Sváva

"Sleep-maker." The daughter of king Eylimi. She was a valkyrie and rode through air and water. In the eddic poem Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar she was the beloved of Helgi Hjörvardsson. It was she who gave Helgi his name, and afterwards often protected him in battle. She also gave him the location of a great sword.

Helgi became a renowned warrior and asked Eylimi for Sváva's hand, and they were married. Sváva remained home with her father, while Helgi was engaged in warfare. After he was mortally wounded by Álfr in a conflict at Frekastein, he sent his attendant Sigarr to bring his wife to him so that they may be together one last time. Before he died, Helgi asked Sváva to take his brother Heðinn as her lover:

Helgi

41. I pray thee, Svava!

weep not, my wife!

if thou wilt

my voice obey

that for Hedin thou

a couch prepare,

and the young prince

in thy arms clasp.

Svava

42. I had said,

in our pleasant home,

when for me Helgi

rings selected,

that I would not gladly,

after my king's departure,

an unknown prince

clasp in my arms.

Hedin

43. Kiss me, Svava!

I will not return,

Rógheim to behold,

nor Rödulsfiöll,

before I have avenged

Hiörvard's son,

who was of kings

under the sun the best.

The valkyrie Sigrún is mentioned in Helgakviða Hundingsbana II as her reincarnation.

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