Two stories exist referring to Hodr's killing of Balder...
Version One:
Hodr and Baldur were two great war leaders who marshaled their armies against each other due to a dispute over the hand of the beautiful maiden Nanna. Baldur had been nourishing himself with a special, spiritual food that conferred invincibility, and Hodr knew that he would be unable to defeat Baldur by normal means. So Hodr undertook a long and perilous journey to the underworld. There, he obtained a weapon that had been charged with magical powers that would enable him to overcome Baldur’s own magically-induced strength.
Version Two:
Hodr was the son of Frigg and Odin, and he was blind. Baldur, his brother whom everyone loved, began to have dreams of his impending death. Frigg, in a panic, went out into the world and to get assurances from everyone and everything that they will not hurt her son - everything except for mistletoe. When Loki found out, he fashioned a spear from mistletoe. He brought it to Asgard where other gods were having fun throwing objects and weapons at Baldur and watching them bounce off of him. Loki brought the spear to Hodr, and tricked him into joining in the fun. The spear Hodr launched at Baldur killed him instantly.
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