A Norse legend
Thor was the god of Thunder who protected Asgard, the land of the gods. He had a magic hammer called Mjolnir which would cause lightning bolts; it was also wielded for good measure against Jotuns, the giants from Jotunheim who attacked Asgard constantly.
One morning Thor woke up and found his hammer missing. He went looking for Loki, the god of fire. If anybody could have stolen the hammer it had to be Loki, the trickster. “No, no, why would I take it?” said Loki. “Do I want to be hammered? Ha, ha, ha...” he broke into uncontrollable laughter.
Now Thor was huge man, with flaming red hair and a beard. Looking at his blazing red eyes, Loki knew he should not tempt fate. “Those Jotuns must have stolen it for sure...fret not, dear brother, I have a plan.”
Loki took Thor to meet Freyja, the most beautiful of goddesses. “Freyja, we need your magic cloak. Thor’s hammer is lost and I need to go find it. I have a pretty good idea where it might be too,” said Loki. Frejya she gave her falcon feathered cloak to Loki who wore it and turned into a hawk! Off he flew across the worlds all the way to Jotunheim.
On a burial mound down below he spotted Thrym, the king of giants. The giants were not clever people but they knew magic. So when Loki flew above, he immediately recognised the trickster god. “Hey Loki, all well at Asgard?” he asked.
“Terrible... Terrible...someone’s stolen Thor’s hammer”, hollered Loki from the sky. Thrym began to laugh loudly. “I have hidden that hammer eight leagues under the earth. If you want it, bring me Freyja to be my bride!” Loki flew back swiftly with the news to Thor. “Freyja’s never going to agree to this one. Why don’t you dress as Freyja yourself and go and get your hammer?”asked Loki. Thor looked darkly at him.
“Don’t be mad... I’ll dress as the bridesmaid if you like...” said Loki grinning. So they set off in bridal finery. When Thyrm heard the roar of thunder, he knew his bride was coming. Delighted, he ordered a grand feast be prepared for his wedding; four oxen were roasted, 16 whole salmon and 20 barrels of ale. Soon the veiled bride arrived. Thyrm escorted her to the hall but the ‘bride’ remained silent.
“Why doesn’t she speak?” Thyrm asked Loki (who could change shapes and so did look a bridesmaid). “Oh, she was so excited at the thought of being married to you that she shouted for joy all these eight days and now her voice is so hoarse that she can’t say a word!” Thyrm was pleased to hear that. Eager to see her face, he took a peek inside the veil and was shocked to see red eyes. “Why does she have such flaming eyes?” he asked. “Well, she hasn’t slept in eight days ever since she knew she was to be married to you.That’s why!” said Loki with a smile.
When the feast began, the bride ate heartily — one whole oxen, eight whole salmon and four barrels of ale! Thyrm was shocked. “How can a woman eat so much?’ he asked. “She has not eaten a morsel for the last eight days, I guess she ‘s making up for it,” said Loki slyly. “Let’s not wait any longer then, let us be married,” cried an excited Thyrm. “But the hammer, remember.” said Loki softly.
Thyrm brought the hammer and placed it on the bride’s knees. Gripping it at once, Thor struck a blow on Thrym’s head killing him instantly. He began to attack the rest of the giants who fell one by one. A lucky few ran away. And that was how Thor got his hammer back.