Iðunn's Golden Apples
The golden apples of Iðunn, which the gods must eat to keep from growing old. When the giant Þjazi tricked Loki into luring Iðunn out of Asgard, the gods aged and greyed, until Loki stole her back in falcon shape, carrying her and her apples from the giant's stronghold. The apples are a life-giving treasure whose loss threatens the whole pantheon. Snorri records the tale in Skáldskaparmál: Iðunn kept the apples in a casket, and without them the gods began to wither, so that the ageing assembly pressed Loki to restore her. Returning in falcon form, Loki snatched the goddess up and flew for Asga