The Travelling Companion, part 2 · page 21 2101Large red and blue flowers shone on the walls, looking like sunflowers in size, but no one could dare to pluck them, for the stems were hideous poisonous snakes, and the flowers were flames of fire, darting out of their jaws.102Shining glow-worms covered the ceiling, and sky-blue bats flapped their transparent wings.103Altogether the place had a frightful appearance.104In the middle of the floor stood a throne supported by four skeleton horses, whose harness had been made by fiery-red spiders.105The throne itself was made of milk-white glass, and the cushions were little black mice, each biting the other's tail.106Over it hung a canopy of rose-colored spider's webs, spotted with the prettiest little green flies, which sparkled like precious stones.107On the throne sat an old magician with a crown on his ugly head, and a sceptre in his hand.108He kissed the princess on the forehead, seated her by his side on the splendid throne, and then the music commenced.109Great black grasshoppers played the mouth organ, and the owl struck herself on the body instead of a drum.110It was altogether a ridiculous concert.111Little black goblins with false lights in their caps danced about the hall; but no one could see the traveller, and he had placed himself just behind the throne where he could see and hear everything.112The courtiers who came in afterwards looked noble and grand; but any one with common sense could see what they really were, only broomsticks, with cabbages for heads.113The magician had given them life, and dressed them in embroidered robes.114It answered very well, as they were only wanted for show.115After there had been a little dancing, the princess told the magician that she had a new suitor, and asked him what she could think of for the suitor to guess when he came to the castle the next morning.1 2← previousThe Travelling Companion, part 1next →The Travelling Companion, part 3↑ back to Fairy Tales of Hans Christian AndersenThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/197/page/2/