In the village of Mikladalur, there exists a haunting tale of the selkies, humans who tragically drowned in the sea. Legend has it that once a year, on the Eve of Three Kings, these selkies gather on the shores of Mikladalur. Shedding their sealskins, they regain their human form and joyfully dance and play throughout the night on the sandy shore and within their secret cave.
Word of this extraordinary gathering reached the ears of a young man from Mikladalur, igniting his curiosity. Determined to witness the spectacle, he stealthily positioned himself behind a rock on the shore that fateful night. As the sun dipped below the horizon, a multitude of seals emerged from the ocean, making their way to the cave. The young man watched in awe as they shed their skins, transforming into human figures and venturing into the night.
Among them, he spotted a particularly enchanting woman, captivating his heart instantly. Carefully observing her actions, he noted where she left her sealskin, close to his hiding spot. Seizing the opportunity, he ventured out, snatching her precious skin, and swiftly returning to his hiding place, concealing his actions.
The selkies reveled in their nocturnal celebration, unaware that one of their own was desperately searching for her lost skin. As daybreak approached, she grew increasingly distraught, tears streaming down her face. Time was running out, and the sun's rays were about to illuminate the land. Guided by her instincts, she detected the scent of her hidden skin near the young man. She pleaded with him, her voice filled with agitation, begging for the return of her cherished possession. However, the young man remained resolute, refusing to yield, and made his way up the hill to his house, with the selkie following closely, her fate entwined with his.
The young man and the selkie formed a profound bond, living harmoniously together. He took great care to safeguard her sealskin, locking it securely within a chest and keeping the key close to him at all times. Their life seemed content, until one fateful day when the man set out to fish. In the midst of his fishing expedition, he realized with horror that he had forgotten the key to the chest, leaving it behind. Overwhelmed with anguish, he lamented his fate, realizing he would become separated from his selkie wife.
Urgency gripped the fishermen as they swiftly returned to Mikladalur. However, upon reaching his home, the man discovered his wife's absence, leaving behind their silent children, protected by her careful measures. She had extinguished the hearth fire and secured all sharp objects, ensuring their safety. With the key in her possession, she had hastened to the shore, reclaiming her sealskin and plunging into the waiting embrace of the sea.
Joined by her long-awaited mate, a majestic bull, the selkie woman transformed into her true form, bidding farewell to Mikladalur. The children she had with the young man often caught glimpses of a seal cow watching them from the depths of the ocean, a constant reminder of their mysterious ancestry.
Years passed, and life in Mikladalur remained uneventful for the farmer and the selkie's children. However, destiny has a way of resurfacing when least expected. The men of Mikladalur, unaware of the consequences, devised a plan to enter a cave for a seal hunt. In a prophetic dream, the selkie appeared to the farmer, imploring him to spare her husband, the bull, and the two cubs hidden deep within the cave.
Sadly, the farmer disregarded the warning, and together with the other villagers, mercilessly hunted down every seal in the cave. As their ill-fated reward, the farmer claimed the bull's head and the flippers of the cubs. Little did they know the grave repercussions that awaited them. As the cooked meat was drawn from the pot, a tumultuous cacophony filled the room, and the seal woman manifested as a terrifying troll.
With a haunting cry, she declared her revenge upon the men of Mikladalur. The words echoed through the air, foretelling a series of misfortunes that would befall them. Tragic accidents at sea and fatal falls from cliffs would plague the village until the toll equaled the encircling arms around the entire island of Kalsoy.
Having delivered her chilling proclamation, the seal woman vanished into the depths, leaving behind a legacy of sorrow and despair. Regrettably, the villagers of Mikladalur experienced the truth of her curse, with reports of misfortune and tragic incidents befalling those who ventured bird hunting and stumbled upon the treacherous cliffs.