![]() |
||||
![]() |
||||
Of Freyr and Beli Looking around he sees trees swaying wildly and coming through them is a giant. The giant looks down and sees Freyr standing over his kill, "Well now," says the giant, "since you have saved me the trouble of killing my breakfast I'll let you leave instead of killing you. Isn't that good of me?" Now Freyr is pressed for time as it is and has no intention of giving up his prize to a giant. Besides which he’d never live it down with the other gods, such would be his shame. Freyr replies, "I don't think that's going to happen. This kill is for my bride so you'll have to break your fast elsewhere." At this the giant laughs, "Ha! You have courage. Who is this soon to be left on the altar bride because her betrothed was too stupid to see he was outmatched?" Now Freyr starts to get angered but still time is of importance, "Gerd, daughter of Gymir, weds me this day and I'm afraid I must be going." "Oh ho", exclaims the giant, "You must be Freyr. I have heard of this wedding and I heard Gerd was not exactly willing to wed you. So now I think I'll kill you after all and present both you and the stag as gifts and wed her myself. I'll just eat your horse for my breakfast." While saying this, the giant was pulling forth a mighty battleaxe. "And just so you can tell Hela when you see her, it was Beli the Bold that killed you this day." And with that, Beli takes a swing at Freyr and the battle commences. Still feeling strong due to the spirit of the stag Freyr easily dodges Beli’s clumsy attack. Dancing nimbly through the trees Freyr forces the giant to take longer and wilder swings. Such is the giant’s strength though that the wind of his axe passing is like a hurricane. Scores of trees fall with each stroke. Freyr laughs and taunts his foe, "Beli the Bold?? It should be Beli the lumberjack. I would have to be a tree to fear the likes of you." Now Beli is enraged and raises his axe high overhead for a mighty two handed blow. As though the forest itself was angered at Beli's treatment, his blade becomes entangled in the boughs above. Now Freyr is still armed with the antler and while Beli is momentarily thwarted Freyr leaps in and with a single thrust stabs Beli through the heart, just as he did the stag."Now it is you who goes to stay in Hela's hall." Freyr looks upon the antler and thinks, “This is a worthy replacement.” With a certain pride he straps the stag horn to where once his sword rested. With that Freyr goes on to retrieve both his horse and his bride gift. And off he rode to his wedding day, which is another tale.
-TRK-
|
||||