When I was a young god, freshly worshiped into the world, the Aesir ruled supreme. They possessed the great knowledge. They subjugated the rest of us. They lead, we followed. As I traveled I met many people, including my blood brother Loki. Ah, good times. We conquered our way through many a mortal and giant land... Ha Ha! Ah, but that's another story.

This story is about power. After much travel and battle, I returned home. Within a week I began to realize how weak my fellow Vanr were, how simpering. True, the Aesir were powerful. True, they had ruled for hundreds of years. Still, we were gods! We deserved to be treated with respect and as equals. I began speaking with my fellow Vanr. In short, they were too weak and afraid to even consider rising against the Aesir. It was disgusting.

As I walked the boundaries of Vanr lands one day, I recalled a story I had heard about Mimir, an Aesir. He owned a fountain at the foot of Ygdrasil; a fountain of wisdom. He had been drinking from the fountain every morning for centuries. He was said to guard the fountain closely allowing only those who were willing to make a tremendous sacrifice were allowed to drink. In that instant I knew that if I were to lead the Vanr to overthrow our Aesir overlords I needed to drink from that well.

The world tree is a sight to behold each and every time it is seen. It is so large that logic says you should not be able to see it all when you are close and yet somehow when you are close it fills your senses and you are aware of each leaf and branch. You know that you are walking over and through her roots. You are surrounded, held and cherished by her. I took a moment to savor the feeling of being truly cherished before making my way to Mimir's fountain.

"You know the price." Mimir said as I approached. It wasn't a question. I could tell by his face that he understood so much more than could be spoken...or understood. I did know the price and I did not flinch from it. My eye was a small price to pay for the wisdom of ages. As my eye fell into the well, Mimir filled his horn and I drank.

With the first sip I felt more pain than I did when I plucked out my eye. Not a physical pain. It felt as though my whole being was expanding...my awareness was outgrowing its previous bounds. Hours? Days? Years, later? I managed to close my mouth and I was still standing before Mimir holding his horn. I gravely handed it back with a bow. Mimir tilted his head in acknowledgement. I somehow managed to turn and walk away.

I wandered aimlessly for a long time considering my new wisdom. How little I had known before. How much I understood. It was so obvious why the Vanr weren't willing to overthrow the Aesir. I now knew how to motivate them and knew that we would succeed. I saw so many decisions I would have to make and how difficult some of the actions I must take would be. I seriously considered simply taking my own life. It would have been the easier path. And yet I didn't because despite what I could clearly see laying ahead, I knew the rewards as well.

No one could begin to understand the way that I now did. Not even Mimir. How could he live with the knowledge, the wisdom he must have after drinking from his fountain day after day, year after year for centuries?