Troll

Description

Trolls are usually harmless. They live like families inside the mountains or deep into the woods and they can be very old. If the light of the sun reaches them, they crack. They are usually small, like half-grown children and they are not very pretty. There is an old saying; ”there is only one thing more ugly than one troll, TWO trolls!” The trolls voluntarily exchange their babies for a human baby. The troll baby is then called a changeling. To tell stories about a changeling made it easier to understand why children sometimes looked different. Now and then the trolls would kidnap children or grown ups. When a person suddenly disappeared in the woods, the explanation was that you hade been carried away by the trolls.

Story

Once upon a time a young girl called Kerstin lived close to Huseby mill. One day when she was herding the cows in the forest, she disappeared. Everyone looked for her, but they only found the cows. She had been carried away by the trolls. Inside the mountain she had to work hard, cooking, cleaning and looking after the trolls children. Kerstin also had to carry the big heavy golden bowls outdoors into the sunlight. The bowls were used as lamps inside the dark mountain. Now and then the trolls put a special bonnet on her head to make her invisible and sent her out to steal food. One day Kerstin was sent to Huseby mill to steal grain. Suddenly the miller bumped into her, he couldn’t see her. The bonnet was tilted and Kerstin was not invisible any longer. Everyone was happy that Kerstin was back. But poor her. She had been working so hard carrying heavy stuff all the time. Her arms were now so long so they were touching the ground ever after.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Trolls hate garlic, fire, metal and Christian words. Wear a troll cross made of metal around your neck. When you are in the dark woods just sing a hymn on top of your voice and the trolls will disappear far away.