"Woah there, Coal-muzzle! Watch it, will you? That's my coat you're nibbling on." complained the dwarf Andvari.
"Phui," spat out Coal-muzzle. "It tastes like old rotten fish. What are you doing here anyway?" he asked.
"Ah, it's a long story," sighed Andvari. "Remember how I used to live like a fish in the Rhine River? Well, I lost my job guarding the gold. And that Loki! Darn it all! He took my ring that guaranteed my wealth. I haven't been able to find a decent job since. Now look at me! I've been assigned to watch this unfinished gate that leads into Asgard."
"Why is it unfinished, Andvari?" asked Coal-muzzle.
"Loki's doing, that's why!" grumbled the dwarf. "He and his bright ideas about how to get this wall built for nothing...no payment...not even for a small piece of gold." Andvari muttered and cussed at his bad luck.
"Gee, Andvari. That's really too bad," sympathized Coal-muzzle. "But, what about this gate? Why isn't it finished? And why did the gods assign you to guard it? You look a little too short to do a very good job of it."
"Oh, hush up before I take those little horns of yours and skewer you to these walls!" threatened the dwarf.
"Calm down, Andvari," said the billy-goat. "Can I take a peek inside? I heard Asgard is really one fantastic place."
"No, you cannot!" blasted Andvari. "Go on with you! Come on, get away from here!"
"All right," said Coal-muzzle, looking rather dejected, "But at least tell me why this gate is unfinished. Will you do that?" he pleaded.
"Hmmm..." grumbled the dwarf, "O.k. But sit quietly and I'll tell you what happened."
Coal-muzzle obeyed and nuzzled close to Andvari who sat down near the unfinished entrance to Asgard. The little goat placed his coal black nose on the dwarf's lap and gazed contentedly at Andvari's beard. He was thinking about nibbling at those curly tufts of hair, but remembered the taste of Andvari's coat. He decided against it and, instead, listened attentively to Andvari's story:
A long long time ago, the gods worried about how best to protect Asgard from the giants. While they sat in council to discuss this issue, a builder, from seemingly nowhere, came to offer his services. He bragged he could build a fortification so strong and so large that no mountain or frost giants could tear it down. He also insisted he could build this wall within three seasons. But, he demanded that if he succeeded in finishing the job within that time frame, he wanted Freya as a wife and wished to have the sun and the moon also.
Freya was the first to protest. She pointed out that she was already married and had no wish to leave Asgard with someone she doesn't even know, much less not even love. She looked with alarm at her husband, Odur. He laughed, leaned over to her and quietly whispered, "Now, don't worry, Freya. do you really think I'd let you run off with that two-bit construction worker?"
"Trust me," chimed in Loki. He, too, leaned over to Freya and whispered, "Let's agree to the terms so that we can have that wall built. I'll swear you won't have to marry this guy."
