son," said Odin; "and I come to learn of thee. Tell me,
I pray, for whom are the soft couches prepared that I saw in the broad
halls of Death? For whom are the jewels, and the rings, and the rich
clothing, and the shining shield?"

"All are for Balder, Odin's son," she answered. "And the mead which has
been brewed for him is hidden beneath the shining shield."

Then Odin asked who would be the slayer of Balder, and she answered that
Hoder was the one who would send the shining Asa to the halls of Death.

"Who will avenge Balder, and bring distress upon his slayer?" asked
Odin.

"A son of Earth but one day old shall be Balder's avenger. Go thou now
home, Odin; for I know thou art not Valtam's son. Go home; and none
shall again awaken me, nor disturb me at my task, until the new day
shall dawn, and Balder shall rule over the young world in its purity,
and there shall be no more Death."

Then Odin rode sorrowfully homeward; but he told no one of his journey
to the Dark Valley, nor of what the weird witch had said to him.

Balder's mother, the Asa-queen, could not rest because of the ill-omened
dream that her son had had; and in her distress she called all the
Asa-folk together to consider what should be done. But they were
speechless with sorrow and alarm; and none could offer advice, nor set
her mind at ease. Then she sought out every living creature, and every
lifeless thing, upon the earth, and asked each one to swear that it
would not on any account hurt Balder, nor touch him to do him harm. And
this oath was willingly made by fire and water, earth and air, by all
beasts and creeping things and birds and fishes, by the rocks and by the
trees and all metals; for every thing loved Balder the Good.

Then the Asa-folk thought that great honor was shown to Balder each time
any thing refused to hurt him; and to show their love for him, as well
as to amuse themselves, they often hewed at him with their battle-axes,
or struck at him with their sharp swords, or hurled toward him their
heavy lances. For every weapon turned aside from its course, and would
neither mark nor bruise the shining target at which it was aimed; and
Balder's princely beauty shone as bright and as pure as ever.

When Loki the Mischief-maker saw how all things loved and honored
Balder, his heart was filled with jealous hate, and he sought all over
the earth for some beast or bird or tree or lifeless thing, that had
not taken the oath. But he could