved breast ornaments for their sister Beadohild. When they receive these gifts, Beadohild is so taken, that she determines to meet this wondrous smith and breaks the ring stolen from him as an excuse to visit and get it repaired. She sneaks to the island making sure no spots her, where upon her arrival, Welund plies her with beer until she becomes drowsy, he then violates her.
Crying his wrongs were avenged, he rises into the air on wings he has fashioned, and flees the island of Sævarstod, leaving Nidud to mourn the death of his sons, his daughter's defilement, and how his own greed led to his tragic circumstances. His treachery repaid in full.
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