There are only two places in the world where day and night rarely meet and where their power reigns unchallenged for months.
Let me tell you about Fjellby, in northern Norway, nestled among landscapes and forests wrapped in the enchantment of long winter nights, and how reality and the supernatural met and became a legend.
In a less central area of this small town stands the 'Heart Spring', or 'Hjertekilde' as the natives call it; a fountain that, according to local traditions, comes to life during the cold season.
The magic of Hjertekilde has been known for generations and passed down through the stories of Fjellby's inhabitants. It’s said that, during the longest and coldest nights, it becomes a bridge between the human and magical worlds where traditions blend with the enchantment of nature.
Fjellby. Here lived the family of Erik and Elin, a family with solid Norwegian roots. Father Erik, with his face marked by experience and eyes like the sea, shared his life with his wife Elin, who was also born and raised in Fjellby. She was known above all for her ability to create bonds between people, and she had always been at the service of the local community. Then there were their five children, each with a unique personality: Magnus, the eldest, the explorer. Ingrid, with a passion for music and singing. Anders, the most curious among the five siblings, and Freja, with contagious sweetness. Sven was the youngest and distinguished himself for his quick thinking.
Their home was located right in front of the Hjertekilde and had witnessed the growth of this family, and here recorded the laughter, challenges, and stories that unfolded over the years. But now, during the long night period, something was about to happen. Lady Hjertekilde was about to make her appearance.
On a cold December evening, when everything was muffled and wrapped in winter silence, the sky seemed totally clear and starry, and of such an intense black color that it seemed inked. The stars were ice crystals, hanging and as if rising from the ground, attracted by a gravitational force even stronger than Earth's. They could be seen so clearly that you wanted to reach out and grab a handful; they looked like granules of sugar.
That evening, Erik and Elin's family was gathered at home and the kitchen table was set for dinner. Magnus, Ingrid, Anders, Freja, and Sven looked out the window, intrigued by a glow coming from the fountain. Through the glass, they saw a woman dressed in light clothes, dancing on the crystallized water. They all remained speechless. Anders was the first to go out, and the Lady, sensing his presence, stopped and approached him, never crossing the edge of the basin.
"Anders," said the figure, "I need your help. Tonight, you must leave a mark on the frozen water surface of the fountain. It will be an important sign for your family and your community."
So, he bent down and drew a symbol, carving it into the ice. Then she dissolved.
The following nights saw Lady Hjertekilde return with specific requests for each of the children. She asked Ingrid to dedicate a song to the memory of their ancestors. On another night, Magnus had to share a story of courage. She asked Freja to make a treat with cream, almonds, and cinnamon. Finally, Sven was asked to imagine the Sun, the rain and sprouting grass on the meadows, on a night that seemed to be the coldest of all.
When all five expressed themselves, the Lady of the fountain appeared again one night, for the last time. She called the five siblings to her and made them enter the fountain. She leaned over to collect a pile of snow and threw the first snowball in the direction of the forest. Another followed, going up, and finally a third that she let fall to the ground without applying any force. It simply fell.
Then she started to dance around them in quick small steps, waving her arms, leaving white and luminous trails, persistent with every movement. A glow surrounded them in an instant and their bodies began to turn into those of wild creatures: a wolf for Magnus, a chaffinch for Ingrid, a hare for Anders, a roe deer for Freja, and Sven changed into a fox. With a nod of her head and extending her arm, she pointed them in the direction of the forest.
"Now you all are part of Fjellby's magic," said the Lady, "your destiny will lead you to new experiences. But remember that your heart will belong to your family and to this land forever." She observed them for a moment with a fulfilled smile, knowing that their connection with Fjellby would be eternal, beyond the boundaries of time and space.
After that, she disappeared forever.