For drink they had the mead that was made from the milk of the goat Heidrun, the goat that browsed on the leaves of the tree Læradir. Odin himself sat with his Champions, drinking wine but eating no meat.įor meat the Champions ate the flesh of the boar Sæhrimnir every day the boar was killed and cooked, and every morning it was whole again. All who were wounded were made whole again, and in peace and goodly fellowship they sat down to the feast that Odin prepared for them. Every day the Champions put on their armor and took their weapons down from the walls, and went forth and battled with each other. Five hundred and forty doors had Valhalla, and out of each door eight hundred Champions might pass. Valhalla, the Hall of the Slain, it was called. Those who were chosen on the fields of the slain were called in Asgard the Einherjar. Valkyries, Choosers of the Slain, they were named. Beautiful were those battle-maidens and fearless wise were they also, for to them Odin showed the Runes of Wisdom.

To choose the heroes, and to give victory to those whom he willed to have victory, Odin had battle-maidens that went to the fields of war. They were not of the Æsir nor of the Vanir they were of the race of mortal men, heroes chosen from amongst the slain on fields of battle in Midgard. Against the time when the riders of Muspelheim, with the Giants and the evil powers of the Underworld, would bring on battle, Odin All-Father was preparing a host of defenders for Asgard.

Red brave valkyrie