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THE DEATH OF BALDR

THE NORNS AND THE TAPESTRY OF THE GODS. They too, the gods, are part of the tapestry. The norns weave millions of threads, create stories that have already been forgotten, stories that were told by the fire, stories that have not yet happened. Even he, Baldr the Bright, didn't escape his fate. And he had dreams, and in those dreams he saw himself dying, saw himself ceasing to shine. And Odin, his father and everyone's father, rode on Sleipnir's back to meet the völva who told him of the end of the world. And the völva spoke, and told that Baldr would die, that Hodr would be his murderer, and that this would be the beginning of the end. And Frigg, she who had begotten the brightest of the gods, suffered at the thought of her son's fate. So she swore to all beings and elements that they would never harm Baldr. But far away, a small plant grew to the west of Valhalla: mistletoe. It was such a small sprout that Frigg thought it was no threat to Baldr. But the destiny was already written, the tapestry was being woven, the wheel was in motion. Hodr the blind was the hand that made Baldr's dream come true. Some say it was fate. Others say that Loki, blind with envy, convinced Hodr. And at the next assembly of Æsir, all the gods tried to smite Baldr in a thousand different ways, knowing that he would come to no harm, celebrating the strength of Odin's son. But Loki handed a mistletoe arrow to Hodr and told him where to shoot. So the unseeing one fulfilled the prophecy, and the arrow pierced Baldr's body, filling the glowing corpse with poison. Surprise invaded the hall of the Æsir, the beautiful son of Odin was dead. The dream came true, the word of the völva was shown before all the gods. And so began the Ragnarök, the destiny of the gods.


 
 
 

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