High up in Asgard, a wonderful place full of gods and goddesses, lived Baldur. He was the god of light and happiness. Everyone loved Baldur because he was so kind and always smiling. Sunshine seemed to follow him wherever he went!

One day, Baldur’s mom, the wise queen Frigg, had a very scary dream. She dreamt that something terrible would happen to Baldur. "Oh no!" Frigg was so worried. She decided to protect her son. She traveled all over the world, asking everything – rocks, trees, animals, even fire and water – to promise never to hurt Baldur. And they all promised! "Of course, we love Baldur!" they said.

But there was one tiny plant Frigg missed. It was a little mistletoe growing on an oak tree. "Oh, that's too small and young to hurt anyone," Frigg thought, and she didn't ask it to promise.

Now, the gods in Asgard loved to have fun. When they found out Baldur couldn't be hurt, they invented a new game. They would throw things at Baldur – stones, axes, anything they could find! And everything just bounced off him! Baldur would laugh, and all the gods would cheer. It was great fun!

But there was one god who wasn't always so nice. His name was Loki, and he loved to play tricks. Sometimes his tricks were funny, but sometimes they were mean. Loki saw the gods playing and felt a bit jealous. He disguised himself as an old woman and went to talk to Frigg. "Is it true nothing can harm Baldur?" he asked in a shaky voice.

"Yes," said Frigg proudly. "Everything has promised, except... well, except for the tiny mistletoe. It's too young to make a promise, and too harmless anyway."

Loki's eyes twinkled. "Mistletoe, you say?" He hurried off. Loki found the mistletoe, plucked it, and sneakily made it into a sharp little dart.

He went back to where the gods were playing. He saw Hod, Baldur’s brother, standing off to the side. Hod was blind and couldn't join the game. "Why don't you join the fun, Hod?" Loki whispered. "Here, I have a little twig. Throw this at Baldur. I'll help you aim."

Hod, not knowing it was mistletoe or that Loki was tricking him, took the dart. Loki guided his hand. Hod threw it.

The mistletoe dart flew straight and true, and it hit Baldur. And this time, Baldur didn't laugh. He fell down, still and quiet. The sunshine around him faded.

All the gods gasped! They couldn't believe it. Their bright, happy Baldur was gone. Asgard became a very sad place. Frigg cried and cried.

Odin, the king of the gods, sent another son, Hermod, on a super-fast horse down to the gloomy land of Hel, where people went when they died. Hermod begged Hel, the queen of that land, to let Baldur come back.

Hel thought for a moment. "Alright," she said. "If everyone and everything in all the worlds weeps for Baldur, then he can return. But if even one person or thing refuses to cry, he must stay here with me."

So, messengers went everywhere, asking everyone to cry for Baldur. And they did! People cried, animals cried, trees dripped sad dew, even rocks seemed to weep. It looked like Baldur would come home!

But then, the messengers found an old giantess named Thokk sitting in a cave. "Will you weep for Baldur?" they asked.

Thokk just cackled. "No! Let Hel keep what she has!" she said coldly.

And so, because of Thokk, Baldur could not return. Everyone knew that Thokk was really Loki in disguise, playing one last, terrible trick.

And Baldur, the god of light, had to stay in the land of Hel, waiting for a new world to begin. It was a very sad day for all the gods, and a reminder that even small things, like a forgotten mistletoe, can change everything.

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