The Forging of Mjollnir
Long long ago, in the age before television, the Norse gods lived in a world called Asgard. Although the gods were ruled by Odin, God of Wisdom, the most powerful was Thor, God of Strength. Thor was married to Sif, Goddess of Earth who was the most beautiful of all the Goddesses because of her long golden hair. One night Loki, God of Lies and Trickery, crept into Sif’s bedroom. Loki was jealous that Sif was more beautiful then his own wife and knowing Thor was away fighting giants, stealthily cut off all of Sif’s hair and then quickly left. On awakening Sif was distraught at the loss of her hair and hid herself under the covers of her bed, refusing to come out. The other gods knew something was wrong but were afraid to disturb the wife of Thor in her own bedroom. So when Thor arrived after his battles with the giants and heard that Sif refused to come out he went straight in to see her. Upon removing the covers he was horrified to see his wife sobbing with her head shaved and the remains of her hair strewn around her. Thor realized that her hair had been cut magically in a way that it would not regrow normally. Thor knew immediately that Loki was the only one who had both the ability and the inclination to perform such an act. Thor roared out Loki’s name in anger and Loki, realizing Thor knew the truth, ran away as fast as he could. Loki was fast, but Thor was faster and although Loki, who was a shapeshifter, tried to hide himself as a number of different plants and animals it did not take Thor long to track Loki down. Grabbing Loki by the throat Thor lifted him into the air ready to squeeze the life from him.
“It was a joke, I didn’t mean any harm by it” Loki begged pleading for his life.
“Let me show you my idea of a joke” Thor growled raising up his fist preparing to smash Loki’s face.
“Yes a joke! I intended to restore her hair” he lied.
Thors love of Sif was greater then his hatred of Loki and knowing that restoring her hair would be the only thing that would console Sif, Thor paused.
“How?” Thor asked, “I know the magic you used will keep it from growing back.”
“The dwarves are my friends and they have the skill to make her new hair out of gold,” Loki said thinking quickly.
“Very well, if you can store Sif’s hair and pay restitution for the trouble you’ve caused I will let you go” Thor said. “But remember, if you try to run and hide I’ll track you down and then you’ll REALLY be sorry.”
As soon as he was free he flew as fast as he could to Svartlfaheim, the land of the dwarves. He then entered the cave that was home to a group of dwarves called the Sons of Ivaldi.
“My friends!” Loki greeted the dwarves warmly.
“What do you want trickster?” the Sons of Ivaldi grumbled.
“A horrible tragedy has befallen Sif, she has lost all of her hair. When I heard of this tragedy I knew that only you with your wondrous skills would be able to restore her. I have come all the way from Asgard to ask you for your help on Sif’s behalf.”
“And you’re doing this out of the goodness of your heart?” they questioned.
“You know me, I just couldn’t bear to see Sif so distraught” Loki said innocently.
“So you cut her hair and couldn’t outrun Thor” they guessed. “It doesn’t matter much to us, we just want to know what you’re going to pay us for our work.”
“You will have the gratitude of myself, Thor and Sif. If you also make something for Odin and Freya then all of the major gods will be in your debt.”
The Sons of Ivaldi discussed this among themselves and agreed that having all the major gods ‘owe them one’ would be useful. They fired up their furnace and pumped the bellows until it was white-hot. They then melted some gold and beat it with their hammers until it was very thin and fine. One of them murmured some arcane words over the gold as the others did this. When they were done they gave him the strands of gold that now had the appearance of hair.
“This is for Sif” one of them said. “Simply put it on her head and it will automatically attach and then grow naturally as if it was her own hair.”
Loki looked at the golden hair with delight knowing this would appease Thor. But the dwarves did not stop there, they took some wood and crafted a large ship.
“This ship is called Skidbladnir and is to be given to Freya” their spokesman said. “It is large enough to carry all the gods and their gear into war and can also be folded up small enough to fit in a persons pocket. It also will magically have a wind behind it when sail is hoisted.”
The dwarves then went to work again. This time they took some of the leftover gold and wood and fashioned a long straight spear.
“This spear is called Gungnir and is for Odin. It will never miss it’s target whenever it is thrown.”
Loki thanked the Sons of Ivaldi profusely, promising to tell everyone who made these wondrous gifts. As he traveled on his way back to Asgard he passed by the home of the dwarf brothers Brokk and Eitri. Seeing Loki with his gifts they called out to him.
“What do you have there Loki?” Brokk asked.
“Wondrous gifts made by the Sons of Ivaldi for the gods.” he said showing them to the two dwarves.
“Well if the Sons of Ivaldi made them they can’t be that great” Eitri said. “They’re decent smiths but my brother and I are the best.”
“I’ll bet my head they’re the best gifts ever” Loki said flippantly.
“We’ll take that bet!” Eitri declared.
Loki’s smile vanished, he hadn’t been serious when he said that. Thinking about it he decided it was impossible for the Brokk and Eitri to make something more wondrous then what he had and more gifts, even if they weren’t as fine, would go a long way towards getting the other gods to forget about his prank.
“Very well” Loki said. “We’ll both present our gifts to the gods. If they find your gifts better then you can have my head, but if they find mine better then I have yours and your gifts.”
“Done!” the brothers agreed. “Wait here in our guest room while we make our gifts.”
Brokk and Eitri immediately went to their workroom and got to work. Brokk put wood into the furnace wihle Eitri got a lump of gold and a pigskin.
“Pump the bellows as hard you can” Eitri told Brokk. “Whatever you do, don’t stop pumping until I tell you too.”
Brokk pumped and pumped as hard as he could while Eitri hammered away at the gold and pigskin. Loki in the guest room could hear the dwarves hard at work and was curious as to what they were making. He transformed himself into a fly and flew into the workroom. He saw the dwarves hammering away and while he was still certain his gifts would be better he felt it wouldn’t hurt to not take any chances. So he flew down onto Brokk’s hand and bit him as hard as he could then quickly flew back to the guest room so they wouldn’t suspect him. Although it hurt terribly Brokk never quit pumping the bellows until Eitri said “enough” and pulled a living golden boar out of the fire. After a short rest Eitri got another lump of gold and put it in the fire.
“You did good Brokk but we’re going to need to keep working hard if we’re going to win the bet” Eitri told Brokk. “I need you to keep pumping the bellows as hard as you can and don’t stop until I tell you to again.”
Brokk began his task of pumping the bellows while Eitri began hammering at the gold. Loki heard the noise again and decided to try stacking the odds in his favor again. He turned himself into a fly and flew into the workroom. This time he landed on Brokk’s neck and bit as hard as he could. This really hurt and Brokk actually winced a little at the pain this time but never quit pumping the bellows. Loki flew back to the guest room so he wouldn’t be caught and soon Eitri said “enough” as he pulled a golden ring out of the fire. After another short break Eitri got a large chunk of iron and put it in the fire.
“We’re doing great, we keep working together like this and we’ll win for sure.” Eitri boasted. “One last time, keep pumping as hard as you can until I tell you to stop.”
Brokk began working the bellows while Eitri started hammering away. Again Loki flew in as a fly and this time he bit Brokk right above the eye. Loki bit so hard that a trickle of blood came down and went into Brokk’s eyes, blinding him. Unable to see what he was doing Brokk quickly wiped away the blood, but he stopped pumping for just a brief second in order to do so.
“You stopped!” Eitri screeched “It’s going to be ruined!”
Brokk had already started pumping again but he knew that Eitri was right and that very brief pause very likely had ruined the gift. Hearing Eitri’s curses Loki the fly flew back into the guest room, chuckling to himself. He knew for certain that he was going to win now.
Eitri finally said “enough” and pulled a hammer out of the fire. He looked it at critically.
“It looks kind of like a warhammer” Brokk said.
“It was supposed to be one” Eitri grumbled.
“The handle is a bit short though” Brokk said quietly afraid to hear the reason.
“Because you stopped pumping the bellows!” Eitri yelled angrily. “The head is heavy enough but the handle is so short you can’t hold it with two hands in order to swing it.”
“I’m sorry” Brokk apologized.
“There is nothing we can do about it now, we’ll just have to present it as is” Eitri said. “I have an idea though, the hammer might not be as bad as it looks.”
The dwarf brothers took their gifts and went back to the guest room. Loki of course was waiting there with no hint that he had ever left. On seeing the gifts Brokk and Eitri were carrying he burst out laughing.
“This is your idea of gifts to the gods?” Loki said incredulously. “A pig, a ring with no jewels, and a warhammer you can’t swing? I’m feeling generous, if you choose to give up the bet right now I’ll take the gifts and let you keep your heads.”
Brokk and Eitri were angry to hear their work dismissed so quickly by Loki.
“Forget it Loki!” yelled Brokk. “We are the greatest smiths in all the nine worlds and we will prove it before you and all the other gods!”
“Thats right Brokk” Eitri agreed. “He’s just trying to scare us into abandoning the bet. Lets go, and bring a basket to carry Loki’s head back in.”
The three of them traveled to Asgard and went to the throne room of Odin.
“What is going on Loki?” Odin asked.
Before Loki could respond Eitri stepped forward.
“Oh wise Odin, we have a bet with Loki on who is the greatest smiths in all the nine worlds. Whether it be my brother and I or the Sons of Ivaldi as represented by Loki. We each have three gifts, one for you, one for Freya, and one for Thor. We ask to present our gifts and allow you to choose which are the greatest. The loser will give up their head to the winner.”
“Is this true Loki?” Odin asked
“Almost, the terms of the bet state both losers will give their head to me when I win” Loki said smugly.
“You aren’t going to win you lying cheat” Brokk yelled almost ready to hit Loki.
“Enough!” Odin commmanded. “You will both present your gifts and by the terms of your own bet we will judge which of the gifts are better.
Odin summoned all of the gods together into his hall. All of the major and minor gods came filling Odin’s throne room. The only one that didn’t come was Sif who still refused to leave her room. Thor however was right next to Odin. He was eager to see if Loki would fulfill his promise or if he would try sneak his way out of it as he so often did. Odin quickly explained the situation to all of the gods and that he, Thor, and Freya would be the final judges as being the three major gods who would be receiving the gifts. Loki stepped forward to present his gifts.
“My first gift is for Freya” He announced. “The ship Skidbladnir.”
Loki then showed how the ship would always have a wind behind it and while large enough to hold all the gods could be folded up to fit in a pocket.
“This is a wonderful gift Loki” Freya said impressed.
“My second gift is for Odin” Loki announced again. “The spear Gungnir.”
Loki then showed Odin how perfectly straight the spear was and how every time it was thrown it would hit it’s target perfectly.
“This is a magnificent gift Loki” Odin judged.
“My third gift is for Thor” Loki announced. “Hair made out of pure gold that will grow naturally to replace what Sif has lost.”
Thor took the hair and immediately left to place it on Sif’s head. He soon came back with a happy and radiant Sif who’s beauty was greater then it was before.
“While I am still a little angry at you, I must admit you have more then made up for what you did” Thor said. “I am well pleased and will not punish you further as I promised.”
Loki smiled, he knew he was going to win the bet. Eitri then stepped forward to present the gifts he and Brokk had made.
“My first gift is also for Freya” He announced showing the boar. “This boar is Gullinbursti. It’s bristles are pure gold and will shine with light no matter how dark it is. He has the power to run faster then any horse and will never grow tired. He can also run not over the land, but also the sea and even the air!”
Freya considered the gifts he had received. “Skidbladnir will allow me to travel to all corners of the ocean but Gullinbursti will allow me to travel anywhere in the world, not just where there is water. I declare Gullinbursti to be the greater gift.”
“My second gift is for Odin” Eitri announced. “It is the ring Draupnir. It is pure gold, and every ninth night eight pure gold rings identical to it will drop out of it.”
Odin paused and compared his gifts. “While gold is always useful, it is useless without a way to protect and guard it. By itself I can use Gungnir to fight against our enemies, whereas by itself Draupnir would be stolen. Since I need Gungnir to keep Draupnir I declare Gungnir to be the greater gift.”
Loki was pleased to hear this. He knew it was down to the final gift and Thor loved Sif too much to choose anything besides her beauty.
“My third gift is for Thor” Eitri announced. “This hammer is called Mjollnir. It is the greatest and most powerful warhammer ever made. You can also shrink it down small enough to fit in a pocket.”
Loki barely managed to hide his smile as he watched Thor look at it quizzically and heard the murmurs of the crowd when they saw how small the handle was compared to the head. Thor attempted a practice swing but everyone could see it was awkward and slow with only one hand. He tried again a little faster but accidentally dropped it. Brokk closed his eyes and sighed knowing it was because he stopped the bellows that he and his brother were going to lose.
“I don’t see how I can use this” Thor said. “The head is so heavy and the handle is so short even I can’t grip it tight enough to swing fast with it.”
“My lord Thor, Mjollnir is a throwing warhammer.” Eitri said. “Why don’t you try throwing it at that tree over there?”
“A throwing warhammer?” Brokk whispered incredulously to his brother.
“Quiet, I’m trying to make up for your mistake at the bellows” Eitri whispered back. “Mjollnir was going to be a regular warhammer that can’t be dropped but if I’m right then then this might better then I originally planned.”
Thor threw Mjollnir as hard as he could at the tree. Not needing to worry about trying to hold on to Mjollnir, Thor was able to put his entire divine strength behind the throw. Mjollnir flew out of his hands so quickly even the gods saw nothing more then a flash of light before the tree exploded. Just a stump remained with a few flickering flames coming out of it. Mjollnir was back in Thor’s hands. Thor threw it at another tree with the same blinding flash and destruction of the tree. All of the gods were impressed at the power of it had. Thor looked at his wife and then at Mjollnir considering them.
“Sif is the love of my life” Thor said eventually. “I would give anything for her. However I think will follow the wisdom of Odin. With Mjollnir I will be able to defeat our enemies and protect Sif. Without it the giants may overrun us and then Sif will lose more then her beauty. I choose Mjollnir over the hair.”
On hearing this Brokk and Eitri cheered and congratulated each other. However after a few minutes they looked around and saw that Loki was nowhere to be seen. Loki, on hearing Thor’s decision had run away as fast as he could and was long gone.
“Where is the honor of the gods?” Eitri asked. “Are you going to allow Loki to cheat us of our rightful prize?”
Thor went out and chased down Loki again who had been trying to hide in a distant world. Loki was dragged back to Asgard where Brokk and Eitri waited.
“I will give you anything you want” Loki pleaded. “Gold, weapons, treasures, just name it and I will give it to you.”
“We have gold and have proven we can make better weapons and treasures then anything you can provide” Eitri said.
“We want your head as promised” Brokk said bringing out the basket.
“Fine, you can have my head but you can’t touch my neck!” Loki said. “The neck was never part of the agreement and if you touch it you invalidate the bet.”
The gods disputed amongst themselves as to whether this was a fair interpretation or not. Odin himself finally had to pass judgment that the words of the bet specifically said the head and not the neck and that the dwarf brothers could not touch it. Brokk and Eitri looked really closely but could not find any way to remove the head without touching the neck. In the end they sewed Loki’s lips together which put a stop to his mischief for awhile. Thor often enjoyed using his hammer and would frequently practice hitting targets with it. This is the source of lightning and Thor soon became known as the god of thunder and lightning.