The Swedish Midsummer

The little town of Västerby Sweden got ready for the customary Midsummer festival as the longest day of the year drew near. Maypoles were decked with vibrant flowers, and both adults and children weaved beautiful garlands. As family got ready for the feast that would go far into the night, laughter could be heard everywhere. Amid the festivities, however, there was a hint of disquiet among the elder villagers, who recalled the darker midsummer tales - the ones about the gnomes and trolls that were supposed to awaken on this night.

Curious and full of adventure, Emilia had always found these stories to be fascinating. Mormor Ingrid, her grandmother, would frequently tell the stories by the fire in quiet tones, her eyes heavy with terror. She would mutter, "The gnomes are mischievous, but gifts can appease them." But the trolls are much more deadly. When the sun falls, they emerge in search of trouble and occasionally blood.

Emilia was captivated to the mystery in spite of her grandmother's cautions. She decided to investigate the deep woodland outside of Västerby, where gnomes and trolls were rumored to live, this Midsummer's Day. Eager for a new experience, her pals Erik and Anna consented to accompany her.

The three of them snuck away from the village as dusk approached, their lamps creating fluttering shadows on the route through the woodland. Excitement and dread mixed as they moved deeper into the trees. The festival sounds subsided and were replaced by the sound of rustling leaves and the sporadic hoot of an owl as the weather turned colder.

They came onto a little clearing illuminated by the unsettling light of the full moon after what seemed like hours. A worn-out stone altar with odd carvings and moss covering it stood in the middle. These were offerings to the gnomes, and Emilia gasped as she recognized the symbols from her grandmother's stories.

"Let's leave something," Anna said, a little shaky in her voice. "Perhaps it will keep them content."

They stepped back to watch as they placed some bread and a handful of cash on the altar. There was silence for a minute. Then little people started to emerge from the darkness. Tiny, twisted faces with glinting eyes of cunning and curiosity gazed at them. The gnomes looked over the offerings while chatting amongst themselves.

Emilia was about to unwind, believing they had placated the animals, when a low growl came from the edge of the woodland. The gnomes dispersed, their terrified eyes wide. The trolls emerged from the shadows as massive, lumbering shapes charged into the clearing. Their skin was like stone, and their distorted features made them ugly. They stared at the invaders, their eyes gleaming with malicious greed.

Erik said, "We have to leave this place immediately."

The trolls turned to run, but they moved more quickly than they seemed. Anna was knocked to the ground by a swipe from one. With a rush of energy coursing through them, Emilia and Erik hauled her up. The trolls' thunderous footsteps followed them as they hurried through the forest, blindfolded.

The trail became obscured by the darkness as the trees appeared to encircle them. Emilia heard the trolls approaching, and her pulse raced. She recalled her grandmother's words of wisdom in a last-ditch attempt: "The gnomes detest the trolls." Make the most of that.

Emilia paused, hoping the gnomes were still observing, then turned back to confront their assailants. With the lantern in her hand, the light flickered erratically. "Aid us!" she exclaimed. "You were honored by us!"

There was a terrible silence throughout that moment. Then the gnomes emerged again from the undergrowth. Their little shapes surprisingly aggressive, they swarmed the trolls, biting and clawing. Swatting at the gnomes, the trolls shouted with pain and rage, but they were overpowered by their vast numbers.

Taking advantage of the confusion, Erik, Emilia, and Anna fled. They continued until they suddenly emerged from the forest and crashed onto the nearby meadow. In the distance, the noises of the festival were faint but comfortingly normal.

At daylight, the villagers discovered them, shaking and tired but still alive. With a pallid face, Mormor Ingrid tightly hugged Emilia. "You did see them, right?"

Still too shook to talk, Emilia nodded. With solemn expressions on their faces, the elders assembled to hear the tale. From that day on, the forest remained off-limits, particularly on Midsummer's Eve. In an effort to maintain harmony and balance, the villagers reaffirmed their long-standing customs by making offerings and whispering prayers.

Emilia never forgot that evening even as the years went by. Gnomes and trolls from Midsummer tales were no longer fiction. They really existed; they were hiding in the shadows, waiting for the longest day to give way to the riskiest night of the year.