The earth grew cold, white and still.
The water would not flow, and the seeds refused to grow.
The birds were silent. No flowers breathed their perfumes into the air.
There was not a smile in all the world.
“Balder shall return. I, myself, will go and bring him from Hela’s dark regions.”
But Frigga had already sent a messenger to the spirit world to beg Queen Hela to release Balder.
While waiting for the messenger to return, the heroes were not idle.
For twelve days and nights they worked as only love can make men work. They did not pause for food nor rest.
They built a great funeral pyre, and no one was too small to help in the work of love.