The children of Odin - Germanic Mythology

S8
CHILDREN OF ODIN
KIRNIR rode across Bifrost, the Rainbow Bridge,
laughing out of his wide mouth and his blue eyes
at Heimdall, the Warder of tiie Bridge to Asgard.
His mighty horse trod the earth of Midgard,
and swam the river that divides Midgard, the
World of Men, from Jotunheim, the Realm of
the Giants. He rode on heedlessly and recklessly, as he did all
things. Then out of the iron forests came the monstrous
wolves of Jotunheim, to tear and devour him and his mighty
horse. It was well for Skirnir that he had in his belt Frey's
magic sword. Its edge slew and its gleam frighted the mon-
strous beasts. On and on Skirnir rode on his mighty horse.
Then he came to a waU of fixe. No other horse but his mighty
horse could go through it. Skirnir rode through the fire and
came to the dale in which was Gymer's dwelling.
And now he was before the house that Frey had seen Gerdai-
enter on the day when he had climbed HUdskjalf , Odin's Watch-
Tower. The mighty hounds that guarded Gymer's dwelling
came and bayed around him. But the gleam of the magic sword
kept them away. Skirnir backed his horse to the door, and
made his horse's hooves strike against it.
Gymer was in the feast hall drinking with his Giant friends,
and he did not hear the baying of the hounds nor the clatter
that Skirnir made before the door. But Gerda sat spinning
with her maidens in the hall. "Who comes to Gymer's door?"
she said.