exsilium | [video]

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Hello, network. I am Leliana, for all the new people here and those that do not remember.

One of my favorite preoccupations is storytelling. That is, listening to stories and telling them. I've been wondering...

A lot of us come from different places, yes? Different places mean different cultures, and to get to my point, different stories. I don't know if there is a collection of some sort, or if this has been asked before, but I want to listen to fables, myths or legends of all sorts from your homelands, if you will indulge me. That way, I can spread these marvelous stories in my travels if/when I get back to Thedas.

If you're more of the listening sort, I will be more than happy to relay stories from where I came from.

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Ah...

I have a story, if you wish to listen.

I do!

The tale of Thrym! Thrym's story is one of my favorites! 'Tis a tale past down amidst the bards of my home.

[And he flings himself into the story with the gusto of a master orator who is also very fond of the sound of his own voice]

One day I was wandering outside the gates of the Golden City of Asgard when I was hailed by the Frost Giant, Thrym. He told me the he'd used arcane arts to steal away Mjolnir, the mighty war hammer of my brother Thor, while Thor slept a deep sleep. If we ever wished the mystic hammer returned to us then we had to deliver Freya, fairest of the fair, and Queen of Asgard, to his palace so he could take her hand in marriage.

"Well!" I thought to myself, "This will not do!"

I hied me back to the Golden City to deliver the news and heard my brother's bellows of rage even from the gates. So angered was he by the loss of his weapon that he'd torn his room apart. I told him what unfortunate fate had befallen Mjolnir and together we brought the unhappy story before Freya. She refused to turn over her beauty to Thrym, and understandably so! "Never!" she said "Though all of Asgard may fall!"

I thought on the matter and decided that if Thrym wanted a bride he would have one, and who would be lovelier than my brother? Oh, Thor was not so delighted with the plan but we still dressed him in the most perfect gown, with jewels across his broad chest, and Freya's own veil atop his head.

He and I made the journey to Thrym's palace together, for I was to play the part of Thor's loyal handmaiden. I cast a charm upon myself so that the Giants would perceive me as a maiden fair. If only my power had allowed me to charm poor Thor as well...

[A thoughtful pause]

Thrym was there to receive us when we arrived in Jotunheim and I saw him stealing glances at Thor as we made our way to his palace.

"Freya's beauty is legendary!" he whispered to me, "but her shoulders are so broad!"

I assured him that in Asgard that was considered beautiful and we continued onward in silence.

At the reception there was a feast. And, oh, you should have seen it! 'Twas an entire table full of more food than any mortal could begin to imagine and all of the Giants of Thrym's hall were gathered about it. Thrym's attention was not on the feast, of course, but on his bride to be.

One thing about my brother is his appetite is nigh insatiable. He is, perhaps, second only to Volstagg in appetite. He ate, first, all of the sweets set aside for the Giantesses, then eight salmon washed down with numerous flagons of mead and rounded off his repast by consuming an entire roast steer. Thrym was alarmed. I told him that lovely Freya had been so eager to see him that, in her excitement, she had not eaten since leaving Asgard.

Thrym leaned in to give his bride a single kiss and caught a glimpse of Thor's murderous glare beneath the veil. I assured him that 'twas not a glare he saw, but only the redness of exhaustion and reminded him that the kiss should come after the wedding.

He agreed with me and shouted for the wedding to take place immediately and ordered for Mjolnir to be brought forth to make the trade with Asgard. The second Mjolnir was in his sight, Thor seized it and hurled it about with his tremendous strength bringing thunder and death to all of the Giants in Thrym's hall. It was, perhaps, not the most elegant execution but in the end Asgard was able to keep its hammer, its champion and its queen.

[ Oh, Maker. Leliana giggled throughout the entire thing. ]

Poor Frost Giants, but your brother must've been so beautiful in his gown indeed to trick Thrym so!

I thought he wore it well, but I am not certain that he agrees.

Men don't like that sort of thing, which is a shame, because some of them would look gorgeous in dresses. Especially the elves.

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