It was the morning of the ninth day. This is the day of the wedding between Freyr and Gerd. We find Freyr pacing in his hall with impatience. For nine days he has eaten little and drank less. Sleep had come only fitfully and then only when he couldn't pace any longer. It is in this state that Skirnir finds his lord.

Skirnir approaches and says "Excuse me my lord."
Freyr still paces and pays Skirnir no mind.

A bit louder now Skirnir repeats, "Excuse me my lord."
Freyr continues to pace.
Finally Skirnir shouts, "FREYR!"
Looking about in bewilderment Freyr sees Skirnir standing there, "Oh, yes Skirnir?" Skirnir speaks "My lord it is the morning of the ninth day. The day you meet your bride, Gerd, and you should be getting ready."

With a look of pure adoration Freyr replies, "Yes. Never before have I beheld such beauty. Don't you agree?" Skirnir for his part tries to reply, "Yes my...."
"And she will be awaiting me this very day. Is all made ready?"
Again Skirnir tries, "Yes my...."
Then Freyr snaps his head around to face Skirnir and exclaims, "By Odin’s missing eye! I have squandered my days. I have no bride gift. There is now precious little time to acquire one. What to do?"

Brief pause in which Skirnir doesn't even try to answer, "I know. I'll go on a hunt and present her with my kill at the feast. Impress her with my skill in the hunt and show that I'm an able provider. I'm off!" And with that Freyr rushes out to the stables, leaps upon his steed and rides into the forests surrounding Asgard. Skirnir just shakes his head in wonder and goes off to make final preparations.

So now we find Freyr galloping through the woods. You must remember that lack of sustenance and sleep has slowed his wits somewhat. It finally dawns upon him that galloping will most likely frighten away potential game. So he reigns in his mount and proceeds at a more stately pace. He chances upon a stream and hops off his horse so that they both may drink. As he kneels he sees signs that this area is a common drinking spot for local game animals. As chance would have it when he stands he sees above the brush the antlers of what must be a mighty stag heading his way. Freyr quickly but quietly goes over to his horse and then notices that in his haste he forgot to acquire either bow or spear.

"Shite!" he thinks to himself. So now that he is weaponless, what to do? Freyr notes that a sturdy limb hangs over this area of the stream and an idea forms. Considering his current state of mind it is quite a good idea. Freyr pats his horse on the rump so that it goes upstream a ways. Freyr climbs the tree and makes his way out onto the limb. Quietly he waits crouched within the leaves.

The stag appears beneath him and just as the animal bends to drink Freyr drops from above, lands on the stag's back and grabs the animal by the antlers. With a mighty wrench he breaks the beast's neck. So powerful was he that one of the antlers broke off and so it was still in Freyrs' grasp as he leapt free of the stag. Noticing that the stag still twitched upon the ground Freyr used the antler to stab it through the heart and put an end to its life. In honor of the spirit of the stag Freyr tastes the heart blood of the stag and feels an infusion of strength and wits rush back into him. The spirit of the stag bore no malice as it too knows that what's fated to be cannot be altered. It is then that Freyr feels a shaking of the ground.

Page 1

Page 2