Nanagoat14

"But what about us?" interrupted Mani, "Sol and I will end up drawing empty carriages. What good will these be without the sun and moon to pull across the heavens? Little Bil and young Hiuki would also end up dancing around in the dark. They could fall out of the carriage!"

"Not to mention everything else being shrouded in darkness if we let the giants take control of the sun and moon." added Sol. "Surely, we can't risk that, can we?"

After much deliberation, the gods counter-demanded the builder construct the walls during the one season of winter. And if, by that first day of summer he had failed to finish the job, he would have to forfeit his payment. The builder agreed and then asked for permission to use his stallion Svadilfaeri to assist him with this task. Loki pressed for an agreement to these terms. He believed it would be impossible for the builder to succeed.

When the first day of winter arrived, the builder enthusiastically set to his work. His stallion hauled massive stones from the nearby hillside at night, while the builder set the stones in place during the day. The Aesir were very much impressed by the stallion's strength and by the speed the project was progressing. And as winter passed, the walls were rapidly raised. They were so high and strong that it appeared certain no giants could storm over them. And with just three days left before the first day of summer, the gateway to Asgard was about to take shape. The gods worried that they may lose Freya to this builder and that the heavens would no longer have the sun and the moon. They blamed Loki for making this terrible argreement and threatened that if he did not do everything in his power to stop this builder from succeeding in finishing up the fortification, they would attack Loki and kill him.

Loki promised to find a way out of this deal. That same evening, when the builder was about to continue with his work, his stallion noticed a beautiful mare in the nearby woods. It was Loki in disguise. The mare whinnied and neighed. Her soft brown eyes gazed lovingly at Svadilfaeri. Then, with a swing of her rump and a swish of her tail, she galloped off into the deeper woods; Svadilfaeri running close behind her. The builder, frustrated and angry, followed. That night, no work was done. The following day not much more was accomplished. The builder realized he was not going to get the work finished in time and flew into a giant rage. The Aesir then discovered the builder was actually an evil mountain giant. They called upon Thor to kill him.

Thor had been away fighting the wicked trolls in a far off distant land. And when word reached him the Aesir needed help, he quickly hopped into his chariot and thundered across the skies. When he caught sight of the giant, he hurled his mighty hammer, Miolnir. The giant ducked and hurled back mighty stones. Thor veered out of the way just in time. Again, he threw his hammer. Again, the giant threw stones. Thor's two goats joined in this mighty battle. Tooth-cracker and Tooth-gnasher leaped at the giant and pinned him down. Thor's hammer struck the giant's head and crushed it. That evil mountain giant finally lay dead. The Aesir cheered Thor's victory and celebrated in grand style. The goats, too, were not forgotten and received their own reward: an extra helping of very special greens.

"Did you know Thor's goats are my cousins?" interjected Coal-muzzle. When I grow up, I'm going to be just like them. Brave and strong."

"Ssshhhh," hissed Andvari, "I told you to be quiet. Now hush and let me continue..."

In the meantime, Loki had been galloping around as that pretty mare. His intention was to distract and lead Svadilfaeri away from the work site. But, he had made himself so attractive to Svandilfaeri that the stallion quickly caught up with Loki and overtook him. A very shocked Loki soon discovered he was pregnant. But what was even worse, there was no way he could turn himself back into his normal shape. Loki had no choice but to abide his time and wait until he, as a mare, gave birth to a foal. It was grey and had eight legs, and was the best horse ever born. He was the swiftest and strongest. Loki gave this horse to Odin as a present to make up for all the trouble and worries that he had caused the Aesir. And this is how Sleipnir came to be.

The little goat roused himself from Andvari's lap and added, "It also explains why the gate to Asgard was never finished. By the way, how did you come to be the guard for this gate?"

"Never mind," replied Andvari. "That's a whole 'nother story." And thus dismissed, young Coal-muzzle scampered home to his own straw bed.