The Death of Baldr

The Death of Baldr
Author: Alysandra D.
Culture: Norse
Notes: By some twist of fate, or insanity, I have decided to enter the Elves mythology contest. In the seemingly limitless tales of norse mythology I have heard over the years, The Death of Baldr has always been my favourite. Loki’s treachery in some ways amused me, and I thought his cleverness admirable, if that makes sense. Now, enough rambling, and on with the story.

Long-eared Baldr was the fairest of the elves,
He was the sun to the moon, and the light to the dark,
Always dancing, ever laughing,
His gaiety was limitless.

But by and by, long-eared Baldr grew pale,
Laughing less, dancing none,
His fair wife Nanna, with her pointed ears, asked;
“Husband, how fare you?”

To Nanna he replied;
“My dream is my enemy, I shall be killed and none in this court
Of laughing, dancing elves can save me.”
And Baldr would not smile.

Fair Nanna’s lip trembled, and she rushed,
Falling at the gnarled elf Odin’s feet,
“O, please, Kind Odin, My poor husband is in danger,
Would you not save him from an unkind fate?”

Odin stroked the tips of his ears,
And turned towards stern Frigg, her proud face concerned,
Said she: “Baldr shall not be killed if none can hurt him.
Make every living thing swear their gentle nature, and Baldr shall not die.”

Fleet footed elves swarmed from every part of the court,
The begged and cajoled, and even the meanest giant agreed,
And Baldr danced on, Happy again,
Gaiety returned.

But—One elf hid, brushing her waxy fingers over
Green forest turned prickly, red berries shone.
She called it mistletoe,
And sat in silence, tending her creation.

All was well, and the elves danced on. All but one,
Loki brooded, ever jealous of Baldr’s beauty,
He learned of mistletoe, and he knew
It had NOT promised.

Loki laughed inside, and sought out Hod,
Baldr’s own blind brother
And brought to him a sprig of mistletoe
Which would be the fair elf’s undoing.

The elves made a sport of Baldr,
Throwing, attacking, lobbing things,
For they knew Baldr could not be hurt
And all laughed merrily.

Loki fashioned a dart of mistletoe, filed to sharpness,
And gave it to Hod, who longed to join
In merriment. Loki guided his hand,
And Hod threw the dart, glad to be part of the games.

Baldr stood straight, gladdened by his brother’s happiness,
The dart sank into his heart,
Baldr’s laughter died, his pointed ears withered,
He
     B
        L
           E
              D

Loki laughed long, his envy satisfied,
And Hod wept at Loki’s trickery,
Nanna rushed to her husband, hands upon his heart to stop the flow of blood,
And Baldr passed into Hel’s grim embrace, still smiling.