The Brown Fairy Book, part 24 · page 21 2101He knelt down by her side, and pulling a pin he stuck it into the palm of her hand, so that a drop of blood gushed out.102This he sucked, as he had been told to do by the old woman, and immediately the princess came to herself, and flung her arms round his neck.103Then she told him all her story, and what had happened since the ship had sailed away without him.104“But the worst misfortune of all,” she added, “was a battle which my father lost because you had vanished with his magic sword; and out of his whole army hardly one man was left.”105“Show me the battle-field,” said he.106And she took him to a wild heath, where the dead were lying as they fell, waiting for burial.107One by one he touched them with the end of his staff, till at length they all stood before him.108Throughout the kingdom there was nothing but joy; and THIS time the wedding was REALLY celebrated.109And the bridal pair lived happily in the castle on the Banka till they died.110[Lapplandische Mahrchen.]111The Prince and the Three Fates112Once upon a time a little boy was born to a king who ruled over a great country through which ran a wide river.113The king was nearly beside himself with joy, for he had always longed for a son to inherit his crown, and he sent messages to beg all the most powerful fairies to come and see this wonderful baby.114In an hour or two, so many were gathered round the cradle, that the child seemed in danger of being smothered; but the king, who was watching the fairies eagerly, was disturbed to see them looking grave.checked by a teacher115“Is there anything the matter?” he asked anxiously.116The fairies looked at him, and all shook their heads at once.117“He is a beautiful boy, and it is a great pity; but what IS to happen WILL happen,” said they.118“It is written in the books of fate that he must die, either by a crocodile, or a serpent, or by a dog.119If we could save him we would; but that is beyond our power.”120And so saying they vanished.121For a time the king stood where he was, horror-stricken at what he had heard; but, being of a hopeful nature, he began at once to invent plans to save the prince from the dreadful doom that awaited him.122He instantly sent for his master builder, and bade him construct a strong castle on the top of a mountain, which should be fitted with the most precious things from the king’s own palace, and every kind of toy a child could wish to play with.123And, besides, he gave the strictest orders that a guard should walk round the castle night and day.1 2← previousThe Brown Fairy Book, part 23next →The Brown Fairy Book, part 25↑ back to The Brown Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/24/page/2/