Völsung was the great-grandson of Odin and it was Odin's wife Frigg who made sure that Völsung would be born. Völsung's parents, who were the king and queen of Hunaland, could not have any children until the goddess sent them an apple of fertility carried by the giantess Hljod. Völsung's father, Rerir, died shortly after this, but his wife was pregnant for six years, until she had had enough. She commanded that the child be delivered by caesarean section, an operation that in those days cost the life of the mother. Völsung was a strong child and he kissed his mother before she died.