Prince Lindworm
The serpent-prince who could only become human when a bride asked him to shed — skin by skin — as she shed with him.
A queen, desperate for a child, disobeys the ritual instructions and bears a lindworm — a serpent-son who devours every bride brought to him. At last comes a shepherd's daughter counseled by a wise woman: she wears ten shifts to the wedding chamber and makes a bargain — for every skin he sheds, she removes one shift. Nine times the lindworm sheds, each skin agony; nine shifts fall; and when nothing is left of either but rawness, she bathes and holds what remains — and a prince stands there. Transformation, the tale insists, is mutual and layered: nine sheddings, witnessed.
The SGE Reading
Gift through reciprocal undressing: the monster sheds only as fast as someone dares to shed beside it. Nine layers — never fewer.
Canon Resonance
Nine sheddings to reach the human: the tale counted the series' arithmetic centuries in advance.
A Micro-Practice
In your next hard conversation, match every truth you ask of the other with one you remove of your own.
Sources & Respect
Scandinavian folk tale (Kong Lindorm), Asbjørnsen–Moe tradition.