The Groac'h of the Isle of Lok facts for kids

The Groac'h of the Isle of Lok is a magical fairy tale from Brittany, a region in France. It was first written down by Émile Souvestre in his book Le Foyer breton.

Later, this story was shared with more readers by Andrew Lang in The Lilac Fairy Book. It also appeared in A Book of Mermaids by Ruth Manning-Sanders. This tale tells an exciting adventure about love, danger, and overcoming a powerful sea witch.

The Story Begins: Houarn and Bellah

This fairy tale starts with two young cousins, Houarn Pogamm and Bellah Postik. They grew up very close, and everyone thought they would get married someday. Sadly, their mothers passed away when they became adults. This left them with no money, and they both had to work as servants.

They often dreamed of having their own small farm where they could live happily. One day, Houarn decided he would go out and find his fortune. Bellah gave him two special gifts to help him on his journey.

Bellah's Magical Gifts

Bellah gave Houarn a magical bell. This bell could be heard from any distance, no matter how far away he was. Its only purpose was to ring loudly when danger was near. She also gave him a special knife. This knife had the power to break any magic spell just by touching it.

Bellah kept a magical stick for herself. This stick could carry a person anywhere they wished to go. She planned to use it if Houarn ever needed her help.

Houarn's Journey to the Groac'h

Houarn traveled far until he heard stories about the Groac'h of the island of Lok. The Groac'h was a very rich fairy or sea witch. People said she had a huge treasure, but no one who went after it ever came back alive. Despite the warnings, Houarn decided to seek her out.

He hired a boatman to take him to the lake where the Groac'h lived. There, he found a strange boat that looked exactly like a swan. It even had its head tucked under its wing, just like a sleeping bird.

The Swan Boat and the Underwater Palace

Curious, Houarn stepped onto the swan boat to get a closer look. Suddenly, the boat began to swim away with him! He thought about jumping off and swimming back to shore. But instead, the swan boat dove deep under the water.

It carried him to the bottom of the lake, where the Groac'h had her magnificent palace. The Groac'h welcomed him, telling him that all her wealth came from shipwrecks. She offered to share her riches if he would marry her. Forgetting about Bellah, Houarn agreed to marry the Groac'h.

The Groac'h's Dark Secret

After their marriage, the Groac'h used her magic to summon fish into a net. She then put the fish into a cooking pot. Houarn heard strange cries coming from the pot. When she served him the cooked fish, he suddenly remembered Bellah and her warning gifts.

He quickly pulled out the magical knife Bellah had given him. He touched the fish with the knife, and instantly, they turned back into men! These men told Houarn that they, too, had come to the island seeking their fortune, just like him.

Houarn Becomes a Frog

Realizing the danger, Houarn tried to run away from the Groac'h. But she was too quick. She caught him in her magical net and, with a powerful spell, turned him into a frog.

Meanwhile, far away, Bellah's magical bell began to ring loudly. Bellah knew this meant Houarn was in great danger. She grabbed her special stick, and it immediately transformed into a fast horse.

Bellah to the Rescue

The horse then changed into a bird, which carried Bellah to a hidden nest. In the nest, she found a small black man. He told her that he was the Groac'h's husband and that she could free him by freeing Houarn.

To do this, Bellah needed to dress as a man. She had to go to the Groac'h and trick her into giving up her magical net. The little black man used his own magic, turning four of his hairs into tiny tailors. They quickly made Bellah a suit out of a cabbage!

Defeating the Groac'h

Bellah, dressed as a man, went to the Groac'h's palace. The Groac'h soon asked "him" to marry her. Bellah agreed, but only if the Groac'h would let "him" use her net to catch a fish from the fishpond.

Once Bellah had the net in her hands, she didn't catch a fish. Instead, she used the net to turn the Groac'h into a toad! With the Groac'h defeated, Bellah used her magical knife to free Houarn and all the other men who had been turned into fish.

The little black man, the Groac'h's husband, arrived. He gave Bellah and Houarn as much treasure as they could possibly carry. They returned home, married, and lived a very happy life. Instead of just a small farm, they were able to buy many acres of land. They also gave enough money to all the men freed from the Groac'h so they could buy their own farms.