Troll Gregor and His Great Trial

In a distant Scandinavian valley lived a large troll named Gregor. He was tall and strong, with green skin and huge claws. The entire forest feared Gregor because he was often angry and destroyed everything in his path. Everyone thought the troll was a grim and angry creature because that’s what the old tales and legends said about trolls.

But Gregor wasn’t as bad as everyone thought. He was simply lonely and didn’t know how to make friends. No one dared to approach him because his loud steps and fierce appearance scared everyone. And although Gregor wanted friends, he didn’t know where to start.

One day, Gregor decided to go into the forest and try to change something in his life. He had heard that a wise owl lived there who could help anyone in search of friendship and understanding. The troll walked through the forest, breaking branches and making noise because his steps were big and heavy.

When he came to the tree where the owl sat, she looked at him attentively and said, “Troll Gregor, you want to find friends, but your strength and appearance scare everyone. To find true friends, you need to learn to be patient and caring.”

Gregor was surprised. “Patient? But I’m so big and scary. How can I be patient?” he asked.

“You must learn to control your strength and care for others,” replied the owl. “Try helping those in need, and you’ll see how the world around you will change.”

Gregor thought about her words and decided to give it a try. He walked further into the forest and saw a rabbit stuck in a bush. Without hesitation, Gregor gently freed the rabbit. “Thank you, Troll! You’re really kind!” said the rabbit. This was Gregor’s first good deed, and he felt his heart warm.

Every day, Gregor helped more and more creatures. He helped old trees stand straight, lifted stones off paths for the smaller animals, and was always there whenever someone was in need. Soon, he noticed that the forest creatures began to treat him differently. They no longer feared him; instead, they started asking him for help.

One day, a strong storm swept through the forest. Trees were breaking, and animals were hiding. Gregor saw how his new friends—rabbits, squirrels, and birds—were seeking shelter from the rain and wind. The troll didn’t want to sit idly by. He used his great strength to move fallen trees and protect his friends from the storm.

When the storm finally ended, all the animals came to thank Gregor. “You’re truly our friend!” they said. And from that day on, the troll became not only the strong protector of the forest but also the beloved friend of all its inhabitants.

Moral: Strength is important, but true strength lies in being caring and helping others. Even the grimmest creatures can become friends if they learn to love and care for others.