They were now flying at the top of a colossal and mighty tree, which seemed to have been growing there over an infinite large amount of time. On the tree was living many kinds of creature, in instance a dragon and an eagle. The tree had three roots, which were distinctly planted in three different sphere; one was in a sphere which represented a type of forest with many mountains, the other was in a sphere which depicted what seemed to be various kind of lands and the last one was a sphere which described a land covered in snow.
Önd took a moment to survey the tree, and beneath him, he saw Ásgarðr in some kind of bubble or a sphere, in which was a miniature version of the realm of the Æsir, similar to a sketch. As seeing Önd's surprised face, Freyja explained:
- We're no longer on Ásgarðr— nor even in any realm. Behold, the magnificent tree which houses all the nine realms— Yggdrasill! I would gladly show you the entire place, but time isn't on our side.
As she barely finished to utter these words, she began once more accelerating toward the bottom of the tree. They soon sighted a bubble— the one covered in snow. Helheimr, thought Önd. And with all the momentum she acquired, Freyja rushed into the sphere, and pierced through it.
Thus, they arrived in Hel's realm. Before them was standing a tall wall, built from ice. Freyja flight over the wall, and they soon saw a large city, where thousands of persons were living. These people appeared to behave normally, as one expects of daily routine. But their routine seemed somehow more ponderous than a normal one. Helheimr was an eternally snowy place — monochrome and boring— but strangely enough, it was quite nice and warm. Freyja quickly set down on the snow-covered ground and then returned to her original form.
Önd hurried to ask:
- Where are we going now?
- Toward Hel's dwelling. It's farther from our current location, she answered.
- And why couldn't you set down at her door step? Hliðskjálf's stairway was exhausting enough! complained Önd.
- The Valshamr was no longer effective. And do you think that flying across Yggdrasill's whole length isn't tiresome? replied Freyja in a strict and annoyed tone.
- Very well— we shall walk until Hel's dwelling. Önd sincerely sighed, and forgive for neglecting your anguish— truly, you've aided a lot— I ought to thank you. Who knows what would've happened if you haven't talked to Óðinn, I might still be drinking ale in the Valhöll.
Freyja stared at Önd in his eyes and smiled to him for an instant, and as bowing, she answered back with a ounce of gentry:
- It's pleasant to receive your gratefulness, although it's rare. "I might still be drinking ale in the Valhöll"— amusing! Haha—! she laughed.
- If it amuses you. Well, we've lost enough time— let's carry on. And if you had the kindness to lead the way, said Önd.
Freyja then continued the way toward the goddess' dwelling. As they pursued their little ballad across Hel's city, Önd noticed the men's gaze on Freyja. He then suggested:
- You should remove your necklace, it attracts men's gaze too much.
- Oh, might you be jealous? tauntingly asked Freyja.
- Do you believe that? I was merely asking you to remove your collar in order to be more unobtrusive, replied Önd as narrowing his eyes.
- Hmm— you may be correct. Hel hardly likes me— in her viewpoint, she believes that I snitch some of her trophies. Could you please help me to take of the necklace, Önd?
As following her orders, Önd asked behind her back:
- What do I have to understand about her "trophies"?
- Mortals' minds and souls. It's quite difficult to explain, so I'll try to utter it simpler. Hel collects men's both mind and soul, respectively what makes one work and what makes one live. I solely collect dead-in-battle-warriors' mind, but their souls belong to Hel,
— as any being's soul. She avidly collects them as literal trophies. —What's taking you so long Önd?
- Here, and Önd finally took off the collar and gave it back to Freyja. As she put the necklace in her purse, Önd resumed, I suppose that having my soul back won't be easy.
- You've finally realised your position! Then, abruptly, Freyja seemed to be more serious, and as she sadly gazed through Önd's eyes, she sighed, trust me Önd, Hel's an almost heartless creature only driven by her selfishness. I've already learnt that a long time ago...
Freyja then resumed the march as quickly as possible, before Önd was able to ask her even a question. Freyja remained quiet until arriving to Hel's dwelling, something that Önd suspected to be odd. They had soon arrived at Hel's place, some sort of immense castle made of ice. They entered, and before them was a hall, with two long tables and a throne in its depth where was seating Hel. Next to the tables were seating men and women, eating and drinking melancholically.
Well seated in her throne, Hel was a women with a livid skin, the half of her face was pitch-dark, soon much that even light was not reflecting on this side of her face. Her body was partially wrapped in the same pitch-dark colour, as if her body was invaded by darkness itself. Her dress was white, almost transparent, as is she was dead. She always had a gleam of sadness in her eyes, such as an eternally mourning person.
As sighting Freyja, Hel showed a disgusted face. Then, she asked with a bit of irritation:
- Why are in my hall, Freyja? Have you come for negotiating once more?
- It's clearly useless— but I have brought you someone whom wants to claim back his soul, replied Freyja.
- And here's the "someone". As Freyja told you, I ought to claim back my soul! announced Önd.
- An Einherjar?— Return along the fallen— I do not negotiate, replied almost instantaneously Hel.
- You've heard her, and we've all warned you! taunted Freyja, as starting to calmly walk toward the main entrance.
- And what about a deal? said Önd, as Freyja stopped walking, and suddenly turned to Önd.
- A deal? And what exactly do I win? asked Hel, as she seemed more interested.
- My mind— isn't that what you eagerly collect? daringly replied Önd. Now, I'm nor a god nor a giant— allow me to decide of the terms of our agreement.
- I'll see— answered Hel, whom seemed to be more and more interested.
- Our deal will be based on a game. But hear what I've to say first— bring to me two deads of your realm with the appearance and the clothes they were wearing at their death. Feel free to modify an unique feature of their appearance. Tell me three truths about them and allow me to observe them— at last, I shall tell you how these persons died.
- I ought to aware you that you will completely and literally cease to exist if you lose, whispered Freyja to Önd, whom returned at the side of the challenger.
- And if your guessings are all correct, I ought to give you back your soul, right? asked Hel, now absolutely convinced. This game's interesting—! I accept!
- It's settled then, announced Önd.
Hel then slapped her fingers, and a man and a woman emerged before Önd and Freyja. Hel then announced:
- The man at your right was rich jarl, and had a family; solely a wife and a son. The woman at the left was a peasant, married to a rich farmer, which she took profit of. For now, I'll let you meditate.
Freyja began to sit down as Önd started inspecting both of the persons, and after a quarter-hour, he announced:
- I'm done. You're a tricky goddess, Hel! Nonetheless, I'm ready to answer.
- Go ahead then. But remember, if you're mistaken in your first guessing— you've already lost! reminded Hel, as smile began to show on her face.
- The women was strangled to death, affirmed Önd.
She's full of jewelleries— from multiple rings to a brooch and a wristband. Then, a question struck my mind, why isn't she wearing a necklace? If she's so full of jewelleries, and knowing that her husband was rich, why wasn't she wearing a necklace, even a decent one? She was clearly a flaunting person. Thus, I asked myself, have Hel removed her necklace? But it isn't the case, if she had, she couldn't modify any other features of her appearance, and more importantly, why? The necklace in itself would never have been a big clue to her death. Then, I asked myself, what if she wasn't wearing a necklace at all? What could have changed Hel? And I supposed that someone used her necklace for strangling her, meaning that Hel had to remove the marks on her neck.
But my guessing might be false.
- It is correct, coldly said Hel, now with a serious face.
- You're more astute than I thought, whispered Freyja to Önd with genuine surprise.
- Now, the man! He died poisoned.
This man was eating when he died, for there are few fresh drops of wine on his clothes. The one whom wished his death had to be discrete. The poison was used to simulate a sudden illness, for I believe that his son killed him for his heritage. The poison was most likely in his wine. This one was quite easy, Hel modified in nothing his appearance.
But I might be wrong, and he just suddenly stopped to live.
- And if you're correct, it means that you would be the first being to take back his soul from Hel, whispered more loudly Freyja to Önd.
- And I told you that I might be completely wrong, whispered Önd to his companion, more loudly than her.
- Unfortunately— it is indeed the truth that you said. I ought to give you back your soul! said Hel in a frustrated tone.
- You underestimated me too much, Hel! And it was by greatest trump! yelled Önd to Hel, in a almost mocking way.
Hel then slapped her fingers, and a white sphere of light appeared. The sphere soon rapidly headed to Önd and merge onto him. A warm and pleasant heat enveloped him, and he was once again alive!
- Thus, we were mistaken! You just fooled death! You're rather full of surprises, my dear Önd! taunted Freyja, but with a very slight ounce of honesty.
- I merely lingered death. But I'll surely enjoy this new chance to its fullest! cheerfully replied Önd.
- Anyway— I ought to bring you back in Ásgarðr.
- Why is that? I no longer belong to the Valhöll as a dead warrior, stated Önd, clearly confused.
- Oh— I haven't warned you! Óðinn virtually own your mind as a warranty of your aid during Ragnarök, explained Freyja. I suppose that the only thing remaining for you to do now is to claim from him your mind.
- No! At this point, my task seems endless. I only wish to come back alive on Miðgarðr! yelled Önd in anger.
- And it's no ordinary wish, Önd! answered back Freyja.
As Freyja finished her words, a crude spear of ice was rushing toward Önd. At the last moment, he quickly dodge the spear, and turned his head to Hel, the origin of the shaft. The hall became unbelievably cold! Hel spoke to Önd:
- I've indeed lost! But since you're alive— I'll more easily kill you!
Hel rapidly created a dozen of lances, and the deads whom were quietly sitting on the two tables were now blocking the main entrance! Önd froze for an instant as he thought about dying once more, and during this instant, Hel threw all her spears on the human. Önd was so frightened that he did not even notice the gigantic falcon that was next to him. Fortunately, Freyja shielded Önd from the shafts by using her wing. She quickly ordered Önd to mount on her back, and he hurried to do so.
Freyja quickly flapped her wings and pierced through the hall's ice-rooftop. From Helheimr's skies, Önd was now gradually seeing Hel's dwelling getting more and more farther. As Önd barely finished to calm down, Freyja accelerated her pace and pierced through the skies. They have returned to Yggdrasill's sides.