Grani- Norse CreatureCreature · Beast
Description
Through the ring of flame he carried Sigurðr without flinching, this grey stallion sired by Sleipnir himself. When laden with Fáfnir's cursed gold on Gnítaheiðr, Grani would not stir a step until his master climbed into the saddle.
Mythology & Lore
Chosen from the River
An old man met Sigurðr at the stud farm of King Hjálprekr and told him to drive the horses into the river. The current scattered them, but one grey colt swam straight across without breaking stride. The old man said the colt was descended from Sleipnir, Odin's own eight-legged horse, and that Sigurðr should take him. The old man was Odin. Sigurðr named the horse Grani.
Through the Fire
On Hindarfjall, a wall of flame encircled the hall where the valkyrie Brynhildr lay in enchanted sleep. Grani carried Sigurðr through the fire without shying. Later, after Sigurðr killed the dragon Fáfnir on Gnítaheiðr, he loaded the cursed hoard onto Grani's back. The horse would not move. Only when Sigurðr swung into the saddle did Grani start forward, bearing rider and treasure as though the weight were nothing.
Grani rode through fire a second time. Gunnarr, who wanted Brynhildr for his wife, could not make his own horse face the flames. Sigurðr took Gunnarr's shape and rode Grani through the wall again, winning Brynhildr under a false name. The deception would cost them all.
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