THE FISHERMEN of SHETLAND
by Unknown · from Welsh Fairy-Tales and Other Stories
Adapted Version
Long ago, in a small village by the sea, people were happy. A kind merman helped them catch many fish. Merman Kai helped them. He made fish come. Finn loved Lila. He wanted to marry her. He needed much gold.
Witch Griselda lived near. She was very bad. Grumpy Dwarf was with her. They saw Merman Kai. They wanted his magic belt. Grumpy Dwarf became a bee. He flew to Merman Kai. Merman Kai fell asleep. The bee took his belt. He gave it to Witch Griselda.
Witch Griselda put Merman Kai in a pot. It was a big pot. They sealed it tight. They threw the pot far into the sea. Merman Kai was gone. No fish came to the sea. The people caught nothing. They were very hungry. The village was sad.
Queen Elara came to Finn. "Find the belt," she said. "Make Witch Griselda leave. Save your people. You can marry Lila." Finn was brave. Finn became a big bear. He went to the wood. He watched Grumpy Dwarf. Grumpy Dwarf had a cave. The cave held shiny things.
The bear went to Lila's house. Lila was not scared. She was kind to him. The bear talked to them. They liked the bear. Spring came. The bear found Grumpy Dwarf. Grumpy Dwarf had no belt. The bear scared him. Grumpy Dwarf ran away. He never came back. Finn got the belt. He became a man.
Finn took the belt. He found shiny treasure. He went to the village. He told the people good news. Their troubles would end. Finn used the magic belt. Queen Elara came. She gave Finn a bow. It was a magic bow. "Make Witch Griselda leave," she said.
Finn used the magic bow. Witch Griselda was scared. She ran away fast. Queen Elara used her wand. The witch could not come back. Queen Elara spoke to Finn. "Find Merman Kai's pot," she said. Finn, his brother, and the Chief went. They looked in the sea.
They found the pot. They opened it. Merman Kai came out. He saw his magic belt. He was very happy. He was not angry. Finn gave the belt back. Merman Kai put it on. He swam to the sea. He was very happy. He brought back all the fish.
The village had many fish. Finn married Lila. His brother married her sister. Everyone was happy. They lived well. Finn was brave and kind. He helped everyone. Good things happen when you are brave and kind.
Finn and Lila were very happy. The village was happy too. Everyone lived happily ever after.
Original Story
THE FISHERMEN OF SHETLAND.
There was a snug little cove in one of the Shetland Islands. At the head of the cove stood a fishing hamlet, containing some twenty huts. In these huts lived the fisher-folk, ruled by one man—the chief—who was the father of two beautiful daughters.
Now these fishermen for some years had been very lucky, for a fairy queen and her fairies had settled there, and she had given her power over to a merman, who was the chief of a large family of mermaids. The fairy queen had made the merman a belt of sea-weed, which he always wore round his body. The merman used to turn the water red, green, and white, at noon each day, so that the fishermen knew that if they cast their nets into the coloured waters they would make good hauls.
Amongst these fishermen were two brave brothers, who courted the chief’s daughters, but the old man would not let them get married until they became rich men.
Whenever the fishermen went off in the boats the merman was used to sit on a rock, and watch them fishing.
Close by the hamlet was a great wood, in which lived a wicked old witch and a dwarf.
Now this witch wished to get possession of the merman’s belt, and so gain the fairy’s power. Telling her scheme to the dwarf, she said to him:
“Now you must trap the merman when he is sitting on the rocks watching the fishing fleet. But I must change you into a bee, when you must suck of the juice in this magic basin, then fly off and alight on the merman’s head, when he will fall asleep.”
So the dwarf agreed, and it happened as she had said; and the merman fell asleep, and the dwarf stole the belt and brought it to the witch.
“Now you must wear the belt,” said the witch to the dwarf, “and you will have the power and the fairy will lose her power.”
They then translated the sleeping merman to the forest and laid him before the hut, when the witch got a copper vessel, saying:
“We must bury him in this.”
Then she got the magic pot, and told the dwarf to take a ladleful of the fluid in the pot, and pour it over the merman, which he did, and immediately the merman turned into smoke, that settled in the copper vessel. Then they sealed the copper vessel tightly.
“Now take this vessel, and heave it into the sea fifty miles from the land,” said the witch, and the dwarf did as he was bid.
“Now we’ll starve those old fishermen out this winter,” said the witch; and it happened as she had said—they could catch nothing.
In the spring the queen fairy came to one of the young fishermen who was courting one of the chief’s daughters, and said:
“You must venture for the sake of your love, and for the lives of the fishermen, or you will all starve—but I will be with you. Will you run the risk?”
“I will,” said the brave fisherman.
“Well, the dwarf has got my belt, he stole it from the merman, and so I have lost power over the world for twelve months and a day; but if you get back the belt I can settle the witch; if not, you will all starve and catch no fish.”
So the bold fisherman agreed to try.
“Now I must transform you into a bear, and you’ll have to watch the witch and the dwarf, and take your chance of getting the belt; and you must watch where he hides his treasure, for he is using the belt as a means to get gold, which he hides in a cave.”
And so the sailor was turned into a bear, and he went to the wood and watched the dwarf, and saw that he hid his treasure in a cave in some crags.
The bear had been given the power of making himself invisible, by sitting on his haunches and rubbing his ears with his paws.
One night, when it was very boisterous, the bear felt like going to see his sweetheart. So he went, and knocked at the door. The girl opened the door, and shrieked when she saw the bear.
“Oh, let him in,” said her old mother.
So the bear came in and asked for shelter from the storm, for he could speak.
And he went and sat by the fire, and asked his sweetheart to brush the snow from his coat, which she did.
“I won’t do you any harm,” he said; “let me sleep by the fire.”
He came again the next night, and they gave him some gruel, and played with him; for he was just like a dog.
So he came every night until the springtime, when, one morning, as he was going away, he said:
“You mustn’t expect me any more. Spring has come, and the snows have melted. I can’t come again till the summer is over.”
So he returned to the wood and watched the dwarf, but he could never catch him without his belt, until one day he saw him fishing for salmon without the belt, and at the same time his sweetheart and her sister came by picking flowers.
So the bear went up to the dwarf, and the dwarf, when he saw him coming, said:
“Ah! good bear! good bear! let me go. These two girls will be a more dainty morsel for you.”
But the bear smote him with his paw and killed him, and immediately the bear was turned into his former self, and the girls ran up and kissed him, and talked.
Then he took the two girls to the dwarf’s cave, and gave each of them a bag of treasure, keeping one for himself. And taking the belt, he put it on, and they all walked back to the hamlet, when he told the fishermen that their troubles would soon be over—but that he must kill the witch first.
Then he turned the belt three times, and said:
“I wish for the queen fairy.”
And she came, and was delighted, and said: “Now you must come and slay the witch,” and she handed him a bow and arrow, telling him to use it right and tight when he got to the hut.
So he went off to the wood, and found the witch in her hut, and she begged for mercy.
“Oh no, you have done too much mischief,” he said, and he shot her.
Then the queen fairy appeared, and sent him to gather dry wood to make a fire. When the fire was made she sent him to fetch the witch’s wand, which she cast into the flames, saying:
“Now, mark my word, all the devils of hell will be here.”
And when the wand began to burn all the devils came and tried to snatch it from the fire, but the queen raised her wand, saying:
“Through this powerful wand
that I hold in my hand,
Through this bow and arrow
I have caused her to be slain,
That she may leave our domain.
Now take her up high
into the sky,
And let her burst asunder
as a clap of thunder.
Then take her to hell
and there let her dwell,
To all eternity.”
And the wand was burnt, and the devils carried the witch off in a noise like thunder.
The twelve months were up on that day, and the fairy said to the fisherman:
“Take your chief and your brother, and put out to sea half-a-mile, where you’ll see a red spot, bright as the sun on the water; cast in your net on the sea-side of the spot, and pull to the shore.”
They did as the queen commanded, and when they pulled the net on the shore they found the copper vessel.
“Now open it,” said the queen to the fisherman with the belt, “but cover your belt with your coat first.”
And he did so, and when he opened the copper a ball of smoke rose into the air, and suddenly the merman stood before them, and said:
“The first four months that I was in prison,
I swore I’d make the man as rich as a king,
The man who released me.
But there was no release, no release, no release.
The second four months that I was in prison,
I swore I’d make the water run red,
But there was no release, no release, no release.
The last four months that I was in prison,
I swore in my wrath I’d take my deliverer’s life,
Whoever he might be.”
Whereupon the fisherman opened his coat and showed him the belt. Then the merman immediately cooled down, and said:
“Oh, that’s how I came into this trouble.”
Then he asked the fisherman with the belt what had happened, and he told him the whole story.
Then the queen told the fisherman to take the girdle off and put it back on the merman, and he did so; and suddenly the merman took to the sea, and began to sing from a rock:
*“As I sit upon the rock,
I am like a statue block,
And I straighten my hair,
That is so long and fair.
And now my eyes look bright,
For I am in great delight,
Because I am free in glee,
To roam over the sea.”*
After that the hamlet was joyful again, for the fishermen began to catch plenty of fish; for the merman showed them where to cast their nets, by colouring the water as of old.
And the two brothers married the chief’s two beautiful daughters, and they lived happily ever afterwards.
Story DNA
Moral
Courage and selflessness in the face of adversity can overcome evil and bring prosperity.
Plot Summary
In a prosperous Shetland fishing village, a merman's magic ensures good hauls. However, a wicked witch and her dwarf steal the merman's magical belt, imprison him, and cause the fishermen to starve. A brave young fisherman, tasked by the fairy queen and transformed into a bear, embarks on a quest to retrieve the belt. He kills the dwarf, recovers the belt, and with the fairy queen's help, slays the witch. The merman is freed, his magic returns, and the village's prosperity is restored, allowing the hero and his brother to marry their sweethearts.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Shetland is an archipelago known for its strong maritime traditions and rich folklore, often blending Norse and Scottish influences. The story reflects a pre-industrial society heavily reliant on the sea.
Plot Beats (16)
- A fishing hamlet in Shetland thrives due to a merman's magic, but two brothers cannot marry without wealth.
- A wicked witch and dwarf plot to steal the merman's power by taking his seaweed belt.
- The dwarf, transformed into a bee, puts the merman to sleep, steals the belt, and gives it to the witch.
- The witch and dwarf imprison the merman by turning him into smoke and sealing him in a copper vessel, then cast him far out to sea.
- With the merman gone, the fishermen suffer and face starvation.
- The fairy queen appears to one of the brave brothers, tasking him with retrieving the belt and defeating the witch to save his people and win his love.
- The fisherman is transformed into a bear and observes the dwarf, discovering his hidden treasure cave.
- The bear secretly visits his sweetheart and her family during winter nights, speaking to them and gaining their affection.
- In spring, the bear finds the dwarf fishing without the belt, kills him, and is transformed back into a man.
- The fisherman retrieves the belt and treasure, then returns to the hamlet, promising an end to their troubles.
- Using the belt, the fisherman summons the fairy queen, who gives him a bow and arrow to kill the witch.
- The fisherman slays the witch, and the fairy queen uses her wand to utterly destroy the witch's essence, sending her to hell.
- The fairy queen instructs the fisherman, his brother, and the chief to retrieve the copper vessel containing the merman.
- The merman is released, initially angry, but calms upon seeing his belt and learns the full story.
- The fisherman returns the belt to the merman, who joyfully returns to the sea and restores the fishing magic.
- The fishermen prosper again, and the two brothers marry the chief's daughters, living happily ever after.
Characters
The Brave Fisherman
A sturdy young man, likely of average height and build, accustomed to the physical demands of fishing in the cold, rough waters of the Shetland Islands. His skin would be weathered from sun and sea exposure, with a healthy, robust complexion.
Attire: Typical attire for a Shetland fisherman: thick wool sweater (gansey) in natural undyed colors or dark blue, sturdy canvas or wool trousers, and heavy leather boots. He might wear a waterproof oilskin jacket or smock when at sea.
Wants: To marry his sweetheart by becoming rich, to save his community from starvation, and to restore the merman's power.
Flaw: Initially, his lack of wealth prevents him from marrying, but he overcomes this through his bravery.
Transforms from a struggling fisherman into a hero who saves his community, defeats evil, and earns his fortune and his bride. He learns to trust in magic and his own bravery.
Brave, selfless, determined, loving, resourceful. He is willing to risk his life for his love and his community.
The Fairy Queen
Ethereal and graceful, with a delicate yet powerful presence. She would appear youthful and radiant, embodying the magic of nature.
Attire: A flowing gown made of gossamer fabric, perhaps in shades of sea-green, pearl white, or sky blue, adorned with natural elements like shimmering scales, delicate shells, or woven seaweed. It would appear otherworldly and light.
Wants: To protect the natural balance and the good people of the hamlet, to regain her power, and to punish evil.
Flaw: Her power can be stolen, leaving her vulnerable for a period.
Temporarily loses her direct power but orchestrates the events that lead to its recovery and the defeat of the witch, reaffirming her role as a protector.
Benevolent, wise, powerful, just, strategic. She helps those who are brave and good, but has limits to her direct intervention.
The Merman
Muscular and powerful in his upper body, with a long, iridescent fish tail from the waist down. His skin would be smooth and possibly slightly greenish or bluish, adapted to the sea.
Attire: His only 'clothing' is the belt of seaweed, otherwise his upper body is bare, revealing a powerful physique. His lower half is a magnificent fish tail, possibly with shimmering scales.
Wants: To guide the fishermen to good hauls, to maintain his freedom and power, and to express his joy through song.
Flaw: His power is tied to his seaweed belt, making him vulnerable if it's stolen.
Is imprisoned and loses his power, experiences wrath, but is ultimately freed and returns to his benevolent role, grateful for his release.
Benevolent, powerful, initially helpful, but prone to wrath when imprisoned. He is grateful for his freedom.
The Wicked Old Witch
Gaunt and stooped, with a menacing presence. Her skin would be wrinkled and sallow, perhaps with age spots or warts, reflecting her malevolent nature.
Attire: Dark, tattered robes made of coarse, drab fabric like rough wool or linen, possibly in shades of grey, black, or muddy brown. She might wear a pointed hood or shawl.
Wants: To gain power by stealing the merman's belt, to cause misery to the fishermen, and to hoard wealth.
Flaw: Her overconfidence, her reliance on the dwarf, and ultimately, her vulnerability to a hero empowered by the Fairy Queen.
Succeeds in her initial plot to steal the belt and imprison the merman, causing widespread suffering, but is ultimately defeated and destroyed by the hero and the Fairy Queen.
Wicked, greedy, power-hungry, cruel, manipulative. She delights in causing suffering.
The Dwarf
Short and stout, with a disproportionately large head and possibly a long beard. He would have a somewhat grotesque or comical appearance, reflecting his subservient but greedy nature.
Attire: Practical but drab clothing, perhaps a tunic and breeches made of rough, earthy-toned fabrics like brown or green wool, possibly with a leather belt. He might wear simple, sturdy boots.
Wants: To gain treasure and power, initially by obeying the witch, then by using the belt for his own gain.
Flaw: His cowardice, his greed, and his physical vulnerability when confronted by a stronger opponent.
Helps the witch steal the merman's belt and imprison him, then uses the belt for his own greedy purposes, hoarding gold, but is ultimately killed by the transformed fisherman.
Greedy, cowardly, subservient, opportunistic. He is easily manipulated but also driven by self-interest.
The Chief's Daughter (Sweetheart)
Beautiful and kind, likely with a healthy complexion typical of someone living by the sea. Her build would be graceful but capable, accustomed to the daily life of a fishing hamlet.
Attire: Simple but well-made dresses of linen or wool, perhaps in muted colors like blue, green, or cream, with practical aprons. Her clothing would be clean and modest, reflecting her status as the chief's daughter.
Wants: To marry her beloved fisherman, to support her family and community.
Flaw: Her initial inability to marry due to her suitor's lack of wealth.
Remains constant in her love, eventually marrying her beloved after he proves his worth and saves the community.
Kind, loving, compassionate, patient. She shows no fear of the bear once she understands it, demonstrating her gentle nature.
Locations
Snug Little Cove and Fishing Hamlet
A sheltered inlet on one of the Shetland Islands, with a small fishing hamlet of about twenty simple huts nestled at its head. The huts are likely built of local stone with turf roofs, typical of traditional Shetland croft houses, designed to withstand harsh coastal weather. The cove opens to the vast, often turbulent North Sea.
Mood: Initially prosperous and communal, later desolate and desperate due to lack of fish, eventually restored to joy and abundance.
The primary setting for the fishermen's lives, their initial prosperity, subsequent hardship, and ultimate return to abundance. The merman often sits on a rock here to watch them fish.
Great Wood near the Hamlet
A dense, ancient wood situated close to the fishing hamlet. Given the Shetland Islands' generally treeless landscape, this 'great wood' would be a significant, perhaps even mystical, feature, likely consisting of hardy, wind-stunted trees like birch, willow, or rowan, with a thick undergrowth of heather and moss. It serves as the dwelling place for the witch and dwarf.
Mood: Eerie, secretive, and dangerous, as it harbors the story's antagonists.
The witch and dwarf plot their schemes here. The merman is imprisoned here. The fisherman, transformed into a bear, observes the dwarf and eventually slays him here. The witch's hut is located within this wood, where she is ultimately defeated.
Dwarf's Cave in the Crags
A hidden cave located within the rocky crags of the great wood. It serves as the dwarf's lair and treasure hoard. The interior would be rough-hewn, damp, and dark, filled with the dwarf's ill-gotten gains.
Mood: Secretive, dark, and filled with greed, later becoming a place of discovery and reward.
The dwarf hides his stolen gold here. The transformed fisherman (as a bear) observes this. After slaying the dwarf, the fisherman brings the chief's daughters here to retrieve the treasure.