Wooing of Gerd

In Asgard, Freyr sat on Hlidskialf, Odin's throne. The Vanir could see Gymir's home in the Giantland. Freyr saw Gerd, the beautiful daughter of the giants Gymir and Aurboda. Freyr became lovesick because of his longing for the beautiful giantess.

Njörd (Njord) and Skadi became concerned for Freyr's depression and longing, and Skaldi asked Skirnir, Freyr's shield-bearer, to try and help or comfort their son. In most stories, Skaldi was only Freyr's stepmother.

At first, Freyr refused to talk about it until Skirnir told him he would do anything for his lord. Freyr told him he had seen and fallen in love with Gerd, but was not too sure about approaching the giantess with the proposal of marriage.

Skirnir told Freyr that he would woo Gerd for him, if the god would give him his horse and the magic sword as the price for his services. By taking Freyr's sword, Skirnir had deprived Freyr of a great weapon against the fire-giant Surt, at Ragnarok.

Skirnir rode to Gymir's domain, seeking an audience with Gerd. Though delighted with a visitor, her welcome became cold when Gerd learned of Skirnir's mission. Skirnir told Gerd he was wooing her for Freyr. Though Freyr was among the beautiful gods, Gerd apparently didn't like Freyr.

At first, Skirnir offered her gifts so that she would consider Freyr's suit more favourably. Skirnir promised eleven golden apples (Idun's apple of youth?), but she flatly refused to consider Freyr as a possible husband.

Then Skirnir offered her the magic gold ring that would make eight identical rings of the same weight, every nine nights. This was obviously the Draupnir; the ring that belonged to Odin. Again, Gerd refused the gift because she had enough gold in her father's home.

When none of these gifts seemed suitable for Gerd, Skirnir decided to try threats, hoping to bully her into accepting Freyr's suit. Skirnir told her that he would use Freyr's sword if she continued to refuse to marry Freyr. But this threat fell on deaf ears.

So Skirnir threatened to put a curse on her, transforming her into a three-headed giant. Her face and body would become old and hideously ugly. It was only due to the threat of this curse that Gerd finally agreed to meet with Freyr in the groves in Barri, nine nights from then.

So Skirnir returned with the news to Freyr. Freyr was still upset and impatient that he had to wait even for nine nights before they could meet.

The story known as Skirnismal ended there without saying if the Vanir and giantess married or not. However, most writers agreed that they did indeed marry. Some of them say that they had a son named Fiolnir.