The Seven Foals facts for kids

The Seven Foals (in Norwegian: De syv folene) is a classic fairy tale from Norway. It was collected by two famous storytellers, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe. This story is about a brave young hero, sometimes called "Cinder-lad," who faces a big challenge from a king. It's a bit like the story of Cinderella, but with a magical twist involving horses!

The King's Challenge

Once upon a time, there was a poor family with three sons. The youngest son often spent his time by the fireplace, covered in ashes. One day, the oldest son decided to seek his fortune. He went to the king's castle to offer his service.

The king had a very special task. He owned seven mysterious foals. The challenge was to watch these foals all day. The person also had to find out what they ate and drank. If someone succeeded, they would marry the princess and get half the kingdom! But if they failed, they would receive a harsh punishment.

The Older Brothers' Attempts

The next morning, the oldest brother began his task. He chased after the seven foals, but they were very fast. He soon grew tired. An old woman spinning yarn called out to him. She offered him a rest and to comb his hair. He agreed, and while he rested, he fell asleep.

In the evening, he wanted to go home. The old woman told him the foals would return that way. She gave him some moss and water. She said to tell the king this was what the foals ate and drank. The king knew this was not true. The oldest son failed and received his punishment. His back was cut with three stripes, and salt was rubbed into them. He went home in pain.

The middle brother decided to try next. But the same thing happened to him. He also fell asleep and failed the king's challenge.

The Youngest Son's Journey

Finally, it was the youngest brother's turn. His older brothers made fun of him. His parents begged him not to go. But he was determined. He took the same job as his brothers. This time, when he saw the old woman, he ran right past her!

As he ran, the smallest foal spoke to him! It told him to ride it because they had a long way to go. The youngest son climbed onto the foal's back.

A Magical Discovery

The foals carried him far away. They reached a large birch tree. Inside the tree, there was a hidden room. In this room, he found a powerful sword and a pitcher. The foals asked him to try and lift the sword. He couldn't at first. But after he drank three times from the pitcher, he became strong enough to wield the sword!

Then, the foals told him an amazing secret. They were not just ordinary foals. They were the princess's brothers! A wicked troll had turned them into horses. To break the spell, the youngest son had to promise something big. He had to promise to cut off their heads on his wedding day. This act would free them from the troll's magic.

Breaking the Spell

After this, they continued their journey. They arrived at a church. The priest there gave them bread and wine. The youngest son remembered to take some of the bread and wine with him when they left.

A Happy Ending

When the youngest son returned to the king, he presented the bread and wine. The king was very impressed. He knew the youngest son had truly succeeded. The king immediately made plans for the wedding between the youngest son and the princess.

On the wedding day, the youngest son kept his promise. He bravely cut off the heads of the seven foals. As soon as he did, a miracle happened! The foals changed back into the princess's brothers, now free from the troll's enchantment. The king was overjoyed to have his sons back. He was so grateful that he promised the youngest son the entire kingdom after he passed away. And so, the Cinder-lad became a prince and lived happily ever after.