Hljod

A wish-maiden or óskmær and the wife of Volsung. Hljod was a daughter of the giant Hrimnir.

Hljod first appeared in the Volsunga Saga, serving Odin as a wish-maiden, one of the many names for a valkyrie. When Rerir, son of Sigi and grandson of Odin, was having trouble begetting a child with his wife, Odin summoned Hljod to deliver a magic apple. Apples had several different mythological symbols in Norse mythology. For the gods in Asgard, the apples of Idun kept all of the deities from aging. But in Hljod's case, apples were a symbol of fertility. Hljod dropped the apple on Rerir's lap. It was not exactly explicit who ate the apple, but it was most likely that Rerir shared the apple with his wife. Shortly afterward, Rerir's wife became pregnant.

Rerir died before the child was born, and Rerir's wife carried the child for an incredible six years before her son was born. Her son was named Volsung, and she died after childbirth, but not before her son gave her a kiss.

Volsung grew faster and stronger than most boys of that age. When he was fully grown, the giant Hrimnir sent his daughter Hljod to marry Volsung.

Hljod became the mother of ten sons and one daughter. The eldest of her children were the twins Sigmund and a daughter Signy. Hljod didn't appear again in the story before the incident of Siggeir's arrival at her husband's court.