Maid Maleen facts for kids
Maid Maleen (which means "Maid Maleen" in German) is a classic fairy tale collected by the famous Brothers Grimm. It's story number 198 in their collection. This tale is known as an "entombed princess" story, where a princess is locked away.
The Story of Maid Maleen
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess named Maid Maleen. She fell deeply in love with a kind prince. However, her father, the king, did not approve of their love and refused to let them marry.
Maid Maleen bravely told her father that she would never marry anyone else. Because of this, the angry king had her and her loyal maidservant locked away in a tall tower. He gave them enough food to last for seven long years.
Escape from the Tower
After seven years passed, all their food was gone. No one came to free them or bring more supplies. Maid Maleen and her maidservant decided they had to escape. They used a simple knife to slowly and carefully dig their way out of the tower.
When they finally broke free, they found their kingdom in ruins. The king was long gone, and everything was destroyed. Not knowing where else to go, they traveled until they reached the country of the prince Maleen loved. They found work in the royal kitchen.
A Royal Wedding Mix-Up
While Maid Maleen was imprisoned, the prince's father had arranged for him to marry another princess. This new princess was very shy and lacked confidence. She was so worried about meeting the prince that she would not leave her room.
On the day of the wedding, the shy princess did not want to be seen. So, she sent Maid Maleen to take her place at the ceremony. Maid Maleen, dressed as the bride, stood beside the prince.
The Golden Necklace
During the wedding, the prince placed a special golden necklace around Maid Maleen's neck. This necklace was a symbol of their marriage. Later that night, the prince went to the wedding chamber where the other princess was waiting.
He immediately noticed that she was not wearing the golden necklace. He knew right away that this was not the person he had married. Meanwhile, the shy princess had sent someone to harm Maid Maleen.
The prince quickly left the chamber to find his true bride. The shining golden necklace guided him, and he arrived just in time to save Maid Maleen. With the golden necklace as proof of their marriage, the prince and Maid Maleen were finally wed. They lived happily ever after, filled with joy and laughter.
