Story
by Sturluson Snorri
Adapted by Scarlett Fromont
Odin and Frigg, are the King and Queen of the gods, and parents to Balder and Hod.
Frigg, Queen of the Aesir is associated with motherhood and fertility.
Balder is the most beautiful and beloved of all the Aesir, he was gifted with truth and light
Frigg Balder
Hod is Balder’s blind brother, he was gifted with night and darkness. Loki is a shapeshifter and trickster who uses his abilities to either assist or hinder the Aesir.
Hod Loki
One night Balder had a horrible nightmare of his death.
When Frigg, Balder’s mother, had the same dream they knew his life was in danger.
Frigg, wanted to help her son, so she went to all creatures and living things. She asked them to promise to never bring harm to Balder.
Please promise me that you will never harm my son.
This meant that Balder became Invincible and he couldn’t be harmed by anything.
The other Aesir used Balder’s invincibility to make a new game, everyone would take turns throwing things at Balder to see how invincible he truly was.
Loki had a brilliant plan
He would go to Frigg in disguise as an old woman, and ask about Balder’s new
When Loki asked about Balder’s invincibility, Frigg told Loki that she had not spoken to the plant.
Was there anything that didn’t make a promise?
I didn't think to ask the mistletoe, it just seemed too small and innocent to cause any harm
With this knowledge, Loki went on a mission to find some of the mistletoe plant. He found some East of Valhala, and he started carving away to make the plant’s branch into an arrow.
Loki made his way back to the Aesir with his mistletoe arrow.
There was only one other member of the Aesir who wasn’t participating in the games, and that was Balder’s blind brother Hod. Instead he stood off to the side behind the crowd of the Aesir.
Why aren’t you joining the other Aesir?
Here, let me help you, I will guide your arm
I can’t see where Balder is, I will just miss him if I try.
With Loki’s help, Hod aimed his bow towards Loki. Hod pulled back the arrow and waited for Loki’s cue.
Hod released the mistletoe arrow. Loki and Hod watched as the arrow flew through the air almost like everything was in slow motion.
The arrow flew through the air, towards Balder, striking him in the chest.
The Aesir mourned the death of Balder. This was the greatest misfortune to ever happen to the gods and men
The death of Balder was one of the greatest tragedies for the Aesir, it was a sign of their doom.
Balder’s
death was one of the events that led to Ragnarok, the final battle between the Aesir and their enemies, where most of them would perish.
