Deep in the misty fjords of Norway, where the pine trees loom like nosy old grandmothers and the mountains grumble in their sleep, something terrible happened last Tuesday. The trolls, the big, fearless, bridge-squatting, rock-throwing legends of the land, got scared.
And when trolls get scared, you know it’s serious.
The Mystery BeginsIt started with old Grumlefang, the grumpiest troll in the forest (which is saying something). He was sitting on his usual boulder, munching on a pinecone sandwich, when he heard it—a scream. Not the usual scream of terrified hikers spotting him (he quite enjoyed those), but something different. Something… unholy.
“EEEYAAAHHHH!”
Grumlefang’s mossy ears twitched. The sound echoed through the valley, bouncing off the cliffs like an angry goat in a tin can.
“WHAT in the name of moldy lichen was that?!” he bellowed.Trolls do not like surprises. They especially do not like high-pitched, banshee-like noises in the middle of their supper. So Grumlefang did what any self-respecting troll would do—he ran for his life.
The Panic SpreadsSoon, the whole troll community was in chaos.
Big-Foot Bork tripped over his own feet and rolled down the hill like a giant moss-covered bowling ball. Stompleg the Mighty, known for lifting entire trees with one hand, hid behind a very small rock. Even the legendary Bridge Trolls of Glumfjord—who normally only moved for toll collection—abandoned their bridge and fled into the mountains.
“IT’S A CURSE!” someone howled.”
IT’S A VIKING GHOST!” cried another.
“IT’S A… a… HUMAN WIZARD!”
That last suggestion caused even more panic. Trolls are terrified of human wizards (or, as humans call them, “scientists”). No troll has ever recovered from an encounter with one of those weird, tiny humans who measure things and invent fire in strange little tubes.
The bravest trolls—meaning the ones who lost a bet—decided to investigate. Armed with sticks, boulders, and one very confused goat, they tiptoed toward the source of the sound.
The Terrifying DiscoveryAs they reached the valley, the screaming grew louder. The air was thick with tension, and the trolls braced for battle, destruction, and possibly being turned into toads.
And then… they saw it.
A single sheep.
But not just any sheep. This woolly demon had wild eyes, a mouth foaming like a fjord in a storm, and it was standing on a rock, staring at them with the intensity of a thousand angry grandmothers. And worst of all…It opened its mouth and let out another bloodcurdling scream.
“EEEEEEYYYYAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”
That was it. The trolls were done.They turned and ran for their miserable lives.
The AftermathThe next morning, after a sleepless night of hiding in caves and swearing to never leave home again, a tiny troll named Kvik (who was too young to be scared properly) went back to investigate.
He found the sheep standing in the same spot, now peacefully chewing on some grass.
Turns out, the poor thing had simply eaten too many fermented cloudberries and was having what humans might call… a “bad trip.
”When Kvik told the other trolls, they pretended they had never been scared in the first place.
“Bah! We knew it was just a sheep all along!” claimed Grumlefang, adjusting his moss-covered beard.
“Of course! We were just… um… testing your bravery!” added Big-Foot Bork.
“That sheep better watch itself next time,” mumbled Stompleg, still hiding behind his tiny rock.
And so, life returned to normal in the troll lands—except now, every time a sheep so much as bleats, a few trolls flinch and pretend they weren’t scared.
Because, as everyone knows, nothing is scarier than a screaming sheep.
Speaking of Norwegian folklore, you might be interested in delving deeper into the enchanting world of Trolls in Norwegian folklore. Wondering about the unique fauna of Norway? See why the humble sheep holds a special place in this country’s rural landscape. And if the mention of human wizards – or scientists – has piqued your curiosity, you can delve into the exciting world of science and technology in Norway. Surely, these insights might help you understand this mysterious night of the screaming sheep even better!
