Aslaug / Kraka
In Norse mythology, Aslaung was the daughter of the hero Sigurd and the valkyrie Brynhildr. Her parents died when she was still a young girl, making her the last living decedent of the legendary line of Völsungs. Fearing that enemies of the Völsungs would attempt to kill her, Aslang's foster father, Heimir, assumed the guise of a beggar and hid the small girl within a harp. Each night he fed her from a magic onion to keep her full and played the harp to keep her from crying.
Heimir was murdered by Aki and Gríma , two peasants that suspected there was treasure hidden within the harp. Aslaung refused to speak when she was discovered, effectively concealing her identity. Aki and Grima named her Kraka ("Crow") and attempted to pass her off as their daughter. Feeling her beauty would raise questions they shaved and tarred her head to keep hair from regrowing.
When she was fully grown ships carrying the recently widowed hero Ragnar came to the shores of Aslaug's home. She washed and removed the tar, her golden hair falling down around her. Ragnar's men were greatly impressed by her beauty and carried stories of it back to Ragnar. Ragnar then summoned her to him, declaring that she must come to him "neither clothed nor naked" so Aslaug came before him wrapped in a fishing net. Aslaug and Ranar eventually married.
Aslaung's story is told in the Saga of the Ragnar Loðbrók as well as the Prose Edda.
