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This story begins when Balder had some terrible dreams. In these dreams Balder saw his own death. The Æsir {no relation to our Æsir :)** were gathered and Balder Told them of his dreams. When the Æsir heard these dreams they took counsel and it was decided to seek protection for Balder. Frigg went out and gathered an oath from every living thing and force. She received an oath from fire and water, iron and all kinds of metals, stones, earth, trees, ailments, beasts, birds, poison and serpants that they would not harm Balder.

After this the Æsir wanted to test this. It became a game of sorts, they would attack and strike Baldur with weapons, arrows, darts, rocks and limbs. No matter what was done, Balder remained standing unhurt. Loki saw this it upset him. He disguised himself as a woman and visited Frigg.

Frigg asked this woman if she knew what the Æsir were doing at the assembly. Loki told her all the Æsir were striking at Balder and that he was not being hurt. Frigg said that neither weapons nor trees would injure Balder, as she had taken an oath from them all. The woman (Loki) asked if everything had sworn an oath to not harm Balder. Frigg responded that all things save one had given the oath. She said west of Valhalla there grows a little bush known as mistletoe. She went on to say that she thought it unable to bring harm. After hearing this the woman (Loki) disappeared.

Loki sought out the mistletoe and carried it to the assembly. There he saw all the Æsir striking at Balder, except for one. This one was Hodur, Balder's brother. Loki asked Hodur why he wasn't showing Balder honor and throwing darts at him. Hodur replied that it was because he was blind and he had no weapon. Loki said I will show you where he is standing and you can throw this twig at him. Hodur took the mistletoe and, with Loki's guidance, aimed at Balder. Hodur then drew back the mistletoe and flung it at Balder. The dart pierced Balder's chest and he fell to the ground, dead.

When Balder had fallen dead, the Æsir fell silent. They looked at one another and all believed the same person responsible, Hodur They would have slain Hodur where he stood, but the laws forbade the shedding of blood at the Assembly. Hodur left alone and sorrowful

When the Æsir did try to speak, they wept. Odin was the most affected by this disaster, for he best understood what a loss the death of Balder was for the Æsir. When the Æsir had recovered Frigg was the first to speak. She asked which of the Æsir wished to win her favour by journeying to Hel to offer Hel a ransom to allow Balder to return home to Asgard.

Hermod stepped foward and volunteered to journey to Hel to attempt to ransom Balder back to Asgard. Sleipnir was brought foward and Hermod mounted that steed and galloped away.

Balder's body was carried by the Æsir to the shore of the sea and was laid upon a boat. The gods wished to launch the ship and build Balder's funeral pyre upon it, but they were unable to move the ship. They sent out a call to Jotunheim for the ogress Hyrrokkin. Hyrrokkin went to the prow of Ringhorn and at the first shove launched it into the sea.

Balder's body was carried out on to the ship, and when Nanna (Baldur's wife) saw that, her heart broke from the grief and she died. Her body was carried on to the pyre and the pyre was set aflame. Thor stepped foward and consecrated the funeral with Mjollnir.

For nine nights Hermod rode until he came to the river Gjoll and rode across its bridge. Modgud is the guardian of that bridge and she asked him his name and family and said that the day before five troops of dead men had ridden over the bridge, but the bridge resounded as much under him alone, and he didn't look like a man who has died. She asked him why he was riding on the road to Hel. Hermod replied he was riding to Hel to seek for Balder and asked if she had seen anything of him on his way there. She replied that Balder had ridden past over the bridge of the Gjoll.

Hermod rode on until he came to the gates of Hel. Hermod dismounted, tightened the stirrups on Sleipnir, remounted and dug his spurs. Sleipnir jumped over the gate without any problem whatsoever. Hermod then rode up to Hel's hall and dismounted.
Inside, he saw Balder sitting at the high seat there. Hermod stayed that night in Hel and in the morning he asked Hel if Balder might be allowed to ride home with him. Hermod told Hel how all the Æsir wept for Balder and Hel said that this test should be made as to whether Balder was loved as much as people said. If all things in the world, both dead or alive, would weep for Balder the he would be allowed to return to the Æsir, but if anyone objected or refused to weep he would have to remain in Hel. Hermod stood up and Balder led him out of the hall. Hermod rode back to Asgard and related all that had transpired.

Upon hearing his message the Æsir sent messengers throughout the worlds to ask for tears to weep Balder out of Hel. Everywhere they went, the messengers were met with with tears--men and beasts, stones and trees, all metals and even the earth--all these things wept for Balder.

When the messengers were returning from their journey they met with a giantess, Thokk, who was sitting in a cave. They asked her to weep for Balder so that he would be released from Hel. Thokk answered, "Thokk will weep dry tears at Balder's death; the Odin's son was no use to me alive or dead, let Hel hold what she has."

It is thought that the giantess was Loki in disguise. Because Thokk refused to weep, Balder was resigned to remain in Hel and he will remain there until the time of Ragnarok.