One day two sisters went out berry picking in the woods. As the afternoon wore on, they realized they were lost. They wandered up a rocky hillside and found an entrance to a cave. Following the dark tunnel, they eventually came to the entrance to a large room filled with jewels, gold, and stones of every shape and size. They walked past two large boulders at the entrance. Although they marveled at the beauty of the jewels, what they truly needed was rest and and safe place to sleep. So they wrapped their arms around each other and fell asleep.
Now the entrance to the cave was guarded by two trolls who were awake during the day and slept at night, turning into two rather bumpy-looking boulders. Normally, they would snack on anyone who entered their cave and dared to try to remove their treasure. But when they woke at first light, they saw the two sweet girls sleeping peacefully, they didn’t feel much like making a meal of them. When the girls awoke, they asked the trolls how to find their way home. Wouldn’t you like a gem or piece of gold to take with you? Asked the trolls. No, we just need to get back to our mother and father, they must be worried, the girls answered.
The trolls rewarded them each with a stone to match their eyes for their kind nature and honesty. One sister was given a glittering emerald and the other a beautiful sapphire. The girls thanked the trolls and listened carefully to the directions that would guide them back to the river and their village.
When the girls arrived at home, the parents were relieved to see them again. When they saw the stones, however, their thoughts turned from gratitude to wanting (desire?). They took the girls gifts and tucked them in for the night. The next morning, they told the girls they were to return to the cave and come back with all the gold and gems they could carry. They packed the girls a meager lunch and gave them two large sacks. If they were unable to return with the gold and gems, the mother and father told them not to return at all.
The girls were distraught. They climbed back up the mountain, arriving after dark when the trolls had gone to bed and turned to stone. When the trolls woke, they were surprised to see the sisters had returned, each with a sack that she used as a pillow. The girls explained their parents’ wishes and the trolls were very angry to see such poor treatment of the sweet girls. So, as the trolls were master forgers, they created the most beautiful bracelets for the girls. One troll would melt the gold in his hands, the other would fashion the bracelet and set it with gemstones. Emeralds for one sister, sapphires for the other. The bracelets extended from their wrists to their elbow, and the girls were something to behold. They made the most beautiful sounds as they raised and lowered or swung their arms. The bracelets were just the right size, forged onto their wrists, unable to be removed. The trolls wished the girls well and sent them on their way.
The girls jingled their way down the hillside. When they returned to the village, their parents tried in vain to pry or cut the bracelets off, but of course bracelets forged by troll magic were unlikely to be removed. The girls continued to live in the village, but gained fame from people passing by who told of the two lovely, good-natured sisters who made music as they worked and played. One day, two princes came to see the sisters for themselves, and fell immediately in love. They took the girls off on their next adventure, leaving the mean-spirited and covetous parents behind.