Member-only story
NORSE MYTHOLOGY
The Tale of Otr
There was once a dwarf named Hreidmar. He lived in a grand hall overlooking the Andvari Falls, built for him by his eldest son, Regin. His youngest son, Fafnir, also lived with him. He was a gemsmith. He made the finest jewels around, diamond amulets that sparkled with silvery starlight and ruby bracelets that shimmered so bright that it was as if they were aflame. Hreidmar’s third son was Otr, a master fisherman who possessed the rare gift of being able to change his shape. He spent his days fishing in a glittering lake at the foot of the cliff. Each morning he would climb down the cliff, and each evening he would come back up with nets bulging with all the fish he had caught. You see, Otr had worked out a cunning scheme. He would set up his nets in the lake and then transform into an otter. As an otter, he would swim around the lake, herding any fish he found into his nets.
One day, Odin came to the lakeside accompanied by Hoenir and Loki. Odin had heard rumours of the beauty of the Andvari Falls and wanted to see it for himself. He was not disappointed. As he breathed in the fresh sea air, he looked at the far-off fjords, at the ice cliffs in the distance. Loki, however, was not as impressed. He sighed like a moody child and picked up a stone. He noticed that there was an otter swimming in the nearby lake. Loki watched it gracefully glide through the water…
