Dvalin is a dwarf from Norse mythology who appears in several Old Norse tales and kennings. His name translates to "the dormant one" or "the one slumbering," closely related to the Scandinavian words for "sleep," "unconscious condition," or "hibernation."
In the Poetic Edda, Dvalin is mentioned as a dwarf in the listing of dwarves and later as a leader who leads a group of dwarfs from the mountains to find a new dwelling place:
"They left the rocks and through wet lands
They sought a home, in the fields of sand." (Translation)
In Hávamál, it is said that Dvalin introduced the art of writing runes to the dwarfs, similar to how Dáinn did for the elves and Odin did for the gods.
In Alvíssmál, the sun is metaphorically referred to as the "deceiver of Dvalin," alluding to the sun's ability to turn dwarfs into stone. In skaldic poetry, "Dvalin's drink" is used as a kenning for poetry itself, reflecting the idea that the mead of poetry was originally created by the dwarfs.
In Fáfnismál, during a conversation between Sigurd and Fafnir regarding the minor Norns (distinct from the three great Norns who govern the destinies of all beings), those who oversee the lives and destinies of dwarfs are referred to as "Dvalin's daughters." These references illustrate Dvalin's significance in Norse mythology and his association with dwarfs, runes, and poetic inspiration.
Sagas
In Hervarar saga, Dvalin is one of a pair of dwarves (including Durin) who forged the magic sword Tyrfing.
Sörla þáttr
In the Sörla þáttr, an Icelandic short story written by two Christian priests in the 15th century, Dvalin is the name of one of the four dwarves (including Alfrigg, Berling and Grer) who fashioned a necklace which was later acquired by a woman called Freyja, who is King Odin's concubine, after she agreed to spend a night with each of them.
Modern influence
J. R. R. Tolkien took the name as Dwalin for one of the dwarves in The Hobbit. Rich Burlew has Dvalin as the first king of the Dwarves, an ascended demigod of the Northern Pantheon in The Order of the Stick. In Joanne Harris' The Gospel of Loki, Dvalin is the name of one of the Sons of Ivaldi.