The elves

The King

Jun 6, 830

There was once upon a time a rich King who had three daughters, and the King was a great lover of all kinds of fine trees, but there was one for which he had such an affection, that if anyone gathered an apple from it he wished him a hundred fathoms underground.

The Apple

Jun 8, 830

Then the King's youngest child had a desire for an apple. The child plucked off a apple. Then the two other sisters also ate some of the apple, whereupon all three sank deep down into the earth.
When mid-day came, the King wished to call them to come to dinner, but they were nowhere to be found. And made known to the whole land that whosoever brought his daughters back again should have one of them to wife. Hereupon so many young men went about the country in search

The Huntsmen

Jun 15, 830

Three young huntsmen also went out, they arrived at a great castle, in one room a table was laid on which were delicate dishes which were still so warm that they were smoking. They waited there for half a day, and the food still remained warm and smoking, and they sat down and ate, and agreed with each other that they would stay and live in that castle, and that one of them, should remain in the house, and the two others seek the King's daughters. They cast lots, and the lot fell on the eldest.

Older Brother

Jun 16, 830

The two younger went out to seek, and the eldest had to stay home. At mid-day came a small, small mannikin and begged for a piece of bread, and cut a round off the loaf and was about to give it to him, but whilst he was giving it to the mannikin, the latter let it fall, and asked the huntsman to be so good as to give him that piece again. The huntsman was about to do so and stooped, on which the mannikin took a stick, seized him by the hair, and gave him a good beating.

Second Brother

Jun 17, 830

The second stayed at home, and he fared no better. When the two others returned in the evening, the eldest said, "Well, how have you got on?" Oh, very badly, said he, and then they lamented their misfortune together, but they said nothing about it to the youngest, for they did not like him at all, and always called him Stupid Hans, because he did not know the awys of the world.

Younger Brother

Jun 18, 830

The youngest stayed at home, and again the little mannikin came, but the huntsman took my dear mannikin, and gave him a beating. Then the mannikin show him where the King's daughters were. Below were three rooms, and in each of them was a princess, lousing a drasgon with many heads, which he must cut them off. And having said all this, the elf vanished.
When it was evening the two brothers came and asked how he had got on, and he told them the story.

The Rescue

Jun 19, 830

Next morning , the younger brother recued the princesses but his brothers lef him locked up where they were, and they thought that he was dead, and ran away with the three princesses, making them promise to tell their father that it was they who had delivered them.

The Escape

Jun 21, 830

In the meantime the youngest huntsman was wandering, fully expecting to have to end his days there, when he saw, hanging on the wall, a flute; and he took the flute from the wall, and played a few notes on it, and suddenly a number of elves appeared.
They all asked what he desired, so he said he wished to get above ground back to daylight, and thus they flew with him onto the earth again. When he was above ground, he at once went to the King's palace.

The Impostors

Jun 26, 830

In the King's palace the two brothers spok with the King, and each demanded a princess in marriage.

The Truth

Jun 28, 830

Just as the wedding of one princess was about to be celebrated, and the younger brother went to the room where the King and his three daughters were. Hereupon the King was angry, and ordered him to be put in prison at once. The princesses they entreated the King to set him free again.
The King asked why, and they said the truth. And he went out, listened at the door, and heard everything. Then he caused the two brothers to be hanged on the gallows, and to the third he gave his youngest daughter.