Viktor Rydberg's Investigations into Germanic Mythology, Vol. II

45. The Age of Treasures Ends. The angered sons of Mimir stopped forging
treasures for the gods, but continued to be allies of the world-order, now threatened by
the Ivaldi sons.
46. Gullveig Burned Yet Again. When it was discovered that a maid who served
the goddesses was the one who had betrayed Freyja to the giants, and that traitor was
Gullveig, Thor slew her with a hammer blow. Her body was burned anew, and her
remains, which the flames could not consume, were removed to the underworld and
buried in holy ground in order to render them harmless. But Loki found her heart this
time as well and swallowed it. 20
47. Brotherly Discord Among the Gods. Hödur, who was an active hunter, got lost
during a hunt in the Ironwood. When night fell, he took refuge in a cave, where he
encountered a witch. She confused his senses with a magic potion and extracted a vow
from him that he would acquire Baldur's betrothed, Nanna. The magic potion fanned
Hödur’s affection for Nanna into flames. In the morning, he was ashamed of the vow but
was compelled to fulfill it, although doing so meant breaking with his family.
48. Hödur Joins the Giants and Makes War on Baldur. After Egil had abandoned
his watch on the Elivogar, many giants crossed over the boundary waters. Hödur joined
them and led them into battle, but was conquered. Baldur returned his remorseful brother
to Asgard.
49. Baldur’s Consumption. Baldur suffered bad dreams and attacks of despair.
Many signs boded his death. Frightening losses, one after the other, had now befallen
Asgard, and the life on Midgard had fallen into decline. Frey, the god of fertility; Freyja,
the goddess of fecundity; and Idun, the dis of rejuvenation, were in the powers of the
enemies of the world. Of the Nature-artists, one group had refused to serve them; the
other one had sworn their destruction. The dises of growth had aligned themselves with
Asgard's foes. But so long as Baldur, the establisher of peace and "the powerful promoter
of the sun-disk," still lived, there was still hope that they could resist the forces of winter.
50. All of Nature’s Creatures swore not to harm Baldur, and the gods requested
such oaths. Not a single giant desired his demise with the exceptions of Gullveig, Loki,
and Völund, who with his measureless desire for revenge, was now transformed into the
most frightening of all the giant beings (Thjazi).
51. The Mistletoe. In the Ironwood grew a tender sprig that, unlike its relatives,
had not made an oath. The inquiring Loki found the mistletoe, and proceeded with it to
the Wolfdales and to Völund, who made a deadly, infallible arrow of it.
52. Baldur’s Death. After the obligatory oaths had been made, there arose a game
among the Aesir in which they shot and threw weapons at Baldur on a sporting field, for
nothing could harm him. With his bow, Hödur took part in the game. Loki slipped the
mistletoe arrow into his quiver, because Hödur was the only one who could be mistaken
to have wanted Baldur dead, on account of his previous desire for his brother's wife.
Hödur shot the mistletoe shaft, which resembled his other arrows, and Baldur fell to the
ground mortally wounded. In Asgard, inconsolable sorrow followed. 21
20 This is best considered Gullveig's second burning, and joined with no. 62, "The Creation of Plagues."
21 Baldur’s death and the related events are better placed after Völund’s death, since his daughter Skadi
came to Asgard seeking Baldur as a husband. (See 86).