Tatterhood

(Norway)

Once upon a time, in a far-off kingdom nestled between misty fjords and towering mountains, there lived a queen who longed for a child. Despite years of yearning and praying, her wish remained unfulfilled. One night, in her sadness, she walked through the castle gardens, where she encountered a mysterious old woman.

"Why are you so sad, my queen?" asked the woman, her eyes twinkling with an otherworldly light.

The queen sighed. "I wish for a child, but no matter how much I pray, my arms remain empty."

"Go back to your palace, make a broth of two flowers," the old woman advised, handing her two blooms—one fair and beautiful, the other withered and gray. "Eat the beautiful one first, and then the ugly one. But heed my warning: you must not eat them both."

The queen returned to the palace, and in her excitement, she disregarded the warning. She devoured both flowers in her haste, hoping they would grant her heart’s deepest wish.

Months passed, and the queen gave birth to twins. One daughter was fair and lovely, while the other was… different. The second daughter, named Tatterhood, entered the world with wild hair, ragged clothes, and riding a goat. As unusual as she appeared, Tatterhood was strong, confident, and clever beyond measure.

Introduction Image

Years went by, and the twin sisters grew up together. The fair princess, kind-hearted and gentle, adored her sister, who was bold, daring, and full of life. Tatterhood, although strange to many, proved herself to be the most protective of her sister. She wielded a wooden spoon as her weapon and rode her goat everywhere, never letting anyone insult or belittle her for her differences.

One dark evening, an eerie celebration was heard outside the palace. It was a band of trolls and witches, causing a ruckus in the royal courtyard. These creatures, mischievous and wicked, unleashed chaos upon the kingdom. They crept into the castle, found the fair sister, and—before anyone could stop them—turned her into a cow-headed creature!

The kingdom fell into despair. But not Tatterhood. She leaped onto her goat, grabbed her wooden spoon, and proclaimed, "I shall save my sister!"

Despite the king and queen’s protests, Tatterhood rode out into the night, fearlessly facing the strange beings that had invaded her home.

The Journey Begins

Tatterhood rode fast and far, her goat galloping into the heart of the witches' lair. Her wild hair whipped in the wind, and her eyes blazed with determination. She encountered the witch queen, an ancient being with eyes like glowing embers.

"You dare come here alone, little girl?" mocked the witch queen.

Tatterhood raised her wooden spoon defiantly. "Give me back my sister’s true head, or face my wrath!"

The witch queen cackled, but Tatterhood didn't flinch. With a mighty swing, she knocked the witch’s cauldron over, spilling its contents. The witch queen shrieked and hurled curses, but Tatterhood was too quick, dodging each attack with the agility of a mountain goat.

Finally, the witch queen yielded. "Take this," she hissed, throwing a jar to Tatterhood. "It holds the magic to restore your sister. But beware, the journey is not over. More trials await you."

Tatterhood took the jar, turned her back on the witch, and rode off, victorious in her first battle. Yet, she knew that this was only the beginning of her journey.

Crossing the Stormy Sea

To break the curse entirely, Tatterhood needed to travel across the stormy sea to the Land of the Trolls, where the final spell lay hidden. She set sail on a ship made from driftwood and old sails, her goat by her side. The ocean waves towered like mountains, crashing against her tiny vessel. But Tatterhood stood firm, her wooden spoon raised against the elements.

For days, the sea battled her resolve. Waves roared, lightning struck, and the wind howled in fury. But Tatterhood did not falter. "Is that all you’ve got?" she yelled into the storm, laughing at the raging winds.

Finally, she reached the shores of the Troll Kingdom, drenched but unbroken. Before her stood a great cave, guarded by a giant troll, its eyes glowing like twin lanterns in the darkness.

"You shall not pass!" bellowed the troll, brandishing a club as large as a tree.

Tatterhood, without fear, took a step forward. "Oh, is that so? Let’s see about that." With a swift movement, she jabbed her wooden spoon into the troll's foot, making it hop on one leg. As it stumbled, she swung her spoon and whacked its knee, bringing the giant crashing to the ground. "Next time, mind your manners," she said with a grin, walking past the groaning troll.

The Final Confrontation

Deep inside the cave, Tatterhood found the source of her sister's curse: a gleaming mirror hung on the wall, surrounded by troll elders. The reflection in the mirror was that of her sister, cow-headed and sorrowful.

"To break this curse, you must face your true self," the eldest troll declared. "Are you ready?"

Tatterhood nodded, stepping up to the mirror. In it, she saw not the wild, fearless girl everyone else saw, but a version of herself that doubted, that feared she was not enough. The mirror whispered insecurities: "You’re strange. You don’t belong. You will fail."

Tatterhood clenched her wooden spoon. "I am Tatterhood," she declared. "I am strong. I am brave. I am enough!"

With that declaration, she struck the mirror with her spoon, shattering it into a thousand pieces. The trolls howled and disappeared, leaving behind a soft, glowing light. In the light, Tatterhood saw her sister’s true head, which floated gently toward her. She took it and held it close, tears of relief shining in her eyes.

The Return Home

Tatterhood sailed back across the sea, facing calm waters this time. Her heart was light, and her goat trotted happily on the deck. As she reached her kingdom’s shores, she saw her sister, still under the cow-head curse but waiting anxiously.

Tatterhood approached and gently placed the true head back onto her sister’s shoulders. There was a flash of light, and the fair princess was restored to her original beauty. Tears streamed down her face as she embraced Tatterhood. "You did it," she whispered. "You saved me."

"I always will," Tatterhood replied, a smile tugging at her lips.

Together, they returned to the palace, where the kingdom erupted in cheers. The king and queen wept with joy, and a grand celebration was held in Tatterhood’s honor.

The Proposal

As the festivities carried on, a prince from a nearby kingdom approached the fair princess, asking for her hand in marriage. "I cannot marry you," the fair princess said, "unless my sister finds happiness first."

The prince turned to Tatterhood. "Will you marry me, brave and noble Tatterhood?"

Tatterhood looked him up and down, then let out a hearty laugh. "Do you have a goat to ride?"

The prince, though baffled, quickly fetched a goat. Together, they rode out of the palace, Tatterhood leading the way, laughing all the while. "Well then," she said, "we shall see where this adventure takes us."

The New Beginning

Years passed, and Tatterhood, alongside her sister and the prince, ruled kingdoms with fairness, strength, and kindness. Her story spread far and wide, and she became a legend—known not for her beauty, but for her bravery, her loyalty, and her unyielding spirit.

And every year, on the anniversary of the night she faced the trolls, Tatterhood would ride her goat through the kingdom, her wooden spoon held high, a reminder that sometimes, the strangest heroes are the strongest of all.

Epilogue

The kingdom flourished, and Tatterhood's name was celebrated in songs and stories. And as she rode off into the sunset one last time, with her faithful goat trotting alongside, the people whispered of the girl who taught them that courage and love were the greatest magic of all.