The children of Odin - Germanic Mythology

THE DWELLERS IN ASGARD 55
by looking from Hlidskjalf," said Frey to himseK, "and no
harm has come to me."
But even as he spoke his gaze was drawn to a dwelling that
stood in the middle of the ice and snow of Jotunheim. Long he
gazed upon that dwelling without knowing why he looked that
way. Then the door of the house was opened and a Giant
maiden stood within the doorway. Frey gazed and gazed on
her. So great was the beauty of her face that it was like star-
hght in that dark land. She looked from the doorway of the
house, and then turned and went within, shutting the door.
Frey sat on Odin's high seat for long. Then he went down the
steps of the Tower and passed by the two wolves, Geri and Freki,
that looked threateningly upon him. He went through Asgard,
but he foimd no one to please him in the City of the Gods. That
night sleep did not come to him, for his thoughts were fixed upon
the loveliness of the Giant maid he had looked upon. And when
morning came he was filled with loneliness because he thought
himself so far from her. He went to Hhdskjalf again, thinking
to climb the Tower and have sight of her once more. But now
the two wolves, Geri and Freki, bared their teeth at him and
would not let Tn'm pass, although he spoke to them again in the
language of the Gods.
He went and spoke to wise Niord, his father. "She whom
you have seen, my son," said Niord, "is Gerda, the daughter of
the Giant Gymer. You must give over thinking of her. Your
love for her would be an ill thing for you."