Right of the Sun, Left of the Moon

A Norwegian Folk Tale: Part One

In a time long past, nestled within the shadowed woods of Norway, a humble peasant dwelled in a quaint cottage alongside his wife and their brood of offspring. This man, burdened by poverty, could offer little to his children — neither ample food nor warm garments. Among them, their youngest daughter possessed a beauty that transcended the ordinary, a luminosity that seemed to defy the hardships surrounding their existence.

On a tempestuous Thursday eve, as autumn’s grip tightened and the elements raged outside, a profound darkness enveloped the land. Rain lashed fiercely, and winds howled, threatening to breach the fragile sanctuary of their abode. Yet, gathered around the meager hearth, the family huddled, each engrossed in their tasks when a peculiar occurrence shattered the somber ambiance — a resolute rap thrice upon the windowpane.

Moved by a sense of urgency, the father braved the storm’s fury to investigate this unanticipated disturbance. Stepping outside, he beheld a sight both bewildering and extraordinary — a colossal white bear.

“Good evening,” greeted the bear, oblivious to the tumultuous weather.

“Good evening to you,” replied the man, his curiosity piqued.

“I am Ted Polarbear, and I have journeyed far from my forest castle,” declared the white bear.

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” acknowledged the man, intrigued yet cautious.

“To be succinct, if you bestow upon me your youngest daughter, I shall transform your poverty into opulence,” proposed the white bear, a proposition laden with enigmatic allure.

The man, momentarily captivated by visions of newfound wealth, paused to consider the bear’s offer. Such civility in a bear was unprecedented, prompting the man to entertain the possibility.

“However, I must consult my daughter before committing to such a pact,” he asserted, mindful of the weight of the decision.

Returning to his family, the man relayed the extraordinary encounter. Aghast, the youngest daughter recoiled at the notion, her imagination running wild with fears.

“You cannot be serious! What if he intends to devour me?” she exclaimed, her apprehension palpable.

“He appears to possess remarkable intelligence, a bear capable of speech,” remarked the man, attempting to rationalize the situation.

“How can that be?” she questioned, her disbelief evident.

“I cannot say. You must converse with him and judge for yourself,” urged the man.

“I have no desire to engage with him,” declared the girl, her resolve unwavering.

Undeterred by his daughter’s reluctance, the man ventured outside once more, concealing her refusal from the white bear. Instead, he negotiated a rendezvous for the following Thursday eve.

In the ensuing days, the family tirelessly implored the youngest daughter, bombarding her with visions of affluence and comfort promised by the enigmatic bear. They painted a tantalizing picture of the prosperity that awaited her, hoping to sway her decision.

In the bleak expanse of her decision’s horizon, she acquiesced, conceding that accompanying the bear would serve her family’s greater good.

Lily Rose Goes To Live With The Bear

Having resolved to embark on this unforeseen journey, she meticulously tended to her worn attire, piecing it together with diligence. Her appearance transformed, aligning with the gravity of her chosen path alongside the enigmatic white bear.

When the appointed Thursday evening arrived, the bear arrived as prophesied, a spectral figure against the twilight. She approached him, clutching her modest belongings in a humble sack.

“Do you carry all that you deem necessary?” queried the bear.

“Yes,” replied the girl, her voice steady despite the weight of her decision. “I possess little but essentials.”

“Then let us proceed,” beckoned the bear, his form shimmering with an ethereal luminescence.

Perched upon his back, her bundle secured, they commenced their odyssey.

Amidst their trek, the bear inquired, “Do you harbor fear?”

“No,” she affirmed, her gaze fixated on the enigmatic landscapes unfurling before them.

“Clasp my fur firmly,” advised the bear, his voice a comforting echo. “There is naught to fear.”

Upon reaching a juncture in their journey, they paused, allowing respite for both weary traveler and enigmatic beast.

“Tell me,” ventured the girl, breaking the silence. “Do you bear a name?”

“Certainly,” affirmed the bear. “You may address me as Ted.”

“Ted?” she echoed incredulously. “Like a childhood relic, a teddy bear?”

“Why does that surprise you?” inquired Ted.

“Could your progenitors not conjure a more original moniker?” she pressed.

“Have you encountered this name before?” queried Ted, unperturbed.

“Forget it,” she dismissed.

“And what of you? Do you bear a name?” Ted pressed on.

“Nay,” she declared.

“You persist in obstinacy,” Ted remarked.

“A trait often cited by my progenitors,” she retorted.

“I am convinced you harbor a name,” Ted insisted.

“Very well, then. You may call me Lily Rose,” she relented.

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lily Rose,” greeted Ted.

“Intriguing,” remarked Lily Rose. “How did you acquire the gift of speech?”

“A secret,” replied Ted with a hint of jest. “Sharing it would necessitate dire consequences.”

“Truly?” she inquired, a trace of trepidation seeping into her tone.

“Nay, fear not,” assured Ted. “Our journey beckons us forward.”

“Understood,” she acquiesced.

As days elapsed into nights and vice versa, Ted and Lily Rose traversed diverse terrains until they chanced upon a serene shoreline, the oceans embrace a respite from their nomadic voyage.

Seizing the moment, Lily Rose penned a missive to her kin, detailing the idyllic interlude amidst their arduous pilgrimage.

After their day at the beach, Lily Rose and Ted ventured far until they reached the looming presence of a towering mountain. Against its rugged face, the white bear rapped gently, and a mysterious door swung open before them.

Ted’s Castle

Stepping through, they found themselves within a castle adorned with opulent rooms gleaming with the richness of gold and silver. Among these chambers was a grand hall, set with a feast so lavish that words alone could hardly capture its magnificence.

The white bear bestowed upon Lily Rose a silver bell, whispering, “With this bell, whatever you desire shall manifest before you at your command.”

Having indulged in the sumptuous delicacies and refreshing libations, evening descended, and weariness crept upon Lily Rose. She harbored a simple thought: “I wish to retire for the night.”

Raising the intricately designed bell, her finger poised to strike the clapper, she suddenly found herself in a chamber adorned with a bed fit for royalty. Its silken pillows and golden-fringed curtains enveloped her in luxury, all crafted from the finest silver and gold.

As she drifted towards sleep, a figure slipped into bed beside her — a man! Fear gripped her, her mind racing with questions. Who was this intruder? Should she seek the white bear’s protection?

Frozen with dread, she feigned slumber while her mind raced through scenarios. Finally, she concluded that it must be Ted, transformed by some arcane magic into this enigmatic form, explaining his ability to converse with her.

Why keep this from me? she pondered, spending a sleepless night contemplating the mysteries unfolding around her.

Lily Rose’s suspicions were proven true. The white bear, assuming human guise by night, eluded her gaze each dawn, leaving her with unanswered questions and solitude in the vast castle.

Ted’s library provided solace, where Lily Rose immersed herself in books, losing herself in their pages and escaping the eerie silence of the castle’s halls.

At first content, her happiness eventually waned, replaced by a longing for her familial home and the familiar company of her loved ones.

In the quiet solitude of the mountain, Ted posed a question that cut through the stillness, “What ails you? What is it that you truly desire?”

With a sigh, she replied, her voice carrying the weight of loneliness, “This mountain is a void, devoid of the bustling life of my family home. There, amidst my siblings and under the watchful eyes of my parents, I found solace. It is the absence of their presence that weighs heavy on my heart.”

Ted, with a somber tone, hinted at a remedy, albeit with a cautionary stipulation, “There may be a remedy, but I implore you, promise me this — never engage your mother in private discourse. Her intentions may lead to a path of sorrow for us both.”

Perplexed, Lily Rose inquired, “What do you mean by making us both unhappy?”

“I cannot divulge now,” Ted cryptically responded, “but trust in my words.”

Despite her curiosity, Lily Rose chose not to press further. Days passed until Ted presented an opportunity, “We can journey to your ancestral home now.”

Lily Rose Visits Her Family

One fateful day, Ted approached her with an offer: “Let us journey to visit your family.”

Overjoyed, Lily Rose mounted his back, embarking on a lengthy voyage until they reached a picturesque, white-washed farmhouse — a symbol of newfound prosperity, as Ted had foretold.

“This is where your family resides now,” Ted declared, as Lily Rose witnessed her siblings frolicking about the grounds, imbued with newfound wealth and joy.

Eager and hopeful, she mounted his back as they embarked on a lengthy journey. The journey was arduous, yet the sight of a grand white-washed farmhouse brought a glimmer of joy. Her family had evidently flourished, just as Ted had foretold.

“This is where your kin resides,” Ted confirmed.

Gazing at the playful figures of her siblings, she dismounted, only to be reminded by Ted, “Remember my warning, lest we succumb to misery.”

“I shall heed your words,” she affirmed.

As she entered the farmhouse, Ted bid farewell and retreated to his castle. Inside, joyous reunions and conversations ensued, each member expressing gratitude for her contributions that had elevated their lives.

Amidst the cheerful atmosphere, her mother sought a private dialogue, coaxing her towards secrecy. Recalling Ted’s caution, Lily Rose hesitated, deflecting her mother’s advances.

However, her mother’s persistence prevailed, and Lily Rose found herself recounting her life at the castle, including the mysterious nightly visitor. Her mother, intrigued yet cautious, provided a candle stub, a clandestine means to uncover the truth of her nocturnal companion without disturbing him.

Reluctantly accepting the candle stub, Lily Rose bid her family farewell when Ted returned for her.

Lily Rose Goes Back To Ted’s House

During their journey back, Ted inquired, “Did your encounter with your mother unfold as I foresaw?”

Unable to deny the truth, she admitted, “Yes, it transpired as you warned.”

“Then,” Ted lamented, “should you heed her counsel, our bond and all we share may crumble into despair.”

Resolute, she asserted, “I will not act upon her advice.”

Yet, Ted remained unconvinced, the shadow of uncertainty lingering between them as they continued their journey homeward.

When she reached home and had gone to bed, it was the same as it had been every other night she had spent in the castle. A man came and lay down beside her after she had extinguished the light.

But in the dead of night, when she could hear that he was sleeping, she got up and struck a light, lit the candle stub, and let the light shine on him. She then saw that he was the most handsome prince one could ever set eyes upon, and she fell so deeply in love with him that she thought, I cannot live if I do not kiss him this very moment. So, she leaned over and kissed him, but in doing so she dropped three hot drops of wax on his shirt, and he woke up.

“What have you done?” he cried. “Now you have made us both unhappy. If you had held out for this one year, I would have been saved from the spell that has been cast on me. I have a troll stepmother who has bewitched me so that I am a white bear by day and a man by night. If I had told you, I would have become a bear for the rest of eternity.

The prince continued. “But now all is at an end between us, and I must leave you and go to her. My stepmother lives in a castle that lies Right of the Sun and Left of the Moon, and there too lives a troll princess with a nose three inches long, and she is the one I must now marry.”

“How was I to know?” the girl lamented as she cried.

But there was nothing to be done about it and he had to depart.

Then she asked him, “Might I be able to go with you?”

“No, that can never happen,” he said.

“Why not? asked Lily Rose.

“I can’t say,” said Ted.

“This is ridiculous! Can you at least tell me the way, so I can search for you?” Surely, I may be allowed to do that!” she exclaimed.

“Yes, you may do that,” he said, “but there is no road that leads to the castle, for it lies Right of the Sun and Left of the Moon, and you will never find your way there.”