Tindra on the Lofoten Islands

Tindra had made up her mind to travel a few stops on the Hurtigruten. "Why don't you visit the Lofoten Islands?" Egil, the elk, had suggested. "The Hurtigruten can take you there. That way, you can experience what it’s like to travel on it and discover the secrets of Lofoten."

"Good idea!" thought Tindra and set off immediately. After a long journey on foot, she reached Sortland, where she spent a night with Nøkk. The water spirit, who had once been gruff and unapproachable, had changed over the past months, and a friendship had developed between him and Tindra. They talked late into the night until Tindra, full of anticipation, set off for the harbor the next morning.

When the Hurtigruten arrived at the harbor, Tindra found a hiding spot behind a load of car tires that were being transported to Bergen. She remembered Kaja’s explanation that the Hurtigruten not only carried passengers but also transported goods. Perfect, so she could smuggle herself on board! As soon as she settled on the panoramic deck, the ship departed and glided through Sortland Sound towards Stokmarknes.

Although many passengers visited the Hurtigruten Museum in Stokmarknes, Tindra decided to stay on board. She could always visit the museum later. She watched as many people boarded the ship just to meet at the café. Christoph, the seal, had told her about it: People in the harbors looked forward to the arrival of the Hurtigruten, arranged to meet for coffee on board, and disembarked before the ship continued its journey.

This time was no different, and the majestic ship set sail again, soon passing through the Rafsund. Then, a loudspeaker announcement caught Tindra’s attention: "We are now entering the Trollfjord." All the passengers rushed to the deck to witness the spectacle. "Trollfjord? A fjord of trolls?" Tindra murmured, fascinated as the massive ship squeezed through a narrow passage, only to turn around and continue its journey to Svolvær. It was a short detour, but an impressive one—seeing such a large ship maneuver in such a tight fjord!

Just as she was about to sit back in her chair, she noticed a small, inconspicuous boat speeding towards the ship and disappearing under a hatch in the hull. "That was far too small for a human!" she thought and decided to investigate. On the lower deck, she discovered a tiny squirrel that swiftly stashed the boat into its satchel.

Curious, Tindra stepped closer. "Who are you?" she asked. "You look like a squirrel!"

The creature turned and grinned. "I am Cecilie Guidewind, a descendant of Ratatosk."

"Ratatosk? Who is that?" Tindra asked curiously.

"Ratatosk was a squirrel in ancient Norse mythology—my ancestor. He lived on Yggdrasil, the World Tree, and carried messages between the eagle Vedrfolnir at the top and the dragon Nidhöggr at the roots. It was his destiny to fulfill this duty, as it is for his descendants. But I didn’t want to live in a tree, so I ran away. Now, I travel like the wind through the world and love showing others the beauty of my discoveries. I’m a kind of tour guide."

Tindra laughed. "Then we have something in common. I also left my home to create my own life. But what was that boat in your bag?"

"Oh, that’s Skidbladnir! The dwarves built it long ago for the old Norse gods, but they don’t use it anymore. So, I 'borrowed' it."

Tindra was astonished. "You are truly a fascinating being! But since you travel so much, you must be able to explain why this fjord is called Trollfjord. I don’t see any trolls."

"Of course!" Cecilie replied. "The steep mountain walls frightened people, so they believed that trolls lived here. But the fjord is actually peaceful and beautiful. Except in 1890, when a battle took place here. Back then, wealthy men with steamships controlled the fjords and took all the fish away from the poor fishermen in their small rowboats. The Trollfjord was full of fish, but the rich men blocked it with their boats, preventing smaller boats from entering. However, the traditional fishermen fought their way into the fjord. Afterward, fishing laws were changed so that small fishing boats still have the same rights as large trawlers today."

Tindra nodded, impressed. "A great example that the small don’t always have to bow to the big!"

Cecilie beamed. "And since I’m the best tour guide, I will show you Lofoten! Skidbladnir is faster than the Hurtigruten. Let’s sail away in my boat."

She unpacked the boat, placed it in the water, and together they sailed along the coast. They saw Svolvær and Henningsvær. Cecilie explained that Henningsvær had a similar origin story to Nyksund—both places were built because the government funded their development.

The tour continued to Leknes, then to the old fishing village of Nusfjord, where they enjoyed cinnamon buns at a small café. In Borg, Cecilie stopped. "Lofoten and Vesterålen are the northernmost areas where Vikings settled. Here in Borg, you can learn a lot about them. The museum shows what life was like back then. You must have heard a lot about the Vikings?"

Tindra nodded, but she decided she wanted to learn even more about them in the future.

After a short stop in Sund, where they watched a blacksmith practicing the old coastal craft to perfection, they traveled on to Flakstad and Ramberg, known worldwide for their brilliant white beaches and perfect surfing waves. A visit to Flakstad Church, with its onion dome, was also a must. Finally, they reached Å, at the southern tip of Lofoten, a village where time seemed to have stood still.

"We could still go to Røst and Værøy," Cecilie suggested. "The islands are also part of Lofoten, but they can only be reached by boat. However, we would have to pass the Moskenes Maelstrom."

"I’ve heard about that. Is it really so dangerous?" Tindra asked.

"Oh yes! Edgar Allan Poe wrote a story about it in 1841. A fisherman who got caught in the whirlpool and escaped aged years within minutes."

Tindra shuddered. "Then we’d better stay on the safe course!"

Cecilie smiled. "That might be best. But do you know, hundreds of years ago, there was another island here? There’s no real evidence, but many stories."

"Stories about a lost island? You have to tell me!"

"Utrøst, that was the name of the island. It was once a magical place. It was incredibly fertile. Everything one could imagine grew there in abundance. There were thick forests, vast meadows full of flowers, and enough food for everyone. A happy king lived there with his two sons. These sons were special because they had magical powers and could transform into cormorants."

Tindra's eyes widened. "Magical powers? And they could fly? How wonderful!"

Cecilie nodded. "Yes, they loved soaring over the sea, gliding with the wind, and watching the waves from above. But then, one day, something incredible happened—the entire island vanished without a trace."

Tindra furrowed her brow. "But how can an entire island just disappear?"

Cecilie shrugged. "No one knows for sure. Some believe a great flood swallowed it. Others say that ancient magic was at work, hiding or sinking the island. But what truly happened remains a mystery."

Tindra felt a tingle in her fingers. "That is so eerie... and sad. What happened to the king’s two sons?"

Cecilie smiled mysteriously. "Since that day, something strange has been happening. Whenever fishermen are in danger at sea, two cormorants suddenly appear and help them. They fly close to the boats, show them the way to safety, or call for help. Many believe they are the king’s sons, still watching over the sea."

Tindra tilted her head thoughtfully. "So, they still exist? In some way?"

Cecilie nodded. "Probably. And the people of Lofoten know this legend well. The blacksmith in Sund, whom we visited today, loves forging cormorants as a tribute to the two brothers. All over Lofoten, you can find images and carvings of cormorants because people believe that two of them are the lost royal children, always ready to help in times of need."

Tindra smiled. "That is such a beautiful story. From now on, I will look at cormorants in a completely different way."

Cecilie winked. "And don’t forget: If you see cormorants sitting by the water, drying their feathers, it brings good luck."

"I will always remember that whenever I see cormorants from now on. Thank you, Cecilie, for telling me this story. But now, let’s continue our journey—how about a stop in Reine?"

Cecilie nodded. "And we will climb the Reinebringen! It’s only 448 meters high, but the view is breathtaking."

After enjoying the panoramic view, they sailed northward. "Have you noticed that most fishing villages here are on the east coast, while on Vesterålen they are on the west coast?" asked Tindra.

"Yes! That is one of the special features of Lofoten. Also, the mountains here are sharper than those on Vesterålen because, during the last Ice Age, there was less ice here. The Gulf Stream brought a milder climate, while the ice on Vesterålen and other parts of Norway’s mountains wore down the peaks. Today, people come from all over the world to climb the mountains of Lofoten and Vesterålen."

"I love hiking in the mountains!" exclaimed Tindra excitedly.

"Then I have a special mountain for you: Higravtinden, the highest mountain in Lofoten at 1,146 meters! But to get there, we have to travel back to the north of Lofoten and reach the end of Austnesfjord. We will stop in Laupstad."

"Laupstad. What an interesting name. What does it mean?" asked Tindra.

"Laupstad comes from 'hlaup' and 'stad,' meaning overland transport. The Vikings carried their boats from one fjord to another here. And today, we will do the same!"

At the foot of Higravtinden, halfway between two fjords, lived Cecilie’s friend: Jacqueline, the silversmith. She was a fairy from the south and lived here with her house elf, Mirco. "We can leave our belongings with her while we climb the mountain. When we return, she will surely have a delicious meal waiting for us. Fairies and elves can’t help but be hospitable."

Said and done. Jacqueline and Mirco welcomed them warmly. Jacqueline set aside her silversmith work and went straight to the kitchen to cook while Tindra and Cecilie climbed Higravtinden. From inside the house, they could hear Mirco hammering away at something.

The view from the summit was breathtaking, and they stayed for a while before heading back down into the valley. After a delicious meal and sharing the latest news, Tindra and Cecilie set off again. At Sløverfjord, they put the boat back into the water, and Cecilie sailed Tindra over to Vesterålen.

"By the way," said Cecilie, "even though most people don’t realize it, we are already on Vesterålen without taking the ship. Lofoten is mostly settled in the east, as you have already noticed. The old fishermen had to cross the mountains inland. That’s why the northernmost part of the island group was managed from Vesterålen because the fishermen from there could reach it more easily by boat. From Laupstad, we are already in Vesterålen."

"But now, let’s sail to Melbu, where you can go ashore."

"Shouldn’t you take me all the way to Nyksund?" asked Tindra.

"No," replied Tindra. "Since I’m already here, I want to explore Vesterålen in more detail. Thank you for everything you have shown me today. It was incredibly exciting! I hope we see each other again someday."

"I hope so too!" said Cecilie with a smile.

As they arrived on the other side, Cecilie and Tindra noticed two small figures with a cart pulled by a tiny dog. As the boat docked right in front of them, the two turned around, curiously observing the newcomers.

"A squirrel and a troll? What an unusual travel group!" one of the figures murmured amusedly.

"Hello, we are Cecilie, the descendant of Ratatosk, and Tindra from the Valley of the Trolls. But I live in Nyksund."

"We are Susanne and Thomas," introduced one of the little figures. "We are Tusser, and by chance, we are also on our way to Nyksund. You can travel with us! But for tonight, we are making camp in this giant metal tank here, the Royal Neptun Hall. This is where we will sleep."

"Then have fun together!" Cecilie Guidewind said laughing. With that, she swiftly unpacked her boat and sailed away faster than the wind back to Lofoten. "She truly lives up to her name," thought Tindra with a smile.

"And now, I would love to hear why you are traveling to Nyksund!" she said curiously.

"We’ll tell you," said Susanne, "but only tomorrow. It’s late, let’s go to sleep. Herman, our carriage dog, is already very tired."

Only now did Tindra realize how exhausted she was. She found a little nook in the Royal Neptun Hall and lay down to sleep. In her dreams, she once again wandered through Lofoten, climbed the mountains, and walked along the white beaches. But tomorrow, a new adventure awaited her. With that thought, she finally drifted off to the land of dreams.