This week, I'm Myths and Legends.

It's a fairy tale from Scandinavia, where you'll see that the best weapon for defeating

evil trolls might just be in your kitchen.

Then, on the creature of the week, it's the Tom-Cod, and you'll learn just how wrong you've

been fishing since pretty much forever.

This is Myths and Legends, episode 146. 20.

This is a podcast where I tell stories from mythology and folklore.

Some are incredibly popular stories you think you know, but with surprising origins.

And others are stories that might be new to you, but are definitely worth listening.

This is a fairy tale from Scandinavia, and it's one that I love,

but I can't explain why I love it until the end, so we're just going to jump right in.

The Queen hung her head, another month, and still no child.

The King didn't seem to care that much.

He was happy with her life together, and assured her that an heir would come at the right time.

But the Queen was bored.

Really bored, and she wanted a baby to take away her boredom.

The King shook his head and rolled his eyes.

Yeah, there were so many great reasons to have a kid, but being bored probably wasn't one of them.

Everywhere, the Queen saw children, parents with their screaming,

stinking little ones at the markets.

Nobles scolding their children in their mansions, orphans stuck in the vialist huts.

Hey, the King said, holding up a hand and chiming in at dinner.

...