The Tale of Idun and Her Apples: A Trickster's Delight
↪ By Loki The Trickster God
Ah, Idun, the ever-so-precious goddess of youth and keeper of the golden apples—those shiny little fruits that supposedly keep the gods from getting old and frail. She's the kind of goddess who thinks she’s the real deal, all sweet smiles and unshakable confidence, as if she’s the reason the Aesir gods are immortal. Well, if you ask me, it’s time she got a little wake-up call about who really holds the power in Asgard.
So, here's how it goes. Idun, in her infinite wisdom (or should I say arrogance?), was tasked with guarding these magical apples. Each apple, bathed in golden light, was said to give eternal youth. The gods’ faces were forever youthful, their strength never waning, all because of her precious apples. But let me tell you, the moment Idun thought she had a lock on that power, I swooped in.
One day, while the gods were busy being all...godly and smug, I had a little chat with a giant named Thjazi. He had been trying to get his hands on these apples for a while—after all, what’s a little immortality for a giant, right? So, we made a deal, and I, being the helpful trickster that I am, led Idun right into his clutches.
I convinced her to take a stroll outside Asgard, just a little walk with a promise of some better apples to collect. You know, the ones that don't come with a side of godly expectations. What she didn't know? Thjazi had a flying eagle form. He swooped down and snatched her, apples and all. Oh, the look on her face when she realized her “security” was a little more fragile than she thought.
Now, with Idun safely in the clutches of the giant, the gods started to age. Their skin sagged, their muscles weakened, and they could feel their immortality slipping away. They panicked, of course—who wouldn’t? And there I was, on the sidelines, watching as the mess I created unfurled.
Eventually, the gods begged me to bring Idun back. Oh, they were practically begging on their knees. Who had the power now? But of course, I played it like the expert I am—dragging it out. A little more humiliation for dear Idun was in order.
In the end, I did help them retrieve her, though. You’re welcome, gods. But not without making her see just how easily I could pull the strings and take her immortality away. The gods got their apples back, but the sweet satisfaction of knowing I could have them all—that was priceless.
Ah, the sweet joy of teaching a goddess to never underestimate the power of a trickster.
➡ The Takeaway
Idun thought she was untouchable, the one who held the key to eternal youth, but it turns out even the gods have weaknesses. Don’t ever get too comfy, because a trickster like me is always watching, ready to flip the script when you least expect it.
