Sun urged her horses across the morning sky and her rays shone down on Bilskirnir. Thor yawned and reached for his hammer, then shook himself awake, the hammer was not there. A quick search among the bed covers and under the bed yielded nothing, something was clearly amiss.
Thor left the room quietly so as not to disturb his sleeping wife. He strode down the corridor to his daughter's chamber flung open the door and grabbed Loki by both shoulders, shaking him awake, Thrud complained at the intrusion and pulled the blankets over her head. Loki eyed the Thunderer nervously, he looked annoyed. 'Someone has taken my hammer' growled Thor, 'is this some prank of yours?'
'No.' spluttered Loki.
He looked genuinely frightened and Thor released him. 'Well then make yourself useful.' urged Thor 'Go and see who is responsible.' Loki hurriedly dressed and opened his clothes chest, he took out the falcon feather cloak, his gift from Freyja. He threw the cloak over his shoulders and took to the air in falcon form. Satisfied, Thor set off for the kitchens in search of breakfast.
Loki flew straight to giantland, after all, the enemies of both gods and men were most likely to steal Thor's hammer. He didn't have to search far, at the very border of giantland a great figure stood against the skyline, 'Lost something Loki?' the giant bellowed. 'Yes,' Loki admitted 'Thor has mislaid his hammer.'
'Oh dear. What a shame. I'm heartbroken!' bellowed the giant sarcastically.
Loki lost his patience, 'All right, where is it? Stop playing games with me.'
The giant laughed and the hills shook. 'The hammer is buried eight leagues underground. Thor will never find it. Only I know where it is, but I will give it to him for a price.'
'And what would that be' asked Loki'.
'He must send me Freyja as my bride.'
'You have got to be joking' snorted Loki, 'Freyja marry you?'
The giant screamed at Loki's scorn. 'Get back to Bilskirnir you insect, and give my message to Thor. If I do not have Freyja as my bride before the month's end we shall ride on Asgard. And without his hammer Thor will be unable to prevent us. Brave Thrym will lead the giants to victory.'
'Who is this Thrym chap then?' asked Loki grinning.
'I am Thrym you insolent imbecile!' The giant stoopped down and lifted up a boulder to hurl at the Asa. Loki flew off hurriedly and heard the rock crash down close behind him.
Back at Bilskirnir Loki found Thor enjoying a leisurely breakfast, a roast ox or two and the odd barrel of ale. 'Well?' asked Thor 'How did you fare?'
'I know where your hammer is, the giant Thrym has got it. He has hidden it eight leagues underground and you won't get it back unless you send him Freyja as his bride. If you don't he will rally the giants against Asgard'.
Thor gave the matter some thought 'Well we had best go and visit Freyja' he said.
'What?' spluttered Loki, 'You are going to ask her to marry Thrym? She will kill you!'
Thor stood up from the board and gestured for his servants to make his wagon ready. 'If you are too scared to face up to a lady, you can stay behind.' said Thor and walked out of the hall. Loki shook his head and followed, he might be needed to keep the peace in Folkvang.
The goats thundered over the moon's way and the distance to the Folkvang passed quickly. The wagon rumbled to a halt in Freyja's courtyard and Beyla hurried out to greet the visitors. The gods were lead through shining Sessrumnir, bright with gold pillars, glowing tapestries and welcoming firelight. Here the best of warriors lived in comfort with their wives. Beyla brought the gods to the central chamber where Freyja sat spinning and singing love charms with Heimdal at her side.
Freyja smiled and welcomed the Aesir, 'What brings you both here? Alas it must be business'.
'Indeed Freyja' Thor replied. 'There is another giant seeking your favours.'
Freyja groaned, 'Oh no, not again! And they are all so ugly! Why does this one think he will succeed?'
'He has stolen my hammer,' Thor continued, 'and if Thrym cannot have you as his bride, he will lead his army against us.'
'So what,' Freyja retorted 'you may have lost your hammer but the Vanir will stand strong against the giants, our magic will defeat them.'
'Risky,' cautioned Thor, 'the giants have strong magic too.' 'Well what to you suggest?' asked Freyja.
'Let's give them what they want....' began Thor.
'What!!' cried Freyja in horror, the grip on her distaff tightening 'You must think me mad for men if you can suggest such a vile union!' Loki retreated and Heimdal edged away from the furious goddess .
But Thor shock his head laughing. 'No Freyja, that I will never ask. Long ago you taught us some of your magic and I would ask of you one further boon. Help me to look like you, that I may travel to Thrym in your stead, and regain my hammer.'
'Forgive me Thor' relented Freyja 'I should know you better. I will gladly do as you ask.' She grinned mischievously, 'It will be a pleasure'. Freyja sung her charms and wove a web of spells about the Asa, she transformed Thor's ruddy locks to strands of gold and enchanted a gown about him. Loki stared at the two goddesses, both equal in beauty but for the fire of the Thunderer's eyes which even Freyja could not conceal. Laughing Freyja held up a mirror and the false Freyja admired his new reflection 'Amazing' Thor conceded. 'Very clever', commented Heimdal, 'but if this giant has an ounce of common sense he will know that you always wear Brisingamen.'
Freyja fingered the golden necklace reluctantly, 'True,' she relented, 'At least I can trust Thor to return it.' she added glaring at Loki. She unfastened the necklace and lifted it from her shoulders, feeling its power drain from her. She looked Thor in the eye, 'Four nights of passion is the cost of wearing Brisingamen, are you willing to settle your debt when you return?'
'Of course'. Thor replied. Freyja fastened the necklace around Thor's neck, hung the keys of Sessrumnir at his side, flung a silk bridal veil over his head and held it with a thick circlet of gold. 'There!' she cried standing back to check her handiwork. 'That would fool anyone! You must travel in my chariot so as not to arouse any suspicion. Loki, you must go as Thor's bridesmaid.'
'Happily my lady, I wouldn't miss this adventure for the world.' Loki spoke the words of power and he too stood gowned with long flowing hair. 'On your way then' urged Freyja 'win back your hammer and bring Brisingamen back to me!'
The two gods set out in Freyja's chariot, the cats raced silently across the heavens and the bells rattled on the harnesses. Loki grinned anticipating the mischief he could work at Thrym's court. When they arrived at the giant's courtyard Thrym's kin were already assembled for the marriage feast, maidens showered the bride with rose petals as the Aesir stepped sedately into the hall. Thrym's voice boomed from the high seat, 'Is that my Freyja? Come into the hall my beauty and let us see you.'
The two gods walked to the centre of the hall, their gowns trailing on the stewing herbs. Loki curtseyed to the giant, 'The lady Freyja and Queen of Vanaheim my lord.'
Thyrm stepped closer, 'And how do you fare dear Freyja?' he asked.
'The bearer of Brisingamen looks forward to the wedding ceremony.' the false Freyja replied.
Thrym was filled with desire to find his bride so unexpectedly eager, he stooped down and lifted the veil to steal a kiss, only to recoil at the sight of Thor's blazing gaze. 'By the flaming sword of Surt! What is wrong with her eyes?' the giant hissed to Loki.
Loki answered, 'Freyja has thought of you for many moons, and without you she could not sleep for desiring you. Thus her eyes are a little sore but now she has you she will sleep peacefully.'
The giant was satisfied with this explanation and clapped his hands for the wedding feast to commence. Thor and Loki were given seats on the ladies benches, with delicate cups and dainty dishes laid out before them. 'Not bad thinking back there' Thor commented to Loki, 'But I would love to see you explain this away.' Thor got up from the bench and walked across to the men's table where several oxen and plate full of salmon had been served. Thor demolished one of the oxen and a dish full of salmon and washed it all down with a barrel of mead. Loki went pale as Thrym approached him, a look of horror on his face. 'Ymir's beard woman! Why does Freyja eat like a starved beast? She has eaten more than ten giants!' Thrym cried aghast.
Loki replied 'Freyja not eaten for many moons because of her craving for you. Now she is here she can end her fast.' Thrym was satisfied with this and left Loki to gasp with relief. Thrym took up the false Freyja's hand and led her to the high seat.
The giant's priest came forward to witness the wedding and Thrym swore to love Freyja to the worlds end. When Thor was prompted to give his oath he replied 'The mighty goddess who holds the keys to Sessrumnir, swears that she will give brave Thrym all that he deserves. Greatly do I desire to lay him down in the straw!'
Thrym glowed with love for the fair goddess at beside him. 'Truly I never intended to return the Thunderer's weapon, but with the great Freyja at my side what have I to fear from Asgard? Tell me, my love, would you have me return the hammer.'
'A promise must be kept.' Thor replied.
'Then so be it.' cried Thrym 'bring in the hammer so that fair Freyja can return it to Asgard. Two giants struggled into the hall carrying Thor's hammer between them.
Thor received the hammer gracefully and flung back his veil fixing Thrym with his fiery eyes, 'Let Thor not be called an oath breaker! He is my side of the bargain' Thor clouted the giant on the back of the skull and knocked him stone dead on the rushes of the hall. The giants quickly realised they had been tricked and ran to avenge their lord, Thor made short work of them all.
'Come Loki' said Thor 'we must return Brisingamen to Vanaheim.' The two gods set off in Freyja's chariot and as they passed over into Midgard a woman hailed them. Thor tugged on the reigns and the cats brought the chariot down to the ground. 'Greetings Mother' Thor called recognising the goddess Jord.
'What have you been up to?' asked Jord, eyeing the gods' strange appearance. 'Must the harvest suffer so you two can go gallivanting about?' 'There can be no harvest without Mjolnir' Thor replied 'and our gallivanting has served to recover it from the giants.'
'You could have asked me Thor' said his mother, 'Eight leagues deep it was buried, but nothing in the earth is hidden from Jord.'
'Ah but that would have been a poor adventure' said Thor, 'and now the giants know how well you are defended and will leave you in peace for many years.' Jord laughed and waved her dismissal at the Aesir, the grain was ripening and her son had come home.