The Olive Fairy Book

the future life of their little son, who was sleeping by their side in his beautiful golden cradle. They had been marrie

have thought him the most wonderful creature upon earth, and so absorbed were they in making plans for him, that they never noticed a huge

or. Then the king rose slowly, and holding out his hand to his wife, led her

g and queen of the country seated in the garden with a little girl lying in a wonderful cradle of white satin and lace. Swooping down from behind as he had done before, he was just about to seize the cradle, wh

htly in her arms. ‘Frightful,’ murmured the queen; ‘but look, what is that glittering object that is lying out ther

s Grethari, son of Grethari the king!’ Unfortunately it happened that the two neighbouring monarchs had had a serious quarrel, and for some years had ceased holding communication with each other

arden as she was so fond of doing, but lay and watched them from a pile of soft cushions. By-and-by she gave up doing even that, and people in the palace spoke with low voices, and even Geirlaug and

the cradle contai

s, was kind and good, and when the king was busy or away in other parts of his kingdom she made them quite happy, and saw that they were taught everything that a prince and princess ought to know. Thus two or three years passed, when,

ge, war broke out with a country across the seas, and the king rode away at the head of his troops. Then there happened what she had so long expected. One night, when, unlike her usual habit, she was sleeping soundly — afterwards she felt sure that a drug had been put into her food — the witch came to the tower. Exactly what she did there no one knew, but, when the sun rose, the beds of Grethari and Geirlaug were empty. At dawn the queen summoned some o

othing?’ asked the queen, when

s to her steward that at supper the guards should be well plied with strong drink so that their tongues should be

after all, the men have told you the truth. I listened to their talk from beginning to end, and nothing did they see save two black foals.’

me home, and right glad were

er the king’s arrival the queen related the evil dream she had dreamt in his absence, and begged him to go out the next morning and kill every living creature he saw within two miles of the city. The king, who always believed everything the queen said, promised to do as she wished. But before he had ridden through the lovely gardens that surrounded the palace, he was attracted by the singing of two little blue birds perched on a scarlet-ber

’ she asked eagerly, when th

wo strange little blue birds made me forget all else in the world. And you will hardly believe it — but not until it grew dark did

een, as she turned away with a curious glitte

thout anyone being the wiser. Before dawn the palace was roused by the news that the king was dead, and that the three officers of the guards were dying also. Of course nobody’s cries and laments were as loud as those of the queen. But when once the splendid funeral was over, she gave out that she was going to shut herself up in a distant castle till the year of her mourning was over, and after appointing a regent of the kingdom, she s

ered round to watch, that the victory would be to the whale. And so it was. But when, after a mighty struggle, the shark floated dead and harmless on the surface of the water, the whale was so exhausted that she had only strength enough to

o Grethari, when they had both resumed their proper s

ug took a small box of white powder from her dress, and sprinkled some over him and some over herself, and, quicker than light

, ‘and go boldly up to the castle. And, remember, however great may be your thirst, you must

not take me five minutes to reach the castle gate.’ Geirlaug held her peace, but her e

that it could possibly take any longer. Yet, to his surprise, the door which stood so widely open that he could see the colour of the

w more paces he staggered on blindly, when, suddenly, the sound of rushing water smote upon his ears; and in a little wood that bordered the path he beheld a stream falling over a rock. At this sight his prom

ed, and, instead, something stirred dimly within him at the vision of the w

So you have come home

Her heart was heavy, but she soon made up her mind what to do, and pushing her way out of the wood, she skirted the high wa

o milk the cows?’ asked she, when o

ng and clean, we will take you for a servant

t, what is

ster’s house had not her equal in the whole kingdom for skill as well as beauty. Thus the years slipped away, during which Geirlaug grew to be a woman. Now and then she caught glimpses of Grethari as he rode out to hunt in the forest, but when she saw him coming she hid herself behind the great trees, f

ame, pretty mai

wered the girl wi

utiful to spend your life serving the forester’s daughters. Come with me to th

maiden. ‘And, if you really mean it, I will go with

o it, whatever it is,’ cried the young man eag

loose in the night and wander away, for the forester and his daughters have tr

es in vain t

rist, and, pull as he might, he could not get free. All night he wriggled and struggled till he was half dead with fatigue. But when the sun rose the rope suddenly fell away from him, and, very angr

the young pair took ship without delay for the kingdom of the prince’s parents. The wind was fair and the vessel so swift that, in less time than could have been expected, the harbour nearest the castle was reached. A splen

they were in. ‘I am perfectly worn out as it is, and you will have to find something to draw

him several times how vain and bad tempered she was; but as a prince and a bridegroom, he could not, of course, bear to think that any slight had

speaks to

ilver bees drawn closely round her, so that not even the tip of her nose could be seen. At length a girl app

nd going to meet them. ‘You shall fix your own price, and it shall be

nd you and your bride at the wedding feast,’ answ

thing happened, and they drew up in safety at the door of the palace, to the great surprise of the king and queen. The marriage preparations were hurried on, and by the end of the week everything was ready. It was, perhaps, fortuna

s were upon her, and bowed and smiled right and left. Taking the prince’s hand, she sailed proudly down the room, where the guests were already assembled, to her place at the head of the table by the side of the bridegroom. As she did so, three strange ladies in shining dre

ueen. Suddenly, when the merriment was at its height, Geirlaug opened the basket, and out flew a cock and hen. To the astonishment of everyone, t

eard, and started up wildly. In an instant all the past rushed back to him; the princess by his

ld out a ring which he had given her on her twelfth birthday, when they were still children, without a thought of the f

left the hall as quickly as they could, so that the royal family might arrange their own affairs, and in the end it was settled that half the kingdom must be given to the despised princess, instead of a husband. She sailed back at once t

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