Post by wren on Nov 6, 2006 13:02:51 GMT -5
Thor once set out with the mischievous Loki to visit the land of the giants. Along with them went the young human, Thjalfi, who was Thor's helper and traveling companion.
Their journey was long and eventful, and is worth a story for another day all by itself. But when they arrived at the castle of Utgard-Loki, the giant, they were astounded at the size of the structure that stood before them. Up it went, towering into the clouds, and even by craning their necks all the way back they could hardly see the highest turrets.
When they tried knocking on the door, they could not even be heard inside the giants' keep. Finally they slipped through the cracks in the door, and entered a huge hall where Utgard-Loki and all the other giants were feasting. It took the travelers a while to get noticed, and the reception they got was hospitable enough, if you didn't mind a little sneering.
"Well, who have we here?" said Utgard-Loki, towering above the three. "I do believe it is the mighty Thor...and who can this be, but Loki, and the young lad Thjalfi! You are welcome among us, but you must know that it is our custom that guests entertain us with their talents and with contests. What have you to share with us?"
And so the visitors engaged in one contest after another against the giants. Loki was beaten in an eating contest by a giant youth named Logi. Thjalfi was trounced in a running contest against one of the giants. Thor himself was humiliated not once but three times: He failed to drink all of the mead in a horn brought to him, even though he was given three draughts from it. Next, a cat was produced, and he failed to pick it up. Finally, an old woman was brought out for him to wrestle...and she, aged crone that she was, bent Thor's knee to the floor and won!
The giants laughed uproarously at he discomfort of Thor and his friends, making no effort to hide their scorn.
After the entertainment at their expense, Thor, Loki, and Thjalfi were given plenty to eat and drink, and no harsh feelings lasted into the evening.
But when it was time to leave the next morning, Utgard-Loki himself escorted them outside the castle and onto the plain. "If I had known you were as mighty as you are, I would never have let you inside my walls! Never will I allow it, again!
Thor thought that the giant was again making them the butt of a joke, but Utgard-Loki explained:
"Loki, you were a fast eater. But we deceived you. That was no giant against whom you competed, but rather, fire - and fire consumes all that is before it. Thjalfi, that was no giant who beat you in the race; it was really my thought, and who can outrun thought?"
"And as for you, Thor: That horn you could not drain had one end in the sea, and we shook in fear to see that you lowered the level of the ocean by two inches with your great gulps. The cat was no cat, but the Midgard Serpent who wraps around the world, and all the earth shook when you lifted it! The old woman was actually old age - and who does not, sooner or later, bend a knee to time? No, you are all filled with great might, and only our magical deceptions saved us. We will never take that chance again!"
Thor grabbed for his hammer in anger, ready to smite the giant. But as he turned around, all the castle had disappeared, as well as had Utgard-Loki, and nothing remained but the open plain, and the blue sky overhead.
Perhaps the lesson of this little tale is that we often do not know our own power. We should take heart, and remember the strength of Thor. We are his brothers and sisters, and one of our tasks is to discover just how great our capabilities really are.
(from Asatru Folk Assembly)
Their journey was long and eventful, and is worth a story for another day all by itself. But when they arrived at the castle of Utgard-Loki, the giant, they were astounded at the size of the structure that stood before them. Up it went, towering into the clouds, and even by craning their necks all the way back they could hardly see the highest turrets.
When they tried knocking on the door, they could not even be heard inside the giants' keep. Finally they slipped through the cracks in the door, and entered a huge hall where Utgard-Loki and all the other giants were feasting. It took the travelers a while to get noticed, and the reception they got was hospitable enough, if you didn't mind a little sneering.
"Well, who have we here?" said Utgard-Loki, towering above the three. "I do believe it is the mighty Thor...and who can this be, but Loki, and the young lad Thjalfi! You are welcome among us, but you must know that it is our custom that guests entertain us with their talents and with contests. What have you to share with us?"
And so the visitors engaged in one contest after another against the giants. Loki was beaten in an eating contest by a giant youth named Logi. Thjalfi was trounced in a running contest against one of the giants. Thor himself was humiliated not once but three times: He failed to drink all of the mead in a horn brought to him, even though he was given three draughts from it. Next, a cat was produced, and he failed to pick it up. Finally, an old woman was brought out for him to wrestle...and she, aged crone that she was, bent Thor's knee to the floor and won!
The giants laughed uproarously at he discomfort of Thor and his friends, making no effort to hide their scorn.
After the entertainment at their expense, Thor, Loki, and Thjalfi were given plenty to eat and drink, and no harsh feelings lasted into the evening.
But when it was time to leave the next morning, Utgard-Loki himself escorted them outside the castle and onto the plain. "If I had known you were as mighty as you are, I would never have let you inside my walls! Never will I allow it, again!
Thor thought that the giant was again making them the butt of a joke, but Utgard-Loki explained:
"Loki, you were a fast eater. But we deceived you. That was no giant against whom you competed, but rather, fire - and fire consumes all that is before it. Thjalfi, that was no giant who beat you in the race; it was really my thought, and who can outrun thought?"
"And as for you, Thor: That horn you could not drain had one end in the sea, and we shook in fear to see that you lowered the level of the ocean by two inches with your great gulps. The cat was no cat, but the Midgard Serpent who wraps around the world, and all the earth shook when you lifted it! The old woman was actually old age - and who does not, sooner or later, bend a knee to time? No, you are all filled with great might, and only our magical deceptions saved us. We will never take that chance again!"
Thor grabbed for his hammer in anger, ready to smite the giant. But as he turned around, all the castle had disappeared, as well as had Utgard-Loki, and nothing remained but the open plain, and the blue sky overhead.
Perhaps the lesson of this little tale is that we often do not know our own power. We should take heart, and remember the strength of Thor. We are his brothers and sisters, and one of our tasks is to discover just how great our capabilities really are.
(from Asatru Folk Assembly)
