IT BOTHERED Odin greatly that the Aesir had broken their promise to Fenris, for a god must never break his word. But the monstrous wolf could not be left free as a threat to gods and men. He turned for comfort to his son Balder, who had not taken part in the deceit.
The Aesir always turned to Balder when they were troubled, for he was the kindest and gentlest of gods. No one could think anything but pure thoughts in his presence. Flowers sprang up from the ground whereever he stepped, but even the whitest and most beautiful of them, the Balderblom, was not as fair as his brow. Everybody loved him; not even the spiteful gnomes and uncouth jotuns could dislike Balder.
The light from his shimmering hall shone into the farthest corners of the world, and it was there that he sat in judgment on his golden throne. He never took sides, and was so kind he could not bear to mete out punishment. Although the Aesir brought their disputes to Balder, they seldom followed his advice. It was too gentle and forgiving.
Balder lived in great happiness with his loving wife Nanna and their son Forsete. Forsete was as constant as Nanna, his mother, and as just as his father, Balder. Calmly he studied the laws of the world and laid down judgments according to them, and his rulings always held. He became the chief judge of the Aesir.
