Norse Mythology: Ragnarok

Up until now, Balder has been dead and waiting for the ending of Ragnarok so that he can resurrect and become the new chief god. Loki is bound and waiting to be released from Ragnarok.

In axe-age and sword-age, the world will be wrecked due to wars, winters, and wolves. Midgard will be racked by wars for three winters, with fathers slaughtering sons and brothers being drenched in one another's blood. The winter of winters will grip Midgard, causing bitter frosts and biting winds. The end will begin when the children of the old giantess in Iron Wood have their say, with the wolf Skoll swallowing the sun and his brother Hati mangling the moon.

The earth will shudder, and great trees will sway and topple, while mountains shake and rock. Fenrir will run free, and Eggther, the watchman of the giants, strums his harp grimly. The sea will rear up, and waves will pummel the shore as Jormungand, the Midgard Serpent, races onto dry land. Naglfar, a ship made from dead men's nails, breaks loose, and Hrym and Loki sail towards Vigrid. Then Loki and Heimdall will face and kill each other.

The brothers Fenrir and Jormungand move side by side, and Fenrir's mouth widens, causing flames to dance in his eyes and leap from his nostrils. Jormungand spews venom, causing the world to quake with booms and blares. The sons of Muspell will advance from the south, tearing apart the sky and advancing on Vigrid.

All the gods will wake and meet in council, with Odin riding a golden helmet and brandishing Gungnir. Odin will make straight for the wolf Fenrir, while Thor will be unable to help. Thor and Jormungand will face each other, and Thor will kill the serpent before dying himself.

Surt will fling fire in every direction, including the destruction of Asgard, Midgard, Jotunheim, and Niflheim, turning them into furnaces of raging flame and ashes. The sun will be dark, and the earth will sink into the sea. However, the earth will rise again, fair and green. Vidar and Vali will survive the fire and flood, returning to Idavoll, where they will inherit their father's hammer, Mjollnir.

Balder and Hod will return from the dead world, and the gods in heaven will gather to discuss past events, the evil of Jormungand, and the wolf Fenrir. The best places in heaven will be Brimir on Okolnir, where good people live, and Sindri, a fine hall in the dark mountains of Nidafjoll. Another hall on Nastrond, the shore of corpses, will be as vile as its vast, writhing walls and roof.

Lif and Lifthrasir, two humans, hid within the roots of Yggdrasill to not be scorched by Surt's fire and to see light come back through the branches and leaves. The generation of humans comes from them.

Nothing is endless; even gods die, and every ending is the beginning of another.

Resources Cited:

• Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, and Ragnarok