The Two Kings’ Children

Once upon a time there was a king who had a little son. It was foretold that when he was sixteen years old, a stag would kill him. When he reached that age, the huntsmen went hunting with him. In the forest, the king’s son became separated from the others.

All at once he saw a great stag and wanted to shoot it, but he could not hit it. At last he chased the stag so far that they were quite out of the forest.

Then suddenly a great tall man stood there instead of the stag, and said, “It is good that I have you. I have already worn out six pairs of glass skates running after you, and I could not catch you.” Then he took the king’s son with him, dragged him through a great lake to a great palace, and made him sit down to eat with him.

When they had eaten together, the king said, “I have three daughters. You must guard the eldest for one night, from nine in the evening until six in the morning. Every time the clock strikes, I will come myself and call.

If you give me no answer, in the morning you shall be put to death. But if you always give me an answer, you shall have her as your wife.”

When the young people went to the bedroom, there stood a stone image of Saint Christopher. The king’s daughter said to it, “My father will come at nine o’clock and every hour until it strikes three.

When he calls, give him an answer instead of the king’s son.” Then the stone image of Saint Christopher nodded its head quite quickly, then more and more slowly, until at last it stood still.

The next morning the king said to him, “You did the business well, but I cannot give my daughter away. You must now guard my second daughter for a night. Then I will consider whether you can have my eldest daughter as your wife.

I will come every hour myself, and when I call you, answer me. If I call you and you do not reply, your blood shall flow.” Then they both went into the sleeping-room. There stood an even larger stone image of Saint Christopher.

The king’s daughter said to it, “If my father calls, answer him.” Then the great stone image of Saint Christopher again nodded its head quite quickly, then more and more slowly, until at last it stood still.

The king’s son lay down on the threshold, put his hand under his head, and slept. The next morning the king said to him, “You did the business really well, but I cannot give my daughter away. You must now guard the youngest princess for a night.

Then I will consider whether you can have my second daughter as your wife. I will come every hour myself, and when I call you, answer me. If I call you and you do not answer, your blood shall flow for me.”

Then they once more went to the sleeping-room together. There was a much greater and much taller image of Saint Christopher than the two first had been. The king’s daughter said to it, “When my father calls, do you answer.” Then the great tall stone image of Saint Christopher nodded its head for half an hour, until at last the head stood still.

The king’s son laid himself down on the threshold and slept. The next morning the king said, “You have indeed watched well, but I cannot give you my daughter now. I have a great forest.

If you cut it down for me between six o’clock this morning and six o’clock tonight, I will think about it.” Then he gave him a glass axe, a glass wedge, and a glass mallet.

When he got into the wood, he began at once to cut, but the axe broke in two. Then he took the wedge and struck it once with the mallet, and it became as small as sand. He was very troubled and believed he would have to die.

He sat down and wept.

Now when it was noon, the king said, “One of you girls must take him something to eat.” “No,” said the two eldest, “we will not take it to him. The one by whom he last watched can take him something.” So the youngest was forced to go and take him something to eat.

When she got into the forest, she asked him how he was getting on. “Oh,” said he, “I am getting on very badly.” Then she said he should come and just eat a little. “No,” said he, “I cannot do that.

I will have to die anyway, so I will eat no more.” Then she spoke so kindly to him and begged him to just try, so he came and ate something. When he had eaten something she said, “I will comb your hair a while, and then you will feel happier.”

So she combed his hair. He became weary and fell asleep. Then she took her handkerchief, made a knot in it, and struck it three times on the earth, and said, “Earth-workers, come forth.” In a moment, numbers of little earth-men came forth and asked what the king’s daughter commanded.

Then she said, “In three hours’ time the great forest must be cut down and all the wood laid in heaps.” So the little earth-men went about and gathered all their kindred to help them with the work. They began at once, and when the three hours were over, all was done.

They came back to the king’s daughter and told her so. Then she took her white handkerchief again and said, “Earth-workers, go home.” On this they all disappeared. When the king’s son awoke, he was delighted. She said, “Come home when it has struck six o’clock.” He did as she told him.

Then the king asked, “Have you cleared away the forest?” “Yes,” said the king’s son. When they were sitting at table, the king said, “I cannot yet give you my daughter to wife. You must still do something more for her sake.” So he asked what it was to be.

“I have a great fish-pond,” said the king. “You must go to it tomorrow morning and clear it of all mud until it is as bright as a mirror, and fill it with every kind of fish.” The next morning the king gave him a glass shovel and said, “The fish-pond must be done by six o’clock.” So he went away.

When he came to the fish-pond, he stuck his shovel in the mud and it broke in two. Then he stuck his hoe in the mud, and it broke also. He was very troubled. At noon the youngest daughter brought him something to eat and asked him how he was getting on.

The king’s son said everything was going very badly with him, and he would certainly have to lose his head. “My tools have broken to pieces again.” “Oh,” said she, “you must just come and eat something, and then you will be in another frame of mind.” “No,” said he, “I cannot eat.

I am far too unhappy for that.” Then she gave him many good words until at last he came and ate something. Then she combed his hair again, and he fell asleep. So once more she took her handkerchief, tied a knot in it, and struck the ground three times with the knot, and said, “Earth-workers, come forth.” In a moment a great many little earth-men came and asked what she desired.

She told them that in three hours’ time they must have the fish-pond entirely cleaned out. It must be so clear that people could see themselves reflected in it. Every kind of fish must be in it. The little earth-men went away and summoned all their kindred to help them.

In two hours it was done. Then they returned to her and said, “We have done as you have commanded.” The king’s daughter took the handkerchief and once more struck it three times on the ground, and said, “Earth-workers, go home again.” Then they all went away.

When the king’s son awoke, the fish-pond was done. The king’s daughter went away also and told him that when it was six he was to come to the house. When he arrived at the house, the king asked, “Have you got the fish-pond done?” “Yes,” said the king’s son. That was very good.

When they were again sitting at table, the king said, “You have certainly done the fish-pond, but I cannot give you my daughter yet. You must just do one thing more.” “What is that, then?” asked the king’s son.

The king said he had a great mountain on which there was nothing but briars. These must all be cut down. At the top of the mountain the youth must build a great castle, as strong as could be imagined, and all the furniture and fittings belonging to a castle must be inside it.

When he arose next morning, the king gave him a glass axe and a glass gimlet. He was to have all done by six o’clock. As he was cutting down the first briar with the axe, it broke off short and so small that the pieces flew all around.

He could not use the gimlet either. Then he was quite miserable and waited for his dearest to see if she would not come and help him in his need. When it was midday, she came and brought him something to eat. He went to meet her and told her all.

He ate something, let her comb his hair, and fell asleep. Then she once more took the knot and struck the earth with it, and said, “Earth-workers, come forth!” Then once again numbers of earth-men came and asked what her desire was.

Then she said, “In the space of three hours they must cut down all the briars. A castle must be built on the top of the mountain as strong as anyone could imagine. All the furniture that belongs to a castle must be inside it.” They went away, summoned their kindred to help them, and when the time was come, all was ready.

Then they came to the king’s daughter and told her so. The king’s daughter took her handkerchief and struck it three times on the earth, and said, “Earth-workers, go home.” On this they all disappeared.

When the king’s son awoke and saw everything done, he was as happy as a bird in the air.

When it had struck six, they went home together. Then the king said, “Is the castle ready?” “Yes,” said the king’s son. When they sat down to table, the king said, “I cannot give away my youngest daughter until the two eldest are married.” Then the king’s son and the king’s daughter were quite troubled.

The king’s son had no idea what to do. But he went by night to the king’s daughter and ran away with her. When they had gone a little distance, the king’s daughter looked around and saw her father behind her. “Oh,” said she, “what are we to do?

My father is behind us and will take us back with him. I will at once change you into a briar and myself into a rose, and I will shelter myself in the middle of the bush.” When the father reached the place, there stood a briar with one rose on it.

He was about to gather the rose when the thorn came and pricked his finger, so that he was forced to go home again. His wife asked why he had not brought their daughter back with him.

So he said he had nearly caught up to her, but all at once he had lost sight of her, and a briar with one rose was growing on the spot.

Then the queen said, “If you had but gathered the rose, the briar would have been forced to come too.” So he went back again to fetch the rose, but in the meantime the two were already far over the plain. The king ran after them.

Then the daughter once more looked around and saw her father coming. She said, “Oh, what shall we do now? I will instantly change you into a church and myself into a priest, and I will stand up in the pulpit and preach.” When the king got to the place, there stood a church, and in the pulpit was a priest preaching.

So he listened to the sermon and then went home again.

Then the queen asked why he had not brought their daughter with him. He said, “No, I ran a long time after her, and just as I thought I should soon overtake her, a church was standing there and a priest was in the pulpit preaching.” “You should have just brought the priest,” said his wife, “and then the church would soon have come.

It is no use to send you. I must go there myself.” When she had walked for some time and could see the two in the distance, the king’s daughter looked around and saw her mother coming. She said, “Now we are undone, for my mother is coming herself.

I will immediately change you into a fish-pond and myself into a fish.”

When the mother came to the place, there was a large fish-pond. In the midst of it a fish was leaping about and peeping out of the water, and it was quite merry. She wanted to catch the fish, but she could not.

Then she was very angry and drank up the whole pond in order to catch the fish, but it made her so ill that she was forced to vomit, and vomited the whole pond out again.

Then she cried, “I see very well that nothing can be done now,” and said that now they might come back to her. Then the king’s daughter went back again. The queen gave her daughter three walnuts and said, “With these you can help yourself when you are in your greatest need.” So the young people went once more away together.

When they had walked quite ten miles, they arrived at the castle from which the king’s son came. Close by it was a village. When they reached it, the king’s son said, “Stay here, my dearest.

I will just go to the castle, and then I will come with a carriage and with attendants to fetch you.”

When he got to the castle, they all rejoiced greatly at having the king’s son back again. He told them he had a bride who was now in the village, and they must go with the carriage to fetch her.

Then they harnessed the horses at once, and many attendants seated themselves outside the carriage. When the king’s son was about to get in, his mother gave him a kiss, and he forgot everything which had happened, and also what he was about to do.

On this his mother ordered the horses to be taken out of the carriage again, and everyone went back into the house. But the maiden sat in the village and watched and watched and thought he would come and fetch her, but no one came.

Then the king’s daughter took service in the mill which belonged to the castle. She was obliged to sit by the pond every afternoon and clean the tubs.

And the queen came one day on foot from the castle and went walking by the pond. She saw the well-grown maiden sitting there and said, “What a fine strong girl that is! She pleases me well!” Then she and all with her looked at the maid, but no one knew her.

So a long time passed by during which the maiden served the miller honorably and faithfully. In the meantime, the queen had sought a wife for her son, who came from quite a distant part of the world. When the bride came, they were at once to be married.

Many people hurried together, all of whom wanted to see everything. Then the girl said to the miller that he might be so good as to give her leave to go also. So the miller said, “Yes, do go there.” When she was about to go, she opened one of the three walnuts, and a beautiful dress lay inside it.

She put it on and went into the church and stood by the altar. Suddenly came the bride and bridegroom and seated themselves before the altar. When the priest was just going to bless them, the bride peeped half around and saw the maiden standing there.

Then she stood up again and said she would not be married until she also had as beautiful a dress as that lady there. So they went back to the house again and sent to ask the lady if she would sell that dress.

No, she would not sell it, but the bride might perhaps earn it. Then the bride asked her how she was to do this. The maiden said if she might sleep one night outside the king’s son’s door, the bride might have what she wanted.

So the bride said, “Yes, she was willing to do that.” But the servants were ordered to give the king’s son a sleeping-drink. Then the maiden laid herself down on the threshold and lamented all night long.

She had had the forest cut down for him, she had had the fish-pond cleaned out for him, she had had the castle built for him, she had changed him into a briar, and then into a church, and at last into a fish-pond, and yet he had forgotten her so quickly.

The king’s son did not hear one word of it, but the servants had been awakened and had listened to it and had not known what it could mean. The next morning when they were all up, the bride put on the dress and went away to the church with the bridegroom.

In the meantime the maiden opened the second walnut, and a still more beautiful dress was inside it. She put it on and went and stood by the altar in the church, and everything happened as it had happened the time before.

And the maiden again lay all night on the threshold which led to the chamber of the king’s son, and the servant was once more to give him a sleeping-drink. The servant, however, went to him and gave him something to keep him awake.

Then the king’s son went to bed, and the miller’s maiden bemoaned herself as before on the threshold of the door and told of all that she had done. All this the king’s son heard and was sore troubled, and what was past came back to him.

Then he wanted to go to her, but his mother had locked the door. The next morning, however, he went at once to his beloved and told her everything which had happened to him, and prayed her not to be angry with him for having forgotten her.

Then the king’s daughter opened the third walnut, and within it was a still more magnificent dress. She put it on and went with her bridegroom to church. Numbers of children came who gave them flowers and offered them gay ribbons to bind about their feet.

They were blessed by the priest and had a merry wedding. But the false mother and the bride had to depart. And the mouth of the person who last told all this is still warm.