"
"Freia the beautiful!" Loki had to stifle a laugh. Fancy the AEsir giving
their fairest flower to such an ugly fellow as this! But he only said
politely, "Ah, yes; you demand our Freia in exchange for the little
hammer? It is a costly price, great Thrym. But I will be your friend in
Asgard. If I have my way, you shall soon see the fairest bride in all
the world knocking at your door. Farewell!"
So Loki whizzed back to Asgard on his falcon wings; and as he went he
chuckled to think of the evils which were likely to happen because of
his words with Thrym. First he gave the message to Thor--not sparing of
Thrym's insolence, to make Thor angry; and then he went to Freia with
the word for her--not sparing of Thrym's ugliness, to make her shudder.
The spiteful fellow!
Now you can imagine the horror that was in Asgard as the AEsir listened
to Loki's words. "My hammer!" roared Thor. "The villain confesses that
he has stolen my hammer, and boasts that he is Thunder Lord! Gr-r-r!"
"The ugly giant!" wailed Freia. "Must I be the bride of that hideous old
monster, and live in his gloomy mountain prison all my life?"
"Yes; put on your bridal veil, sweet Freia," said Loki maliciously, "and
come with me to Jotunheim. Hang your famous starry necklace about your
neck, and don your bravest robe; for in eight days there will be a
wedding, and Thor's hammer is to pay.
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