Nanagoat15

Story of the Langobards

    Once upon a time, late at night, young Coal-muzzle the billy goat had trouble sleeping. Something strange was in the air and he wanted to find out what it was. So, he sneaked out of his shelter and wandered up the path leading to Asgard. Andvari, the dwarf was fast asleep at his post. Coal-muzzle quickly tip-tapped past him and made his way to Fensalir, the palace where the great Goddess Queen Frigga lives. Her home was still lit brightly and the door was slightly ajar. Young Coal-muzzle poked his little head inside the palace and saw the heavenly Queen still spinning wool at this late hour. Every so often she looked over at her husband Odin who was fast asleep on the couch. She would sigh and return back to her spinning.

   There were many fluffs of wool floating around in the room. Some floated out of the open windows, others gathered at the corners of the ceiling in the room. Strands of twisted wool were coiling up in the basket on the floor next to the gracious Goddess. A wisp of wool landed on Coal-muzzle's nose and caused him to sneeze. "Ah-ah-choo! Ah-choo!"

    Frigga quickly looked over to find Coal-muzzle trying to stop himself from sneezing by burying his muzzle in the soft rug which layed at the entrance. "Coal-muzzle! You silly little goat! What are you doing up so late at night?"

     "Oh, oh, ah-choo!" sneezed Coal-muzzle in a panic. "I'm so sorry...I couldn't sleep. I didn't mean to disturb you. Ah-choo!"

     "Ssshhh, Coal-muzzle! You'll wake up Odin with all that noise!" scolded the great Queen. "Come over here and use this old hanky."

     Thoroughly embarrassed, Coal-muzzle tip-tapped over towards Frigga and allowed the great Queen to wipe his nose. "Now, you sit right here and tell me just why you're out this late at night," the Queen firmly demanded.

     "I couldn't sleep. There is something strange in the air," explained the young goat. "Besides, Tooth-gnasher was making too much noise grinding his teeth. So, I thought I'd take a walk around outside. Why are you still up so late?" Coal-muzzle looked up at the many fluffs floating around in the room.

     "Oh, I have a big problem, Coal-muzzle," sighed the Queen. "The Winilers and the Vandals are preparing to fight each other in the morning. Odin promised the Vandals the victory, but I want the Winilers to win. Of course, Odin didn't quite say who he wants to see win this battle. He merely told me that he'd assign victory to those who he would see first in the morning. And as you can see, when Odin wakes in the morning, he will see the Vandals! What I need to do is turn his couch around so that the first people he'd see are the Winilers. But, the couch is too heavy to move, especially with Odin still sleeping on it!" The Queen looked over at her sleeping husband and let out a deep and unhappy sigh.

                                                                                         (continued....)