But the vans gave him as hostage to the asas, receiving from them in his stead Hœner. By this means peace was reëstablished between the asas and vans. (See Part II, Chap. 1, Sec. 13.)
Njord took to wife Skade, the daughter of the giant Thjasse.[1] She preferred dwelling in the abode formerly belonging to her father, which is situated among rocky mountains in the region called Thrymheim, but Njord loved to reside near the sea. They at last agreed that they should pass together nine nights in Thrymheim and then three in Noatun. But one day when Njord came back from the mountains to Noatun, he thus sang:
Am weary of the mountains,
Not long was I there,
Only nine nights:
The howl of the wolves
Methought sounded ill
To the song of the swans.
To which Skade sang in reply:
Sleep could I not
On my sea-strand couch
For screams of the sea-fowl.
There wakes me
When from the wave he comes
Every morn the mew (gull).
Skade then returned to the rocky mountains and dwelt in Thrymheim. There fastening on her skees and taking her bow she passes her time in the chase of wild beasts, and is called Andre-dis (Skee-goddess). Thus it is said:
Thrymheim it's called
Where Thjasse dwelled,
- ↑ How Skade came to choose Njord when she was permitted to choose a husband among the gods, seeing only their feet, was related on page 277.
