Loki - Norse

Hello there. My name is Loki, and I live in Asgard, a magnificent city in the sky where the gods live. It’s usually very peaceful here, which can get a little boring for a clever god like me. One sunny afternoon, I felt a familiar tickle of mischief bubble up inside me, and I knew I had to do something exciting. This is the story of Sif's Golden Hair. I was wandering through a meadow when I saw the goddess Sif fast asleep, her long, golden hair spread out around her like a field of sunshine. It was the most beautiful hair in all of Asgard. An idea, as shiny and wicked as a new coin, popped into my head. I tiptoed over with a pair of magical scissors that could cut anything. Snip, snip, snip. When I was done, her beautiful hair was all gone, leaving her head as bare as a stone. I couldn't help but giggle as I ran away to hide.

Well, my fun didn't last long. When Sif woke up and saw what had happened, she began to cry. Her husband, the mighty Thor, heard her and his anger was like a thunderstorm crashing over Asgard. BOOM. He found me right away. “LOKI,” he roared, his voice shaking the clouds, “You will fix this, or else.” I knew he meant it. I gulped, but I also felt a thrill. A challenge. “Of course, Thor,” I said with my most charming smile. “I will get her new hair, even better than before. Hair made of real, shining gold.” My promise sent me on a journey down, down, down to Svartalfheim, the fiery underground home of the dwarves. The dwarves are the best crafters in all the worlds. To make things more interesting, I turned my problem into a contest between two families of dwarf blacksmiths: the Sons of Ivaldi and two brothers named Brokkr and Eitri. I bet them that they couldn't create the most wonderful treasures for the gods.

The contest began. First, the Sons of Ivaldi went to their forge. They crafted three amazing treasures. They made a beautiful head of flowing golden hair for Sif, a ship called Skidbladnir that could fold up to fit in your pocket, and a spear named Gungnir that never missed its target. I was impressed. Then it was time for Brokkr and Eitri. I didn't want them to win the bet, so I turned myself into a pesky fly. I buzzed around Eitri’s head and bit Brokkr’s hand while he worked the bellows. But they kept working. They made a magical ring, Draupnir, that made more gold rings every nine nights. They made a golden boar named Gullinbursti that could run faster than any horse. For their last treasure, I bit Brokkr on the eyelid as hard as I could. He flinched for just a second, but it was enough to make the handle of the mighty hammer, Mjolnir, a little too short. I took all six gifts back to Asgard. The gods were amazed. Sif got her new golden hair, Odin took the spear and the ring, and Freyr received the ship and the boar. And Thor? He got the hammer, Mjolnir, which became his most famous weapon. My little prank ended up giving the gods their greatest treasures. Even trouble can sometimes lead to wonderful things.