Teutonic Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie

Author:Donald A. Mackenzie
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Mythik Press
Published: 2015-12-20T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XXI HOTHER AND BALDER

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HOTHER’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS—HIS LOVE FOR NANNA—BALDER becomes his Rival—The Valkyries’ Warning—The Sword of Victory—Where it was concealed—Hother’s journey to the Other-world—Miming is overcome—Helgi and Thora—War between Gods and Mortals—Hother overcomes Thor—Love-sick Balder—Hother in Solitude—The Great Battle—How Balder was slain—Odin woos Rinda—Balder’s Death is avenged.

HOTHER was but a lad when his father Hodbrodd was slain, and him did King Gewar take to his castle to be reared as his own son. Strong and nimble he became, and very comely to behold. He could perform mightier feats than any of his foster-brothers: he could swim deftly and far like to a sea bird, he was a skilled archer, and he could box well with the gloves. Great gifts of mind had Hother also. He was a singer of songs, and a sweet musician. With rare skill he fingered the harp, and played the lute, and such power had he with stringed instruments that he could at will make his hearers merry or sad; he could fill their hearts with pleasure, or stir them with strange terror.

Pleasing indeed was this fair youth, unto beauteous Nanna, his foster-sister, the daughter of King Gewar. Her heart was moved with love towards him, and no less passionately did he love her also. Dear unto Nanna were the fond embraces of Hother.

Now there came a fateful day when Balder, son of Odin, saw Nanna while she bathed. The vision held him spellbound, and he was consumed with burning love by reason of the splendour and beauty of her comely body. When she vanished, the day was made dim, and Balder sighed full oft as he thought with tenderness of the beautiful maid; but when he remembered his rival he was moved to anger, for full well he knew that Hother would be the chief obstacle between him and his heart’s desire. In the end he resolved to slay the young hero.

Hother soon came to know of Balder’s burning love, and his fierce and bloody purpose. One day he went hunting alone in a deep wood. A deep mist drave over the land and enveloped the trees, so that he knew not whither he was wandering. In time he came to the dwelling of wood maidens. They called him “Hother”, and he marvelled greatly thereat. When he asked them who they were, they told him that it was their lot to decide the issue of battle conflicts 1; invisible they fought in the fray, assisting those whom they favoured so that victory might be achieved. Hother wondered to hear. Then they told him that Balder had gazed with eyes of love upon Nanna while she bathed, and was possessed with burning desire to have her for his bride. Hother did they warn not to combat with his rival, because that he was a demigod whose body was charmed against wounds. But to Hother they gave a sword-proof coat of mail, so that he might have protection like unto Balder. They made promise to aid him in battle.

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