'It is,' he replied, 'that I am distressed by a dream which I have had, night after night, of how my life is to be taken, by whom I know not, and no one of all the gods may save me from the house of the dead, where grim Hel rules.

Grieved at his words, Nanna went to Odin and Frigg and told them of their son's dreams, and they heard her gravely. 'We must call the gods and goddesses to a council, to decide what should be done for Balder's safety,' said Odin, 'for such dreams can bode no good to him.'

But before he went himself to the council, Odin climbed to his throne on his watch-tower, Hlidskialf, and looked out over Midgard and Iotunheim and down into misty Niflheim even to the house of Hel, Loki's terrible daughter. And he saw that her halls were swept and garnished, her high chairs hung with coverings, and the cups set out on her tables as for a feast; and he knew that her house awaited the coming of a greatly honoured guest. 'This,' thought Odin, 'is the beginning of that end which is to be.' And with a heavy heart he joined the other gods at their council.

After they had debated long, it was decided that Balder's safety could only be assured if oaths were taken of all things that they would not harm him. And forthwith Frigg herself sent out her messengers to ask of each thing there was that it might promise no hurt to her son. Fire and water, the trees, the plants and the flowers, stones and rocks, the earth and the metals beneath the earth, sickness and plagues, birds and all animals, each one swore to Balder's safety. And when that had been done, all the gods save only Odin smiled and said, 'Now can Balder be harmed by naught.' But Odin still feared, though he spoke not of his fears.

And it became a great sport with the gods to cast at Balder all manner of weapons, and sticks and stones, to see him quite unharmed by them; and they would laugh greatly and rejoice, for they held Balder very dear.

But Loki alone of all the gods did not rejoice, since fire must ever be jealous of the sun, which is more bright and better loved, and Loki longed that Balder's beauty and light might be put out for ever, and he sought a way to harm him. In the likeness of an old woman he went to Fensalir, where Frigg sat spinning the clouds, and he greeted her.

'Have you passed by the courtyard where the gods are gathered?' asked Frigg. 'What do they there?'

'They cast stones and weapons at Balder, your son,' said Loki, 'and he stands unharmed.'

Frigg smiled happily. 'Each thing there is has sworn to me that Balder will be safe from it,' she said.

'Are you certain that each thing has sworn?' asked Loki. 'Is there no thing at all that you have forgotten?'

'No thing at all has been forgotten,' said Frigg. 'One thing alone has not sworn, though I did not forget it. It is the mistletoe that grows on the oak-tree that stands at the gate of Valhall. It is such a little thing that it could harm no one, so I did not think to take an oath from it. It will do no hurt to Balder.'

'Indeed, why should it harm Balder?' said Loki. 'Do not all things love him?' And bidding Frigg farewell, he went from Fensalir. Immediately, taking his own shape, he hastened to the oak-tree that grew at the gate of Valhall and cut the little branch of mistletoe and fashioned it into a dart. Then he went to the courtyard where the gods were gathered, with Balder in their midst, following their favourite game of throwing weapons at him, while he stood there laughing and unharmed.

Only blind Hod waited alone, apart from the others, because he could not see to aim a weapon or a stone. To him Loki went and asked, 'Why do you not play with the others, Hod? They have great sport.'

Bitterly Hod answered him, 'It is always dark where I am, so how can I see the sun?'

Here is a shaft,' said Loki, putting the mistletoe dart into his hand. "Turn around, and I will guide your aim.' {fratricide}

Hod smiled. 'You are kind,' he said. 'I am always lonely because I cannot join the others in their games, but now you have lent me your own eyes.' And he took aim as Loki guided him and cast the little dart. And it pierced Balder through the heart so that he fell down dead; and with a smile, Loki stole away.

The gods' gay laughter died, and a deep silence fell; and in the silence Hod asked, 'What is amiss that no one speaks?' And someone answered him, 'Balder is dead and you have slain him.' And all the gods fell to weeping. With a cry, Hod ran from the place, stumbling and afraid; and going for ever from Asgard, sought the shelter of a a dark forest, where he groped his way among the trees, always listening lest the others might come after him to destroy him for his unwitting crime.

Frigg came from Fensalir to see how her son was slain, and bitter were the tears she wept for him. After a time she spoke and said, 'If there is any one among the gods who would have my love for evermore, let him go down to the house of Hel and offer her a ransom that Balder, my dear son, may be returned to us. For without Balder our days ar dark indeed.'

And bold Hermod, the messenger, stepped forth and said, 'I will go down into the house of Hel and speak with her.'

Odin gave to him his own horse, Sleipnir, to carry him along his dreadful road, and sped by the hope of all the gods, Hermod rode away to misty Niflheim.

The gods carried Balder's body to the sea and laid it on his own ship, Hringhorni, and placed his armour and his sword by him, and heaped all around him resin-scented pine logs. But when the bale-fire was built, they found that they could not launch the ship, for she was too heavy. So the gods sent into Iotunheim for the help of the giant-woman Hyrrokkin, and she came riding on a huge wolf bridled with snakes. She went to the ship, and with one mighty thrust, she sent her down the beach into the sea.

Then, before all the assembled gods, and before many of the giants who had come from Iotunheim to bid a last farewell to Balder, whom all, gods and men and giants alike, had loved, save only Loki, Odin took up a flaming torch and went to fire the pile. But as she watched, Nanna's sad heart broke when she thought how she would never see her husband more, and she died. So the gods laid her gently on the pyre beside Balder, and Odin placed by them his arm-ring Draupnir, that Sindri the dwarf had made for him, and he thrust his torch among the wood, and the flames blazed up, as the ship moved slowly out to sea. And from the shore the gods watched her, weeping, until she was quite consumed by fire.

For nine nights Hermod rode through the darkness until he reached the bridge that spanned Gioll, the river that flowed through Niflheim, and Modgud, the maiden who kept the bridge, called out to him, 'Stay, and tell me your name and your errand, you who ride by so fast. Yesterday did five companies of dead men pass this way, yet they made no sound as they crossed my bridge. But your horse's hoofs have a noise like thunder, and your face has not the colour of death. Say who you are and what is your will.'

'I am Hermod from Asgard, and I seek out Hel, that I may ransom Balder. Has Balder passed this way?'

'He has passed this way, he and his wife, and they are even now in the house of Hel, said Modgud.

So Hermod rode on until he saw the walls of Hel's house before him, and her gate, with Garm, her huge hound, guarding it. But there was no one there to open to him, so he rode Sleipnir at the gate, and Sleipnir leapt right over, into the home of Hel.

Hermod rode across the dark and silent courtyard, and dismounting, went into Hel's great hall where she sat upon her throne. Close beside her, in that dread place, sitting in silence at the high table, hand in hand, were Balder and Nanna, pale and dim, with the light all gone from Balder's face. And they both arose and embraced Hermod with joy, and greeted him.

Then Hermod knelt before Hel and asked her to name a ransom for Balder. 'For,' he said, 'the gods will never have done weeping for him, and all things sorrow at this death. Release him, mighty Hel, that he may return to us.'

And Hel looked at him with her deep, dark, sad eyes, that no one might see with shuddering, and in her harsh voice she replied, 'If Balder is so truly beloved as you tell me, then may he return to life. But if there is found one thing that will not weep for him, then he remains here with me.'

With hope Hermod bade farewell to Balder and Nanna, saying, 'May it be soon when we meet again, and in joy.' And Balder took from his arm the ring Draupnir and gave it to Hermod. 'Take this to my father from me,' he said, 'as a remembrance.'

And to Frigg Nanna sent the robe she was wearing, and a golden ring from her finger to Fulla, Frigg's handmaiden. And at the gateway of Hel's house Balder and Nanna stood and watched Hermod ride off on Sleipnir, back to life and Asgard.

Hermod told the gods of all that he had seen and heard in the house of Hel, and immediately messengers were sent out to bid all things weep, that Balder might come back to them. And all the things there were wept; the gods, the giants, the dwarfs and the elves, all men and women, the flowers and the trees, even the rocks and the stones, all things in every place; so that everywhere the sound of lamentation filled the air. But as the messengers were hastening back to Asgard, believing their task completed, they passed by a cave where a giant-woman sat whom they had not seen before. 'Who are you?' they asked her.

'I am called Thokk,' she replied.

And they bade her weep Balder out of the house of Hel, and she answerd them, "Why should I weep for Balder? I loved him not. Let Hel keep what she holds.' And she laughed and was gone.

Sadly the messengers returned to Asgard and told how of all things one giant-woman only had not wept for the god of the sun. And they told how to their ears, her laugh had seemed like the mocking laugh of Loki, who was so skilled at changing his shape. And there was great grief in Asgard, that Balder had to remain in the house of Hel, with his death yet unavenged. . . .

Tales of the Norse Gods and Heroes p 133-139.

See Also Frazer