The Miserable Giant in Trollhegg Forest
by Marcia Hastings
Nyla could not fall asleep. She had been tucked in by Grandma
troll hours ago. Usually, Nyla has no trouble falling asleep, especially on a cold and snowy night such as this. She rolls herself up into a tight little ball and snuggles way down into her goose down quilt that great Grandmama troll had made for immediately after she was born, eight years ago. This was Nyla’s favorite blanket that she always felt safe and protected when she was wrapped up in it. When it was time for Nyla to lay down, the blanket would help Nyla fall gently off to sleep. Tonight, as Nyla listened to the wind howling around the trees she felt scared and did not know why. She knew her entire family was safely inside the cave with her. Mama and Papa, Grandma and Big Papa, and great Grandmama. Nyla did not have any brothers or sisters, but she had Woody, her mixed breed wonder dog, that followed her everywhere. Even with Woody, sound asleep at her feet, Nyla could not fall asleep. She started thinking of her very best friend, Twigs, that had moved away last winter. Twig’s family had moved to a village on the other side of the forest and Nyla missed Twigs so much. Twigs had no siblings, just like Nyla, so the two girls became like sisters. They were both the same age, but looked exactly like opposites. Nyla was small for her age, and a little on the chunky side. Her long red hair was always messed up--no matter how it was combed in the morning. Twigs was very tall for her age, and very skinny. She had almost white-colored hair that was short and spiky. Nyla and Twigs made a funny looking pair, but whenever you saw one girl, you knew the other one was nearby. Nyla and Twigs had been friends since they were toddlers.Twigs thought that they would only be away for one long winter. Twig’s family was going to visit their family members that lived in this far-away forest, called Trollhegg. Twigs told Nyla she would return before summer, and Nyla crossed the days off on the calendar next to her bed. A year had come and gone, and Twigs never returned. Now Nyla knew why she could not sleep, she missed her friend dearly, and needed to see her again. She somehow felt that Twigs was in danger. Nyla knew if she asked her parents to take her to see Twigs, they would refuse. It was ridiculous to even think about traveling first through their forest, then crossing the lake, then trying to find Twigs in the Trollhegg Forest. Since Nyla was small, she could remember listening to stories about the miserable giant that lived in Trollhegg Forest. Legend had it that this giant was over eight feet tall and had absolutely no hair on his head. His teeth were covered with green tarter and his breath smelled like dead fish. He was mean to everyone and therefore had no friends. The scariest trait that this giant had, was that he ate small children.
Nyla knew in her heart that Twigs was safe, as long as she was with her family and other troll relatives, but what if something had happened to Twigs? Suddenly, Nyla knews why she couldn’t sleep tonight---something had happened to Twigs---she knews this for a fact! Nyla must go and find her friend. Time is of the essence. Twigs needs her help and Nyla is the only troll that can help her. Nyla does not feel scared or worried about her long journey. She knows she will be accompanied by her faithful dog Woody. Nyla will pack up a generous supply of dried fish and berries. She will take her precious quilt and a change of clothes. Naturally, she will always have on her mitzvah heart necklace. The heart is split in half, so Nyla is always wearing one half and Twigs is wearing the other. The words on the heart state, "wherever you go--I go, my heart is always with you, best friends forever". With Nyla’s family fast asleep, and the sun just starting to rise, Nyla is off to find her friend.
Nyla is so happy that she remembered to dress in her warmest of clothes. The winter weather in the Norwegian mountains is bone-chilling cold. As Nyla and Woody make their way through the forest, they move quickly to keep themselves warm. By mid-morning they stop by a stream to eat and drink. Suddenly, Nyla realizes that she is farther away from home, then she has ever been. She thinks, for just a moment, that she must return home to the safety of her family. Then, calmness comes over her, and she thinks about
Twigs. She knows that she must go on. She packs up her snack and calls to Woody and off they go. As the approach the lake, Nyla wonders what her family thought about the note she left them. Will they be mad, sad, angry, or proud of their very brave child? Nyla is almost positive they will be angry and very frightened for her safety. They are perhaps even arranging a search party at this time to come looking for her. Nyla and Woody will sleep inside this hallow tree tonight and search for a form of transportation to cross the lake at sunrise tomorrow. Nyla must have been exhausted, because the sun was way up in the sky when she woke up the next day. She ate some of her dried fish and berries, sharing some fish with Woody. They drank some clean lake water and started looking for a way to cross the lake. Nyla could not believe her good fortune, when she found an old rowboat that had been abandoned by some thick water lily pads. It must have been left there so very long ago, but it seemed to be strong and sturdy and ready for a lake crossing. The oars were on the floor of the boat, so Nyla and Woody carefully stepped in and off they went.Nyla was so grateful that Grandpa troll had given her a compass for her last birthday. Nyla remembered to pack it before she left on her journey. By rowing her boat due West, she knew she would arrive at the entrance of the Trollhegg forest, hopefully by sundown. The winds were on Nyla’s back, so the little ancient rowboat made the swift trip across the lake in record time. When they got to the other side Nyla and Woody had something to eat and then immediately found a protected area to lay down and sleep. Nyla could not ever remember feeling quite so tired. Once again, Nyla woke up sometime in the mid-morning and felt well-rested and ready for whatever the day brought. After a quick bite, Woody and Nyla took off into the woods.
Nyla felt strong and confident, and hopefully within the next few days she would be reunited with Twigs. The Trollhegg forest did not seem scary or dangerous, until the sun started going down. Nyla was searching for a place to settle down for the night and she started hearing strange sounds. First she heard some thumping sounds like someone very heavy walking around. Then she heard some branches being snapped off the trees. The next sound she heard was a roaring firing and it sounded very close by. Nyla was so frightened that she just held on to Woody and tried to think of what she should do. She had her head buried in Woody’s neck, when she thought she heard a child crying. She couldn’t be sure, but this noise scared her more than any of the other noises. Nyla knew that she had to carefully creep closer to all the noises. She had to make sure that she was hidden and that Woody did not bark---this she could not guarantee. On tip-toes, Nyla slowly headed towards the noises.
As she approached the clearing in the woods, she couldn’t believe her eyes. There was the miserable giant that she had heard about, since she was a tiny girl. He was even scarier and more terrifying then any picture she had of him in her imagination. He was breaking tree branches off and throwing them into a rip-roaring fire that he had going. The fire was immense, but he kept building it higher and higher. Nyla held on to Woody as she kneeled behind a bush, memorized by what she was watching. All of a sudden, she heard the crying sounds again and saw her friend Twigs, tied up by a tree very close to the fire. Nyla almost screamed out to her friend, but fortunately, she closed her eyes and tried to think what she could do.
If ever she needed a miracle, this was the time. Nyla glanced down at the ground and she saw large round rocks scattered all around the bush where she and Woody were grouched. They were the size of ostrich eggs and very heavy. Nyla waited until the giant was down on his knees, with his back to her, adjusting the branches in the fire. She picked up a rock in both hands and tip-toed directly behind the giant. She flung the rocks with all her might and clobbered the miserable giant right into the roaring fire. When he tried to get up, brave Woody pounced on him and shoved him right back into the fire. Quickly, Nyla helped Twigs free herself from the rope that was around her wrists. Holding tightly to each other’s hand they both started running towards Twig’s troll family, deep in the Trollhegg forest. They never looked back and with Woody at their heels, they made it back to the safety of Twig’s family and all the other troll families that lived in this forest.
That night there was a special party to honor Nyla and her brave dog Woody. Twigs had been missing for two weeks and all her troll relatives had been anxiously searching for her, but could not find a trace of her anywhere. All the trolls were amazed that Nyla somehow "felt" that Twigs needed her help and Nyla was courageous enough to leave her home and set out to "rescue" her best friend in the entire world. Sometime during the party, Nyla’s family and friends arrived, since they had set out immediately to find Nyla and bring her home safely. The two families and all the trolls were relieved, delighted and very blessed to have both girls unharmed and together once again.
In the morning both families decided to travel back to their own forest, but first stopping by the area where the giant was "clobbered" by Nyla. All the trolls wanted to see this terrible giant, even after the "fall into the fire". They went back in a large group to the clearing and lo and behold---there was no sign of a fire, or a burnt giant. The ground was smooth and clean with not a trace of a fire. There was no sign of a miserable giant anywhere around. Nyla and Twigs knew they were in the exact terrifying spot that they were last night, but where was the giant? Where is his body? Where are all the burnt branches from the huge fire? Could the giant still be alive? Is he still in Trollhegg forest? The trolls will be keeping a close lookout for him---that you can be sure of. He simply could not be alive after his "accident" last night--or could he? The trolls, and more importantly, their children, will have to be very cautious every time they venture out in their beloved Trollhegg forest.
Final thoughts: Wow.. I bet Twiggs is very happy to have a brave friend
like Nyla and I bet their families are very proud of them. It is so exciting to read the stories that are submitted but we would like more. I want to extend an invitation to all of you to sit down and write a story or two about the good, bad, weird, scary and wild things done by Trolls. Remember any story we publish will now be honored with a $20.00 check. Tell us about your favorite troll OR write about any trolls, anywhere, past, present or future and send them to us here at Grandpa Carl’s. You can do that by visiting our ‘sign post’ and clicking on the “Submit story/illustration” and follow the simple directions OR you can simply type in grandpa-carl@trollshop.net and send us your story. (We can’t always get attachments so send them a couple of ways, if you can, so we can get to them easily.. If we can’t open them, we will let you know!) I look forward to reading your stories!
Again CONGRATULATIONS Marcia on a fun story and your Runner-up Status!
I hope to hear from you again soon!
Until then Troll Luck to you all.
Grandpa Carl