In this episode, I will tell the magical tale of "Soria Moria Castle," a whimsical story following the journey of Halvor, a young man who finds himself on a strange coast after a terrible storm at sea, and discovers a princess who warns him of a fearsome troll. So, if you're ready for a magical adventure, cozy up and let the magic of "Soria Moria Castle" sweep you away.
The music in this episode is Mornings by Sebastian Winskog.
BetterHelp Visit our sponsor at BetterHelp.com/dreamful for 10% off your first month.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
In this episode, I will tell the magical tale of "Soria Moria Castle," a whimsical story following the journey of Halvor, a young man who finds himself on a strange coast after a terrible storm at sea, and discovers a princess who warns him of a fearsome troll. So, if you're ready for a magical adventure, cozy up and let the magic of "Soria Moria Castle" sweep you away.
The music in this episode is Mornings by Sebastian Winskog.
BetterHelp Visit our sponsor at BetterHelp.com/dreamful for 10% off your first month.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Welcome to Dreamful Podcast Bedtime stories for slumber. I would like to start off this episode by thanking our newest supporters, mikayla, kelly, ikes and Madeline. Thank you all so much, and I hope you have the sweetest of dreams. If you'd like to support the show and gain access to the subscriber-only episodes while receiving a shout-out, visit DreamfulStoriescom and, on the support page, find a link to become a BuzzFront supporter or subscribe via Supercast. If you listen on Spotify, this episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.
Speaker 1:
I recently was in a situation that made me realize that I am an approval addict. I was completely putting others selfish desires ahead of my own, just because I am scared of what will happen if I say no. Just the thought of someone being mildly annoyed with me gives me anxiety. But here's the thing seeking constant approval is exhausting and can lead to an unhealthy cycle of giving in to others and then resenting them later. If you're in a similar situation and need help balancing the needs of others with your own, i really think you should give BetterHelp a try. Betterhelp offers online therapy that is convenient, flexible and suited to your schedule No more commuting or waiting rooms. Just fill out a brief questionnaire and you'll be matched with a licensed therapist who can give you the tools to build self-confidence, set healthy boundaries and prioritize your own desires and aspirations. Find more balance with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelpcom slash Dreamful today to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelpcom slash Dreamful. In this episode I will be reading the whimsical fairy tale Sorya Moria Castle. So snuggle up in your blankets and have sweet dreams.
Speaker 1:
There was once upon a time a couple of folks who had a son called Halver. Ever since he had been a little boy, he had been unwilling to do any work and had just sat raking about among the ashes. His parents sent him away to learn several things, but Halver stayed nowhere. For when he had been gone two or three days, he always ran away from his master, hurried off home and sat down in the chimney corner to grub among the ashes again. One day, however, a sea captain came and asked Halver if he hadn't a fancy to come with him and go to sea and behold foreign lands. And Halver had a fancy for that. So he was not long in getting ready. How long they sailed I have no idea, but after a long, long time there was a terrible storm, and when it was over and all had become calm again, they knew not where they were, for they had been driven away to a strange coast of which none of them had any knowledge, as there was no wind at all. They lay there becalmed, and Halver asked the skipper to give him leave to go on shore to look about him, for he would much rather do that than lie there and sleep. I also think that thou art fit to go where people can see thee, said the skipper. Thou hast no clothes, but those rags thou art going about in.
Speaker 1:
Halver still begged for leave and at last got it, but he was to come back at once if the wind began to rise. So he went on shore, and it was a delightful country withers however he went, there were wide plains with fields and meadows, but as for people, there were none to be seen. The wind began to rise, but Halver thought that he had not seen enough yet and that he would like to walk about a little longer to try if he could not meet somebody. So after a while he came to a great highway which was so smooth that an egg might have been rolled along it without breaking. Halver followed this and one evening drew near, he saw a big castle far away in the distance and there were lights in it. So as he had now been walking the whole day and had not brought anything to eat away with him, he was frightfully hungry.
Speaker 1:
Nevertheless, the near he came to the castle, the more afraid he was. A fire was burning in the castle and Halver went into the kitchen, which was more magnificent than any kitchen he had ever yet beheld. There were vessels of gold and silver, but not one human being was to be seen. Then Halver had stood there for some time and no one had come out. He went in and opened a door and inside a princess was sitting at her wheel spinning. Nay, she cried, you dare to come hither, but the best thing that you can do is to go away again, for if not the troll will devour you. A troll with three heads lives here. I should have been just as well pleased if he had four heads more, for I should have enjoyed seeing the fellow said the youth and I won't go away, for I've done no harm, but you must give me something to eat, for I am frightfully hungry.
Speaker 1:
When Halver had eaten his fill, the princess told him to try if he could wield the sword which was hanging on the wall. But he could not wield it, nor could he even lift it up. Until then he must take a drink of that bottle which is hanging by its side. For that's what the troll does whenever he goes out and wants to use the sword, said the princess. Halver took a draught and in a moment he was able to swing the sword about with perfect ease. And now he thought it was high time for the troll to make his appearance. And at that very moment he came, panting for breath. Halver got behind the door. Uthattu, said the troll as he put his head in the door. It smells just as if there were Christian men's blood here. Yes, you shall learn that there is, said Halver, and cut off all his heads.
Speaker 1:
The princess was so rejoiced to be free that she danced and sang. But then she remembered her sisters and said If my sisters were but free too, where are they, said Halver? So she told him where they were. One of them had been taken away by a troll to his castle, which was six miles off, and the other had been carried off to a castle which was nine miles farther off still. But now, said she, you must first help me to get this dead body away from here. Halver was so strong that he cleared everything away and made all clean and tidy very quickly. So then they ate and drank and were happy.
Speaker 1:
The next morning he set off in the gray light of dawn. He gave himself no rest, but walked or ran the live long day. When he came inside to the castle he was again just a little afraid. It was much more splendid than the other, but here too there was not a human being to be seen. So Halver went into the kitchen and did not linger there either, but went straight in.
Speaker 1:
Nay, do you dare to come here? cried the second princess. I know not how long it is since I myself came, but during all that time I had never seen a man. It will be better of you to depart at once, or a troll lives here who has six heads. No, i shall not go, said Halver. Even if he had six more I would not. He will swallow you up alive, said the princess. But she spoke to no purpose, for Halver would not go. He was not afraid of the troll, but he wanted some meat to drink, for he was hungry after his journey. So she gave him as much as he would have, and then she once more tried to make him go away. No, said Halver, i will not go, for I have not done anything wrong and I have no reason to be afraid. He won't ask any questions about that, said the princess, for he will take you without leave or right. But as you will not go, try if you can wield that sword which the troll uses in battle. He could not brandish the sword, so the princess said that he was to take a drop from the flask which hung by its side, and when he had done that he could wield the sword.
Speaker 1:
Soon afterwards the troll came, and he was so large in stout that he was forced to go sideways to get through the door. When the troll got his first head in, he cried Who to do is? smells of a Christian man's blood here. With that, halver caught off the first head, and so on with all the rest. The princess was now exceedingly delighted, but then she remembered her sisters and wished that they too were free. Halver thought that might be managed and wanted to set off immediately, but first he had to help the princess remove the troll's body. So it was not until mourning that he set forth on his way.
Speaker 1:
It was a long way to the castle, and he both walked and ran to get there in time. Late in the evening he caught sight of it and it was very much more magnificent than either of the others. And this time he was not in the least afraid, but went into the kitchen and then straight on inside the castle. There the princess was sitting, who was so beautiful that there was never anyone equal to her. She too said what the others had said, that no folk had ever been there since she had come and untreated him to go away again, or else the troll would swallow him up alive.
Speaker 1:
The troll had nine heads. She told him, yes, and if he had nine added to the nine and then nine more still, i would not go away, said Halver, and went and stood by the stove. The princess begged him to go lest the troll should fowr him, but Halver said let him come when he will. So she gave him the troll's sword and bade him take a drink from the flask to enable him to wield it. At that same moment the troll came breathing hard, and he was ever so much bigger and stouter than either of the others, and he too was forced to go sideways to get in through the door. Who to do. What a smell of Christian blood there is here, said he. Then Halver cut off the first head and after that the others. But the last was the toughest of them all and it was the hardest work that Halver had ever done to get it off. But he still believed that he would have strength enough to do it.
Speaker 1:
And now all the princesses came to the castle and were together again And they were happier than they had ever been in their lives And they were delighted with Halver and he with them. And he was to choose the one he liked best. But of the three sisters the youngest one loved him best. But Halver went about and was so strange and so mournful and quiet that the princesses asked what it was that he longed for and if he did not like to be with them. He said that he did like to be with them, for they had enough to live on and he was very comfortable there. But he longed to go home, for his father and mother were alive and he had a great desire to see them again. They thought that this might easily be done. You shall go and return in perfect safety if you will follow our advice, said the princesses. So he said that he would do nothing that they did not wish. Then they dressed him so splendidly that he was like a king's son, and they put a ring on his finger, and it was one which would enable him to go there and back again by wishing. But they told him that he must not throw it away or name their names, for if he did, all his magnificence would be at an end and then he would never see them more. If I were but at home again, or if home were. But here, said Halver, and no sooner had he wished this than it was granted.
Speaker 1:
Halver was standing outside his father and mother's cottage before he knew what he was about. The darkness of night was coming on, and when the father and mother saw such a splendid and stately stranger walk in, they were so startled that they both began to bow and curtsy. Halver then inquired if he could stay there and have lodging for the night. No, that he certainly could not. We can give you no such accommodation, they said, for we have none of the things that are needful when a great Lord like you is to be entertained. It would be better for you to go up to the farm. It is not far off. You can see the chimney pots from here and there they have plenty of everything. Halver would not hear of that. He was absolutely determined to stay where he was.
Speaker 1:
But the old folks stuck to what they had said and told him that he was to go to the farm where he could get both meat and drink, whereas they themselves had not even a chair to offer him. No, said Halver, i will not go up there till early morning. Let me stay here tonight. I can sit down on the hearth. They could say nothing against that.
Speaker 1:
So Halver sat down on the hearth and began to rake about among the ashes, just as he had done before when he lay there idling away his time. They chatted much about many things and told Halver of this and of that, and at last he asked them if they had never had any child. Yes, said they, they had had a boy who was called Halver, but they did not know where he had gone and they could not even say whether he was dead or alive. Could I be, he said Halver? I should know him well enough, said the old woman rising. Our Halver was so idle and slothful that he never did anything at all, and he was so ragged that one hole ran into another all over his clothes. Such a fellow as he could never turn into such a man as you are, sir.
Speaker 1:
In a short time the old woman had gone to the fireplace to stir the fire, and when the blaze lit up, halver as it used to do when he was at home raking up the ashes she knew him again. Good heavens is that you, halver. She said, and such great gladness fell on the old parents that there were no bounds to it, and now he had to relate everything that had befallen him. And the old woman was so delighted with him that she would take him up to the farm at once to show him to the girls who had formally looked down on him. So She went there first and Halver followed her. When she got there she told him how Halver had come home again. And now they should just see how magnificent he was. He looks like a prince, she said. We shall see that he is just the same ragamuffin that he was before, said the girls tossing their heads.
Speaker 1:
At that same moment Halver entered and the girls were so astonished that they left their kirtles lying in the chimney corner and ran away in nothing but their petticoats When they came in again they were so shame-faced that they hardly dared to look at Halver, towards whom they had always been so proud and haughty before I. You've always thought that you were so pretty and dainty that no one was equal to you, said Halver. But you should just see the eldest princess whom I set free. You look like hers' woman compared with her, and the second princess is also much prettier than you. But the youngest, who is my sweetheart, is more beautiful than either sun or moon. I wished to heaven they were here and then you would see them Scarcely had. He said this before, they were standing by his side, but then he was very sorrowful, for the words which they said came to his mind.
Speaker 1:
Up at the farm, a great feast was made ready for the princesses and much respect paid to them, but they would not stay there. We want to go down to your parents, they said to Halver, so we will go out and look about us. He followed them out and they came to a large pond outside the farmhouse, very near the water. There was a pretty green bank and there the princesses said they would sit down and wile away for an hour, for they thought that it would be pleasant to sit and look out of the water. They said There. They sat down and when they had sat for a short time, the youngest princess said I may as well comb your hair a little, halver. So Halver laid his head down on her lap and she combed it, and it was not long before he fell asleep. Then she took her ring from him and put another in its place, and then she said to her sisters to me, as I am holding you, i would that. We were at Sorya Moria Castle When Halver awoke.
Speaker 1:
He knew that he had lost the princesses and began to weep and lament and was so unhappy that he could not be comforted. In spite of all his fathers and mothers and treaties he would not stay but bade them farewell, saying that he would never see them more, for if he did not find the princess again, he did not think it worthwhile to live. He again had $300. Which he put into his pocket and went on his way.
Speaker 1:
When he had walked some distance he met a man with a tolerably good horse. Halver longed by it and began to bargain with a man. Well, i've not exactly been thinking of selling him, said the man, but if we could agree perhaps. Halver inquired how much he wanted to have for the horse. I did not give much for him and he is not worth much. He is a capital horse to ride but good for nothing at drawing. But he will always be able to carry your bag of provisions, and you too, if you walk and ride by turns.
Speaker 1:
At last they agreed about the price and Halver laid his bag on the horse, and sometimes he walked and sometimes he rode. In the evening he came to a green field where stood a great tree under which he seated himself. Then he let the horse loose and lay down to sleep, but before he did he took his bag off the horse. At daybreak he set off again, for he did not feel as if he could take any rest. So he walked and rode the whole day through a great wood where there were many green places which gleamed very prettily among the trees. He did not know where he was or whether he was going, but he never lingered longer in any place than was enough to let his horse get a little food when they came to one of these green spots, while he himself took out his bag of provisions. So he walked and he rode, and it seemed to him that the wood would never come to an end. But on the evening of the second day he saw a light shining through the trees. If only there were some people up there, i might warm myself and get something to eat, thought Halver.
Speaker 1:
When he got to the place where the light had come from, he saw a wretched little cottage and through a small pane of glass he saw a couple of old folks inside. They were very old and as gray-headed as a pigeon, and the old woman had such a long nose that she sat in the chimney corner and used it to stir the fire. Good evening, said the old hag. But what errand have you that can bring you here? No, christian folk have been here for more than a hundred years. So Halver told her that he wanted to get to Soria Moria Castle and inquired if she knew the way there. No, said the old woman that I do not. But the moon will be here presently and I will ask her. And she will know she can easily see it, for she shines all things.
Speaker 1:
So when the moon stood clear and bright above the treetops, the old woman went out. Moon, moon, she screamed. Canst thou tell me the way to Soria Moria Castle. No, said the moon, that I can't, for when I shone there, there was a cloud before me. Wait a little longer, said the old woman to Halver, for the west wind will presently be here, and he will know it, for he breathes gently or blows into every corner. What Have you? a horse too, she said when she came in again. Oh, let the poor creature loose in our bed of fengen and pasture and don't let it stand there starving at our very door. But won't you exchange him with me? We have a pair of old boots here with which you can go fifteen quarters of a mile at each step. You shall have them for a horse, and then you will be able to get sooner to Soria Moria Castle. Halver consented to this at once, and the old woman was so delighted with the horse that she was ready to dance.
Speaker 1:
Before long came the west wind roaring so loud that the walls creaked. The old woman went out and cried West wind, west wind, canst thou tell me the way to Soria Moria Castle? Here is one who would go there. Yes, i know it well, said the west wind. I am just on my way there to dry the clothes for the wedding which is to take place. If he is fleet afoot, he can go with me Out. Ran, halver, you will have to make haste if you mean to go with me, said the west wind, and away it went over hill and dale and moor and mooress, and Halver had enough to do to keep up with it. Well, now I have no time to stay with you any longer, said the west wind, for I must first go and tear down a bit of spruce fur before I go to the bleaching ground to dry the clothes. But just go along the side of the hill and you will come to some girls who are standing there washing clothes, and then you will not have to walk.
Speaker 1:
Far before you at Soria Moria Castle, shortly afterwards, halver came to the girls who are standing washing and they asked him if he had seen anything of the west wind who was to come there to dry the clothes for the wedding. Yes, said Halver, he has only gone to break down a bit of spruce fur. It won't be long before he is here. And then he asked them the way to Soiamoria Castle. They put him in the right way and when he came in front of the castle it was so full of horses and people that it swarmed with them.
Speaker 1:
But Halva was so ragged and torn with following the west wind through bushes and bogs that he kept on one side and would not go among the crowd until the last day when the feast was to be held at noon.
Speaker 1:
So when, as was the usage and custom, all would drink to the bride and the young girls who were present. The cupbearer filled the cup for each intern, both bride and bridegroom, and knights and servants, and at last, after a very long time, he came to Halva. He drank to their health and then slipped the ring which the princess had put on his finger when they were sitting by the water side, into the glass and ordered the cupbearer to carry the glass to the bride from him and greet her. Then the princess at once rose up from the table and said Who is most worthy to have one of us, he who has delivered us from the trolls or he who is sitting here as bridegroom? There could be but one opinion as to that. Everyone thought. And when Halva heard what they said, he was not long and flinging off his beggars, rags and a rang himself as a bridegroom Yes, he is the right one or the youngest princess when she caught sight of him, so she flung the other out of the window and held her wedding with Halva.
Speaker 2:
Then the princess at once rose up from the table and said Who is most worthy to have one of us? He who has delivered us from the trolls or he who is sitting here as bridegroom? He who has delivered us from the trolls or he who is sitting here as bridegroom? zy.
