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C. Loki

      Loki is a giant who is an Aesir by adoption. He and Odin have made a vow of friendship. Fenrir the gigantic wolf, Jormngandr the sea serpent (or worm) that is called around Midgard, and Hel, ruler of Helheim. These three monsters are described as the progeny of Loki.

      An important mythological episode involves the deities Balder and Loki. Balder, one of the sons of Odin, appears as the essence of intelligence, piety, and wisdom. He holds court in a hall in heaven called Glitnir. Both gods and men come to him to settle legal disputes and his judgments are reconciling and fair. Balder has a very disturbing dream which his life is threatened. Upon reporting this dream to the Aesir, his mother Frigg, exacts an oath from fire and water, all metals, bird and beasts, and earth and stones that they will not harm Balder. After this the Aesir begin to amuse themselves by placing Balder in the midst of them and throwing darts and stones at him. Because of the oath Balder remains unharmed. When Loki sees this spectacle, he disguises himself as a woman and inquires if Frigg why Balder suffers no harm. Frigg tells him of the oath and also tells him of the one form of nature from which she did not exact the oath, the mistletoe. Loki immediately brings the mistletoe to the assembly of the Aesir and offers it to the blind god Hoder, brother of Balder volunteering to direct his aim so that he can participate in the game. The Aesir want to take vengeance on the perpetrator of the dead, but because of the sanctity of the court they cannot.

      Because Balder is not a warrior and does not die in battle, he does not go to Valhalla, the hall of slain heroes, but into the domain of Hel, keeper of the dead. When Odin requests his release, Hel responds that if everything in the world both dead and alive sweeps for Balder, then he can return to the Aesir, otherwise he will remain with Hel. The Aesir send messenger throughout the world requiring all nature,...