Loki and the Builder of Asgard (Norse Mythology #2)

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New episodes are added each week, and you can even search by narrator and listen exclusively to episodes narrated by me or by any of my wonderful fellow storytellers. Slumber has other unique features too like the ability to add and adjust background sounds to create your own perfect mix So I highly recommend you give Slumber a try It's available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play And as a Get Sleepy listener you can unlock all of the content in the app free for one month Just go to slumber.fm slash get sleepy to get instant access to all of the content in Slumber, free for one month. That's slumber.fm slash get sleepy. Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. My name's Thomas, and it's such a privilege to be your host and to have your company. Tonight, we journey further into the world of Norse mythology with an origin story. This tale shows the building of Valhalla, the creation of the fastest horse in the nine worlds, and, as always, a healthy dose of Loki's mischief. The Norse stories weave in and out of one another, creating a tapestry of tales as complex as the very roots of the world tree Yggdrasil. Like the roots of the Great Tree, these stories push deep into time and history, and draw from wells of imagination. Thanks again to Frankie for writing this series, which I have the pleasure of narrating for you. If you'd like to listen to Get Sleepy completely ad-free and access our exclusive weekly bonus episodes, you should try Get Sleepy Premium. It's the very best way to listen to the show and get a good night's rest. With access to well over a thousand full-length episodes and counting, you'll never run out of options for a soothing bedtime story or meditation. Arif will be reading for us in tomorrow's premium bonus episode, where we'll visit a small island in Mexico, joining Pedro on a nighttime boat tour, as he experiences the natural wonder of bioluminescence. so why not start your 7 day free trial of Get Sleepy Premium for more information just head to getsleepy.com slash support that's getsleepy.com slash support and I'll pop the link in the show notes too thank you so much everyone now my friends it's nearly time to enter into the wondrous dreamy world of Norse mythology. And in order to dream, we must first ready ourselves for sleep. Align your body in your bed and release the tension in your muscles. As you relax, think about the vast amounts of energy that are held in your body throughout the day. This energy peaks and dips, gets built up, and is released. Now is the time to let it go fully. You do not need those vast stores of energy right now. They will return like the tide in the morning. For now, you can let them ebb away. Imagine the energy trickling out of your body, down through your mattress, through the floor and the building. Let it stream into the very earth itself. Pouring all the energy of the day into the earth. Where the energy leaves your body, replace it with the warm, cozy feeling of peace. As peace replaces energy, also let your mind empty of the day's thoughts. Like sand spilling gracefully out of the top bulb of the hourglass, let your thoughts pool in the bottom bulb of your subconscious. When you wake up, you can turn the hourglass over and start your day again. For now, let soft emptiness lull you into a place of contentment. You are now ready to make the journey to Asgard, the homeworld of the gods themselves. This is where our story begins. In the early days of Asgard, there was nothing much there besides rolling meadows and high fjords. There were no buildings, just the spot of blessed ground where the Rainbow Bridge Bifrost touched down. and the surrounding landscapes. The gods, having watched the Nine Wilds be created over time, decided that they now needed an abode to reflect the grandeur and grace they embodied. They needed a true home. They put out the word throughout the Nine Worlds that they were looking for a craftsman, a builder, someone who could turn their vision into reality. Odin had several requirements for this project. Firstly, he needed a grand hall. It had to be bigger and more impressively ornate than any building ever made. It would house the souls of warriors and act as the site of their final reward for lives lived valiantly and bravely. He also wisely decided that they would need more than a mere rainbow bridge to keep Asgard safe from potential invaders. They would need a great wall, taller and stronger than any mountains. One day, a mysterious man arrived in Asgard. He walked across the rainbow bridge, leading his horse behind him. When he reached Asgard, he called to the watcher, Heimdall, asking for permission to enter the world. Heimdall, a son of Odin, asked the man his business. He replied that he and his horse had come to answer the call for a builder. The man found himself in an audience with Odin not long after. All the other gods and residents of Asgard stood in attendance Odin in his deep steady voice explained the details particulars and requirements of the gods when it came to this new dwelling Periodically, one of the gods would pipe up, adding to the list some detail or other. The builder stood next to his horse and listened intently. From a hidden spot in the crowd, Loki watched the Builder with as much concentration. The Builder seemed taller than most men on Midgard, the world of mankind. But perhaps Loki was misremembering. It had been some time since he'd taken a trip there. Then again, the man might not be a man at all. He could be one of the elves or one of the dwarves. In Norse mythology, it must be remembered that dwarves are not specified as shorter than other races. Loki's eyes drifted from the so-called man to his horse. It was a huge black beast with a shiny coat and a shaggy mane. It looked bred for hard work on a farm, but more brilliant and well cared for than any working horse. Once the gods had finished reciting all their requirements, the builder nodded his understanding. He announced that as payment for his work, he would require the sun, the moon, and the the hand of the goddess Freyja in marriage. A silence descended over the gods, who'd not expected to pay for their buildings, let alone for the price to be so high. All eyes turned to Freya, for surely the decision must be hers. Before she could speak, Loki piped up and strode to the front of the crowd. He remarked that the price was very high and that the gods must have some assurance that the builder could complete the project to their satisfaction before they agreed to such a contract. The other gods nodded their agreement and murmured their assent to one another. Loki went on, proposing that the builder construct Odin's Great Hall first as an act of good faith. If it met their approval, they could talk about the price for the rest of the construction. The builder thought about this for some time, before agreeing. He would build Valhalla fast to prove his skill. There was great relief from the rest of the gods, especially Freya. Many gods congratulated Loki on his quick thinking and negotiating. The days, weeks and months passed by as the builder worked. His horse went with him, or grazed in the nearby meadows, but no one ever saw him put the huge draft horse to work in the construction. The builder first brought down giant rocks from the mountains to be used as the foundations for the immense hole. It took him several days to move each individual rock and then place it securely next to the others, creating the outline of the hole. Since Valhalla would have to host many thousands of souls on a nightly basis, it had to be so large that even Heimdall could not see the opposite wall from one end. Next, the builder felled fir trees for timber. These trees were not the same as the fir trees found on Midgard. These were even larger and thicker. The builder felled them, stripped them of branches and bark, and cut the logs to interlock. These logs were built up to form the walls of the Great Hall. At intervals along each wall, the builder made fireplaces large enough to roast two oxen each. Finally, he harvested two hundred fields to create the thatched roof of the hall. With the basic structure finished, the builder started on the details. He took the branches of the pine tree that he had found and carved them into intricate designs to go above the doors and fireplaces. He carved into the rafters fearsome dragons and mythic events. He even carved each long table and bench that would line the hall. Each and every one was beautifully decorated. He built a raised platform at one end of the hall as a place for the gods to dine. It seemed that every square inch of the hall was masterfully crafted. However, this amount of work took time, and it was a couple of years before the hall was finished. Finally, the gods assembled to admire the building. They marveled at the designs and sturdy craftsmanship. Odin, most of all, was pleased and impressed. Only the goddess Freyja had a stony expression as she wandered through the hall. The builder approached Odin and asked for his judgment. Was he pleased with the work? Would he allow the builder to continue with the development of Asgard for the requested price? Odin, forgetting about the price entirely, heartily agreed to the builder's terms. Before they could shake on the deal, however, Loki spoke up once again. He reminded Odin, his blood brother and old friend, that this man was asking for the sun, the moon, and Freya in return. Loki suggested that they add new terms to this agreement. It took several years for this wonderful hall to be built, but the fortifications around Asgard were needed much sooner. Who knew when the ice giants would decide to come knocking? The builder could only receive his payment if he completed the wall around Asgard in three seasons. The gods whispered amongst one another. Valhalla was beautiful and no doubt took a lot of work to construct. But the fortification of Asgard meant creating a rock wall countless miles long. It had to be thicker, stronger, and taller than mountains. Surely the builder would not agree to such terms. Just when they all thought Loki was done, however, another thought struck him, and he added that the builder had to complete the work on his own. with no help from anyone. The murmuring got louder. Surely the builder wouldn't agree now. Nevertheless, the builder took a moment to think. He asked if he may have his horse to help him. Loki and Odin shared a look Loki shrugged A single horse couldn't really be that much of an advantage Besides, that horse had been eating grass in the meadows of Asgard for years It would have become plump and lazy by now Odin agreed that the Builder could use his horse. The Builder shook Odin's hand and agreed to take on the job. Once again, there was a sigh of relief from the gods and Freya. Loki might be a trickster but they were all heartily glad that he was on their side The next day the builder got to work watched closely by Loki. The other gods did not bother watching. They went about their own business. But Loki, as the god of mischief, could sense mischief in others a mile away. The builder called his horse from the meadow where it had been grazing and led it deep into the mountains. Everyone on Asgard could hear the thunderous banging and clattering as the builder cut a huge block from the mountain itself. The sound continued all morning and well into the day. After midday, Loki saw the figure of the builder walking down from the mountain. Loki smiled to himself as the distant figure of the builder's horse came into view. However, the smile was not fated to last long. It looked like the horse was pulling one enormous brick. It was strong, certainly. But, Loki wondered. and then Loki saw that the horse was not only pulling one of the house-sized bricks, but ten of them. As Loki stood in astonishment, he watched horse and master bring the bricks into view and maneuver them into place. The first stones of the wall were laid. The weeks and months passed by again. Every day, Loki watched in fascination as the builder and his horse cut and dragged more and more bricks from the mountain. Freya watched with Loki sometimes. She was annoyed with him for convincing Odin to take this bet. But she too was fascinated by the builder and his immense skill. The weeks dragged on. Winter was in full force, and still the builder and his horse worked away. Snowdrifts larger than the stones they dragged blocked their way, but the horse never seemed to mind or even tire. Winter eventually gave way to a windy, wet spring. Even in gale-force winds and sleeting rain, the Builder and his horse continued their work. It seemed to Loki that the worse the conditions, the happier the Builder was to toil. Finally, spring gave way to summer. The days went from pleasantly warm to scorching hot in a matter of weeks. The great black horse and its master never even seemed to break a sweat. By now, with the deadline drawing so close, watching the work progress had become a regular form of entertainment for many of Asgard's residents. The great wall made by the builder and his horse was indeed taller and stronger than the mountains. It had grown over the months into something magnificent and awe-inspiring to behold. It encircled all of Asgard, meeting at Bifrost, the Rainbow Bridge. Soon, there were only a few days left until the end of summer and the deadline for the war. The builder had only to finish the gate that connected Asgard to Bifrost. This part, however, required the most amount of skill on the builder's part. He had to create a gate that would be sturdy enough to keep unwanted individuals out, but also manageable enough to be opened regularly when the Asgardians wanted to travel, which gods like Thor and Loki often did. On this morning, before dawn had fully come forth, Loki was summoned to Odin's side in Valhalla. There he found Odin, Thor, Freya, and a few other important gods. Odin reminded Loki that there were only a few days left of the wager. Loki shrugged. He didn't see what that had to do with him. Why not let this builder have the sun and the moon? No one was using them at the moment after all. Odin then reminded Loki that he was the one who convinced everyone to take this deal. It was he, not Freya, who wagered her hand in marriage. Loki, with realization dawning at the same time as the sun, understood that it was his responsibility to find a way out of this mess that he had put Freya in. With no more than a nod, he left the Grand Hall and headed outside. The sky was fading from the cool blue of night to the bright crisp lavender of morning when Loki finally spotted the Builder. He was just starting to lead his horse towards the mountains for his last batch of stones. Loki hid himself high up on the unfinished wall and pointed his long fingers towards a meadow. This was the same meadow that the horse had spent so many happy years in, grazing peacefully. Loki brought forth from the meadow the very essence of the place. The freshness of the air, the sweetness of the flowers, and the peacefulness of its atmosphere came together in the figure of a horse. This Loki-made horse had a coat that shone like gold and a silky mane. As soon as it took form, it ran like the wind. The creature was as graceful in motion as it was in stillness. It did not take long for the scent of this mare to ride the wind and find the builder's stallion. The horse, usually so biddable, stopped in its tracks. It turned its head this way and that to find the source of the tantalizing scent. Rather confused, the builder called and clicked his tongue. He did everything he could think of to gain his horse's attention. Then, the Loki-made mare appeared at the edge of a distant forest and whinnied. The builder's stallion took off like a shot. He thundered towards the mare, not heeding the calls of his master. They quickly became no more than distant whispers. The mare led the stallion into the forest, and both were quickly out of sight. He watched the entire event from his hiding spot, and now turned his gaze to the builder. The man stood there, staring at the spot where his horse had been, before walking slowly towards the mountains. The next day, it was the end of summer and the end of the wager. The gate was still unfinished. The builder and the residents of Asgard gathered by the unfinished gate. The builder was very cordial. Despite the loss of the wager, he thanked all the gods and told them that he hoped they would enjoy the hall and the impressive wall. He turned to go, but Loki stopped him. He drew the builder close and shook his hand. Finally, Freya approached the builder. She took his hand kindly and employed the mysterious magic of Saita of which she was the chief goddess It allowed her to glimpse into the future and into the secret parts of the world Only women could practice this magic, and Freyja was the most accomplished in the art. She saw that the Builder was a Frost Giant in disguise who'd attempted to use his great deeds to win her love. Freya told him that his great skills would easily win the heart of one of the noble Frost Giants, despite it not working on her. And so, the Builder left in peace. Life settled down in Asgard. The gods themselves finished the gate to Bifrost. The event was now just a charming story. One day, Loki announced at breakfast that he had important business in the Asgardian forest and said that he needed Thor's help. The two gods departed and were gone for three days. When they returned, they were not alone. They led between them a foal, but one unlike any other horse ever seen in all the Nine Worlds. This horse had eight legs, a shining golden coat, and the divine intelligence of a magical animal. Thor and Loki decided that they would present the foal in Valhalla when they returned, while the souls of the glorious warriors feasted in the hall with Odin. As soon as the two gods entered Valhalla with this magnificent creature, the hall went quiet. Every pair of eyes watched the horse Thor and Loki proudly walked him to the raised platform Where Odin and the other gods sat Loki made the introductions He told Odin that this horse was the offspring of the strong stallion and the magical mare. His name was Sleipnir, and he was the fastest horse in existence. The horse himself had requested when Thor and Loki came to collect him. That he be put to service under Odin's command. And that is how Odin came to be the master of the fastest horse in the world. How Valhalla was built. And how Loki once again cleaned up a mess that he himself had made. for the betterment of all. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.