East of the Sun, West of the Moon by Ditte Gry Svensmark

Author:Ditte Gry Svensmark
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fairy tale, east of the sun, west of the moon, enchanted prince, white bear
Publisher: Ditte Gry Svensmark

The northern wind gently set Rose on the pale, cool cobblestones outside the great gate to the castle, and said,

“I have done as promised, mistress. This is the castle east of the sun and west of the moon. I cannot aid thee further; I am forbidden to interfere directly in the affairs of mortals. But I wish thee luck in thy endeavour.”

One last, gentle touch of wind on her cheek, and Rose was alone before the gate. She shivered from cold and apprehension, but her determination did not waver. It was getting dark, and she wrapped herself in the soft cape and slept by the wall. In the morning she sat on a stone and started combing her hair with the golden comb. It was not long before a voice called to her from the castle,

“What a lovely comb you have, beggar girl.” It was the ugly daughter of the evil enchantress, who had seen the sun glint in the beautiful comb. “I want to buy it. How much will it cost?”

“It is not for sale for money,” answered Rose. “But you may have it if you will let me spend a night in the princes’ sleeping chamber.”

“Very well, if that is your price, you shall have it. You can wait in the kitchens until then.”

And so the gate was opened, and Rose was let into the castle. She spent the day in the kitchen, enjoying the warmth. When darkness fell, the ugly daughter came to lead her to the princes sleeping chamber. Outside the door, Rose gave her the comb, and was let into the room. As soon as the door was closed behind her, she rushed to the bed where the prince lay sleeping. She called to him and shook his arm, but he remained asleep. The enchantress had given him a sleeping draught; she did not trust the beggar girl. All night Rose tried in vain to wake her beloved, but when morning came, she had had no luck, and was thrown out of the castle again. In the afternoon she sat down on the stone again, and started using the spindle. As she spun it, it magically created silver thread from thin air. After a while, the ugly daughter called to her again,

“What a wondrous spindle you have there, beggar girl. I want it for my own. How much will it cost?”

“Let me spend a night with the prince, and I will give it to you.”

“Agreed. You may spend the day in the kitchen.”

And so Rose was once more let into the kitchen, to wait for nightfall. In the evening she was led to the princes’ sleeping chamber, and gave the spindle to the ugly daughter. As soon as the door was closed behind her, she hurried to the bed, where the prince was sleeping. But like the first night, he had been given a sleeping draught, and she could not wake him up. In the morning she was thrown out the gate once more. She was determined to save her beloved, but worried that she only had one more night to succeed.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.