Story: Askeladden beiler solen og månens datter

Det var en gang i fornminnes tider at Solen og Månen, jordens konge og dronning, skulle gifte bort sin datter, Håp. Det var mange som ville beile, men alle som gjorde det kom løpende ut av slottet, bleke som lik og med redselen bunnet fast i deres hjerter. Som om ikke det var nok lot Solen og Månen det bli skåret tre remser hud av ryggen på dem og som deretter ble smørt inn med både salt, pepper, chili og masse annet godt krydder, deretter ble de dyppet i tjære, fjær og en eller annen desert. Continue reading

Story: The fearless hero

So you think you are the fearless one, invincible. You are nothing but a fool!

There once was a hero. His youngest years he spent in a huge garden playing and fighting with wooden swords. He and his elder brother was always on to new adventures, hiding in bushes and far corners of the garden.

But as with all tales of heroes, peace became war and childhood became manhood. His father was powerful enough to be a prime target of their vicious enemies and was killed the first day of the war. His big brother was killed shortly after, trying to defend him, his mother and the house. His mother carried him away, while he was still waving his wooden sword furiously. It was on this day he swore to revenge his brother and fathers deaths, he threw away his wooden sword and picked up one made of steel. But he was still far to young, so he could not rush in, killing every one, like the barbarians in the old tales his father used to tell him. He started to prepare, training hard and gathering equipment. A few years later his mother died of a disease, leaving him all alone at an age of 12. Alone but determined he slowly built his strength and at an age of 16 he already had men under his command and all they wanted was to overthrow those who had killed their families and now ruled their land, houses, beds and even their women. Continue reading

Story: No king without advisors

There once was a king in a far distant land. He was courageous, honest and wise. As long as this king ruled, peace prevailed. His greatest army was one of merchants, travelling to all neighbouring countries and even the neighbours of the neighbours. They traded gold and precious stones, rich foods and spices, the finest of fabrics and much more. But this peace was not meant to last, for the king had only one child to take over the throne. This child, a boy, was nothing like his father. He did not care for the land nor the people, he did not honour wisdom and never took responsibility for his own actions. The king was in great despair, he found no one who could help his son become a leader. Advisors and wise women were summoned, but none had the answers. No one could put and end to the prince’s greed and selfishness. The king became old and his days were numbered. The last thing he ever said was: “I ask my people to rise up against the throne, for it will be better for my people and my immortal soul if the new king is taken down from the throne, with violence if necessary, than to suffer the ignorance and selfishness of my son and heir!” Continue reading