In the northern village of Svartvik, where pine trees hissed like whispering ghosts and frost kissed every doorstep, the children spoke in hushed tones of The Troll Beneath the Stone Bridge. For centuries, the moss-draped crossing had arched over a narrow ravine that the villagers dared not pass by moonlight. They said a troll, ancient, warty, and wise in riddles, lived beneath it, and that anyone who failed to answer its questions vanished forever into the fog.
None had crossed safely since the herder Jorund, three winters past, whose boots were later found on the bridge, feet still in them.
The Toll of the Troll
Now came Erik, a baker’s youngest son. Not known for strength or swordplay, he was clever with tongue and quicker with thought. When famine struck and no grain arrived from the neighboring valley, cut off by the ravine, Erik stepped forward.
“I’ll fetch the grain,” he said.
“Don’t be daft,” muttered his elder brother, thick as stale rye. “You’ll be stew before sunrise.”
But Erik only smiled, pockets stuffed with crusts, a warm cloak, and three riddles he’d practiced since boyhood. He approached the stone bridge just as dusk slipped in like a thief.
The air grew cold. Birds stopped their songs. From beneath the bridge came a grinding sound, like bone against bone, and then, emerging from the mist, a shape the color of wet granite.
“WHO TRESPASSES?” boomed the creature. Its eyes glowed dull orange, its voice like gravel in a drum.
“I am Erik,” he said, standing firm. “Let me pass. I seek grain.”
The troll’s lips curled. “Then answer my riddles, or stay and feed the moss.”
“Ask,” Erik said, gripping a lucky acorn in his palm.
The Bridge of Riddles
The troll leaned close. “First riddle: I have roots but never grow. I hide secrets no man knows. What am I?”
Erik blinked, then grinned. “A mountain.”
The troll blinked. “Hmph. Correct.”
“Next?”
The troll narrowed his eyes. “I speak without mouth, hear without ears. I have no body, yet I come alive with wind.”
“An echo,” Erik said.
The troll snarled now. “Too clever by half.” He leaned forward, breath like spoiled milk. “Last one: The more you take, the more I leave behind. What am I?”
Erik hesitated. His fingers twitched. Then he stepped back and smiled.
“Footsteps.”
The bridge rumbled beneath him. The troll hissed, but rules were rules, even for monsters. He slumped, growled a curse in Old Norse, and sank back into the dark. Erik crossed the bridge.
The Troll Beneath and the Truth Beyond
In the valley beyond, the grain stores overflowed. Erik filled his cart and returned before dawn. Word spread fast in Svartvik, of brains over brawn, of riddles conquered.
But he told no one the strange thing he saw while crossing back: the troll weeping beneath the stonework, fingering a withered flower pinned to his chest.
The village honored Erik, yet he never boasted. Instead, he rebuilt the bridge path and carved three runes into the stone: wit, will, and wonder.
Moral of the Tale
Courage comes in many shapes, but wisdom walks quietly beside it. This tale reminds us that strength lies not just in swords or size but in sharpness of thought and calm in the face of fear. In a world of loud battles, sometimes it’s the riddler who walks away with the victory, and the grain.
Origin: This story comes from the Norwegian tradition of Europe.
Knowledge Check: The Troll Beneath the Stone Bridge
1. What is the moral of the folktale “The Troll Beneath the Stone Bridge”?
The story teaches a lesson about cleverness and courage, showing how quick thinking and calm resolve can lead to lasting triumph.
2. What cultural group does the tale “The Troll Beneath the Stone Bridge” come from?
This folktale originates from the Norwegian tradition in Europe.
3. Why did Erik cross the bridge?
In the tale, Erik crossed the bridge out of loyalty to his starving village, setting the plot in motion with his quiet bravery.
4. How does the folktale “The Troll Beneath the Stone Bridge” explain trolls in bridges?
The story offers a traditional explanation for why trolls dwell beneath bridges and guard passage through riddles and fear.
5. Is “The Troll Beneath the Stone Bridge” considered a trickster tale, ghost story, or moral fable?
“The Troll Beneath the Stone Bridge” is a trickster tale that reflects the wisdom and humor of Nordic folk storytelling.
6. How is this folktale relevant to modern readers?
The message remains relevant as it teaches timeless truths about facing fear with wit and that intellect can outpace brute force.
