How a Giant Built a Fortress for the Asas
_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how
a giant once built a fortress for the Asas._
Although their city of Asgard was beautiful beyond compare, the Asas
who lived therein could not forget that the race of the giants kept
unwearying watch to do them despite. Even All-Father Odin was troubled
when he remembered Mimir's warning that the draught of wisdom would
ever work strife between the races of Asas and giants. And so at
length the Asas, meeting in their Council Chamber at the roots of the
Tree of Life, resolved that something more should be done to guard
themselves. Already, it is true, the watchman Heimdall kept ward over
the Rainbow Bridge by night and day, blowing a soft note on his horn
to announce the coming or going of the Asas, but prepared to give a
terrible blast should any of the Frost Giants attempt to cross the
bridge.
Heimdall, however, might be overpowered before aid could reach him,
and so it was decided to build, just within Asgard, a great fortress,
which should be so strong that the Asas could rest safely behind its
walls, even if the Frost Giants should invade their city.
The next question was, Who should build this fortress?
None of the Asas knew of a likely architect, and while they were
discussing where one should be found, the horn of Heimdall rang out in
token of the approach of a stranger.
Out rushed the Asas, and there, in parley with Heimdall, stood a
gigantic figure with powerful limbs, on which the muscles stood out
like ropes of iron.
Heimdall was speaking sharply, for he did not altogether like the
stranger's look. "For what purpose do you come?" he was inquiring.
"I am a Master Builder," replied the stranger. "I can build towers and
forts more strongly than any other builder in all the world. Have you
anything of the kind that wants doing here?"
The eyes of the Asas met as they heard these words, and Odin, stepping
forward, said, "Can you build us a fortress so strong that not all the
strength of the Frost Giants could avail against it?"
"Ay, that can I," replied the stranger. "Look at my strong arms and
see the breadth of my chest. If you will set me to work you shall soon
find my worth as a Master Builder."
"How long will the fortress take to build?" asked Odin.
"I will build it for you in three half years," replied the stranger.
"And what do you ask as wages?" said Odin, and the Master Builder
answered promptly:
"You must give me the sun, the moon, and Freya for my wife."
At these words the Asas, who had been pressing forward to hear the
conference, fell back with muttered disapproval. For Freya was the
most beautiful maiden in Asgard, the joy and pride of the city, ever
young and ever fair; and the sun and moon were the light and life of
men in the world below. So they bade the Master Builder come again
next day, and meantime retired to their Council Hall to consider the
matter.
All-Father Odin was for sending the Builder promptly about his
business when he returned for their decision, but his brother Loki
counselled a different course.
Red Loki was a mischievous, sly fellow, full of wiles and deceit, and
always quick to suggest a way out of a difficulty. On this occasion
his plan was to allow the man to build the fortress, and to promise
him the terms demanded, but subject to the condition that he fulfilled
his task in a way that would be impossible for him fully to carry out.
His eloquence persuaded the Asas, and next day, when the Builder
returned for their decision, Loki, as their spokesman, called to the
mighty fellow as he crossed the bridge:
"Good man, we cannot wait for three half years for the completion of
our fortress. But if you will undertake to do the work in the course
of one winter, without any assistance, you shall have Freya, and the
sun and moon to boot. If, however, on the first day of summer, one
stone is missing from its place, the fortress will be ours without any
payment whatever, since you will have broken your plighted word."
At this the Master Builder did not look well pleased. He pulled his
great beard and eyed the speaker doubtfully, muttering that the time
was too short for so great a task; but when Loki pretended to turn
away, as though the matter were ended, he called after him:
"Well, have it so--the fortress shall be built in the time you set.
But you must at least let me have the help of my good horse Svadilfare
to carry stone."
When they heard this request the Asas demurred, saying: "He means to
play us some trick."
But Loki persuaded them to make this trifling concession.
"For," said he, "of what use can a horse be in building a fortress? He
will never be able to finish the place in time, and we shall get our
fort for nothing. At least you can let him have his great clumsy horse
for any use that he may be."
So the Asas agreed, and went their different ways, leaving the Master
Builder to his work.
The winter months passed on, and while the Asas busied themselves with
their various occupations and amusements, the Master Builder was
toiling with might and main. But he could have done little in the time
if he had not had the help of his wonderful horse Svadilfare, who not
only dragged huge blocks of stone to the spot, but raised them into
position with his strong forefeet. And this was done with such speed
that, some days before the end of winter, the fortress was finished,
with the exception of three blocks of stone which were to form one of
the gateways.
Then the Asas suddenly realised what was about to happen. In less than
three days more the fortress would be finished; it needed, in fact,
but one night's work to make all complete. They remembered with horror
the price they had undertaken to pay; the loss not only of Freya,
fairest of maidens, but also of sun and moon, whose light was the joy
of their life and the necessity of mankind.
"It is Red Loki," said they, "who has brought us to this sad pass." So
they began to reproach him very bitterly, threatening even to kill him
if he did not find some way to evade the loss which threatened them.
At length, being really frightened, Loki promised to do
something--anything, that would prevent the Master Builder from
finishing the work during the three days that yet remained of winter.
That same night good Svadilfare was painfully dragging a great block
of stone along the path to the new-built fortress, when Red Loki,
changed into the semblance of a pretty little grey mare, came running
up, saying, as plainly as horses can speak:
"Down below there is a delightful green meadow. Do come with me, and
take a holiday from this ever-lasting work."
Scarcely had he heard her neigh when the steed kicked off his harness,
left the block of stone to roll down the steep hill, and rushed after
the mare. Away ran Loki, away ran Svadilfare, and after them rushed
the Master Builder, shouting and yelling in vain. The noise they made
was terrific, for the gallop of the horses and the _thud_, _thud_, of
the mighty Builder shook the walls of Asgard and made the
earth-dwellers shrink in terror from what they imagined to be
thunderstorms and earthquakes. But the Builder never found his horse,
for Loki had lured him to a meadow hidden safely away within a secret
grove.
When the Master Builder returned to the fortress the first day of
summer had dawned, and lo! the winter was gone, and the gateway of the
building was unfinished.
Before it stood the Asas, and All-Father Odin greeted the Builder
with:
"See, fellow, here is the first day of summer and your task is not yet
fulfilled. Begone, then, from Asgard, for we are free from our bond,
and would have no further dealing with thee or thy evil brood."
Then the Builder perceived that Odin knew who he really was, and with
a roar of rage he returned to his own form, and stood revealed as a
mighty Frost Giant, almost as huge as the fortress he had built.
Shaking his great fist at the Asas, he shouted threateningly:
"Ye have tricked and fooled me enough. Not for nothing does a Frost
Giant stand within the walls of Asgard. Were it not so strongly built
I would now tear down this fortress that I have raised; but your own
palaces are not giant-built, and see to it that they are not soon
tumbling about your ears!"
And in good sooth he might have torn down the very halls of the Asas
in his rage, had not Thor at that moment dashed up the Rainbow Bridge
in his chariot drawn by goats. For all this while Thor, the strongest
of the Asas, had been away on a long journey; and had this not been
so, the giants would have had little cause to fear.
Springing from his chariot as the furious giant was about to pull the
roof off Valhalla, Thor gave him so mighty a blow on the head with his
huge hammer that his skull broke into little bits and his body fell
down into the Land of Mists.
"Take that for your wages," roared Thor, as he swung his hammer on
high, "and in this same manner will I repay all of the race of Frost
Giants who seek to set foot in Asgard."
And so in this way was built for the Asas a fortress so strong that
none of the giant folk could dare to raise hand against it. But always
it lacked three stones in the gateway, for no one except a Frost Giant
could lift such mighty blocks into place.