The Kidnapping of Idun
Once upon a time, a horrible crime was committed in the land of Asgard.
Who committed this crime? Why, none other than the God of Mischief, Loki.
What was the crime? The Kidnapping of Idun.
One day, The Allfather Odin asked Loki and Hoenir to accompany him on a journey. This journey took them to the high mountains of Asgard. They were all very hungry, but no matter how long they left the meat over the fire, it would not cook. Loki became outraged and demanded to know who's sorcery was behind this.
"It is I," A large eagle said on a nearby branch, "It is my magic that will not let it cook. But, if you give me my fill of that meat, I will make it cook in minutes."
The trio, being very hungry, agreed. However, the eagle ate almost all of the meat and in a fit of rage, Loki picked up a branch and swung at him. The branch stuck to the eagle and Loki found that he could not unclasp his hand. The eagle flew up high into the sky and Loki begged to be put down. The eagle refused to put him down unless Loki brought him Idun, the keeper of the youth-giving apples. Loki hastily agreed.
When the trio arrived back into the city of Asgard, Loki immediately set out towards the forest, where Idun stayed in her beautiful garden. Idun was a very beloved Goddess among the Aesir. She brought life to flowers and sang with the birds. People would go to Idun's garden and talk with her for hours. On this particular day, no one was in the garden and Idun's husband, Bragi, went out on a journey. Loki stepped into her garden and asked for a fruit. Idun happily gave him an apple. She was so sweet and kind that Loki felt the tiniest bit of sorrow for what he was about to do.
" You know, Idun, on my journey, I happened to encounter apples much larger and juicier than yours."
Idun gasped, claiming it to be untrue. Even Odin told her that her apples were the biggest and most delectable fruits in all the land.
"Oh, but there is! Come, let me show you. We will compare."
Idun was told by her loving husband to never travel when he was gone, but she didn't see much harm in it. Her opinion changed as soon as the gates of Asgard closed behind her. Loki led Idun, with her apples in tow, to the Bifrost. In the distance, an eagle could be seen flying towards them. It dived down and snatched Idun and her fruits as Loki walked away.
The eagle turned out to be the giant Thjazi and he took her to a tower in Thrymheim. He locked her into a room where the only light was from a hole, way up in the wall of the tower. Many times Thjazi tried to take an apple, but each time they seemed to dissappear from his clutches. Idun refused to give him a taste of the fruits and he became outraged. He kept her there, where he tortured her for months on end.
Back on Asgard, the Aesir were growing tired and old with the absence of Idun and her delectable fruits. A meeting was held and they discussed where she was last seen. Many claimed to have seen her with Loki and he finally broke down and told them what had happened. The Allfather demanded Loki to go and retrieve her.
The goddess Freyja lent Loki her hawk feathers, which enabled him to turn into a hawk, and he flew to Jotunheim, where Thryheim was located.
When he arrived, he found that Thjazi was out fishing, leaving Idun in the home alone. Loki flew through the hole and turned Idun into a nut, making the flight home easier. However, Thjazi returned to find his prize missing and set out after them in his eagle form. The Aesir saw them approaching and had to act quickly. They threw wood all around the gates of Asgard and set it on fire. Loki, being the god of fire amongst other things, flew right through it. Thjazi was not so lucky and was burned alive.
Everyone was happy and rejoiced, until Loki turned Idun from a nut back into an Aesir. What the Gods and Goddesses beheld, was the large stomach that protruded from Idun's body. Idun was ashamed and cried for many days and nights before she couldn't handle it any longer. She went to Odin, looking for a solution.
"Allfather, I have found that I am unable to cherish and love this child like every child should be. I will not be able to live in Asgard so as this child does."
Odin thought for many moments before deciding to send the child, who Idun named Idonea, to live on Midgard for the rest of her days.
This is the story of that child.
A.N.:: This is my first ever story on here. The tale of The Kidnapping of Idun is true, but the last bit where Idun was found pregnant was not. I made it for this story. Which is a love story with Loki, might I add.
Let me know what you think!