East of the Sun West of the Moon

A poor peasant girl agreed to live with a massive White Bear to save her family from poverty. In his enchanted castle, the bear transformed into a handsome prince each night, though she never saw his face in the darkness. Consumed by curiosity fueled by her mother’s advice, she lit a candle one night and was struck by his beauty, but accidentally spilled three drops of hot tallow on his breast. Awoken and heartbroken, the prince revealed he was cursed by a wicked stepmother; now he must marry a long-nosed Troll Princess in a castle lying East of the Sun and West of the Moon. The girl embarked on a perilous journey across the world, seeking the help of the Four Winds. Carried by the mighty North Wind, she reached the castle, outwitted the trolls with her golden treasures, and proved her love by washing the tallow stains from the prince’s shirt—a feat only a pure human heart could achieve. The curse broke, the trolls perished, and the couple was finally reunited in peace.