🐻‍❄️✨A Magical Children's Fairy Tale from Norway | East of the Sun and West of the Moon

Hi, welcome to Dixie's Storytime World. Today's Whisper comes from East of the Sun and West of the Moon, a magical Norwegian fairy tale. It's the story of a courageous girl who follows a mysterious white bear into a world of icy kingdoms and hidden enchantments, all to rescue someone she loves. Settle in, close your eyes, and let the story begin. And don't forget to subscribe to our channel, where more magical whispering tales can find their way to you. Chapter One. The Bear. Long ago and far away, in a land of trolls and magic, there lived a poor farmer. His house was falling down, his family were in rags, and his money was almost gone. Now winter was coming on. Listen to the wind and the rain, the farmer wailed. What can I do? Won't somebody please help me? Tap, tap. There, at the farmhouse door, stood a big white bear. I'm lonely, the bear said. Lend me Astrid, your daughter, and I'll make you and your family rich. Rich, said the farmer. Very rich, said the bear. I'll look after her well, I promise. Tell me on Thursday if you agree. Well, the family was so poor, they had to agree. On Thursday, Astrid found herself clinging to the bear's stiff white fur as he padded away from the farmhouse. Chapter Two. At the castle. All day long they traveled. Then, as night fell, they came to a steep cliff. Or was it the wall of a castle? Soon they were in a splendid hall, made of the finest gold and silver. Take this bell, Astrid, said the bear. If there is anything you want, just ring it. All I want is a soft bed and sweet dreams. Astrid yawned. That night she dreamed of a handsome young prince who sat beside her bed while she slept. The same thing happened the next night and the night after that. All day long Astrid rang the bell for anything she wanted, and all night long the prince sat beside her in her dreams. On the fourth day, Astrid sent for the bear. I'm homesick, she told him. I want to see my family. Will you promise to come back, said the bear, and will you promise not to any secrets with your mother? I promise, bear. So the bear took Astrid home. Chapter Three. Two Promises. Astrid's first promise was easy. Her family was now rich and happy, so she knew she must stay with the bear. Her second promise was harder. In a land of trolls and magic, a girl can't help sharing secrets with her mother. I dreamed of a prince every night, said Astrid. Oh, was he real all along? Ah, her mother smiled. Next time, light this magic candle, but don't spill any magic wax on him. I won't, Astrid laughed. Astrid loved to visit her family, but now she had a plan. She was keen to get back to the castle. Chapter Four. Candle Wax. That night, at the gold and silver castle, Astrid went to bed very early. She kept her eyes shut tight until she heard somebody sit beside her bed. Then she lit the magic candle much too quickly. The prince was real all right, as real as the three drops of magic wax Astrid had spilled on his shirt. Oh, Astrid, he groaned. What have you done? A troll called Longnose put a spell on me. By day, I'm a white bear, and by night, a royal prince. Now you've spilled some magic. The spell can't be broken. I'll have to marry Longnose. How can I save you? Astrid sobbed. You can't, said the prince sadly. Longnose will lock me in her castle until our wedding day. It lies cast of the sun and west of the moon, so nobody can find me. I can still try, said Astrid. Chapter Five. Three Hags. Next morning, the prince and the castle had vanished. So had all of Astrid's fine clothes. Dressed in her old rags, she set off at once. East of the sun and west of the moon, she said, somebody must know where Longnose lives. She walked and walked and walked. At last, on top of a high mountain, she met an old hag. I've never heard of Longnose, the old hag said. You'd better ask my big sister, who lives on the next mountain. Here, take this golden apple to bring you good luck. Thank you, Astrid said. The old hag's sister was no help at all. I've never heard of Longnose, she said. You'd better ask my other sister, who lives on the next mountain. Here, take this golden comb to bring you luck. Thank you, Astrid said. But the third old hag shook her head as well. I've never heard of Longnose, she said. My sisters were silly to send you. Here, take this golden spinning wheel to bring you good luck. Thank you, Astrid said. Now she was all alone again, with a golden apple, a golden comb, and a golden spinning wheel to carry. Chapter Six, Four Winds East of the sun and west of the moon, Astrid cried. Does nobody know where I can find Longnose? I do, hissed the east wind. Can you take me there, sir? Astrid asked eagerly. All of my brothers help me, Astrid. The west wind, the south wind, and the north wind. Please, Astrid begged. So the east wind swept her into the air. She flew from wind to wind, east to west, to south to north, over hills and seas and forests. Then the north wind set her down. Thank you, winds, said Astrid. But where is it you've lifted me? East of the sun and west of the moon, the north wind smiled. This is where Longnose lives. Goodbye, waved Astrid as he gusted off. Chapter Seven, Longnose Astrid was standing by the biggest and gloomiest castle she'd ever seen. Longnose was looking down from a high window. Hello, Astrid, she cackled. Are you looking for the prince? Give me that golden apple, and I'll let you see him. Take it, said Astrid quickly. In the castle, she found the prince in a deep, deep sleep. He was holding an empty silver cup. Was that a magic drink? Astrid wondered. If it was, I'll never wake him up. The prince slept all night long. The next day, Astrid offered Longnose the golden comb. It'll be yours forever, she said, if you let me visit the prince again. Why not, sniffed Longnose. I shall keep him fast asleep until our wedding day. So it was a magic drink in the silver cup. That night, while the prince dozed, Astrid made a tiny hole in the cup. This time, I want to spill some magic, she said. It's the only way to wake him. Longnose is so greedy. I'll give her the golden spinning wheel for one last visit. Longnose agreed at once. What do I care, she said. Tomorrow, the prince and I will be married. At bedtime, Longnose didn't spot the tiny hole as she filled the silver cup, nor did she spot the magic drink leaking out. Later, after Longnose had gone, it was easy for Astrid to wake the prince. Astrid! the prince exclaimed. Have you come to save me? If I can, Astrid said. How do we get rid of Longnose? With a test of true love, said the prince. The winner will be the one who can clean the magic wax from my shirt. That's the person I'll marry. At first, Longnose was very cross, but she was far too proud to say no to the test. Anybody can wash a shirt, she sneered. Bring me a tub, some soap, and a scrubbing brush. Longnose had spoken much too soon. The harder she scrubbed, the blacker the shirt became. In the end, she screeched, Help me, trolls! Every troll in the castle came running, but the shirt got blacker and blacker. Stop scrubbing, Longnose yelled. Let Astrid try. How can a girl like her beat trolls like us? With true love, that's how. Astrid dipped the prince's shirt in some cool, clear water. Instantly, it was as white as snow again. Longnose and her team of trolls were beaten. They were never seen again, not even east of the sun and west of the moon. Everybody else was invited to the royal wedding. Family, friends, the three hags, and the four winds as well. Afterwards, the gold and silver castle appeared again, and Astrid and her prince went back to their home. There, they lived happily ever after. What can be more magical than that? Thank you for wandering through this enchanted tale with me. May your dreams always find their way east of the sun and west of the moon. Make sure you're subscribed to Dixie's Storytime World for more whispering tales and timeless folklore.