vala, but the mother of three giants. Then the vala told Odin to ride home and boast of his journey, but assured him that no one should again visit her thus before Loke should be loosed from his chains and the ruin of the gods had come. Thus the lay of Vegtam in the Elder Edda:
Together were the gods
All in council,
And the goddesses
All in conference;
And they consulted
The mighty gods,
Why Balder had
Oppressive dreams.
To that god his slumber
Was most afflicting;
His auspicious dreams
Seemed departed.
They the giants questioned,
Wise seers of the future,
Whether this might not
Forebode calamity.
The responses said
That to death destined was
Uller's kinsman,
Of all the dearest:
That caused grief
To Frigg and Svafner,
And to the other powers,—
On a course they resolved:
That they would send
To every being,
Assurance to solicit,
Balder not to harm.
All species swore
Oaths to spare him:
Frigg received all
Their vows and compacts.
