None rejoiced more in the happiness of Frey with Gerd than his fair sister, Freyja, since her marriage with Odr one of the AEsir was all peace and blessing. One daughter they had called Hnos,the precious one and they dwelt in Folkvang, the palace within which was the great hall Sessrymir.

Freyja had much work to keep her gay and busy, for, not only must she overlook the elves with Frey, but the earth-women constantly turned to her for succour and advice. Then sometimes she must also ride to battle with Odin s Valkyrjar, to take her share of the slain.

But it befell that, upon a day, all was still in Asgard. Summer heat lay over all, the elves slept in the shade, the Valkyrjar since there were no wars in Midgard were bathing in the blue lake. Niordr, Freyja s father, had gone with his giant-wife to her mountain home, and Frey and Gerd were on a journey with Odr.

Time hung heavy on the white Vana s hands, for the heat gave her much discomfort and panting, she strolled down a dark and rocky path that led to the home of the swart-elves, hoping there to find shade and coolness.

Freyja knew well that she should have no dealings with the dwarf folk, but she was young and dull and some strange spirit of mischief urged her forward, although she murmured :

"My father bade me hold no converse with the little dark men. I will but peep and then steal away."

On she passed, seeing nothing to hold her fancy until the blows of metal on metal struck upon her ear, very far away but clear and silvery.

Guided by the sound, she threaded her way through the dark passages until she came out into a fire-lit cave, where four misshapen dwarfs were gathered round a stone table.

Their little heads were close together, and they whispered to each other with shrill, impish chuckles. They did not seem to see her, and she crept forward quietly until she could look over their heads. They were putting the last touches to a jewel of such brightness that Freyja drew back, dazzled and gasping then looked and looked again. It was a necklace of gold set with such gems as she had never seen, blazing in a glorious sheen of mingled colours, brighter than the flower-studded meadows in spring-time.

In her eagerness to see, she leant forward over the table, and the dwarfs, who had heard her from the first, winked at each other and feigned to be more busy with their work, making the light play among the gems as they flashed the necklace back and forth.

At length the Vana could bear the sight no longer, and disobeyed her father.

"What have you there, small men?" she asked.

"Breisinga-men," answered Alfrig. "A treasure for a goddess."

"When we find one fair enough," added Dvalin.

"Or good enough," said Berling.

"Or who will pay our price," whispered Grer.

"And am I the goddess?" laughed Freyja, for she knew how beautiful she was.

"Maybe," they answered all together and leered at her with twinkling eyes.

"What is the price? . Much gold can I give, since my husband and my father give me all."

"Gold!" they laughed in scorn. " More gold have we than lies in all Asgard."

"Then what would ye have?" she asked impatiently, for the cunning creatures were waving Breisinga-men, in all its sparkling glory, before her longing eyes.

The small black men looked at each other, then Alfrig spoke: "Whoso would wear Breisinga-men must give us her embraces."

"To one of you?"

"To each and all."

Freyja shrank back with a cry of dismay.

To yield a kiss to one of these misshapen creatures of the Underworld would be a loathly horror, to give one to each would be terrible beyond imagination. And how could she face husband and father if she but touched one of them?

Sadly she turned away, and the magic of the necklace might have passed had she not looked round as she reached the doorway.

The dwarfs were holding aloft Breisinga-men, flashing its gorgeous many-coloured flames through the depths of the cave.

Unable to withstand it, she flew back with outstretched hands.

"Give it to me!" she cried. "Give me the necklace and I will pay your price."

She sank on her knees, and the horrible little creatures, gloating over her beauty, stroked her hair, patted her shoulders, and took the unwilling kisses that she gave them with closed eyes.

At last they clasped Breisinga-men on her neck and let her go, following her lagging steps with shrill triumphant cries.

"Freyja has kissed us! Freyja has stooped to us! Nevermore can she look with scorn upon us dwarfs."

As the Vana took her upward way, the jewel seemed an iron band round her neck, a leaden weight upon her heart. It was not the necklace, but the memory of her disobedience and treachery to father and husband that lay heavy on her soul.

Yet how beautiful was Breisinga-men! Would not Odr think her more lovely than ever in its light? Never, never must she let him know the price at which it had been gained !

Through Folkvang she went, seeking her spouse, but no one had seen him; with sinking heart she hurried through the gardens calling : "Odr ! Odr !" but none answered.

She stood still and pondered, then sped over the meadows to consult the wise queen, Frigga.

The goddess looked at her, as the glittering jewels rose and fell with her panting breath, with grave, sad eyes.

"Odr is gone," she said gently, "no evil could he bear least of all such evil thoughts in her he loved best. Alone and afar he wanders, distraught by the betrayal of his wife."

Freyja tore off Breisinga-men. " Mother, O Mother! send it back to the dwarfs and let me have my love again!"

Frigga shook her head. "That is thy punishment, poor child. In tears and sorrow must thou atone for thy disobedience. Breisinga-men cannot be given back."

"Then I will seek him throughout the world, for never shall I rest until he forgives me."

Calling for her chariot, drawn by two great cats, she sped swiftly out of Asgard, through the forests, fields and cities of Midgard, with eager questions for Odr, but never did she come up with him. Some shook their heads, others had seen him pass, but nowhere was he to be found.

Exhausted and spiritless, the poor Vana went back to her desolate home. None came near her save Frigga. Niordr and Frey were angered, the goddesses vexed and envious of her ill-gotten jewel. Only the gentle heart of Frigga knowing all and pardoning all held a place for the outcast.

"Mother Queen!" the Vana moaned, "am I accursed? Will Odr never come? Shall I never more be free from this terrible bond?"

"In time, my child, in time," Frigga would reply, for she could not tell all she knew.

Now when Freyja had, to All-Father's thinking, suffered enough, he looked into the mind of Loki and found there the wish to possess Breisinga-men. And he smiled, for he and Frigga alone knew that Freyja s happiness could only return through the stealing of the necklace. Thus no hindrance was made to the plot of the Fire God.

It took much time to plan and was not easy, since none could enter Freyja s bower unasked; but, at length, one night he prowled around with stealthy footsteps seeking an opening whereby he might enter.

He had reckoned without the Sleepless Watcher. From his post at the gate of Bifrost, where he sat drinking sweet mead, Heimdal looked out over the sleeping world and his fine ear caught the sound of Loki's foot. With piercing eyes he searched hither and thither until he marked the lithe dark form.

"What mischief now?" he muttered. "No good ever comes where Loki hovers." Then he beheld Loki change himself into a fly, trying to creep through the keyhole, but there was no air and the Fire God cannot live without breath ; at last, after trying many things, he crawled upon the roof and found between the silver thatch-straws a tiny hole through which he disappeared.

The great White Van gazed on into the chamber of Freyja; the Vana lay sleeping, her arm thrown across her neck hiding the shining gems, and by her side stood Loki. But the necklace clasp was under her neck, and there was no way to come at it.

Muttering runes, the Fire God shrank and shrank until he became a flea and, springing on to Freyja's cheek, he bit her; she started and turned so that the clasp was clear to see. Seizing Breisinga-men the cunning god fled in all haste.

Filled with wrath, the Heavenly Warder strode down to Asgard; catching up Loki he cut at him with his sword, but only a pillar of fire towered up to heaven.

Then began a magic combat. Heimdal became a cloud that threatened to quench the fire, but Loki became a bear that started to drink up the rain-cloud. Heimdal took the shape of a yet larger bear and Loki fled to the water in the form of a seal, to be followed by a mightier one. Furiously and long they fought until the water was churned to foam and stained with blood. In the end Heimdal prevailed, and Loki was forced to beg for mercy.

"Give up the necklace," said Heimdal.

"I will not," snapped Loki; but Heimdal made as if to begin the battle once more and, with curses, Loki yielded.

Wounded and weary but well satisfied, the Watcher plodded back to Asgard, and there, at the command of All-Father, mounted his horse, Gulltopp, and took the way down to Svartheim, where he delivered up Breisinga-men to the dwarfs, its makers, with words of stern warning for the future.

Then he went back to the peace of Himinbjorg, and, ere many days were past, rejoiced to see lost Odr taking the path up to Folkvang. Then he turned away, for the meeting of Odr and Freyja the married lovers was a sight that neither AEsir nor Vanir might look upon.