Behold Kelda, Norse goddess of Winter storms, ice, lashing rain and churning clouds ranking high amongst the gods and warriors of fabled Asgard.
Norse Legend
Kelda is the Asgardian (Norse) goddess of ice, lashing rain and churning cloud, one of the higher-ranking Asgardian (Norse) gods much beloved by her fellows because of her gentle nature. However, after living a millennium, she was overtaken with ennui, believing there were no new experiences to have. She disengaged from the world, though in the late 17th century she took an interest in King William III of England, aka William of Orange, who whispered to her in his dreams, seeking the truth about life.A New Beginning
In recent years, Kelda was slain during Ragnarok; however, Thor later resurrected the Asgardians and recreated Asgard, floating just feet above farmland near Broxton, Oklahoma. Venturing out to enjoy the starlit night, Kelda wandered into Broxton, where she encountered fry cook Bill Cobb III, who was instantly smitten with her; charmed by his manners and innocence, she found his curiosity stimulating and invited him to visit Asgard. Experiencing the world through Bill's eyes made Kelda feel alive for the first time in centuries, and she fell deeply in love with him. Soon however, the trickster god Loki Laufeyson convinced Asgard's King Balder to relocate the Asgardians to Doctor Victor von Doom's Latveria. Unwilling to be parted from Kelda, Bill accompanied the Asgardians, but he became concerned after discovering their host's true identity. Bill was well aware of Doom's villainous reputation. His attempts to warn Balder drew the ire of three of Loki's confederates, who picked a fight with Bill until Kelda intervened, by creating a poisoned ice spear for Bill to defend himself. Continuing to investigate, Bill discovered Loki was be helping Doom dissect Asgardians to learn the secrets of their divine biology, but Loki spotted Bill eavesdropping; though Loki's lackeys mortally wounded Bill. Although, he warned Balder of Loki’s treachery with his dying breath.A Grieving Goddess
The Nobel Balder informed the ice goddess of Bill's murder, grief-stricken and infuriated Kelda attacked Doom's castle, her lightening unwittingly empowering Doom's new facsimile Destroyer robot, which ripped out her heart; her Asgardian physiology allowed Kelda to cling to a vestige of life, and Loki, falsely claiming to have been duped by Doom, revived Kelda, ostensibly to win back Balder's favor. However, already plotting his next scheme to unleash the undead Disir, Loki secretly stole a piece of Kelda's soul, needing something pure to forge into a sword that could wound the Disir.With her soul incomplete, Kelda was trapped in her state of grief, the constant pain warping her judgment. After the Asgardians returned to Oklahoma, tensions swiftly mounted between Asgard and the United States of America, stoked by Loki’s erstwhile ally Norman Osborn’s machinations. Kelda visited Bill’s parent’s to inform them of their son’s death; shocked by Kelda's news, they rejected her, but before Kelda could leave, Osborn’s assault upon Asgard had begun, and HAMMER agents surrounded Bill’s parent’s home. Unconcerned for her fate, Kelda began to surrender without a fight, but became angry upon learning that Asgard was under attack; the HAMMER agents opened fire on her, but Bill’s father interposed himself between Kelda and her attackers before they slew their guilt-ridden, unresisting target. Bill’s mother forgave Kelda and encouraged her to continue on with her life, because that is what her son would have wanted her to do. Kelda healed herself, slew the HAMMER agents, and quickly went to Asgard’s defense.
A Soul Returned
Following Osborn’s siege, the Valkyrie Brunnhilde told Kelda that Bill’s spirit resided in Asgard’s Hall of Valhalla. However, Kelda was unable to enter, so she spent tearful days sitting by its entrance, watching her lost love. With Loki seemingly dying during the siege, Kelda turned her resentment for Bill’s death upon Balder. While Thor was in Hell fighting the Disir, Kelda collected her tears, turning them into poison, which she offered to Balder in a chalice. However, while using Loki’s sword against the Disir, Thor learned its origins; sensing Kelda’s intent through the weapon, he returned in time to save Balder, stabbing Kelda with the sword and restoring her damaged soul.Note: Myths identify the sea goddess Ran or Freya's sister Frid as Asgard's storm goddess, and Skadi as goddess of the winter; Kelda may be another name for one of them, her domain may overlap theirs, or the myths may overlook Kelda in favor of them, perhaps because of her disinterest in adventure which might have made her poor material for Viking sagas.
