The Birth of the Goblins

When Êlgista was still a young goddess, she often walked in the meadows on the banks of a river. She followed the stream to the mouth of a lake and not far away discovered a small, lonely bay surrounded by old, gnarled trees. From then on, the bay became her refuge when she became morosely of spending time with her husband Trállox and her children. The years passed, her children grew up and Êlgista increasingly wanted to be alone and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. She distanced herself more and more from her husband, who became increasingly grumpy and short-tempered.

One day Trállox followed her inconspicuously and watched his wife for some time. She played with frogs and lizards that frolicked among the reeds and cattails on the lakeshore and wove beach flowers into garlands to decorate the old trees. He hadn't seen her so happy in a long time. He was still fascinated by her, but she had lost interest in him long time before.

  Jealous of the scene, he jumped into the lake and transformed into a giant water snake that rushed towards the shore. Êlgista sought shelter in one of the old trees. But the snake followed her and wrapped itself around the entire tree, trapping the goddess inside. The snake held Êlgista captive for three days and soaked the gnarled bark of the tree, whose juices gradually began to stir again. Small branches with leaves sprouted from the tree and enveloped the goddess's belly as the serpent flowed back into the water.

Êlgista's body was still trapped by the tree, so she closed her eyes, hoping she would fall asleep forever and never wake up. But as the moon rose and touched the water of the lake on the horizon, the glittering moonlight made its way straight over the gentle waves to the sleeping goddess and touched her womb. Êlgista's belly swelled and with pain from breaking roots and bending branches her womb opened and she gave birth to Frúa and Aerdd, the first goblins. She took care of them and taught them everything they needed to know about nature and life. Little by little they grew up and no longer needed Êlgista's protection. So she sent them both out into the world so that they could reproduce and live in harmony with nature.

  Goblins believe they were born on the banks of the Thoininhi and the river Thointris during the Age of Creation by Êlgista, the goddess of the earth. The goblins called the lake Thoinini, meaning "lake of life," and the river that feeds the lake, Thointris, meaning "life that flows".   To thank the goddess for her creation, the goblins made in the 12th century AEC an approximately 25 meter high monument of natural stone which is placed at the mouth between the lake and the river. The stone has been worked in such a way that it appears as if the mother goddess is wearing a dress made of roots and is gently protecting the twin pair in her arms.

 

"The Birth of the Goblins " by Blue Fairy 74