Rind

Rind was the mother of Vali, by Odin. Rind gave birth to Vali just after Balder's death. Vali grew man or giant-sized overnight, to avenge Balder by killing Hod. Rind was sometimes seen as the sun goddess, but she was possibly the goddess of the frozen earth.

In Gesta Danorum (History of the Danes), Saxo recounted a different version of Balder's death, where Rind was called Rinda or Wrinda, daughter of the King of the Ruthenians.

Odin sought out diviners or prophets to find out how to avenge Balder's death. On receiving the answer from the oracle, Odin went disguised as a warrior to serve the king, in the hope of winning the friendship of the king and winning a kiss from the king's daughter. He did win the king's favour to seek Rinda's attentions, because he was instrumental in the defeats of the Ruthenian king's enemies. Yet, when Odin tried to kiss her, he received a cuff from Rinda.

So Odin disguised himself as a poor smith with wondrous skills, calling himself Roster (Hrosstheow), making adornments for women at the palace, particularly for Rinda. One day, when he presented Rinda with a beautiful bracelet and tried to gain a kiss from her, she cuffed Odin again.

Though, twice rebuffed by the maiden, Odin was persistent, and returned to the palace as a maiden named Wecha this time, a physician or medicine woman to serve as Rinda's servant in her mother's household.

One day, Rinda fell ill. Odin/Wecha diagnosed the illness and informed the king that he had the medicine, but the very bitter drug would cause a violent reaction, so Rind would have to be bound. So the king himself bound his daughter to the bed; he did not recognise Odin since he assumed Wecha to be a woman. Then instead of curing the helpless girl, Odin raped Rinda. Seeing his own child being raped, didn't stop the king from also violating his own daughter. When Rinda became pregnant, the king assumed that the child was his, but in reality it belonged to Odin.

Due to the rape of Rinda, Odin lost his throne as king of Asgard (which Saxo called Byzantium), and was replaced by Oller (Wulder). Odin was forced into exile, but returned 10 years later to oust Oller. In Saxo's account, Vali's name is Boe, and Odin urged Boe to avenge his brother's death. Boe did so by killing Hother (Hod).