1 comments/ 12102 views/ 2 favorites East of the Sun, West of the Moon By: MagicaPractica This is a re-telling of the Norwegian fairy tale, with a twist or two. Once upon a time, there was a simple poor peasant but he was very handsome and had won the hand of the strongest woman in the country, Olga. She was strong of body, strong of mind and strong of character. She had given him many children and they were all above average; handsome and strong in different ways. The youngest was the prettiest and the strongest, a true inheritance of the best in both her mother and her father. A smile from Ruth, for that was her name, could brighten the darkest of days and her laughter made their poverty seem like a blessing, for Ruth shone all the brighter for the darkness around. Ruth smiled the brightest at the scant meal set before her and laughed the loudest as she made a game out of mending the clothes that were no better than rags. One day, on a Thursday evening late in the fall, the weather grew wild and rough outside. Darkness had come early and the rain was falling slantwise. The wind blew so that the walls of the cottage shook. The big family sat around the cheerful fire in the small house and busied themselves with this and that, trying not to listen to the thunder outside or notice the flashes of lightning and the rain that beat against the windowpane. Ruth told a story to distract her brothers and sisters. "And then the ice queen said..." Suddenly, three sharp taps sounded on the window. The group fell silent. Surely something had been knocked against the window. Perhaps it had begun to hail? But no, the sound came again... three sharp taps. The peasant pulled on his overcoat and hat then went out to see what was the matter. Outside, his eyes grew wide as he took in the great white bear that stood as tall as he, even though it was on all four paws. He thought of running back to the door but knew that no matter how large and ungainly the bear might seem, he could not outrun him. "Good evening, my apologies if I have interrupted your evening meal," said the white bear genteelly. "And to you, but you interrupt no meal," said the peasant, bobbing his head. "Surely this is the dinner hour?" asked the bear diffidently. "It is." The peasant nodded nervously. "But there was little for dinner and it was over long ago." "Ah, yes. It is said that this is a poor household that houses the brightest gem in the country. I have a proposal for you that would lessen your burden. Will you give me your youngest daughter? If you will, I'll make you as rich as you are now poor," said the bear. "And your daughter will live in the lap of luxury." The peasant considered the request carefully. Truly, the family was in a sorry state. Winter was coming and they would not make it through under the current conditions. Sacrifice one family member to this bear or certainly lose all of them to hunger? But could any of them bear to lose Ruth? She would have to go willingly in order for this to happen. None of them would force her. "I must consult with my family in this matter," the old man said, bowing to the bear. "Of course," the bear replied. The man went inside and the entire family looked up at him with a question in their eyes. He sat down heavily and looked at his youngest daughter. She had just turned eighteen. Really, a child no more. "There is a great white bear waiting outside, who has given his word to make us all very rich if he can only have... Ruth." A chorus of "No!" went around the room. All except Ruth spoke. Her father looked to her for her answer. She walked to her father and knelt before him, putting her cheek on his knee as she had so often done before. "Tell me truly, papa, will we make it through this winter without the money from this bear?" The man had it in his mind to lie. He did not want his daughter to go but as she gazed up at him, he found he could not hide the truth from her. "No, my daughter, we would surely all perish." "Very well, then, I accept. But please ask him for a week to make myself ready." With a heavy heart, her father went outside and fixed it with the bear. He would come again the following Thursday. That week, Ruth washed and mended her rags, and made herself as ready as she could. Soon she was prepared for the trip, for she didn't have much to take along. East of the Sun, West of the Moon She too gave Ruth a gift to carry with her, the golden spinning wheel. "Maybe you'll find a use for it," said the old woman. "Thank you, thank you so much," Ruth said wearily as she accepted the small spinning wheel and wrapped it carefully in her bundle. Ruth got on the horse and set out. She did not find the east wind that day so she camped under a cliff for the night. She rode on the next day and it neared nightfall before she got to the east wind's house. At last, she saw it and rode down to the house. She staggered as she got off the horse and sent it on its' way. She took her bundle and knocked at the front door. The door blew open and the girl entered. A handsome blond man sat at the table, which was filled with a simple feast. "Please come in, you have traveled a long way. Sit at the table and sup." Ruth did as she was bid. Finally, when she had eaten her fill, the east wind asked what she had come for. "Kind east wind, you have seen many things under the sun and in the sky. Do you know the way to the Prince, who lives with his stepmother in the castle east of the sun and west of the moon?" "Yes, I have often heard tell of it, the Prince and the castle, but I don't know the way there. I have never blown so far. But, if you want, I'll go with you to my brother the west wind. Maybe he knows, for he's much stronger. I'll carry you there on my back." He came to stand before her. "But first, look around you. This is a good house. A beautiful place to live. You are a strong and beautiful woman. I would have you for my wife if you agreed and you could stop your search here." Ruth gazed up at the tall man in surprise. "I... I thank you but I love the Prince. I must find him." "Very well," the east wind replied with a sad smile. He led her outside and bid her climb up on his back. Blushing furiously, Ruth did as she was told and off they went in a rush. They arrived quickly at the west wind's house and the east wind called out to his brother. "Brother," he said, "this is the girl who was supposed to have had the Prince who lives in the castle east of the sun and west of the moon. She has set out to find him, and I have brought her here. Would you know how to get to the castle?" "No," said the west wind, "I've never blown so far; but if you want, I'll go with you to our brother the south wind, for he's much stronger than either of us, and he has flown far and wide. Maybe he'll tell us. I'll carry you to him on my back, if you want?" The east wind set off home and the west wind smiled at Ruth. "You are truly a beautiful woman, are you sure your Prince is worth all this? I would happily let you stay here with me, share my bed and take care of you?" Ruth blushed and demurred. "I love my Prince and I must find him." The west wind laughed, "very well, climb up on my back." They traveled to the south wind, and the journey was quicker even than it had been with the east wind. When they got there, the west wind spoke to his brother, the south wind, on her behalf. "Could you tell us the way to the castle that lays east of the sun and west of the moon? This girl is the one who was supposed to have had the Prince who lives there." "Is that so?" said the south wind. "Is she the one? Well, I have visited a lot of places in my time, but I have not yet blown there. If you want, I'll take you to our brother the north wind. He is the oldest and strongest of us all, and if he doesn't know where it is, you'll never find anyone in the world to tell you. I'll carry you there on my back, if that is what you want." The west wind blew away and the south wind stood before the girl, looking her up and down. "Look around you. This is a good house, a beautiful place to live. You are a strong and beautiful woman. I would have you for my wife if you agreed and you could stop your search here." Ruth gazed up at the man in surprise. "I thank you but I love the Prince. I must find him." "Very well," the south wind replied. He bid her climb up on his back. He bent one knee and bid the girl onto his back. When she was on he stood. "Ah, it is a pleasure to have such strong legs wrapped around my body." Ruth blushed as he leapt into the air and they left his house at a good clip. They were not long underway. When they reached the north wind's house he was so wild and cross, that he blew cold gusts at them from a long way off. "Blast you both, what do you want?" he roared at them from afar, so that it struck them with an icy shiver. "Well," said the south wind, "you don't need to bluster so, for here I am, your brother, the south wind, and here is the girl who was supposed to have had the Prince who lives in the castle that lies east of the sun and west of the moon. Now, she wants to ask you if you ever were there, and can show her the way, for she wants so much to find him again." The north wind sighed at the story. "Yes, I know where it is," said the north wind, "a single time I blew an aspen leaf there, but afterward I was so tired that I couldn't blow a puff for many days. But if you really wish to go there, and aren't afraid to come along with me, I'll take you." "Yes, with all my heart, I want to and have to get there if it is at all possible. I won't be afraid, however madly you blow us there." "Very well, then," said the north wind, "but you must sleep here tonight, for we must have the whole day before us, if we're to get there at all." Ruth was very glad for though she was anxious to be on her way, she was so tired that she could barely stand. The north wind caused a feast to be laid on the table and bid her eat. As she did, he stared across the table appraisingly. "You have a good appetite. That is a good thing in the woman. You are clearly strong and quite beautiful. You would make good breeding stock. I have never taken a wife. Perhaps you should stay here with me." Something about the north wind told Ruth that he was not asking her to decide. He would decide for her but perhaps she could say something to sway him. "North wind, I thank you for your kind consideration, but I am the Prince's woman. He waits for me and I was meant for him. Please help me find him again?" The north wind looked at her, considering her plea. "Very well," he said sourly. "Sleep well, we will leave early in the morning, it is a long journey." Early the next morning, the north wind woke her. He puffed himself up, and blew himself out, making himself so stout and big that he was gruesome to look at. Off they went, high up through the air, as if they would not stop until they reached the end of the world. Here on earth there was a terrible storm, acres of forest and many houses were blown down, and when it swept over the sea, ships wrecked by the hundred. They tore on and on, no one could fathom the distances they traveled. All the while they were still over the sea, and the north wind grew more and more weary. He was so out of breath that he could barely bring out a puff, until at last he sunk so low that the tops of the waves splashed over Ruth's heels. "Are you afraid?" said the north wind, with a sneer. "No," she said resolutely. They weren't very far from land by now, and the north wind had enough strength left that he managed to throw her up on the shore under the windows of the castle. He was so weak and worn out though, that he had to stay there and rest many days before he could go home again. It was dark and Ruth imagined how she must look after blowing with the north wind across the world, so she found a place to sleep. East of the Sun, West of the Moon As for the Prince and Ruth, they set free all the poor Christians who had been captured and shut up there. They took with them all the silver and gold, and sailed away for home to the castle where Ruth had first learned to love her Prince. Ruth was finally able to introduce her Prince to the rest of the family and they all lived happily ever after.