Kai, Gerda, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Inger, and Hans, gathered around the dinner table to eat supper. Anna and Elsa looked at Hans and Kai silently. Some soup and bread was laid upon the table, along with some other foods. Kai looked at the soup and smiled as if he was inspired by what he saw. "Does anyone want to hear a story about my uncle?" Kai asked the others. "Yes," beamed Gerda, but the others kept silent. Hans looked at Kai, curious regarding what tale he might want to tell. Kai smiled and began to narrate his tale.
"Once upon a time, a handsome young prince decided to go on a journey."
Kai looked at Hans and winked upon saying this, and Hans smirked in response.
"So he packed a small bag, said goodbye to his brother Lars, and set off. He sailed all day across the ocean. When it was early morning, he came to a small kingdom. Arendelle, it was called. 'I think I'll stop here,' he said to himself. Not too long after this, a great and mysterious winter had struck the kingdom. The princess had foolishly left the kingdom to find the source of the winter, and she had foolishly left the prince in charge of the kingdom."
Anna, Gerda, Inger, Kristoff, and Elsa, all frowned at Kai.
"The prince kept warm in the castle, and looked through the window. He saw the villagers freezing in the cold and felt sorry for them. So he decided to go out and buy them things to eat. Near the centre of the village, he met a group of people. So he introduced himself. 'I'm a simple traveler,' he said, "looking to buy food for hungry people.' 'We're sorry,' the villagers told him, 'but we have very little food. Our crops were very poor this year, and there's not much to eat in the whole village. Most of us are just barely getting by.' The prince went back to the castle sadly."
"On the way back to the castle, he noticed a few children throwing stones at each other. One of the stones struck the prince on the back. 'I'll kill whoever threw that,' the prince grumbled, picking up the stone and putting it in his pocket. He intended to use the stone to hit the boy who threw it at him, but he could not find him, for the boy had disappeared into the crowd. Once the prince arrived back at the castle, he asked the castle staff for food to feed the townsfolk. 'We have very little food,' they told him. 'I'm sorry to hear that,' the prince said. 'But you needn't worry about feeding me. I already have everything I need. In fact, I was thinking of making some stone soup to share with all of you.' The prince took out the stone from his pocket."
"The staff were all confused by this. 'Stone soup?' they asked. 'What's that? We've never heard of stone soup. 'Oh, it's wonderful,' said the prince. 'Best soup I've ever tasted. If you bring me a soup pot and some water, I'll make some for all of us.' Some of the staff left. When they returned, one was carrying a large soup pot, another had wood for a fire, and others brought water."
"When the fire was going and the water had begun to boil, the prince carefully dropped the stone into the boiling water. The staff watched eagerly. The prince began to slowly stir the pot, sniffing the aroma and licking his lips in anticipation. 'I do like a tasty stone soup,' he said. 'Of course, stone soup with cabbage—now that's really special.' 'I might be able to find a bit of cabbage,' one staff member said. And off she went off, returning with a small cabbage she had stored away in her pantry. 'Wonderful!' said the prince, as he added the cabbage to the pot. 'This reminds me of the time I had stone soup with cabbage and a bit of salted beef. It was unbelievably good.' After a moment of silence, the butcher spoke up. 'I know where there's a bit of salted beef,' he said. And off he went off to get it."
"When he returned, the prince added the beef to the soup pot and continued to stir. 'Can you imagine what this soup would taste like if we had a bit of onion…and perhaps a few potatoes…and a carrot or two…and some mushrooms? Oh, this would be a meal fit for royalty.' And before he knew it, the soup pot was filled to the brim with vegetables of all kinds— carrots and potatoes, mushrooms and onions, turnips and green beans, beets and celery—all brought by the men and women of the castle. Not only that, but the baker came out with some fresh bread and butter."
"And as the soup simmered slowly over the fire, the wonderful aroma began to waft all over the town. And everyone in the castle, including the prince, began to relax and talk together, sharing songs and stories and jokes. When the soup was finally done, the prince ladled it out into bowls and handed the bowls to the townsfolk, and they all shared a delicious meal together. There was more than enough for everyone to eat their fill. Afterward, they all declared that it was the best soup they had ever tasted. 'I can also make hot glogg out of a stone,' the prince boasted. And so he did. After the soup was finished, the prince noticed the boy who had struck him with the stone, and that boy was eating some of his soup. The prince picked up the stone, intending to strike the boy with the stone. However, he was interrupted by Olina, the palace cook. 'Would you like to sell that stone of yours?' she asked him. So the prince sold the stone for wine and chocolate."
FIN