Now, as the Asas rode home together they came to a great wood upon the borders of Giantland, where all the trees are of iron. And in the midst of this wood was a cave, at the mouth of which sat an ancient giantess, gnashing her teeth at all who passed by.
This seeming giantess was none other but wicked Loki in disguise, but this Hermod did not know.
As the Asas came near, she greeted them with shrill laughter, and asked them if it was dull in Asgard that they came thither to her iron wood. But they answered that they came not for gibes but for tears, that Balder might be saved. Then she laughed louder and cried:
"Is Balder dead? And do ye come for tears?
Weep him all other things, if weep they will:
I weep him not! let Hela keep her prey."
And with these mocking words she fled to the dark recesses of her cave, repeating again and again:
"Neither in life, nor yet in death,
Gave he me gladness.
Let Hela keep her prey."
Heavy were the steps with which Hermod returned to Asgard, and when they had heard the news of how one creature had refused her tears, the eager faces of the Asa folk grew dark with woe, for they knew that never more would they see Balder—Balder the Beautiful.
But the future days brought peace to the tormented soul of Hoder, the innocent cause of all their grief.
For there was born to Odin a child who grew to his full size within a few short hours. And on the first day that he arrived in Asgard he fared forth with bow and arrow, and one of his shafts found mark in the heart of Hoder.
And so, from henceforth, the blind god and his twin-brother are together in the realms of Hela.