“Certainly there is going to be a great storm,” the earth-people said to each other. And as they heard the chariot-wheels rumbling along above the clouds, they added, “Hark! Do you hear the thunder?”
They must have thought it a very long storm for before he stopped, Thor had driven to almost every palace in the sky. Odin the All-wise Ruler, Balder the Bright, and Heimdal the White One, Tyr, Brage, Vale—he visited each of them. Soon they were all gathered together at their meeting-place on the plains of Ida.
They consulted long and earnestly. At last Heimdal the White One, who had the gift of fore-knowledge, gave them this counsel:
“It is my advice that we play a trick upon the King of the Giants and allow him to believe that we have done as he asked. We will dress Thor in bridal robes and send him to Thrym.”
At this, loud laughter went up from the others. You remember that Thor was not only stronger than any man on earth, but he was also mightier than any being in the sky. Imagine dressing him up for a beautiful graceful woman!
“That is cleverly devised!” cried Loki. “With a bridal veil will we hide the red beard, and Thrym shall not know him until the Strong-One has got his hand on his hammer. Then will he know him to his sorrow!”
They all laughed again; but the mighty Thor frowned angrily.
“Never will I submit to it,” he growled. “Every living thing would mock at me, should I go dressed in bridal robes.”
Perhaps Loki wished to revenge himself on the Strong-One for having spoken so sternly to him when he first brought the message from Jotunheim. Now in his turn he said sternly:
“Be silent, Thor. Stop such talk. Soon will the giants build in the sky if you do not bring your hammer back.”