The Alf Queen

A farmer lived on a farm, up between the mountains, but nowhere is mentioned what he or the farm was called. The farmer was unmarried, but had a caretaker, whose name was Hildur, of whose family nobody knew anything. She was in charge of the inner household and was quick in all things. She was popular with the servants of the court, and with the Farmers too, but it was never noticed that the relationship between but it was also the limits of chiciness. a set woman, pretty interrogated, but friendly in Traffic.

The farmer’s domestic conditions were very good, with the exception of the Circumstance that he found it difficult to find a shepherd; but he was a rich sheep farmer and believed that his house was losing its foundation, if the shepherd was missing. This was not because the farmer was strict against his shepherds, nor that the caretaker had it on the missing what was part of her area. The only thing that could be agreed upon was that the shepherds never grew old in service and on Christmas Day always dead in her bed were found.

In those times it was custom over the country, on Christmas Eve to hold a service, and it was considered equally solemn, Then drive to the church, as on the first holiday itself. But on Mountain farms, which were far from the church, it was for those who do not prepare sooner because of the circumstances could leave the house until the star between tomorrow and Stand at noon, no little thing to come to the service, and it was customary that the shepherds did not go home with this farmer earlier Came. one or the other did it on Christmas and New Year's Eve, while the rest of the court were in church; for since Hildur had always come to the farmer, she had always made herself while at the same time taking care of what was in order for the party had to be brought: cooking and other things that belong, and She always woke up until late at night, so that the churchgoers sometimes came back, went to bed and fell asleep before Bed was like that for a while that the shepherds of the Farmers all suddenly died that night, one caught to talk about it in the villages, and it was therefore It is very difficult for farmers to hire someone for this work, and the more died, the more difficult it was not on him, nor on his servant the suspicion arose that they had been responsible for the death of the shepherds, since they had all died without any visible wounds on them. Finally, the farmer said that he no longer had any conscience to hire shepherds who face certain death and that fate may now determine what will happen to would be its livestock and prosperity.

When the farmer decided to do this and determined was not able to hire anyone for this purpose, a quick and Strong man and offered him his service. I don't have your service that I have to accept you. ”The stranger asked: "Do you have a shepherd for the next winter?" Bauer replied, "No," and said that he had decided to the consequence of not hiring anyone, »and you have probably heard how unfortunate what has happened to my shepherds so far. »I have heard of it,« said the stranger, "but their fate shall not frighten me." the farmer gave in because the other asked him so urgently and took him as a shepherd in his service. Now some time passed; The farmer and the shepherd were very happy with each other, and the shepherd was well-liked by all, because he was a man of good conduct, bold and persevering in all his endeavors.

Nothing happened until Christmas came; then it was as always: the Bauer went to church with his people on Christmas Eve, only his The caretaker stayed behind in the house, and the shepherd stayed with the cattle; the Bauer left and left the two alone. Evening, before the shepherd came home as usual; he ate his groats and then went to rest. Then it occurred to him that it might be safer for him to stay awake rather than sleep in case something happened, although he had no fear, and therefore he remained awake. Most of the night had passed, he heard the churchgoers They had a bite to eat and then went to bed. he noticed nothing, but when he thought that everyone had fallen asleep, he felt that his strength was beginning to wane, which was not strange, as tired as he was after the day's exertions.

He thought it would be bad for him if sleep now overwhelmed him, and he therefore used all his willpower to stay awake It was not long before someone called him and bed, and he thought he saw that it was the caretaker Hildur, who was doing her thing here. He pretended to be sleeping he held her tightly and noticed that she was putting something in his mouth. was, as he felt, a bridle for the witch's ride, and he let himself be calm When she had put the bridle on him, she fastened the Reins, as she found most comfortable, sat on his back and rode away in great haste until, as it seemed to him, they had come to a ditch or a crack in the earth. Then she jumped down from him, onto a stone, and let the reins hang, whereupon they disappeared into the crevice. The shepherd thought it was bad and little enlightening if Hildur disappeared from him in this way without him knew what had become of her; but he realized that he had Zaum would not get very far, there was so much magic in it. He therefore took the way out was to rub his head on the stone mentioned until he the bridle had rubbed off and then he left it lying there. Then he jumped into the gap where she had jumped before him.

It seemed to him that he had not yet gone far down into the crevice was when he saw Hildur again; she was in some beautiful meadows which she soon completed her journey. After all He could well understand that things were not right with Hildur and that she certainly had more tricks hidden under her fur than you could see her when she was up on earth among the people He could also understand that she would soon see him, If he went behind her in the meadow. which made him invisible, from his pocket and hid him in the left hand, then ran after her and hurried as much as he could could. and magnificent hall, and Hildur followed the path that led to it. He saw a large crowd of people from the hall; First, at the head, went a man who was the most magnificent of all dressed in a traditional costume, and it seemed to the shepherd that he was greeting his wife, when Hildur came, and welcomed her; but the others who were in the The chief's entourage happily welcomed her as their queen. With the chief, Hildur pulled two half -growing children, and with great joy they greeted their mother. When the whole crowd had paid homage to the Queen, all accompanied her and the king after the hall, and there you were prepared for an honorable reception, dressed her in royal robes and stripped her golden Rings on his arm. The shepherd followed the crowd to the hall, holding but all the time where there were least people, albeit He saw everything that was going on in the hall so much splendor and splendor that he had never seen anything like it. Tables were brought out and covered, and he was amazed at all the glory. After a while he saw Hildur enter the hall, in dressed in the magnificent garment mentioned earlier. Everyone was given his place; Queen Hildur took the seat of honour next to the king; the whole entourage took up positions on both sides space, and the meal lasted a while. Then the tables were covered again, whereupon the men and the virgins, as many as wanted to dance, while others chose entertainment, which were more to their liking; but the king and queen sat and spoke together, and their conversation seemed to be both with the shepherd Joy as if mixed with sorrow.

During the conversation between the king and the queen, three children came, who were younger than those mentioned above, came in and expressed also their joy at seeing their mother again. Queen Hildur returned her greeting lovingly, took the youngest child on the I cuddled and stroked it, but it was in a bad mood and restless. The queen then let the child down, grazed a ring from the finger and gave it to him to play with. The child became quiet and played a for a while with the gold, but eventually lost the ring on the ground. The shepherd stood nearby, hurried and caught the ring when he fell to the ground, put it in his pocket and hid it well, without Someone noticed; was to be found when they were looking for him. When the night was mostly had passed, Queen Hildur began to prepare to leave, but all who were in the hall asked her to stay longer, And were very sad when they saw that she wanted to go on.

The shepherd had observed that in one place in the hall there was an ancient woman who was horrible to look at; she was the only one of all, who had not been happy about the arrival of Queen Hildur, nor She asked to stay when she wanted to continue. Hildur's wanderlust and that she could not persuade herself to stay neither through his own nor through others' requests, he went to the woman and said: »Now take back your curses, mother, and hear my Requests so that my queen no longer needs to be far from me and my joy at our meetings is as short-lived as she was now.« The old woman answered him angrily: »All my Curses shall remain, and nothing shall move me to remove them. revoked.« The king remained silent and went full of grief to his Queen, put his arm around her neck and kissed her and asked her once with gentle words, but not to go away. The queen said, that his mother’s curses forbade her to act differently; she said that there was little likelihood that they would could see more often, because of the fate that has been imposed on them would be, and that the killings that would have happened because of them and their there are now so many, can no longer remain hidden, and that they therefore suffer the well-deserved punishment for their deeds should, although she would have reluctantly committed.

While she was crying out these complaints, the shepherd left the Halle when he saw how things stood; Meadow after the crevice and back up to the path. Then hid He took the magic stone, mounted his horse again and waited until Hildur After a short time, Queen Hildur came alone and With a sad face; Home when they got there, she put him back in bed, unbridled him, then went to bed himself and began to sleep. Although the shepherd had been wide awake the whole time, he noticed She slept so that Hildur would not notice anything. But when she After he had gone to bed, he no longer cared about being careful his; far into the day.

The next morning the farmer got out of everyone on the farm first the bed; but instead of the joy of Christmas, he expected the sorrow of finding him dead in his Find bed as it used to be. dressed, the other people of the court woke up and also dressed the farmer went to the shepherd's bed and touched him with the Hand. Then he realized that he was alive, and was glad and praised God praised him highly for this grace. Then the shepherd awoke fresh and and got dressed. Meanwhile the farmer asked him if there was anything Something new had happened during the night. The shepherd replied: »No, but I had a very strange dream."

»What was the dream like?« asked the farmer. Then the shepherd began his report from the moment we have told that Hildur had come to his bed and had bridled him, and then he every word and every event as accurate again as it could remember. silent, except Hildur, who said: »Everything you have said is lied if you cannot prove by clear signs that it happened as you say.« The shepherd was not dissuaded by this embarrass him, but took out the ring he had worn at night. from the ground in Alfheim, and said: »Even if I I do not consider it my duty to prove a dream legend with signs, So it happens so happy that I have a clear evidence of it I have been with the Huldren that night; not your ring, Queen Hildur?« Hildur answered: »It is so, and God bless you for freeing me from slavery, which my mother-in-law imposed on me; I have only reluctantly The misdeeds she offered me. ”Queen Hildur caught So then your story:

»I was a maiden of grace from a lowly family, but he who now king of Alfheim, was seized by love for me and, Although it was very much against his mother’s will, he took me to Woman. Then my mother-in-law became so angry that she told her son promised that he would only have short-term joy in me, but that We should be allowed to see each other from time to time. But she that I should become a slave among men, and with that the misfortune that every Christmas I have to witness the death of a people, so that while he was sleeping, I bridle him and ride him the same way that I took this Night on the shepherd to visit the king; should last until I am convicted of this evil and therefore would be killed if I did not find such a bold and courageous man, that he dared to follow me to Alfheim and then could prove that he would have gotten there and had seen the people there Now it is clear that all the farmer’s former shepherds To have found death since I came here, and I hope that I will not be credited to what against my free will; for no one has found the underground way and out of curiosity entered the Huldren’s dwelling, this brave man who has now rescued me from my slavery and from my curse, and I will reward him for it, even if it is not is about to happen. Now I can't stay here any longer, thank you for the kindness you have shown me, but longing draws me to my home.«

After talking like this, Queen Hildur disappeared, and later she was never seen among people again.

But the shepherd tells that he married and set up a household the following spring. He was able to do that, Firstly, the farmer was generous towards him when he came out his service, and then he was not without assets. was of great benefit to his area, and people always turned To him for advice and help; people could not really understand what was going on and believed Every animal would have two heads with him.

But he said that he would give Queen Hildur all his wealth. thank you