Prince Wolf (Danish: Ulv Kongesøn) is a Danish fairy tale collected by Svend Grundtvig in his book Danske Folkeaeventyr. It is related to the international cycle of the Animal as Bridegroom or The Search for the Lost Husband. Tales with similar motifs and elements are found across Denmark and Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Iceland).
Summary
A princess finds a louse on her hair. She shows it to her father and decides to feed it until it grows large enough. The louse dies and the king orders its leather to be cut off and extended. He decides to use it as part of a riddle to give the princess's hand in marriage to anyone who can correctly guess the type of skin.
A wolf comes to the court and guesses it right, demanding the princess as wife, as promised by the king. The king consents in giving his daughter and the wolf comes to fetch her. Wolf and princess walk about a bit, then she climbs onto the wolf's back and they run until they reach a splendid castle. The wolf confirms it is their castle, but warns that no light should be used inside at night. The princess notices that the wolf is only such during the day, but someone human comes at night.
After two years, the princess gives birth to a boy, but he is taken from them and given to the husband's sisters. One day, she wants to visit her family. Her wolf husband consents, but insists that, when she returns, she must not bring anything from home with her. They visit his wife's parents for three days, and her mother advises her daughter to use a knife to confirm that her husband is a human, and not a troll.
She brings the knife from home and puts it on his bedstand at night. He hurts his leg, and moans, confirming he is human, after all. The prince complains to his wife, but she tells him she won't repeat it.
Some time passes, she gives birth to a daughter after four years, and the girl is also taken from her. They visit the princess's parents again. Her mother, this time, convinces the princess to use some light source to see his true face, when he comes at night to the bridal bed. So she gives her a tinder-box and some taper. The princess returns to her husband's palace and lies that she did not bring anything with her. Later that night, she illuminates the bedroom and glimpses at her husband, in human form.
He despairs at his wife's betrayal and reveals he is a human prince who was cursed by a troll witch for refusing to marry her daughter. He turns into a wolf again and vanishes into the night. The princess now has to seek him out. On her way, she visits her sisters-in-law, and recognizes her children, but does not linger and resumes her quest. She finally reaches a glass mountain where the witch resided, but it is so slippery. The princess is advised by an old man to find the nearest ironsmith to shod her shoes.
After she finally climbs the glass mountain, she employs herself as a kitchen maid in the witch's castle, and is ordered to perform difficult tasks. The witch orders the princess to beat a piece of white flannel until it turns black. She takes it to the stream and the old man offers his help in exchange for her affections. She refuses and remains loyal to the wolf prince. Despite the refusal, the old man uses his stick to beat the white shirt into a black color. Seeing the impossible feat, the troll witch orders her to beat it back into a white color, which she does with the old man's help.
Next, the princess is tasked with going to Hebbenfeld to fetch a jewel box from the witch's sister and bring it to her daughter's wedding. On the way, she cries that she does not know the way to Hebbenfeld, and a young man offers his help in exchange for her affections. She thanks his offer, but says she is still loyal to her husband. The young man points her to Hebbenfeld, and instructs her to only ask for the box, and refuse any offer of food from the witch.
She does as told and gets the box. The princess is offered a calf's foot by the witch's sister, but hides it in her bosom. She leaves the house and, on her way back, wants to take a peek inside the box. She opens it and a little bird flies away. She laments that there were no jewels inside, but the young man appears and uses his magic to enchant the calf's foot to return to the witch's house and get the jewels.