Księgarnia Internetowa Gandalf

The previously unpublished work was written while Tolkien was professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University during the 1920s and `30s, before he wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The publication will make available for the first time Tolkien`s extensive retelling in English narrative verse of the epic Norse tales of Sigurd the Völsung and the Fall of the Niflungs.

In Norse mytholgy, the warrior Sigurd is the mythical son of Sigmund and Hjordis, as depicted in the Volsung Saga. Sigmund dies in a battle, leaving his shattered sword to his unborn son. Hjordis eventually remarries, this time to Alf, the legendary Swedish king. Alf has Sigurd sent away to a a blacksmith, named Regin, who raises him and makes him a special sword, called Gram, from pieces of a sword owned by Sigurd`s father. Sigurd used his sword to kill the dragon Fafnir and so acquire its golden treasure. Sigurd roasts Fafnir`s heart so that Regin may eat it, but in doing so he burns his finger. He sticks his finger in his mouth, tasting the dragon`s blood and granting him the power to speak to birds. The birds caution Sigurd that Regin will betray him, so Sigurd beheaded the blacksmith. Sigurd took the treasure and put a ring on his finger. He was unaware that the ring bore a curse, which brought misfortune to its wearer.
After slaying Fafnir, Sigurd came upon a castle where he awakened the warrior maiden Brunhilde, whom Odin had cast into a deep sleep. Sigurd gave his ring to Brunhilde and promised to return to marry her. But during his journey Sigurd was given a magic drink that made him forget Brunhilde, and he married the princess Gudrun instead.
(source: www.tolkienlibrary.com)