The Traveling Companion by Hans Christian Andersen. Short summary

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Johannes did not let the people mock the deceased. For this, the latter’s soul, taking the form of a fellow traveler, helped him escape danger and marry the princess.

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Orphaned, Johannes set out to wander the world. Taking refuge in a chapel, he saw two creditors wanting to throw a dead debtor out of his coffin. Johannes gave them his money so that they would leave the dead man behind.

In the morning he set off. A man called out to him and said they would have more fun together.

The two travelers came to the city and learned that even a beggar could marry the princess. She promised to marry whoever could guess three times what she had in mind. Those who fail to guess will be executed. But Johannes has asked the beautiful witch to marry him.

His companion spotted the princess — at midnight she flew out of the palace and went to the troll. He advised her three times what to wish for: a shoe, a glove, and his head.

The third time, Johannes’ companion cut off the troll’s head, put it in a roll, and handed it to the young man. He told him what the princess had wished for. So Johannes became the king’s heir.

His companion taught him how to cure the princess of witchcraft. And then he revealed his name to him: he is a dead man, whose body Johannes did not allow to be defiled.