The Tragic Fate of Baldur
Baldur, the cherished son of Odin and the sorceress goddess Frigg, was celebrated for his good nature, kindness, and bravery. His joyful presence brought happiness to all around him. However, when Baldur began to experience haunting dreams that foretold his impending doom, the anxious deities decided that Odin should unravel this troubling mystery.
Without delay, Odin took his swift steed Sleipnir and ventured into the depths of the underworld to seek the wisdom of a deceased seeress reputed for her insight. Upon his arrival in the shadowy underworld, he found it adorned with splendor, akin to a grand feast about to commence. As he roused the seeress from her slumber and inquired about the unusual festivities, she revealed that Baldur was to be the esteemed guest of honor. With growing alarm, she detailed the fate that awaited him, only ceasing her grim predictions when she recognized the identity of the disguised visitor.
Tragically, the forewarnings were indeed destined to unfold.
Upon returning to Asgard burdened with sorrow, Odin recounted the seeress’s prophecies to the other gods. Desperate to save her beloved son, Frigg took it upon herself to seek oaths from every creature and object in existence to protect Baldur. Secure in those promises, the gods, initially in good spirits, chose to amuse themselves by tossing various objects at Baldur, who remained unscathed as they all bounced harmlessly off him.
Yet, deceitful Loki, ever the trickster, detected an opportunity for chaos. Disguised, he approached Frigg and inquired about the oaths that had been sworn. Upon learning that the mistletoe had not been included—deemed too trivial to warrant an oath—Loki seized the moment. He fashioned a spear from the mistletoe and brought it to the gathering of gods.
There, he encountered Hodr, the blind god, and feigned sympathy, urging him to join in the fun. Loki offered him the mistletoe spear, positioning Hodr to aim it at Baldur. When the weapon flew forth, it struck Baldur, tragically ending his life.
A profound silence enveloped the gods as they stood paralyzed by grief. They realized this event heralded Ragnarok, the foretold destruction of the gods and the universe itself.
Eventually, Frigg composed herself enough to ask if anyone among them had the courage, loyalty, and compassion to negotiate with Hel, the goddess of death, to retrieve Baldur’s spirit. Hermod, a lesser-known son of Odin, volunteered for the perilous journey. Odin instructed him to ride Sleipnir into the land of the dead.
While Hermod embarked on his forlorn quest, the gods set about preparing a grand funeral for Baldur. They transformed Hringhorni, a magnificent ship, into a funeral pyre befitting a king. However, they soon discovered that the ship was lodged firmly in the sand, and despite their efforts, they could not free it. They eventually called upon Hyrrokkin, a powerful giantess, who arrived mounted on a wolf and reins made of serpents. With a single forceful push, she liberated the ship, instigating a tremor throughout the ground.
As Baldur’s lifeless body was placed upon the vessel, his grief-stricken wife, Nanna, succumbed to her sorrow and perished beside him. The funeral pyre was ignited, with Thor sanctifying the flames. Odin laid his precious ring, Draupnir, upon the pyre, while Baldur’s horse joined him in the flames.
A diverse assembly of beings from the Nine Worlds—gods, giants, elves, dwarves, valkyries, and many more—gathered to pay respects, mourning the loss as they watched the ship vanish into the horizon.
Meanwhile, Hermod journeyed through treacherous terrain for nine nights, seeking the lost essence of Baldur in the depths of Hel. At the roaring river Gjoll, he encountered Modgud, the giantess guarding the bridge, who, noting his unusual footsteps, questioned him. After satisfying her curiosity, she allowed him passage into the realm of the dead, where Sleipnir leapt over the barrier.
Upon arrival, he found Hel’s throne, where Baldur, pale and sorrowful, sat beside her. Hermod implored Hel to return Baldur, describing the immeasurable grief his absence had caused. Hel consented, but only if every being in the cosmos mourned for Baldur; should even one refuse, he would remain with her.
Hermod returned with this heavy message, and the gods swiftly dispatched messengers to spread the word across all realms. Much to their relief, all beings wept for Baldur—except for one giantess named Tokk, who was, in truth, Loki in disguise. She cruelly dismissed the messengers, proclaiming that Baldur should remain in Hel.
Thus, Baldur was resigned to dwell in the cold and shadows of Hel, his radiant energy and joy forever stripped from the world of the living.
