THE PEACESTEAD

: Myths And Legends
: Types Of Children's Literature

When Odin came back to Asgard, Hermod took the bridle from

his father's hand and told him that the rest of the Aesir were gone

to the Peacestead--a broad, green plain which lay just outside

the city. This was the playground of the Aesir, where they practiced

trials of skill one with another, and held tournaments and

sham fights. These last were always conducted in the gentlest and

most honorable manner; for the stronge t law of the Peacestead was,

that no angry blow should be struck, or spiteful word spoken,

upon the sacred field; and for this reason some have thought it

might be well if children also had a Peacestead to play in.



Odin was too much tired by his journey from Helheim to go to

the Peacestead that afternoon; so he turned away and shut himself

up in his palace of Gladsheim. But when he was gone, Loki came

into the city by another way, and hearing from Hermod where the

Aesir were, set off to join them.



When he got to the Peacestead, Loki found that the Aesir were

standing round in a circle shooting at something, and he peeped

between the shoulders of two of them to find out what it was. To

his surprise he saw Baldur standing in the midst, erect and calm,

whilst his friends and brothers were aiming their weapons at him.

Some hewed at him with their swords,--others threw stones at him,

--some shot arrows pointed with steel, and Thor continually swung

Miolnir at his head. "Well," said Loki to himself, "if this is the

sport of Asgard, what must that of Jotunheim be? I wonder what

Father Odin and Mother Frigga would say if they were here?"



But as Loki still looked, he became even more surprised, for the

sport went on, and Baldur was not hurt. Arrows aimed at his very

heart glanced back again untinged with blood. The stones fell

down from his broad, bright brow, and left no bruises there.

Swords clave, but did not wound him; Miölnir struck him, and he

was not crushed. At this Loki grew perfectly furious with envy and

hatred. "And why is Baldur to be so honored," said he, "that even

steel and stone shall not hurt him?" Then Loki changed himself

into a little, dark, bent old woman, with a stick in his hand, and

hobbled away from the Peacestead to Frigga's cool saloon. At

the door he knocked with his stick.



"Come in!" said the kind voice of Frigga, and Loki lifted the

latch.



Now when Frigga saw, from the other end of the hall, a little,

bent, crippled old woman come hobbling up her crystal floor, she

got up with true queenliness and met her halfway, holding out her

hand and saying in the kindest manner, "Pray sit down, my poor

old friend; for it seems to me that you have come from a great

way off."



"That I have, indeed," answered Loki in a tremulous, squeaking

voice.



"And did you happen to see anything of the Æsir," asked Frigga,

"as you came?"



"Just now I passed by the Peacestead and saw them at play."



"What were they doing?"



"Shooting at Baldur."



Then Frigga bent over her work with a pleased smile on her

face. "And nothing hurt him?" she said.



"Nothing," answered Loki, looking keenly at her.



"No, nothing," murmured Frigga, still looking down and speaking

half musingly to herself; "for all things have sworn to me that

they will not."



"Sworn!" exclaimed Loki, eagerly; "what is that you say?

Has everything sworn then?"



"Everything," answered she, "excepting, indeed, the little shrub

mistletoe, which grows, you know, on the west side of Valhalla, and

to which I said nothing, because I thought it was too young to swear."



"Excellent!" thought Loki, and then he got up.



"You're not going yet, are you?" said Frigga, stretching out her

hand and looking up at last into the eyes of the old woman.



"I'm quite rested now, thank you," answered Loki in his squeaky

voice, and then he hobbled out at the door, which clapped after

him, and sent a cold gust into the room. Frigga shuddered, and

thought that a serpent was gliding down the back of her neck.



When Loki had left the presence of Frigga, he changed himself

back to his proper shape and went straight to the west side of

Valhalla, where the mistletoe grew. Then he opened his knife and

cut off a large branch, saying these words, "Too young for Frigga's

oaths, but not too weak for Loki's work." After which he set off

for the Peacestead once more, the mistletoe in his hand. When he

got there he found that the AEsir were still at their sport,

standing round, taking aim, and talking eagerly, and Baldur did

not seem tired.



But there was one who stood alone, leaning against a tree, and

who took no part in what was going on. This was Hodur, Baldur's

blind twin-brother; he stood with his head bent downwards, silent

whilst the others were speaking, doing nothing when they were most

eager; and Loki thought that there was a discontented expression

on his face, just as if he were saying to himself, "Nobody takes any

notice of me." So Loki went up to him and put his hand upon his

shoulder.



"And why are you standing here all alone, my brave friend?"

said he. "Why don't you throw something at Baldur? Hew at

him with a sword, or show him some attention of that sort."



"I haven't a sword," answered Hodur, with an impatient gesture;

"and you know as well as I do, Loki, that Father Odin does not

approve of my wearing warlike weapons, or joining in sham fights,

because I am blind."



"Oh! is that it?" said Loki. "Well, I only know I shouldn't

like to be left out of everything. However, I've got a twig of

mistletoe here which I'll lend you if you like; a harmless little

twig enough, but I shall be happy to guide your arm if you would

like to throw it, and Baldur might take it as a compliment from

his twin-brother."



"Let me feel it," said Hodur, stretching out his uncertain hands.



"This way, this way, my dear friend," said Loki, giving him the

twig. "Now, as hard as ever you can, to do him honor; throw!"



Hodur threw--Baldur fell, and the shadow of death covered

the whole earth.