The Troll’s Daughter
The Troll’s Daughter — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.
Page 1
On a volcanic island where fire-flowers bloomed, lived Astrid, daughter of the troll king. Unlike her kin, Astrid possessed a gentle heart and a yearning for the world above. Grimbrand, the village elder, watched with wary eyes, for the mountain held both beauty and peril. A curse whispered on the wind: only a heart of fire could bridge the two worlds, or doom them both.
Page 2
Astrid's father, the Troll King, rumbled, "Why do you waste your time with those soft-skins? They fear us." Astrid sighed, tending her garden of fire-flowers. "They do not understand us, Father. But understanding can bloom, like these." The King scoffed, crushing a flower beneath his stone foot. "Understanding is weakness, Astrid. Strength is all that matters."
Page 3
"Stay away from our village, troll," Grimbrand warned, his voice trembling slightly. Astrid lowered her head. "I only wished to offer these flowers. They thrive even here, Elder." He pointed a gnarled finger, "My grandmother used to say, 'the path to hell is paved with good intentions'. The flowers bring fire, and fire will bring ruin."
Page 4
One day, the volcano rumbled, and a fissure opened, threatening to engulf the village. "We're doomed!" a villager cried, as lava crept closer. Astrid knew what she had to do. She raced to the fissure and began planting fire-flowers along its edges, creating a vibrant, glowing barrier.
Page 5
Her father emerged from the mountain, his eyes blazing with rage. "You aid them, Astrid? These are the creatures who scorn us!" Astrid stood her ground. "They are in danger, Father. Even trolls feel fear." The King raised his hand, a tremor shaking the ground. "Then feel my wrath!"
Page 6
The King unleashed a wave of heat, intending to burn the flowers and the village with them. Instead, the flowers absorbed the energy, their glow intensifying. Grimbrand watched in awe. "The flowers...they're feeding on the heat!" he exclaimed. Astrid realized the truth: the flowers held the volcano's heart within them, a balance of destruction and life.
Page 7
"Choose, Astrid!" her father roared. "Your kin, or these...humans?" Astrid looked at the terrified villagers, then back at her father's hardened face. She remembered something her mother told her. 'Love isn't about possession, it's about appreciation.' Astrid took a deep breath. "I choose...balance, Father."
Page 8
Refusing to accept her choice, the King lunged toward Astrid, intending to drag her back into the mountain. But as he reached for her, the fire-flowers erupted in a blinding light. He recoiled, clutching his chest. Astrid cried out, "Father! The flowers...they're rejecting your anger!"
Page 9
The King stumbled back, defeated. He looked at Astrid, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. With a final rumble, he retreated into the mountain. Astrid turned to the villagers, offering a gentle smile. The volcano calmed, the fissure sealed by the roots of the fire-flowers, a bridge of life where there was once only division.
Page 10
From that day on, Astrid became known as the Heart of Fire, the bridge between two worlds. She taught the villagers to respect the mountain's power, and the trolls to understand the beauty of the world above. And so, on the volcanic island, life bloomed, both above and below, a testament to the power of understanding and the courage to choose love over fear.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
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