King Grisly Part 4

All of a sudden, as she was leaving, in came the king's son in his golden clothes. When he saw such a beautiful woman at the door, he took her by the hand and said she should be his partner in the dance. She trembled with fear because she saw that it was King Grisly-beard, who was making fun of her. However, he held her hands tightly and led her into the hall. As she entered, the cover of the basket came off, and the meats in it fell onto the floor with a loud thud. Everybody sniggered and jeered at her and she was so ashamed that she wished she was a thousand feet deep in the earth. She sprang over to the door so that she could escape the embarrassment  but on the steps King Grisly-beard overtook her, brought her back and said:

     "Fear me not! I am the fiddler who has lived with you in the hut. I brought you there because I truly loved you. I am also the soldier that overset your stall. I have done all this only to cure you of your silly pride, and to show you the folly of your ill-treatment of me. Now it is all over. You have learnt wisdom, and it is time to hold our marriage feast."

     Then the chamberlains came and brought her the most beautiful robes. Her father and his whole court were already there, and they welcomed her home. Everyone was delirious with joy. The feast was grand, they danced and sang, everyone was merry, and the princess and the king lived happily ever after.