Loki's Secret

Chapter 2: Svaðilfari

Authors Note: This chapter contains mentions of backstory.

In the early morning of a beautiful Asgard day, a builder came to Asgard and offered to build the Gods a rather high wall around their home to protect them from any who might wish them bad things against their will. This builder(most definitely a giant himself) said that he would complete his work in a mere three seasons, but he certainly demanded a steep compensation. He actually demanded the hand of the goddess Freya in marriage, as well as the sun and the moon of Asgard. All of the Asgardian Gods took consul together. Freya was so adamantly against the giant's terms at the start. But Loki actually had the audacity to suggest that builder should not only obtain what he desired, although only if he could complete it in a single winter, with only the help of his horse. (Cue the uncomfortable noises!) After much consideration, the gods consented to his plan. Of course, they had no intention of giving Freya away, nor the sun or the moon; they thought the task they demanded was impossible. The giant builder/smith, however, agreed to their terms, provided that the gods swear oaths to ensure that, if the conditions were met, that they would fulfill the ends of his or her bargain. He also wanted to make sure that he would be safe while he worked. The builder set about constructing the wall, and the gods marveled at how quickly he completed the task. What was even more perplexing to them was that the giant's stallion, Svadilfari seemed to be doing almost twice as much work as the smith himself, hauling so much stuff over considerable distances to add to the wall. When the end of winter was only three days ahead, the wall was strong enough to be impenetrable by almost any enemy, and even lacking at all before it was finished. Only the stones around the gate had yet to be put in place.

The anxious gods seized Loki and made fun of  him for giving them such foul advice. They threatened him with death if he couldn't find a way to prevent the giant from finishing his wall and making off with their beloved goddess Freya and the sun and moon, bringing darkness and dreariness to the Nine Worlds. Loki pleaded with the gods to spare his life, and swore an oath that he would do as the gods desired, come what circumstances came.

That night, the giant and Svadilfari ventured into the snow-draped forest in search of boulders. Along their way, a mare, who was none other than Loki in disguise, whinnied to the stallion from a short distance away. When the stallion saw the mare, his heart wasn't the only organ that was roused by delight and lust, and he snapped his reins and bounded into the woods after the mare. The mare ran all night, and all night Svadilfari chased after her. When morning came, the giant's horse was still missing, and the now-upset giant knew that there was no way that he could now finish the wall in time.

The Aesir then paid the giant the wages they deemed he deserved: a fatal blow from Thor's hammer, which shattered his head into pieces no bigger than breadcrumbs.

Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Svadilfari had caught up with Loki. (Uncomfortable stuff happens.) You will just have to keep reading this story to find out what.