The Rhinegold, The Rhinemaidens, and Rupert of the Rhine

Alberich had been hiding within the bushes for a good while now.

The Rhinemaidens had never appeared.

" Must be my lucky day. " said the dwarf, walking out from his hiding spot.

He stood before the Rhine itself, ready to calm The Rhinegold for himself.

Alberich halted, as something was growling ahead.

" Not so fast, my dear, short friend. "

Alberich scowled.

" Father Rhine. "

" The honor is all mine. " said Njord, bowing, as Boy growled threateningly at Alberich.

" What do you want? "

" Funny. " said Njord.

" What? "

" I was about to ask you that very same question. But It seems like... I came out short. "

Alberich let the short joke slide, Njord was a god after all; so he had to be smart about this.

" I wish to take a dip within the Rhine. "

" Is that all you wish from the Rhine? "

Alberich groaned.

Of course he knew…

" I will take my leave… "

" Not so fast. "

Alberich turned back, and saw that Boy had stopped growling.

" What? "

" I will let you have the gold… if. "

" If? "

" If you can best me in a battle of wits. "

Alberich was overjoyed!

He may not be a god like Njord, but when it came to battles of wit; dwarves always came out on top… Well, mostly, anyway.

" I accept. "

Njord grinned, and thus the battle commenced.

The Vanir God and Dwarf stood there for what must have felt like hours.

Alberich was answering all of Njord's questions perfectly.

Alberich then realized what Njord was up to.

He saw how the sun was rising in the distance.

Alberich was no Alvíss, which is why he took a step back; where he could be shaded by the trees' shades.

Alberich smiled, till he felt some prickling on his face.

He looked down to see the sunlight reflecting off the Rhine.

" Well played, Father Rhine… " said the dwarf, turning into solid stone.

The statue fell into the Rhine.

Afterwards:

Njord himself would go on to use The Rhinegold to create a ring and a helmet.

Njord kept the Rhine Ring for himself, and gave the Tarnhelmet to Boy.