Odin and Angerboda. (Patreon)

How Loki - Odin’s daughter was created.

Odin was traveling in Utgaard - Jotunheim. And before he could get home he would be caught by the deadly night of Jotunheim. He sought shelter with the King of Utgaard. The Jotun Loke.

Loke, an evil and cunning fiend was smiling by the chance to torment the king of the gods. So he welcomed Odin, and offered him an abundant meal - too much - but what he claimed was a snack for a Jotun.

But Odin, being no slouch in the eating department had no trouble finishing the dish. Saying he was sorry that his hosts house had suffered such meager times that they couldn’t feed their guests properly.

Loke annoyed, suggested they had a drinking competition. Loke offered his own drinking horn to Odin, and said any one of his hirdsmen could empty it in a single gulp. Two max.

Odin, knowing that old trick smiled and said that he would give it a try. And Odin emptied the horn, not only in a single gulp, but faster than any of the other Jotuns. Leaving all the Jotuns stunned in awe.

Odin apologized and said, it was probably half empty because of all the drinking going around. Nothing to be ashamed about.

Then Loke, now furious suggested that Odin paid homage to the elder Jotun, his own mother, and give blessings for better times. Odin looked at the old crow, knowing who she was. She was Elde… the aging agent herself. Another trick.

Odin, who was smarter than the lot, understood the game. He planted a seed of the withering wine… the weed of the garden of Idun. None could fight against that plant and hope to win, unless they were of Asgaardian decent. Odin bowed, and offered Elde his hand. And as Elde stepped out of her chair, she stomped on the seed of the Withering Wine… which instantly grew because of her touch.

It circled around her foot and leg and caused her to stop moving, and she sat down in her chair again, her robe hiding the wine around her leg, that began to drain her powers. Leaving the seemingly powerless frail woman even more weak.

She sat down and waved off Odin, unable to speak as she was.

Odin lifted his hand and bowed before her. Looking at Loke who couldn’t believe his eyes.

“It seems your mother is too tired for the night. A shame, but at her age it is no surprise really.”

Loke was beaten, he didn’t like to admit it, but he had been outsmarted… yet… there was one last trick he could play.

Odin had the rumor of being something of a woman hunter. So he had an idea. He offered Odin a warm bed and Odin thankfully took it.

Later, as Odin was creeping under the furs in his bed, heard a knock on the door, and inside came a tall and beautiful Jotun woman.

She presented herself as Angerboda and she said she was a thrall. She had been sent by her king to be Odin’s bedwarmer.

Odin looked her over. Among gods she would be a beauty. And he frame was big, but not too big. Odin knew it was a play that was meant to set him up.

If Odin rejected her, he would be mocked relentlessly. If he didn’t touch her at all, he would be mocked relentlessly. If he did touch her, but no child came, he would be mocked as a “Ball less” god. If he did touch her, and gave her a child, he would forever be chained to King Loke, who was a dangerous Jotun. Angerboda was in fact no thrall, but the daughter of Loke himself.

But Odin had a game plan. He welcomed Angerboda to his bed, and she creeped into him, and soon after, they did what had been intended. Odin mounted Angerboda, and Angerboda welcomed him between her legs.

By the next morning, Odin got dressed and left the sleeping Angerboda in the bed with a kiss on her cheek.

He left Utgaard and many years later, an infant was left on the steps of Odin’s castle.

A daughter named Loki. A letter was by her. Angerboda had left her father, as he was furious with her and her child. He had hoped for a son, one to solidify the Jotun claim over Asgaard. Odin smiled, as he had decided to make a daughter with Angerboda. But Angerboda had refused to be her father’s pawn any longer. She begged Odin to raise her daughter and to tell her when the time was right, what had happened. Angerboda herself went into exile to escape her father’s wrath.

Odin was true to Angerboda’s wish. Freja and Frigg raised the child as if she was their own, and Odin adored his daughter.

Yours truly

Hammer