The Sea-Maiden facts for kids

The Sea-Maiden is a classic fairy tale from Scotland. It was collected by John Francis Campbell in his book Popular Tales of the West Highlands. Another writer, Joseph Jacobs, also included it in his book Celtic Fairy Tales. This story tells about a brave young hero, a mysterious sea-maiden, and many exciting adventures.

The Fisherman's Promise

The story begins with a fisherman who meets a magical sea-maiden. She offers him a lot of fish, but in return, she wants his son. The fisherman says he has no son. However, the sea-maiden makes a promise: he will have a son, and she will come to take the boy when he is twenty years old.

As the years pass, the fisherman's son grows up. The father becomes very worried about the promise he made. The son, who is brave and clever, notices his father's sadness. He asks what is wrong. When he learns about the sea-maiden's promise, he tells his father not to worry. He asks for a strong sword and prepares for his journey.

The Hero's Journey Begins

The young hero sets out on his adventure with his loyal dog. Along the way, he finds three animals arguing over a sheep carcass: a dog, a falcon, and an otter. The hero fairly divides the carcass among them. In return, the animals promise to help him whenever he needs them. This shows his kindness and wisdom.

Working for the King

The hero then finds work as a cowherd for a king. His pay depends on how much milk the cows give. At first, the grass is poor, and the cows don't give much milk. But the hero discovers a hidden, green valley.

When he takes the cows to this lush valley, a huge giant appears. The giant is angry that the hero is grazing cows in his valley. The hero bravely fights and defeats the giant. He doesn't take any of the giant's treasure. Instead, he brings the cows back, and they now give lots of rich milk.

The next day, he goes even further into the valley. He meets another giant and fights him, this time with the help of his loyal dog. On the third day, he faces a tricky old hag. She tries to trick him, but he defeats her too, again with his dog's help.

The Loch Monster

When the hero returns to the king's castle, everyone is very sad. A terrible monster with three heads lives in the nearby loch (a lake). Every year, the monster demands a person, and this year, the king's own daughter has been chosen.

A general promises to rescue the princess, hoping to marry her. The king has agreed to this. The hero goes to watch. When the monster appears, the general runs away in fear.

The princess sees a brave man on a black horse, with a black dog, appear. It is the hero! He fights the monster and cuts off one of its heads. He ties the head with a strong rope and gives it to the princess. She gives him a ring as a thank you. The hero then quietly returns to his cows. The general, who is a coward, threatens the princess. He forces her to say that he was the one who killed the monster.

The next day, the princess must go back to the loch because two heads of the monster are still alive. The hero comes again. He tells her to wake him when the monster appears. She does, and as he asked, she puts one of her earrings on his ear. They fight, and he cuts off the second head. The same thing happens on the third day, and finally, the monster is completely defeated.

The Truth Revealed

The king prepares for his daughter to marry the general. But the king's daughter has a plan. She says that first, the general must show the monster's heads from the rope. The general tries but cannot. Finally, the cowherd (the hero) easily does it.

The princess then tells her father that the real hero has her ring and two earrings. The hero shows them, proving he was the one who saved her. The king is very pleased and orders the hero to be dressed in fine clothes. The king's daughter says he already has good clothes. The hero then dresses in shining golden clothes from the giant's castle and marries the princess.

The Sea-Maiden Returns

One day, the prince (who was the cowherd) and the princess are walking by the loch. Suddenly, the sea-maiden appears and takes the prince away!

The princess is very sad. An old smith advises her. He tells her to wear all her beautiful jewelry and offer it to the sea-maiden in exchange for her husband. The sea-maiden agrees, and the prince is returned.

Saving the Prince Again

However, the princess is then captured by the sea-maiden. The same wise person who advised the prince before tells him how to save her. He says that on a special island, there is a white deer. If he catches the deer, a hoodie crow will fly out. If he catches the crow, a trout will jump out, and inside the trout's mouth will be an egg. If the egg is broken, the sea-maiden will die.

The sea-maiden tries to stop anyone from reaching the island by sinking any boat that comes near. But the prince's horse and dog bravely jump to the island. The dog chases the white deer. The prince calls on the dog he met earlier (from the sheep carcass story), and with its help, he catches the deer.

The hoodie crow flies out, and the prince calls on the falcon he helped before. With the falcon's aid, he catches the crow. Then, the trout springs out. The prince calls on the otter he helped, and with its help, he catches the trout.

The sea-maiden appears and begs the prince to spare her life. She promises to do whatever he asks. He demands his wife back. When the princess is safely returned, the prince squeezes the egg, and the sea-maiden dies, ending her power forever. The prince and princess live happily ever after.