Ratatoskr, saddened but understanding of the reason why she was killed, tasks Kratos with retrieving the young Lindwyrms so that the squirrel can raise and take over their mother's responsibilities himself, giving the babies a father-figure and giving Ratatoskr some company he desires. With Níðhögg dead, her six orphaned babies escape into various realms and cause trouble. To her anger, Freya realized that Níðhögg's duty as the caretaker and defender of Yggdrasil's roots meant that Odin knew the creature would attack anyone who tried to free Freya of her curse, making the beast an unwitting pawn- as much a victim of the All-Father's schemes as Freya herself. As she tries to escape after being outmatched, Níðhögg tries opening a hole between realms, but Kratos holds her in place long enough for Freya to close the portal, cutting off Níðhögg's head. When Freya, along with Kratos tries to untie the roots binding her to Midgard, Níðhögg immediately appears to stop them, and engages Kratos in battle until Freya lifts the curse, allowing her to aid in defeating the Lindwyrm. Her purpose is to gnaw on the roots of Yggdrasil and prevent overgrowth at the World Tree's base whilst also defending any roots that were under attack. Níðhögg is the caretaker of the roots of the World Tree and while her origins are unknown, it was noted by Ratatoskr that she had been there long before him. The same source also says that the squirrel called Ratatoskr runs up and down the length of the Ash, bearing envious words between the eagle and Nídhǫggr ".Īt Ragnarök, Níðhǫggr breaks free and becomes the new scion of evil in the world after its reconstruction. This root is placed over Niflheimr and Níðhǫggr gnaws it from beneath. It is sometimes believed that the roots are trapping the beast from the world. In Norse_mythology, Níðhögg (Malice Striker, in Old Norse traditionally also spelled Níðhǫggr, often anglicized Nidhogg) is a dragon who gnaws at a root of the world tree, Yggdrasil.Īccording to the Gylfaginning part of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, Níðhǫggr is a being which gnaws one of the three roots of Yggdrasill.
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