High above the hills of eastern Middle Earth an eagle circled. Sharp eyes followed every movement among the patchwork of pines and bramble thickets below. Wild creatures of many kinds scattered from the approach of three travellers, but the eagle paid no heed to the sparrows, mice and hares, for he was no ordinary bird. This was the giant Thiassi, cloaked in the Outland magics that hid his true form.
The giant was glad to see three gods of Asgard, out alone and far from the safety of their fortress, he knew them as Odin, the one the Aesir called warfather, Hoenir the silent and Loki, that unpredictable trickster whose conniving had been the undoing of many a giant. The gods had caused the giants much concern of late, Thiassi was watchful for a chance to even the balance of power.
Thiassi mulled. First the giants had suffered at the hands of that infernal thundergod who has broken the skulls of many fine giant warriors. Then there had been the unprecedented alliance between the As gods and the Van gods which had spread the art of magic among all the godfolk. Then a new goddess had come among them. Idunn who carried the apples of life in her casket, ensuring that neither the gods or their mortal friends would ever suffer from old age in Asgard’s shining fields.
But now opportunity waited below and the giant was eager to seize it. The gods were far from home and hungry from their journey. They slaughtered a wild ox and built a great fire to roast the flesh. The eagle soared, missing nothing. Giant magic seasoned the meal with every turn and wing beat. Giant magic filled the carcass with ice, and the meat did not cook.
Enough time had passed to exhaust the repertoire of the greatest of poets and Sol’s disc blazed overhead. The gods grew hungrier and increasing irritable. Hoenir fed the blazing fire with wood, silent as always. Odin glared at Loki ‘Check the meat again’ he growled.
‘But I’ve just stuck my knife in a few moments ago, it needs longer.’
‘Well try it again. I am losing my patience.’
‘Hmmpf’ Loki muttered under his breath ‘as if you were only one hungry around here.’ He reached over the searing flames and pushed his knife into the meat, it ran with blood. ‘No, still not cooked.’
‘Maybe you’re a useless cook.’ Odin grumbled.
‘Well do you want to try?’ asked Loki ‘I am sure I could find you a nice apron, with a big pocket for your knitting.’ Infuriated, Odin threw a punch at Loki who ducked the blow.
The eagle had settled in a tree over the gods’ camp, it was chortling in a very unbirdlike manner. Loki spotted it and called the alarm. ‘Shapechanger!’
‘Who are you and what is your business here?’ Odin demanded of the bird.
The eagle replied ‘I am merely a traveller like yourselves. I have been observing you and note that you need some help with your meal. If I fan the fire with my wings will you give me a share of your feast?’
‘Yes.’ replied Odin and Loki together, hunger above all other concerns. Hoenir nodded.
The eagle flapped down to the ground, and beat its great wings in a mighty rhythm, the fire blazed and after a very short time the meat was cooked to perfection. The eagle pulled the roast away with his strong talons and tore the meat into chunks. To the gods’ great dismay the long awaited meal was thrust quickly and efficiently into the eagle’s beak. Only the bones remained. The eagle belched happily.
‘You bastard’ snarled Loki grabbing a stout fallen branch. He ran at the bird and swung the branch as it took flight. Loki’s satisfaction as the wild blow connected rapidly plummeted into fear, for the branch was stuck fast to the eagle and he was stuck fast to the branch. The ground dropped away as the eagle fought for height. ‘Let me go!’ yelled Loki, his words were snatched away by the rushing air. The eagle swooped and soared on the wind with Loki dangling helplessly behind.
Thiassi took great delight in flying low over trees and rocky crags, Loki screamed with fright and pain. ‘Please let me go.’ wailed the battered and bruised Trickster ‘I’ll do anything if you only let me go.’
‘Anything?’ asked the eagle, mercilessly crashing Loki into a prickly juniper.
‘Yes.’
‘I want you to bring Idunn out of Asgard. So that I can enjoy her company for a while. Do you understand me?’
Loki’s mind spun, it was hard to think straight under the circumstances. ‘You won’t harm her?’
‘No lasting harm, if you know what I mean. Swear you will do this and I will let you go. If not I will fly through Elfhome, there are lots of trees there.’ Loki hesitated, far from the pain and terror a corner of his mind was screaming caution, but it was a quiet voice among his other emotions.
The eagle flew low through a thicket of hawthorns, Loki screamed, ‘All right, all right! I will do it.’
‘Solemn oath?’
‘Yes, yes just put me down!’
‘Well make sure your do what I ask, I will be watching you. Fail me and you will not survive our next encounter. You have yet to learn the true meaning of pain.’ The eagle dumped him into a bank of nettles.
Swearing loudly Loki staggered out, every inch of his body scratched and bruised. He shook his fist at the retreating eagle and walked slowly and stiffly towards distant Asgard.
After tending his injuries Loki visited Friendly Hall, home to many of the goddesses of Asgard. He meet Idunn sitting at her weaving frame beneath her apple tree. The air was fragrant from the herbs of Eir’s medicine garden that spread in all directions from that sacred place. Bees were busy in the warm sunshine. Idunn looked up at Loki’s greeting and smiled in welcome, Loki smiled back and kissed her. Idunn was surprised and flattered at his attention.
After many honeyed words and embraces Idunn agreed to retire to a more private stead. ‘It’s it so glorious and warm,’ said Loki ‘I know a peaceful glade beyond the walls of Asgard. Let’s go there and enjoy the sunshine among the beeches.’ Idunn happily followed him, bringing her casket of apples which she took with her everywhere. But as soon as there were out of sight of Asgard’s walls Thiassi swooped from the sky on his eagle wings and stole her away.
Thiassi bound her mouth with spells preventing her calling for help or using her own magic against him. He flew fast and hard to his Outland hall with passion burning in his wicked heart. Idunn was dropped heavily into the court of Thiassi’s hall where the giant resumed his true form. He seized the goddess by the hand and pulled her roughly towards the private chambers, his warriors and retainers cheered him on. The giant pushed her onto a hide covered bed and slammed the door.
‘I don’t care what you do’ Idunn cried defiantly ‘you will not gain my magic and when the gods find I am gone old age will seem an easy death!’
‘I don’t want your magic, I couldn’t care less about it,’ Thiassi growled ‘I just want it denied to Asgard and I fancy the sport of an unwilling goddess in my bed. As for your precious gods, will they even notice that you are gone? You are just a woman after all, one of many. Only good for one thing.’ With a cruelty that could be matched by few in the nine worlds the giant forced the goddess’s legs apart, mounted her and nearly split her in two. Idunn screamed.
Distant Asgard shook. Idunn’s apple tree shuddered, its fruit rotting and falling. The leaves turned gold and red for the first time and fell leaving the branches bare. Eir was kneeling among her comfrey plants nearby, she saw her hands whither before her eyes and staggered to her feet, her limbs and bones ached as if from extreme age, a condition she had often treated but never experienced. She looked up in horror at the tree and saw the first dead leaves drift down.
Eir ignored the stiffness of her joints and ran into Friendly Hall, the goddesses were holding up bronze mirrors and howling when they saw their reflections. Eir noticed Lofn who appeared to be more in control and was trying to comfort a desperately sobbing Vor. ‘Lofn, have you seen Idunn?’ Eir asked ‘Her tree is losing it’s leaves, I need to speak to her about this.’
‘No,’ Lofn responded ‘I haven’t seen her since she left with Loki, just before we checked the bee skeps last.’
‘Better and better.’ Eir muttered ‘I am going to Valhol to speak to Odin, maybe he will know where Loki is. Lofn go and tell Freya about the tree and tell her to come here. Vor, you can tell Thor and Heimdal.’
‘I can’t’ Vor wailed, ‘I can’t let them see me like this.’
‘Oh by Frey’s prick’ Eir swore, ‘all Asgard is underthreat and you are worried about a few wrinkles. If you don’t go I won’t make you any skin cream to get rid of them.’
Vor stared at the healer, tear redden eyes wide in shock at her threat. ‘All right, I will go.’
Eir strode through the halls of Valhol past whimpering ‘immortal’ warriors trying to lift their favoured heavy blades, half of them seemed to be clutching their backs in pain. The valkyries’ chamber was deserted, through several women could be heard sobbing behind a closed door. One remaining battle maid dithered at the door of Odin’s throne room, it was Skogul. She looked dreadful, but then scanty armour and leather underwear do not match a ninety year old’s complexion. ‘Hello Skogul is Odin here?’
‘Yes he is asleep, do you think we should wake him.’
‘I would have said so.’
Eir walked up to the throne where the war father was gently snoring. His hair was now as white as snow. She shook him awake. He gazed at her blearily with his remaining eye. ‘Who are you?’ he muttered.
‘Eir.’ The goddess replied.
‘No you’re not,’ Odin growled ‘you’re just some old woman, what are you doing here?’
Eir gestured to the valkyrie ‘Skogul give me your mirror.’ She held it up before the wargod. Odin flinched at his reflection and shook himself fully awake. ‘Now listen’ said the healer ‘while you were napping Idunn’s tree has lost its leaves and all the gods and goddesses seem to have aged. None of the goddesses have seen Idunn since she left Friendly Hall with Loki. Do you know where Loki is?’
‘No.’ Odin frowned. ‘Anyway I was meditating, not sleeping.’ he added looking hurt.
‘Oh come on.’ Eir urged him ‘The other gods are meeting by the tree, we need to join them.’
The sullen gods and goddesses met in Eir’s garden, some were preoccupied by their loss of strength, others struggling to hide ruined beauty or staring at the dying tree in shock. Heimdal was the last to arrive, he was dragging a large sack behind him. ‘Sorry I am late’ he said spilling out the sack’s contents onto the close cropped lawn. ‘I found this trying to leave.’ An elderly man with a large bald patch had tumbled out, it was Loki.
The gods and goddesses all spoke at once demanding explanations, the trickster god cowered. Heimdal blew a blast on his horn to restore order. ‘I received a message from Eir, I suggest she should speak .’
‘Thank you Heimdal.’ Eir responded. She explained the wilting of the sacred tree, Idunn’s disappearance and her last sighting in Loki’s company. ‘So would you care to explain Loki, where Idunn has gone?’
‘Thiassi the giant has got her.’ Loki replied nervously.
‘You handed her over to a giant?’ Odin bellowed ‘I hope the reward you received was a good one because it will grace your death barrow!’
Odin started to draw his sword but Eir stepped between them saying ‘Why Loki? Why would you do such a thing.’
‘You remember when I was dragged off by the eagle.’ Loki addressed Odin, his expression pleading understanding. ‘That was Thiassi, he flew low over crags and through thorns and nearly killed me. He made me swear an oath to bring Idunn to him and the pain forced me to agree.’
‘You weak fool!’ Odin cried ‘You deserve to die for such treachery’.
Loki backed away, desperately trying to defend himself with words ‘I was brought up among the giants, taught their laws and lived their ways, at first I did not understand the codes of Asgard, but I know the importance of an oath to you, how could I break it?’
Thor growled ‘It would be better to be supper for the Nidhogg than to behave as you have.’
‘Mercy.’ Loki howled in terror at his fate ‘I knew not what to do.’
‘Wait’ said Eir as several gods moved forward to seize the miserable trickster. ‘Why not send Loki to fetch Idunn back from the Outlands. Such a dangerous quest might teach some sense to this wretch.’
‘Anything.’ Loki promised mournfully.
‘Then you had better succeed.’ Eir warned. ‘Because when they have recovered from the shock, the goddesses will be all too happy to tear you apart.’
‘Shouldn’t someone keep an eye on him?’ asked Heimdal ‘He has already tried to sneak off once.’
‘Good idea,’ agreed Braggi ‘I will go.’
Heimdal regarded the balding wispy haired poetry god with concern ‘What use are you going to be against Thiassi? I was thinking of someone stronger!’
Braggi snorted in contempt ‘Which of you is strong now? At least my skills are unaffected by Loki’s treachery.’
Eir smiled ‘Yes he has a point. He may be able to help, our wits seem to be our sole surviving weapon here. Good luck to you both.’
Loki and Braggi ran awkwardly off to their chambers in Valhol to prepare for the journey to Thiassi’s hall, moaning in pain as their joints creaked. Loki pulled his falcon feather cloak out of his clothes chest and shook it out. Braggi unearthed a similar garment sewn with owl feathers from beneath an untidy mountain of rune staves and scrolls. The two gods transformed themselves into birds and met atop the high wall of Asgard.
With complaining wings they soared up into the warm heights of heaven on the long flight to the outlands. Loki closed his eyes against the pain, never had the green hills and valleys of Middle Earth seemed so many or so far. Braggi lagged behind further and further. Finally Loki saw Thiassi’s castle, his wings so stiff that he feared he would never be able to close them. He headed for an open window thinking now only of warmth and rest. Clumsily he tumbled through, he spun head over tail across the rushes of the floor landing in an undignified muddle of twisted feathers.
Blearily he opened his eyes. An attractive young giant woman was looking down at him, he had landed at her feet. ‘What this?’ she muttered ‘I try and do a quiet spot of fletching and my gown gets covered in filthy bird feathers. With a gesture of disgust she picked up Loki by a wing tip then noticed she had a prize. ‘Why you’re a falcon!’ she said excitedly ‘I will keep you! You will make me a fine pet.’
The giantess lashed the helpless bird to her work box with one of her thick waxed bowstrings which had all the gentleness of an iron chain. ‘Now what shall I call you? she mused. ‘How about Hilda?’ Loki glared at the giantess which turned out to be a mistake. This giant household knew their magic well. She noticed immediately that Loki’s eyes belonged to no bird. ‘Aha’ she cried, ‘a shapechanger. So who are you?’ The falcon stood on the work box stubborn sulky and silent. ‘Let’s see’ mused the giantess ‘my father steals a wench from Asgard and then you show up. I think you have come to rescue her.’
At that moment an exhausted owl fluttered to the window sill and toppled forward onto the floor. Loki squawked a warning but the giantess was across the room and had tethered the bird before Braggi was even aware of his danger. ‘Lucky me’ laughed the giantess ‘two gods of Asgard in my bower.’ Braggi hooted accusingly at Loki, the falcon simply glared at him.
‘Has it not occurred to you foolish feather brains that I might be sympathetic to Idunn’s plight?’ Her question was met with silence. ‘Well I will fletch my arrows and you can sit there until the girl’s screams convince you to see sense. Just pray that I do not run out of flights or I will pluck your sorry backsides bare.’ The birds stood silently watching one another while the goddesses worked at her arrows. Loki peered around, it was a very strange chamber for a young woman, with the walls hung with weapons and spreads of antler hung with leather straps and snowshoes.
The peace of the warm quiet room was shattered by a piercing scream from elsewhere in the great hall, the two gods flapped their wings in consternation. ‘I pity any woman made to suffer so.’ muttered the giantess. The sound was more than Braggi could bear and he shrugged of his cloak of feathers revealing his true form, his feet still tangled in the giantess’s cord. Loki did likewise. The giantess gasped ‘What ugly wrinkled fellows you are. You must sorely be missing Idunn in Asgard. Have all the gods sunk as low?’
‘Oh no.’ Loki responded looking shocked. ‘The goddess Eir has taken charge of Idunn’s sacred tree, the other gods are all hale and well. She doesn’t like us. I am responsible for Idunn being here so she wouldn’t give me any fruit until I rescued her. And Braggi here has always been a bit of a bench hugger. She thought the threat of a cows death would force him to show his mettle.’
‘Why you little….’ Braggi wanted to strike him but his tired muscles refused to move quickly.
‘So the gods have cowards hiding in their halls do they?’ asked the giantess.
‘No.’ spluttered the furious Braggi.
‘But what you god of? The giantess asked greatly amused.
‘Poetry.’ laughed Loki. Skadi laughed with him and Braggi’s wrinkled cheeks turned red above his silver beard. Loki’s fun was interrupted by another terrible scream which sobered him immediately. The giantess decided to introduce herself.
‘My name is Skadi, Thiassi’s daughter. I bear the keys to this hall and it is in my power to help you or to kill you. I can take you to Idunn’s room, unlock the door and the window shutter which are locked by both iron and magic if you will promise me one thing. You must promise that you will not harm my father.’
‘You have my word.’ replied Loki.
‘Good.’said Skadi. ‘When the hall falls quiet I will take you to her.’
A long while later when no sound came from outside Skadi’s door. The three crept out through a dark storeroom piled high with bales and barrels. Silent as a stalking wolf, Skadi pushed a key into another door and slid it through the lock, she beckoned them into the room and shut the door behind her. She crossed to the window and unbarred the shutters and pulled them back shedding Sol’s light into Idunn’s chamber.
The goddess lay naked on a giant sized bed with her arms and legs lashed to the bed posts. She made no sign that she had heard them. Braggi spoke to her as Skadi and Loki struggled to untie the ropes. Braggi pulled off his tunic and pulled it gently over the goddess’s head covering her nakedness. He held her tenderly and her sore red eyes met his ‘Who are you?’ she asked puzzled, her voice a whisper.
‘You know me,’ the poet replied quietly ‘I’m Braggi’.
Idunn stroked the aged skin of his forehead and gave a painful smile. ‘Casket.’ she muttered, pointing shakily.
Braggi’s eyes lit up at the sight of the carved box sitting on a storage chest. ‘Loki, the apples!’ Loki ran across the room gleefully and prised up the casket’s lid. Three red skinned apples glowed within. He tossed one over to Braggi and bit into one himself, delighted to feel the strength of youth returning.
‘Now you must leave.’ cautioned Skadi. ‘My father will know when Idunn leaves this room, it is a skill of his. You must make all speed to get her home.’
Loki stood over Idunn, her eyes regarded him with tearful anger. He said ‘I need to shapechange you to get you home.’
‘You!’ she sobbed ‘How can I trust you?’
‘You can this time. You need me, I can fly faster than Braggi.’ Loki replied and sung runes of power and the goddess became a tiny hazelnut. He sung another charm and the casket became a pip. ‘You will need to bring the casket Braggi.’ he smiled and nodded his thanks to Skadi. The trickster god threw his feather cloak over his shoulders and his falcon self took hold of the nut and sped through the window like an arrow loosed from a horn bow. Braggi flew behind in his owl form with the pip safe in his talons.
A bellow of rage shook the hills of the Outlands behind them. Loki winced as he heard the thunderous beating of the huge wings of Thiassi’s eagle behind him. Enraged Thiassi flew hard after the falcon on which he sensed the presence of his lovely prize. Despite Loki’s every effort to stay ahead Thiassi steadily narrowed the gap between them.
Desperate Loki reached out to Freya. The goddess’s thoughts struck like fire in his head
‘WHAT?’
He had never heard her so irritable, but then most women of Asgard had not taken kindly to losing their beauty. ‘Freya I have got Idunn’ Loki responded ‘The giant is just behind me in his eagle form. You must stop him at the walls of Asgard.’
'We will.’ replied Freya.
The Lady of the Vans wasted no time and called her servants and the folk of Bilskirnir to build a great pyre of kindling and brushwood on the ramparts where Loki would cross. They soaked the heap with oil and pine resin, Thor stood by with a torch ready to light the blaze.
Soon after the preparations were made the two birds came into sight. Loki was rushing towards them thrashing his wings as hard as his falcon heart could stand. The rage filled eagle now very close behind with his beak open to catch the falcon’s tail feathers. Loki shot over the wall and Thor plunged the torch deep into the pyre. Towering flames engulfed the eagle’s wings and Thiassi screamed and thrashed to his death.
Idunn had been dressed in a fresh gown and wrapped in blankets when Braggi returned. She reclaimed her casket and cut the remaining apple into very small pieces which she gave to the gods and goddesses and their servants. Idunn’s blessing and the sacred fruit restored the youthful strength and beauty to the folk of Asgard. The joyous gods and goddesses sung and danced with delight.
Idunn and Eir left the celebration and made their way quietly to the gardens of friendly hall. Idunn wept afresh to see her tree so bare, she wrapped her arms about the trunk and laid her head against it. Eir sang softly, a healing chant with runes of growth and strength. Fresh sap rose in the tree responding to their loving care. Buds swelled on the bare branches. ‘There’ said Idunn ‘From bud comes blossom, from blossom comes the bloom, from the bloom comes the bearing. Then apples will fall in heaps again and my magic casket will catch them.’
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(This basic tale is from the Edda's and has been changed little other than in detail. Eir and Braggi have been added. Braggi and Idunn are consorts in the later stories and this tale serves to introduce them. Idunn's words over her tree are from the wassailing songs of English folklore used to bless the apple harvest at midwinter. Skadi is also not met in the original tale until she comes to Asgard to avenge her father's death.)