Tales of Valhalla

by Martyn Whittock

  At their approach, Tyr was astonished at how ugly his grandmother was, for it had been a long time since he had seen her. She had nine hundred heads. But she was not the only woman ruling over that hall, for Tyr’s mother was there too. She was draped in gold as fitting her rank and her forehead glittered with gold. She brought beer forward to welcome her son and Thor.

  She feared for the safety of her guests, although they were related to the giants, for her husband – Tyr’s father – was mean and bad tempered. In order to protect them from his bad nature, she advised Thor and Tyr to hide beneath one of his cauldrons. And this they did.

  They had to wait there some time because Hymir came home late from the day’s hunting expedition. He had been a long time out in the cold of the winter’s day and his beard was frozen; icicles hung from his face and clattered together as he entered the hall.

  Tyr’s mother stepped forward and greeted her husband: ‘You have returned in a good mood,’ she jested, for Hymir was not a giant to joke or laugh. And his misshapen form was a stranger to humour.

  She explained that their son had returned from his long journeying and had come to the hall in the company of Thor. That was Thor who had slain the giant, Hrod, of their acquaintance. She pointed towards the end of the hall and explained that the two visitors were there, hidden behind a pillar.

  As Hymir’s stern and unwelcoming gaze turned towards them, the pillar shattered and the roof beam above it broke in half. That was the measure of the giant’s glance. And as the roof beam snapped there fell to the floor eight metal kettles which shattered as they fell. But one thing fell and did not break as it hit the floor and that was a well-made iron cauldron that had been worked by a skilled smith.

  Since they had been discovered, Thor and Tyr stepped forward. Hymir looked at them as enemies for as he saw them he remembered the many giants that Thor had killed and the many giantesses that he had widowed.

  But still Hymir ordered a feast to be prepared. Servants brought in three bulls which were swiftly despatched as each was made a head’s length shorter by the blow of an axe. The bulls were taken to the cooking hearth, which was a pit whose bottom was full of glowing fire. There the meal was prepared.

  When it was served, Thor alone ate up two of the bulls himself for his appetite was prodigious. It seemed to Hymir that Thor had eaten a great deal more than he had expected him to. And so the giant decided that the next evening they would go out hunting to replenish the stocks of food. For plenty of food would need to be provided if it was going to be enough to satisfy Thor, Tyr and Hymir. On hearing Hymir’s plan, Thor said that he wished to row out to sea and discover what he could catch, if only the giant would supply him with sufficient bait.

  The bait is prepared and the fishing trip begins

  On Hymir’s instructions, Thor went out to the barn where the oxen were kept. There he noticed one fine black ox. He seized the beast and tore off its head. Hymir was not best pleased at what fate had befallen his prize animal and said it would have been better if Thor had just sat in silence in the hall.

  Still, despite this animosity, they set out to sea. Thor told Hymir, that ugly giant, to row the boat out further into deeper water. But Hymir was not at all happy about this instruction. However, he did as Thor requested and immediately pulled in no less than two whales that seized his bait. While he was doing this, Thor prepared his own fishing tackle.

  Thor – the one who protects people, and who will slay the Midgard serpent on the day of Ragnarok – put the head of the black ox onto his hook. Below the boat, the serpent that encircles the earth, the enemy of the gods, rose to seize the ox-head bait. As the line pulled taut, Thor reeled it in and pulled the serpent on board. There the Midgard serpent, the brother of Fenrir the wolf, was at Thor’s mercy. With his mighty hammer he struck that serpent a great blow to the head. The serpent roared with pain and the earth shook at the sound. After this great blow, the serpent sank back below the waves. After this, Hymir rowed them back to shore but he was very unhappy at what had transpired.

  When they at last reached the shore, Hymir said that Thor could share in the work by either carrying one of the whales back or seeing that the fishing boat was brought securely onto dry land. Thor undertook the latter task. He lifted the heavy boat, poured out the water that had washed on board and on his own he carried the boat back over the wooded hill to Hymir’s hall.

  The competition back at Hymir’s hall

  Hymir was envious of Thor’s great strength and challenged him to prove how strong he really was. He dared him to try to break the crystal goblet that Hymir owned. The cup was brought to Thor who tried in vain to break it. He struck it against the wooden pillar that held up the roof but the pillar broke and not the goblet. So it was taken back to Hymir, unbroken.

  At this point, Tyr’s mother whispered to Thor that the only way to smash the goblet was to strike it against Hymir’s hard skull. To this advice Thor responded by seizing the goblet once more and bringing it down on Hymir’s head. The goblet splintered!

  As Hymir looked down on the shards of crystal on his lap he cried out in sorrow that no longer would he be able to command the beer to be brewed. So he told his visitors that if they could move the great cauldron then they could have it.

  Tyr tried to lift the cauldron but could not shift it. Twice he attempted the task but failed each time. But Thor seized the cauldron, rolled it onto the floor and lifted it high so that it was turned upside down on his head. With it there like a hat they left the hall.

  As Thor and Tyr walked away, an army of mountain-giants descended on them with Hymir at their head. Putting down the cauldron, Thor took hold of Miollnir, his hammer, and with it he killed the army of giants that was pursuing them.

  Eventually Thor and Tyr returned to Asgard with the great cauldron that they had brought out of Giantland. As a result of this adventure, the gods were able to drink beer in Aegir’s hall every winter and enjoy the feast that they held there.

  Loki insults the gods and goddesses in the hall of Aegir

  That was not the end of the feast that was held in Aegir’s hall. When the beer and food were ready, a great number of the gods and goddesses assembled there. These included Odin and Frigg his wife; Thor’s wife Sif was there but Thor himself was away in Giantland; Bragi was there, with Idunn his wife; Tyr was there, the god who was one-handed since the wolf Fenrir had bitten off his hand; Niord (of the Vanir) was there, with Skadi his wife; Freyr and Freyia (also of the Vanir) were there, as were Freyr’s servants, Byggvir and Beyla; Odin’s son, Vidar, was there; Loki was also there, along with many others of the Æsir and many elves.

  As the feast got under way, the servants of Aegir – Fimafeng and Eldir – brought drink to the guests and the atmosphere was peaceful and all were happy. All, that is, except for Loki. For he hated to hear the way that the guests spoke well of the servants of Aegir and the way that they served the guests. In fact, he was so resentful that he rose and killed Fimafeng!

  Then all the Æsir rose in fury from the mead benches. They seized hold of their shields and roared at Loki in their anger. They drove him out of the hall and into the night, into the woods beyond the hall. Then, with him gone, they returned to their drinking.

  Loki returns to the hall

  Loki came back to the hall and met Eldir the servant outside. He asked him what the gods were talking about as they drank.

  Eldir replied that they were talking about their weapons and their skills in warfare. But then he added: ‘Among the gods and elves inside, there is not one friendly word spoken about you.’

  So Loki determined to get into the hall and stir up conflict between those inside; to mix bitter disputes with their beer.

  When Eldir saw what Loki was determined to do, he warned him that if he succeeded in stirring up trouble then in the end it would be worse for him.

  But Loki was unmoved by the warning and went into the hall anyway. When he entered and those inside recognised him, they fell silen
t. The happy talking and drinking stopped.

  Loki looked around him at those unwelcoming faces and demanded a drink and a place at the feast. ‘Either give me a place or send me away,’ he challenged them.

  At this, Bragi stood up and told him that there was no room for him there, for the Æsir had already decided who had an invitation and who did not.

  Undeterred, Loki looked straight at Odin and reminded him of how they were blood-brothers and how Odin had always assured him that there would be a drink for Loki wherever Odin was drinking.

  At this reminder of previous promises, Odin told his son, Vidar, to give up his place to Loki, the father of Fenrir wolf, so that there could be no reproach levelled at his hospitality. So Loki took his place. And that was when the trouble started.

  Bragi offered Loki a horse, a sword and a ring if he would only agree to avoid causing dissension among the gods. But Loki replied that Bragi was short of swords and arm rings because he lacked the courage needed to be a warrior. At this, Bragi was indignant and threatened Loki that, were it not for the hospitality offered at the feast, he would have his head. To which Loki replied that Bragi was brave in a mead hall but a coward on the battlefield.

  Then Idunn spoke up and asked Bragi not to trade words of anger with Loki. But Loki looked at her and remarked that she was so promiscuous that she had embraced the man who had killed her own brother. But Idunn refused to be provoked and said that she would not trade angry words with him in Aegir’s hall.

  Gefion, the virgin goddess, then intervened and asked why Bragi and Loki were exchanging angry words for, she added to console Bragi, ‘Loki is only joking for he knows that you are loved by all living things.’ Then Loki looked at Gefion and accused her of exchanging sex for jewellery offered by a white-skinned boy.

  Odin was angry at the way that Loki insulted Gefion and rebuked him. He reminded him that: ‘Gefion is a wise goddess who understands what fate has in store for men no less than I do myself.’ But Loki was unabashed and just mocked Odin for allowing those he supported to die in battle so that they might join him in Valhalla. To which Odin reminded him that he, Loki, had been dishonoured by taking on the form of a woman and bearing children. To which Loki retorted that Odin was a fine one to speak since he himself had once dressed as a woman to practise cross-dressing magic while beating a magical drum. So Odin was in no position to mock him.

  At this, Frigg rebuked Loki and reminded him: ‘The things that you two did in ancient times you should keep silent about, as it is not fit talk for others to hear.’ But Loki replied that it was Frigg who should keep silent because her past was nothing to boast about either, since she had slept with Ve and Vili, Odin’s brothers. Frigg was highly affronted and declared that if her son Baldr was here then he would repay Loki for such an insult. To which Loki reminded her that it was he, Loki, who had ensured that Frigg would never see Baldr again (for it was Loki who had engineered the death of Baldr).

  Then Freyia came to Frigg’s defence and declared that Frigg was well aware of all these things but just kept silent with regard to her knowledge of the working of fate. But Loki ignored this and instead mocked Freyia with the claim that: ‘There’s not a god or elf here today who has not been your lover, you are so free with your sexual favours.’ And when she accused him of having a lying tongue he humiliated her further, calling out: ‘You were riding your own brother, Freyr, when the gods caught you by surprise. And as they watched, you farted for them to hear.’

  Then Freyia’s father, Niord, spoke up for his daughter and declared that it was harmless if a woman had a lover in addition to her husband. But what was really shameful was for a god to bear children, as Loki had once done. To which Loki reminded Niord that if shame was being discussed then he should recall his time as a hostage of the Æsir, when he had spent time in the hall of the giant Hymir. ‘Remember,’ Loki asked, ‘how Hymir’s daughters used you as a chamber pot and pissed in your mouth?’ Niord, seeking to regain his dignity, declared that it was true that he had once been held as a hostage but that it was then that he had fathered Freyr who was loved by all, a noble youth. To which Loki spitefully replied: ‘That may be, but everybody here today should know that you fathered him on your own sister.’

  Tyr spoke up in defence of Freyr and recounted how he was best of the Æsir; he never made a woman cry and he freed men held as captives. But Loki just mocked the one-handed god, saying: ‘You’re a god who cannot do plain dealing, for even your right hand was consumed by the wolf, Fenrir.’ To this Tyr defiantly declared that if he had lost a hand then Loki had lost Fenrir-wolf his son, for he was chained until the day of Ragnarok. But Loki just sneered and claimed that he had another son, fathered on Tyr’s own wife.

  Freyr then warned Loki: ‘If you continue in this manner you too will be bound in chains, just like the wolf is chained until the day of Ragnarok and the destruction of the gods.’ The words against Loki had brought to the fore all that would happen on that future terrible day and, with that in mind, Loki reminded Freyr of how he had given away his sword to gain a giant’s daughter. So, Loki taunted him: ‘On the day that the sons of Muspell ride through Mirkwood, what then will you use to fight with?’ In this way he reminded Freyr of how he would die on the day of Ragnarok.

  To this Byggvir cried out that he would be proud to have the nobility of Freyr and that Loki should be ground down for he was a trouble-causing crow. But Loki just mocked him for always being so keen to be among the gods but well hidden under the straw on the floor of the hall when the gods went out to fight.

  Heimdall rebuked Loki’s words as those of a drunkard, but Loki dismissed the watchman of the gods as one who had to sit in mud as he watched out for the day of Ragnarok.

  Then Skadi said: ‘Loki, you won’t be so merry in mischief when we bind you to a sharp rock with the guts of your own dead son.’ To this warning, Loki replied that this might be so but Skadi should recall that it was Loki who was at the forefront when the gods killed Skadi’s father, Thiazi (the giant who kidnapped the goddess Idunn). ‘Then, you’ll never hear a pleasant or helpful word from me,’ Skadi replied. To which Loki retorted: ‘Oh, you were far more pleasant in your speech when you invited me to come to bed with you. These things need mentioning when we are making a list of shameful deeds.’

  Sif poured Loki a drink and stated that all present should hear that she at least was blameless of wrongdoing. But Loki was having none of it and reminded her: ‘Once you took the wicked Loki as your lover.’

  At that moment, the mountains shook. And the goddess Beyla exclaimed that it could only be because Thor was on his way home and would bring peace again to the hall. To which Loki replied that she was nothing more than a ‘serving wench of the latrines’ and should keep quiet.

  However, Beyla was correct, for at that moment Thor strode into the hall, wielding his great hammer and threatening to strike Loki’s head from his shoulders.

  Even then Loki did not fall silent but mocked Thor: ‘You won’t cut such a brave figure on the day the wolf swallows Odin. Then you will not be brave enough to face Fenrir.’

  ‘Be silent,’ Thor roared. ‘With Miollnir, my hammer, I will shut you up and throw you out on the roads that lead to the east.’

  ‘Which is not a direction you should boast about,’ Loki suggested. ‘Since it was out there that you hid in the glove of a giant, gripped by fear. You were a real hero then!’

  Once again Thor commanded silence and threatened Loki with his great hammer. Loki though was unafraid and just reminded Thor of when he had been unable to open the backpack of the giant Skrymir.

  Then, as Thor raised his hammer, Loki finally backed down. ‘Enough’s enough. I would not be quiet in front of the Æsir but I’ll be quiet before you. Since I know that you will use that hammer on me!’

  So Loki backed down. But before he left he shouted a last bitter word. This one was to Aegir: ‘You’ll never again hold such a feast here and your hall will be consumed by fire.’

&nb
sp; So Loki left. He hid himself under a waterfall as a salmon but the Æsir caught him. They bound him to a rock using the guts of Narfi his son. And his other son was changed into a wolf. Skadi suspended a snake over Loki so that it dripped poison on him. Sigyn, Loki’s wife, held out a basin to catch that poison but every time she emptied the bowl the poison dripped on Loki. When that happened, he struggled so much against his bindings that the earth shook. And these are now called earthquakes.

  16

  Thor dresses as a woman in order to retrieve his hammer from the giants

  IN THE STORY found in Thrym’s Poem in the Poetic Edda, Thor and Loki suggest that the promiscuous goddess, Freyia, marries a giant. As we will see, the story recounts her indignation at the suggestion. But there is more of this, almost burlesque style, in this poem. For Thor is forced to dress up as a woman in order to retrieve his hammer from the giants. The story plays upon the characteristics of both of these characters as they are found in Norse mythology. For Freyia, the characteristic focused on is her sexual activities; while for Thor, his rugged manliness is in contrast with the female cross-dressing that is such a feature of this story. The idea was so striking that the story later appeared in a number of medieval folk traditions recorded in Sweden and Denmark, where it was recounted in ballad form. This is a highly entertaining story where we are invited to poke fun at the gods and laugh at their fallibilities.

  In this story, Loki acts as a messenger for Thor and helps and accompanies him, using his wit and trickery to benefit Thor. The story shows Loki and Thor working closely together and their personalities complementing each other. That fact that it is Loki that Thor turns to when his hammer is stolen suggests that they have a relatively close relationship and that Thor trusts Loki – this is in contrast with other stories and poems where Loki appears to be universally distrusted. That Loki acts as a messenger for Thor and goes with Thor to recover the hammer is also another indication of this close relationship. In other stories, Loki is so distrusted that he is not even invited to a feast, whereas here he is entrusted with the returning of the hammer, which is incredibly important to the gods in general and Thor in particular. This story also highlights how intelligent Loki is and the fact that Thor needs Loki because, although he is very strong, he lacks the intellect to cope with the situation by himself. In most other stories where Loki’s intelligence is apparent he seems to be using it against the gods rather than to help them. Not so here.