Allwise the Dwarf
Allwise the Dwarf once by his cunning wiles entrapped the Heroes into a promise that they would give him the beautiful Freya for his wife, and he set out from his cavern home for Asgard that he might claim fulfilment of the promise. Before leaving he gave orders to his servant dwarfs that they should deck the place against his return with the bride.
Now the Heroes of Asgard finding that they had been tricked into making a promise which they did not intend marvelled how they might spare themselves the fulfilling of it. Thor at length suggested that as Allwise would visit Asgard by night, and as he could not bear the sunlight, they should keep him engaged in talk until the sun rose, and what is more he offered to do this himself, and so when the dwarf reached the city of the Heroes it was Thor whom he first encountered, and who hailed him thus: “What fellow art thou? Why art thou pale as if thou hadst come from among the dead? Surely thou art but a sorry bridegroom.”
Then answered the dwarf: “Allwise my name is; I dwell in a cavern beneath the earth, and I am come to fetch my bride for the Heroes will not break their plighted word.”
“I will break it,” said Thor firmly, “for Freya is my ward, and I was not of those who made the promise to you. It is needful that I should hallow the weddings of the Heroes.”
“Who is this fellow,” said Allwise the dwarf scornfully, “who claims to control the fair-beaming maid?”
“Thor is my name,” answered the Hero wrathfully, “I am Longbeard’s son. I have travelled far. Without my will thou shalt never have the maid, or make this match.”
“I would rather have thy good will; I would sooner win than want the snow-white maid.”