“You are willing to bring the apples of life?”
“Yes.”
“And you will bring all three of them?”
“Yes.”
“And you will bring them at once?”
“Yes.”
“Go, then. I will go with you. Outside the walls of the shining city I will wait for you to bring the apples to me.”
Then putting on the guise of birds, the two set forth, reaching the gateway of the city just as the Sungod was pouring down his flood of red and golden light upon the shining spires. The whole city lay bathed in the sunset splendor.
“Idun,” said Loke, going directly to her, “it is well you guard so closely these golden apples of life. Without them we should grow old and die, even as wretched mortals grow old and die.”
“Indeed, it would fare ill with us if harm came to these precious apples,” answered Idun. “See the rich bloom upon them. If that were lost, then would our bloom be lost as well, and we should grow old and wrinkled.”