Once upon a time, there lived a great man named Thef Irst, from Sweden, in a little village called Thevillage. Thef had a younger brother, named Sven. Sven and Thef were inseparable, partly due to Sven’s speech impediment. No one but Thef could understand a word he said.

          It was a bright, spring afternoon, when Thef and Sven were out on the hunt for some dinner to bring home to the family, when all of a sudden, a young maiden came running out of the Dark Woods. She was so out of breath that she could not even scream. Her blonde hair was tousled and her china white skin was flushed red. Thef and Sven took up their weapons and rushed to the maiden’s aid.

          “From what horrid danger do you run, fair maiden?” Thef asked once he reached her.

          “Yeh, hat;s te nater?”[BJ1]  chimed in Sven. The maiden looked up, with a confused look on her face. Her breath returned, she asked,

          “What did you say?” Sven repeated himself, and she still looked confused.

          “He asked what the matter was,” explained Thef. “I am Thef, and this is my brother Sven.”

          The young woman looked at them oddly, as though she did not know what to think of this strange pair. “I am Lady Irl, daughter of Earl Irl.”

          “Your father rules over these lands, does he not?” asked Thef, realizing her stature and bowing his head appropriately.

          “Yes,” she replied. Noticing that they were beginning to bow, she touched Thef gently upon the shoulder. “Please, do not make a big deal about it. I am just like you and your brother here.”

          “ Tank youmy ladu,” [BJ2] stuttered Sven.