Loki told another tale about Thor—about Thor and Thrym, a stupid Giant who had cunning streaks in him. Loki and Thor had been in this Giant's house. He had made a feast for them and Thor had been unwatchful.  
Then when they were far from J?tunheim Thor missed Mi?lnir, missed the hammer that was the defence of Asgard and the help of the Gods. He could not remember how or where he had mislaid it. Loki's thoughts went toward Thrym, that stupid Giant who yet had cunning streaks in him. Thor, who had lost the hammer that he had sworn never to let out of his sight, did not know what to do.
 
But Loki thought it would be worth while to see if Thrym knew anything about it. He went first to Asgard.[Pg 117] He hurried across the Rainbow Bridge and passed Heimdall without speaking to him. To none of the Dwellers in Asgard whom he met did he dare relate the tidings of Thor's loss. He spoke to none until he came to Frigga's palace.
 
To Frigga he said, "You must lend me your falcon dress until I fly to Thrym's dwelling and find out if he knows where Mi?lnir is."
 
"If every feather was silver I would give it to you to go on such an errand," Frigga said.
 
So Loki put on the falcon dress and flew to J?tunheim and came near Thrym's dwelling. He found the Giant upon a hillside putting golden and silver collars upon the necks of his hounds. Loki in the plumage of a falcon perched on the rock above him, watching the Giant with falcon eyes.
 
And while he was there he heard the Giant speak boastful words. "I put collars of silver and gold on you now, my hounds," said he, "but soon we Giants will have the gold of Asgard to deck our hounds and our steeds, yea, even the necklace of Freya to put upon you, the best of my hounds. For Mi?lnir, the defence of Asgard, is in Thrym's holding."
 
Then Loki spoke to him. "Yea, we know that Mi?lnir is in thy possession, O Thrym," said he, "but know thou that the eyes of the watchful Gods are upon thee."
 
"Ha, Loki, Shape-changer," said Thrym, "you are there! But all your watching will not help you to find Mi?lnir.[Pg 118] I have buried Thor's hammer eight miles deep in the earth. Find it if you can. It is below the caves of the Dwarfs."
 
"It is useless for us to search for Thor's hammer," said Loki; "eh Thrym?"
 
"It is useless for you to search for it," said the Giant sulkily.
 
"But what a recompense you would gain if you restored Thor's hammer to the Dwellers in Asgard," Loki said.
 
"No, cunning Loki, I will never restore it, not for any recompense," said Thrym.
 
"Yet bethink thee, Thrym," said Loki. "Is there nought in Asgard you would like to own? No treasure, no possession? Odin's ring or Frey's ship, Skidbladnir?"
 
"No, no," said Thrym. "Only one thing could the Dwellers in Asgard offer me that I would take in exchange for Mi?lnir, Thor's hammer."
 
"And what would that be, Thrym?" said Loki, flying toward him.
 
"She whom many Giants have striven to gain—Freya, for my wife," said Thrym.
 
Loki watched Thrym for long with his falcon eyes. He saw that the Giant would not alter his demand. "I will tell the Dwellers in Asgard of your demand," he said at last, and he flew away.
 
Loki knew that the Dwellers in Asgard would never let Freya be taken from them to become the wife of Thrym, the stupidest of the Giants. He flew back.
 
By this time all the Dwellers in Asgard had heard of the[Pg 119] loss of Mi?lnir, the help of the Gods. Heimdall shouted to him as he crossed the Rainbow Bridge to ask what tidings he brought back. But Loki did not stop to speak to the Warden of the Bridge but went straight to the hall where the Gods sat in Council.
 
To the ?sir and the Vanir he told Thrym's demand. None would agree to let the beautiful Freya go live in J?tunheim as a wife to the stupidest of the Giants. All in the Council were cast down. The Gods would never again be able to help mortal men, for now that Mi?lnir was in the Giants' hands all their strength would have to be used in the defence of Asgard.
 
So they sat in the Council with looks downcast. But cunning Loki said, "I have thought of a trick that may win back the hammer from stupid Thrym. Let us pretend to send Freya to J?tunheim as a bride for him. But let one of the Gods go in Freya's veil and dress."
 
"Which of the Gods would bring himself to do so shameful a thing?" said those in the Council.
 
"Oh, he who lost the hammer, Thor, should be prepared to do as much to win it back," said Loki.
 
"Thor, Thor! Let Thor win back the hammer from Thrym by Loki's trick," said the ?sir and the Vanir. They left it to Loki to arrange how Thor should go to J?tunheim as a bride for Thrym.
 
Loki left the Council of the Gods and came to where he had left Thor. "There is but one way to win the hammer back, Thor," he said, "and the Gods in Council have decreed that you shall take it."[Pg 120]
 
"What is the way?" said Thor. "But no matter what it is, tell me of it and I shall do as thou dost say."
 
"Then," said laughing Loki, "I am to take you to J?tunheim as a bride for Thrym. Thou art to go in bridal dress and veil, in Freya's veil and bridal dress."
 
"What! I dress in woman's garb?" shouted Thor.
 
"Yea, Thor, and wear a veil over yo............