Thule"s mother had stood all the while on the threshold, overawed and dumb. Now she came forward, and said,--
"I am prouder to-day than I should be if my son had slain ten men on the battle-field!"
The beautiful elf of light, penetrated with grat.i.tude and admiration, remained Thule"s fast friend as long as he lived. She gave the lad and his mother an excellent home, and made them happy all the days of their lives.
THE PRINCESS HILDA.
Princess Hildegarde sat at an open window, looking out upon her garden of flowers. She was very beautiful, with a face as fair and sweet as a rose. Not far off sat, watching her, her young cousin Zora, with a frown on her brow.
There was bitter hatred in Zora"s heart because Hildegarde was rich and she was poor; because Hildegarde would, in time, be a queen, and she one of her subjects. Moreover, Hildegarde was so beautiful and good that the fame of her loveliness had spread far and wide; and it was for her beauty that Zora hated her more than for any thing else.
In childhood Zora had been very fair; and the courtiers had petted her, and p.r.o.nounced her even fairer than the princess; but her beauty had never meant any thing but bright eyes and cherry cheeks: so it could not last. If she had only cherished pure thoughts and kind wishes, she might still have been as lovely as Hilda; but who does not know that evil feelings write themselves on the face?
Jealousy had pulled her mouth down at the corners; deceit had given it a foolish smirk; spite had plowed an ugly frown in her brow; while she had tried so many arts to make her rich brown skin as delicately white as Hilda"s, that it was changed to the tint of chrome yellow.
It was said in those days, that Zora was in the power of wicked fairies, who twisted her features into the shape that pleased them best.
At any rate, how the amiable Princess Hilda was to blame for all these deformities it would be hard to say; and she little dreamed of the malice in her cousin"s heart.
But, while Hilda was looking out of the window, a n.o.ble knight pa.s.sed that way; and so delighted was he with the rare sweetness of her face, that he forgot himself, and paused a moment to gaze at her. The princess blushed, and let fall the silken curtain; but Zora had seen the knight, and knew he was the royal Prince Reginald. She ground her teeth in rage; for she had determined that the prince should never see her beautiful cousin.
"They shall not meet," said she to herself: "no, not if there are bad fairies enough to prevent it."
But, when the princess looked up, Zora was smiling very sweetly. Who could have dreamed that she was thinking of nothing but how to ruin the peace of her gentle cousin?
Zora could hardly wait for nightfall, so eager was she to do her wicked work. When it was dark, and all was quiet, she stole out of the castle, wearing a black mantle which hid her face.
"Now," thought she, "no one can recognize me, and I will seek the fairy Gerula."
You must know that Gerula was one of the most wicked and hideous sprites that ever existed. She dwelt in a cave far from the abodes of men. It was hidden by huge trees through which the wind never ceased howling. At evening owls hooted overhead, and many creeping things wound their length along the ground. The more toads and snakes she could see about her, the better was she pleased; for fairies, as well as mortals, are attracted by what is akin to themselves.
She was descended from a race called kobolds or goblins; and she loved all the metals which lie under the earth as well as the living things which crawl up out of its bosom.
So acute were her ears, that she heard Zora"s steps from a great distance. She brushed back her elf-locks, and gave a low grunt like some wild beast. It pleased her that the Lady Zora should find need of her counsel; but, when Zora had reached the cave, the cunning fairy pretended to be sleeping, and started up in seeming surprise.
"What brings a body here at this time of night?" said she.
"I am Lady Zora. I have come, sweet fairy, to beg a favor. The Princess Hilda is hateful to me: work one of your charms on her, and let me see her face no more."
The old fairy p.r.i.c.ked up her ears and said to herself, "Ha! ha! I will have nice sport out o" this!" then said aloud, "Say, what harm has the princess done to my rosebud, my lily, my pride?"
Zora"s eyes flashed. "Prince Reginald has seen her; and to see her is to love her. My heart is set on wedding Prince Reginald. Take her out of his way!"
Just then a broad gleam of moonlight fell on the treacherous maiden.
It was strange how much she looked like the cruel fairy; and Gerula gazed on her with delight.
"My beautiful viper!" said she, using the sweetest pet-name she could think of, "I will do your bidding. But first say what you will give me if I put Hildegarde out of your way."
Then she chuckled, and rubbed her hands in great glee. Zora started back in alarm.
"I did not know you sold your charms for gold; but I would give you half my fortune if need be, any thing, to be rid of Hilda."
The fairy chuckled again. "Just the damsel for me," thought she.
"I will give you a diamond necklace," said Zora: "it is worth a small kingdom, and was given me by my cousin Hilda. You can surely ask no more?"
"Diamonds!" said the goblin, snapping her fingers. "What think you I care for them? Do I not tire of stooping to pick them up? for they are given me by my cousins, the gnomes, any day. No diamonds for me! Keep them and your gold. I ask but one thing, my dear."
Here she spoke in low hissing tones, more terrible than her loudest croakings.
"Promise me, if you do not marry Prince Reginald, you will let me change you into a charming green snake."
"Alas!" cried Zora, turning pale, "who ever heard of such a cruel request?"
"Cruel, am I?" said the goblin in delight. "Oh, I must seem cruel to one who is so gentle and lovely as Hilda!"
"Alas," cried Zora, "I may fail to win Prince Reginald."
"All the better," chuckled the fairy. "When you become a snake, you and I shall enjoy each other"s society, I a.s.sure you."
Zora shuddered.
"But it"s all one to me," added the goblin, beginning to yawn. "On the whole, I think you may as well go home."
Zora wrung her hands, and groaned.
"Yes," said the gnome: "go back to the castle. Ugh! I would sooner trust one of my winking owls to do a daring deed than you! Fie upon you! Creep back to your bed, and let Hilda marry the prince: a lovely pair they will make. Off with you, for I have to make up my sleep I have lost."
But Zora was thinking.
"I am silly indeed!" she said to herself. "Why do I fear that I shall not win the love of Prince Reginald? Only Hilda stands in my way."
Then she said aloud,--
"Lovely being! sweetest of all the race! Great as is my horror, I will consent to your will."
Just then was heard a crackling in the dry leaves.
"Only a snake," said the goblin. Zora trembled.
"Will you promise me that Hilda will never trouble me again?"
"I promise," said the goblin, with one of her merriest laughs, as loud and hoa.r.s.e as the song of a frog.
Just then a sigh was heard not far from the place where Zora stood.
"There is some one here: we are watched," she whispered. But Gerula thought it the howling of the wind; for she was busily musing over the charm she was about to obtain of her cousins, the gnomes, and her eyes and ears were not as sharp as usual.