In the Icelandic poem Völundarkviða, King Níðuð captures the legendary smith Völundr.
Völundr, also known as Wayland in Germanic tradition, is a master craftsman associated with extraordinary weapons and jewelry. Níðuð seizes him, takes his sword and enchanted ring, and orders that he be hamstrung so he cannot escape. The king then confines him on an island and forces him to make valuable objects.
Völundr responds with a grim revenge plan. He kills Níðuð’s two sons, uses their remains to create crafted objects, and later escapes by flying with wings he has made. The poem’s stark violence reflects the revenge ethics common in heroic legend.
The same smith appears in several Germanic traditions, including the Old English poem Deor and Scandinavian legends. Names vary by language: Völundr is the Old Norse form, while Wayland is the best-known English form.