Freyja was renowned far and wide for her beauty, but also for her strength and her knowledge of magic. Many sought her love, and many treasures were offered to her. But one day, Freyja would discover a necklace more beautiful than anything she had ever seen before.
During one of her journeys, she came upon a dark cave. From somewhere deep within, she could hear the sound of hammers striking glowing metal.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
Freyja followed the sound until she reached a great hall illuminated by fire. There, four dwarves stood working at their forges: Alfrigg, Berling, Dvalin and Grer.
They were masters of their craft, capable of creating treasures that no human and few gods could ever hope to match.
But it was not the dwarves who caught Freyja’s eye.
Before them lay a necklace of gold.
It shone like the morning sun over the sea and glittered in the light of the flames. Freyja had never seen anything like it.
Its name was Brísingamen.
“What do you want for the necklace?” Freyja asked.
She offered the dwarves gold and silver, but they shook their heads. No amount of wealth could buy Brísingamen.
Instead, the dwarves demanded something far more personal. So great was Freyja’s desire to possess the necklace that she accepted their terms.
When she left the cave, Brísingamen hung around her neck.
But in Asgard, there was another who soon heard about the magnificent new treasure.
Loki.
The cunning Loki was given the task of stealing the necklace from Freyja. But that was easier said than done.
When night fell, Freyja slept in her chamber with Brísingamen around her neck. The door was closed, and no one could enter.
No one except Loki.
Using his magic, he transformed himself into a tiny fly. Through the smallest crack, he managed to enter the room.
There lay Freyja, fast asleep.
But the clasp of Brísingamen was beneath her, and Loki could not reach it.
He smiled to himself and changed his shape once again.
This time, he became a flea.
He crawled towards Freyja and bit her.
Freyja stirred in her sleep and turned over.
That was all Loki needed.
In an instant, he opened the clasp, took Brísingamen and disappeared into the night.
But a treasure like Brísingamen could not remain lost forever.
It was Freyja’s necklace, and in the old tales we encounter her once again wearing the golden treasure around her neck.
And so Brísingamen became one of Freyja’s most famous attributes – a necklace surrounded by desire, cunning and secrets.
And to this day, the tale lives on of Freyja and the golden necklace Brísingamen.