silver and gold on you now, my hounds," said he, "but soon we
Giants will have the gold of Asgard to deck our hounds and our steeds,
yea, even the necklace of Freya to put upon you, the best of my hounds.
For Mioelnir, the defence of Asgard, is in Thrym's holding."

Then Loki spoke to him. "Yea, we know that Mioelnir is in thy possession,
O Thrym," said he, "but know thou that the eyes of the watchful Gods are
upon thee."

"Ha, Loki, Shape-changer," said Thrym, "you are there! But all your
watching will not help you to find Mioelnir. I have buried Thor's hammer
eight miles deep in the earth. Find it if you can. It is below the caves
of the Dwarfs."

"It is useless for us to search for Thor's hammer," said Loki; "eh
Thrym?"

"It is useless for you to search for it," said the Giant sulkily.

"But what a recompense you would gain if you restored Thor's hammer to
the Dwellers in Asgard," Loki said.

"No, cunning Loki, I will never restore it, not for any recompense,"
said Thrym.

"Yet bethink thee, Thrym," said Loki. "Is there nought in Asgard you
would like to own? No treasure, no possession? Odin's ring or Frey's
ship, Skidbladnir?"

"No, no," said Thrym. "Only one thing could the Dwellers in Asgard offer
me that I would take in exchange for Mioelnir, Thor's hammer."

"And what would that be, Thrym?" said Loki, flying toward him.

"She whom many Giants have striven to gain--Freya, for my wife," said
Thrym.

Loki watched Thrym for long with his falcon eyes. He saw that the Giant
would not alter his demand. "I will tell the Dwellers in Asgard of your
demand," he said at last, and he flew away.

Loki knew that the Dwellers in Asgard would never let Freya be taken
from them to become the wife of Thrym, the stupidest of the Giants. He
flew back.

By this time all the Dwellers in Asgard had heard of the loss of
Mioelnir, the help of the Gods. Heimdall shouted to him as he crossed the
Rainbow Bridge to ask what tidings he brought back. But Loki did not
stop to speak to the Warden of the Bridge but went straight to the hall
where the Gods sat in Council.

To the AEsir and the Vanir he told Thrym's demand. None would agree to
let the beautiful Freya go live in Joetunheim as a wife to the stupidest
of the Giants. All in the Council were cast down. The Gods would never
again be able to help mortal men, for now that Mioelnir was in the
Giants' hands all their strength would have to be used in the defence of
Asgard.