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cover art for Hild, the Queen of Elfland

Orkneyology.com ~ Orkney Islands native storyteller Tom Muir's "Tales for Troubled Times" archive and other folk tales

Hild, the Queen of Elfland

Tom Muir, Orkney Islands, Scotland native storyteller gives you a folk tale from Iceland about a woman who was actually the queen of Elfland under a curse. She has to ride on a shepherd to Elfland every Christmas Eve, which killed them, until a strong man with magical powers takes the job and frees her. Find more of Tom's Tales for Troubled Times on Tom's website, Orkneyology.com.

More episodes

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  • The Three Questions

    10:27
    Tom Muir tells one of his favorite tales from his latest collection of Scottish folk tales - Scottish Folk tales of Coast and Sea - called The Three Questions.
  • Spirits of the Trees

    12:02
    A story for Christmas that comes from Germany's Harz Mountains, told for Tom's German brother, Hartmut Helms.
  • The Shetland Fin Wife

    11:25
    Tom Muir, Orkney Islands native storyteller gives you a folk tale from Orkney about a man shipwrecked on Shetland who wanted to be home for Christmas. Find more of Tom's Tales for Toubled Times and learn all about living in the Scottish isles of Orkney on www.Orkneyology.com.
  • Eynhallow Laments: The Fin Folk's Lament

    06:15
    Tom's Eynhallow Laments for Gordon McClellan's 2020 Celebration Earth, Earth Day events.
  • EynhallowLaments: Brother Dagfinn's Lament

    07:35
    Tom's Eynhallow Laments for Gordon McClellan's 2020 Celebration Earth, Earth Day events.
  • Eynhallow Laments: Clara's Lament

    08:10
    Tom's Eynhallow Laments for Gordon McClellan's 2020 Celebration Earth, Earth Day events.
  • The Three Pieces of Advice

    23:28
    A Scottish folk tale showing that good advice can be worth far more than money. Told by Orkney Islands, Scotland, storyteller, Tom Muir. Find more traditional stories and Scottish island lore on Tom's website, Orkneyology.com.
  • The Bride of Ramray

    07:43
    A strange selkie story from the Orkney island of Graemsay, told by Orkney Islands traditional storyteller, Tom Muir. Find more Orkney lore and stories on Tom's website, Orkneyology.com.