The Ash Lad

The King's Challenge

The story begins with a great proclamation from the king of Norway. He declared that any man who could complete three impossible tasks would win the hand of his daughter, the princess, and half the kingdom. Many young men tried and failed, for the challenges were truly daunting. The first task was to fetch water from a well so deep that even the strongest ropes snapped before reaching the bottom. The second task was to catch a wild boar that had ravaged the king’s lands, and the third task was to bring back the golden apple from the tallest tree in the kingdom.

In a small cottage near the woods, the Ash Lad lived with his two older brothers, Per and Pål. They were stronger and more hardworking, but they often mocked their youngest brother, considering him lazy and useless.

"We'll try our luck with the king's challenge," said Per confidently, packing his things. "You stay here, Ash Lad. You'll only get in the way."

"Yes, stay here and tend to the fire," added Pål. But the Ash Lad wasn’t deterred. He waited for them to leave, then packed a small bundle of food and set off on his own adventure.

As he walked through the forest, the Ash Lad came across an old beggar sitting by the road. The beggar asked him for some food, and despite having little to spare, the Ash Lad offered him half of his meal. The old man smiled and said, "You are kind, young lad. Take this piece of rope. It may not look like much, but it will be of great use to you." The Ash Lad thanked him and continued his journey.

The Deep Well

When he arrived at the king's palace, he saw many strong men struggling to fetch water from the well. Their ropes kept breaking, and they left in frustration. The Ash Lad approached the well and tied the old rope he had received from the beggar to the bucket. To everyone’s amazement, the rope didn’t snap, and he was able to draw up a bucket of water easily.

The king was intrigued by this strange boy with soot on his face and ragged clothes. "You have completed the first task, but the next one will not be so easy," said the king. "You must capture the wild boar that has been terrorizing our lands."

The Ash Lad set out to the forest where the wild boar was last seen. As he ventured deeper, he met a fox trapped in a snare. Feeling pity for the animal, he carefully freed it. "Thank you," said the fox. "If you ever need help, just call for me."

Soon, the wild boar came charging toward him, tusks gleaming in the sunlight. The Ash Lad took out a piece of bread and, instead of running, sat calmly on the ground. The boar paused, curious. He began to speak softly to it, and the boar, now calm, allowed itself to be led back to the palace.

When the king saw this, he could hardly believe his eyes. "You have done what no one else could," he said, "but there is one final task. You must bring me the golden apple from the tallest tree in the kingdom."

The Tallest Tree

The Ash Lad knew that this task would be the most difficult of all. The golden apple grew at the top of a tree so tall that no one had ever seen its highest branches. As he made his way toward the tree, he came across the old beggar again, who said, "You have been kind and brave, Ash Lad. Take this feather from my hat. When you reach the tree, throw it into the air, and you will know what to do."

The Ash Lad reached the enormous tree and, with the feather in hand, began to climb. The branches were slick and treacherous, and soon he could go no further. He remembered the beggar's advice and threw the feather into the air. It transformed into a magnificent eagle, which lifted him up to the highest branches. There, gleaming in the sunlight, was the golden apple.

He plucked it from the branch and descended safely to the ground, his heart swelling with pride and joy. When he returned to the palace and presented the golden apple to the king, there was a murmur of disbelief among the onlookers.

The king, however, was true to his word. "You have completed all three tasks," he declared. "You shall marry my daughter and receive half the kingdom."

But as the Ash Lad looked into the eyes of the princess, he realized something more important than riches or power. She was kind, gentle, and had a warmth that matched his own. In that moment, he knew that he had found something far greater than he had set out to achieve.

The Brothers' Envy

When Per and Pål returned home empty-handed and discovered their brother's success, they were overcome with envy. "How could he, of all people, win the princess's hand and half the kingdom?" they muttered amongst themselves.

The brothers devised a plan to humiliate the Ash Lad at the royal wedding. They sneaked into the palace and confronted him. "You don't deserve this," they sneered. "You're nothing but an ash-covered fool."

But before they could act on their jealousy, the fox whom the Ash Lad had helped earlier appeared and chased them out of the palace. "I will always repay a kindness," the fox said, bowing its head to the Ash Lad.

The wedding was a grand celebration, with people from all corners of the kingdom coming to witness the marriage of the Ash Lad and the princess. As they exchanged vows, the kingdom rejoiced, for they knew that a kind and wise man would be their future king.

The Kindness of the Ash Lad

Years passed, and the Ash Lad ruled the kingdom with wisdom and compassion. He ensured that no one went hungry and that justice was fair for all, regardless of their status or wealth. His two brothers, having learned from their mistakes, were forgiven and became loyal advisors in his court.

The Ash Lad’s legacy lived on, and stories of his adventures were told for generations. Children listened with wide eyes as they heard about the boy who had risen from the ashes to become a great and noble king. And in every tale, they learned that sometimes, the greatest treasures are found not in riches or power but in the kindness and courage we show to others.

And so, the story of the Ash Lad came to an end, but his spirit lived on in the hearts of all who heard his tale.