Bolstre Castle
by Herman Hofberg
The Troll's Cursed Crown
Once, there was a little girl. She went to a big, old castle. It was very tall. It had strong stone walls.
The Little Girl was near the castle. She saw The Old Woman there. The Old Woman wore a red skirt. She had a gray head covering. She looked very old and strange. Her eyes were dark.
The Old Woman gave her a box. "Hold this box for me," she said. "I go now for a short time. I will come back soon." The Little Girl held the box. It felt heavy in her hands. She did not like the box.
The Little Girl was very scared. She took the box. She sat on a big stone. She waited and waited for a long time. The sun moved across the sky. Hours passed slowly. The air grew cold. A soft wind blew.
The Old Woman did not come back. The Little Girl waited long. The Bird sang in a tree. Its song was sweet. Two leaves fell down. They landed on the box. They made a cross shape. This was strange. The Little Girl watched them. She wondered what it meant.
Then, the box opened! Inside was a shiny gold crown. It was very bright. It shone like the sun. There were other pretty jewels too. They sparkled very much and glittered. They looked beautiful. The Little Girl gasped. She had never seen such treasures.
The Old Woman never came back. The Little Girl went home. She took the pretty box with her. It was a strange, heavy box. She carried it with care. It felt cold. She showed the jewels to her family. Everyone was amazed.
But the jewels brought bad luck. No one wanted to wear the crown. The Little Girl was sad. Things went wrong for her. Her life became very hard. She cried often. Her days were dark. Bad things happened everywhere.
The Little Girl knew it was Troll magic. The jewels were not good. Her family helped her. They took the bad box to the castle. They did not want the magic. They walked a long way. They were very brave. They wanted peace again.
They buried the box deep in the ground. The bad magic stayed there. It is still there today. It sleeps under the earth, hidden. No one goes near it. It is a secret. The castle guards watch it.
So, remember. Magic gifts from old people bring trouble. Be careful with strange gifts. Always be careful.
Original Story
Bolstre Castle.
One evening, a long time ago, a little girl went up through the forest to Bolstre Castle in search of some sheep that had gone astray.
Reaching the inside of the walls, the little girl was met by an old woman, clothed in a red skirt and a gray head covering, who gave into her possession a box, and commanded her to take care of it while she went to invite a number of her friends to become guests at her daughter’s wedding.
The girl was so frightened that she did not dare to refuse the charge, and, taking the box, sat down upon a stone to wait the woman’s return. When she had thus sat a long time she heard a bird twittering over her head in a tree, and looking up, two leaves fell from the tree in such manner as to form a cross upon the box, whereupon the cover instantly flew open and revealed its contents—a bridal crown of shining gold and many other costly jewels.
The girl waited long and patiently, but the old woman did not return, so, finally she set out on her way home, taking with her the jewel casket. But blessings do not go with Troll property. No bride would wear the crown, it was so fine, and the girl soon after lost her lover. Now that it was clear to every one that a Troll’s gold brought only misfortune upon the household, it was carried back to the castle and buried in the ground, where it surely lies to-day.
Moral of the Story
Possessions obtained from supernatural beings, especially Trolls, bring only misfortune and sorrow.
Characters
The Little Girl ★ protagonist
Small and slender, with the typical build of a young peasant child, likely somewhat thin from a life of labor. Her movements are probably cautious and a bit hesitant due to her fear.
Attire: Simple, practical peasant clothing suitable for a child in a Northern European climate. This would include a coarse linen or wool shift, possibly a plain, dark-colored apron over it, and sturdy, worn leather shoes or wooden clogs. The colors would be muted, like browns, grays, or undyed fabrics.
Wants: To find her lost sheep and return home safely. Later, to fulfill the old woman's command and then to escape the misfortune brought by the Troll's gold.
Flaw: Her fear and inability to refuse the old woman's command, leading her to accept the cursed box. Her naivete regarding the nature of the Troll's property.
She begins as an ordinary peasant girl on a chore, is thrust into a supernatural encounter, and ends up suffering misfortune due to her unwitting involvement with Troll property, learning that such 'blessings' are curses.
Obedient, fearful, patient, responsible (initially), and ultimately a victim of circumstance.
The Old Woman ⚔ antagonist
A wizened, perhaps slightly stooped figure, typical of an elderly woman, but with an underlying air of authority and menace that belies her age. Her movements would be deliberate and perhaps a little stiff, but with a hidden strength.
Attire: A long, flowing red skirt made of a heavy, coarse fabric, possibly wool, indicating a traditional, perhaps rural, style. Her head is covered with a plain, grey cloth, possibly a kerchief or hood, obscuring much of her hair and adding to her mysterious aura.
Wants: To ensnare an unsuspecting human into carrying her cursed Troll property, perhaps as part of a larger, unseen Troll ritual or simply to spread misfortune.
Flaw: Not explicitly stated, but her reliance on others to handle her cursed items suggests she cannot or will not touch them herself, or perhaps she is bound by some magical rule.
She appears briefly to set the plot in motion and then vanishes, her purpose fulfilled by the girl's misfortune.
Commanding, manipulative, cunning, and indifferent to the suffering she causes.
The Bird ◆ supporting
A small, common forest bird, perhaps a robin or a finch, with typical bird features. Its movements would be quick and light.
Attire: Natural feathers.
Wants: To twitter, as birds do, but its actions inadvertently reveal the magical nature of the box.
Flaw: None apparent, as it is a natural creature acting on instinct.
Appears briefly to trigger the opening of the box, then disappears.
Mysterious, perhaps a messenger or an unwitting catalyst for revealing the box's contents.
Locations
Forest Path to Bolstre Castle
A winding path leading upwards through a dense, ancient forest towards the castle. The trees are tall and possibly gnarled, creating a somewhat shadowed and mysterious atmosphere.
Mood: Mysterious, slightly foreboding, quiet.
The little girl's journey to the castle in search of lost sheep.
Inside Bolstre Castle Walls
An open, somewhat desolate area just inside the castle walls, likely a courtyard or a less-maintained outer bailey. There's a prominent stone where the girl sits.
Mood: Eerie, isolated, tense, ancient.
The girl receives the box from the old woman (Troll), waits, and the box opens revealing the crown.
Story DNA
Moral
Possessions obtained from supernatural beings, especially Trolls, bring only misfortune and sorrow.
Plot Summary
A little girl searching for lost sheep at Bolstre Castle is given a mysterious box by an old woman, which she is commanded to guard. After the old woman fails to return, the box opens to reveal a beautiful but cursed bridal crown and jewels. The girl takes them home, but they bring only misfortune, causing her to lose her lover and no bride to wear the crown. Realizing the jewels are Troll property and bring bad luck, they are returned to the castle and buried.
Themes
Emotional Arc
fear to curiosity to misfortune
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Herman Hofberg was a Swedish folklorist, and this tale reflects common Scandinavian folk beliefs about Trolls and their property.
Plot Beats (10)
- A little girl goes to Bolstre Castle to find lost sheep.
- Inside the castle walls, she meets an old woman in red and gray.
- The old woman gives the girl a box and asks her to guard it while she invites guests to her daughter's wedding.
- Frightened, the girl accepts the box and sits on a stone to wait.
- After a long wait, she hears a bird and sees two leaves fall to form a cross on the box.
- The box opens, revealing a shining gold bridal crown and other costly jewels.
- The old woman never returns, so the girl eventually takes the jewel casket home.
- The jewels bring misfortune: no bride will wear the crown, and the girl loses her lover.
- Recognizing the Troll's gold as a source of bad luck, the family returns it to the castle.
- The jewels are buried in the ground at the castle, where they are believed to still lie.
