"The Companion" (Norwegian: Følgesvennen) is a Norwegian fairy tale, published in Norwegian Folktales (1841-1844) by Asbjørnsen and Moe.
The tale follows a young boy who sets out to search for his dream princess. On the way, he ransoms a sinner who had been put into a block of ice. A short time thereafter, he meets a mysterious figure. This companion helps him through the hardships he must go through to win the princess.
A simulator in Second Life is based upon the tale.
References
The Companion Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA