Dwarves can be a treacherous little species as well, causing all kinds of problems for others. They lie, steal, kill, use magic and even put curses of misfortune on objects and people. In the Poetic Diction we hear of some of this treachery : " Kvasir was made from the peace token, and made into a wise man. He would travel around spreading his wisdom, and was invited to feast with two Dwarfs, Fjalar, and Galar. They called him aside for a word in private. They then killed Kvasir and let his blood flow into two crocks, and one kettle. They mixed his blood with honey, and it turned into mead. Anyone who drinks this powerful mead is given the gift of poetry, and knowledge. The Dwarfs lied to the Aesir, telling them that Kvasir had choked on his own learning because there was no one intelligent enough to compete with his knowledge."
Another example of their treachery also comes from the Poetic Diction. These same two Dwarves, Fjalar and Galar, invited a Giant called Gilling to their home along with his wife. They asked Gilling to go out rowing out to sea with them. When they were far out, however, the Dwarfs rowed onto a rock, and upset the boat. Gilling could not swim, and was drowned, but the Dwarfs righted their craft and rowed ashore. They told his wife about the accident which so distressed her that she wept aloud which angered the Dwarfs to no end. Fjalar suggested that to ease her mind she should look out to the sea in the direction that her husband had died. Fjalar then told his brother Galar to climb above the door and let a millstone fall on her head as she looked out to sea. Galar did so and she was killed.
Revenge however, can be a swift thing, and when Gilling's son, Suttung, heard of this he went to the Dwarfs and seized them and took them out to sea, and put them on a skerry covered by the tide. They begged Suttung to spare their lives, offering as compensation, for his mother and father, the precious mead, and that brought about their reconciliation. Because of this poetry is sometimes called, in kennings, Kvasir's blood, or Dwarf's drink.
It my story, Freyja's Journey, Freyja is captured by two Dwarves, who wish to hold her for ransom. But through the use of her own magic, Freyja is able to deceive them by changing a lump of coal into a large, and beautiful diamond, which she offers them in exchange for her release. They agree, but scheme behind her back to have both the diamond and Freyja as well. Freyja is able to bolt away in her cat drawn cart just as the one Dwarf grabs for her. Later that night when the two Dwarves try to show their exquisite diamond to all the villagers it turns back into a lump of coal. They received as Odin would say " A lie for a lie " !
Dwarves also have the ability to conjure up powerful curses as we find out in the story of Otter's Ransom. To compensate Hreidmar for the killing of his son Otter, ( who was in the shape of an otter when Loki killed him ), and to release himself, Odin, and Hoenir from imprisonment, Loki was allowed to go to the world of the Dark Elves , and visit a Dwarf called Andvari. He was in a pool in his fish shape when Loki seized him, and exacted, as his own ransom, all the gold he had in his rock dwelling. The Dwarf gave him everything he had, but held back one small gold ring. Despite Andvari's begging Loki to let him keep it, because it alone could reproduce his entire wealth, Loki forced him to give it up as well. As Loki was leaving, Andvari, declared that whoever owned this gold would be cursed, and destroyed by it. And as we all know this curse became fulfilled over and over again.
This is why when dealing with Dwarves one must be very very careful. They can seem very friendly, and benign, when in fact they may be directing evil thoughts in your direction. Discretion is definitely the better part of valor when dealing with these little creatures. End Part 2. Tommorrow Part 3 ; Dwarves : Master Craftsmen.
Glenn Bergen
Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !
Another example of their treachery also comes from the Poetic Diction. These same two Dwarves, Fjalar and Galar, invited a Giant called Gilling to their home along with his wife. They asked Gilling to go out rowing out to sea with them. When they were far out, however, the Dwarfs rowed onto a rock, and upset the boat. Gilling could not swim, and was drowned, but the Dwarfs righted their craft and rowed ashore. They told his wife about the accident which so distressed her that she wept aloud which angered the Dwarfs to no end. Fjalar suggested that to ease her mind she should look out to the sea in the direction that her husband had died. Fjalar then told his brother Galar to climb above the door and let a millstone fall on her head as she looked out to sea. Galar did so and she was killed.
Revenge however, can be a swift thing, and when Gilling's son, Suttung, heard of this he went to the Dwarfs and seized them and took them out to sea, and put them on a skerry covered by the tide. They begged Suttung to spare their lives, offering as compensation, for his mother and father, the precious mead, and that brought about their reconciliation. Because of this poetry is sometimes called, in kennings, Kvasir's blood, or Dwarf's drink.
It my story, Freyja's Journey, Freyja is captured by two Dwarves, who wish to hold her for ransom. But through the use of her own magic, Freyja is able to deceive them by changing a lump of coal into a large, and beautiful diamond, which she offers them in exchange for her release. They agree, but scheme behind her back to have both the diamond and Freyja as well. Freyja is able to bolt away in her cat drawn cart just as the one Dwarf grabs for her. Later that night when the two Dwarves try to show their exquisite diamond to all the villagers it turns back into a lump of coal. They received as Odin would say " A lie for a lie " !
Dwarves also have the ability to conjure up powerful curses as we find out in the story of Otter's Ransom. To compensate Hreidmar for the killing of his son Otter, ( who was in the shape of an otter when Loki killed him ), and to release himself, Odin, and Hoenir from imprisonment, Loki was allowed to go to the world of the Dark Elves , and visit a Dwarf called Andvari. He was in a pool in his fish shape when Loki seized him, and exacted, as his own ransom, all the gold he had in his rock dwelling. The Dwarf gave him everything he had, but held back one small gold ring. Despite Andvari's begging Loki to let him keep it, because it alone could reproduce his entire wealth, Loki forced him to give it up as well. As Loki was leaving, Andvari, declared that whoever owned this gold would be cursed, and destroyed by it. And as we all know this curse became fulfilled over and over again.
This is why when dealing with Dwarves one must be very very careful. They can seem very friendly, and benign, when in fact they may be directing evil thoughts in your direction. Discretion is definitely the better part of valor when dealing with these little creatures. End Part 2. Tommorrow Part 3 ; Dwarves : Master Craftsmen.
Glenn Bergen
Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !
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