The Prince and the Princess in the Forest facts for kids

"The Prince and the Princess in the Forest" is a Danish fairy tale. It was first written down by Evald Tang Kristensen in 1881. Later, Andrew Lang included it in his book The Olive Fairy Book in 1907. It's a story about a brave prince, a kidnapped princess, and a tricky robber.

A Royal Journey Begins

After the king of Denmark passed away, his wife, the queen, was very sad. Her only son, the prince, suggested they leave their home. He thought a change of scenery might help. So, they decided to travel to a place far away, on the other side of a big forest.

They soon got lost in the thick woods. But then, they found two small houses. The first house held a special mail shirt and a sword. A note said these items would keep a person safe from all danger. The prince quietly took them, without his mother knowing.

The second house had food and a bed, which was perfect for them. But it turned out to be a robber's hideout! The next morning, while the prince was hunting for a path, the robber chief surprised the queen. He told her she had to make him king and get rid of her son. The queen was scared and protested. The robber then told her to pretend to be sick. She should send her son to find some special apples in a forest a mile away. He knew that forest was full of dangerous wild animals.

The Prince's Brave Quest

The prince went into the forest to find the apples. It was full of lions, tigers, bears, and wolves. But instead of attacking him, the animals lay down and licked his hands! They were no longer a threat.

The prince found the apple tree. When his sword touched it, two apples fell. As he left the woods, a small black dog led him to a tiny hole in a hill. His magic sword made the hole big enough for him to enter.

Inside, he found a princess from Arabia. She was chained to an iron pillar. Twelve robbers had captured her and were fighting over who would marry her. She told the prince she had been trapped there for a very long time. The prince touched her chain with his sword, and it broke! He led her through the forest to a port. There, a ship was waiting to sail to Arabia. The prince promised that if he was still alive in a year, he would come to Arabia and marry her. She gave him a ring to remember their promise. Then, she sailed home.

A Betrayal and a New Life

The robber chief smelled the apples from far away. He knew only powerful magic could have saved the prince. He ordered the queen to ask the prince how he survived. The prince told her about his magic mail shirt and sword. The queen then told the robber chief. He made a special drink that put the prince to sleep. While the prince slept, the robber stole the sword and mail shirt.

When the prince woke up, the robber gave him a terrible choice. He could either die or be blinded and left in the forest. The prince knew his mother had betrayed him. He chose to be blinded. The robber and queen went back to Denmark. They got married, and the robber became king.

The prince wandered until he reached the port. A ship was going to Arabia. The captain felt sorry for the blind man and offered him a ride. In Arabia, the prince went to the public baths. His ring slipped from his finger. A slave found it and took it to a friend who worked in the palace. This friend recognized it as the princess's ring. The friend gave it to his daughter, who was the princess's favorite servant.

The princess saw the ring and knew it belonged to her true love. Her father didn't think a blind man could rule, but the princess insisted. So, the prince and princess were married.

Sight Restored and New Challenges

One day, the prince overheard two ravens talking. They said that the dew falling in a certain part of the garden on Midsummer's Eve could restore sight. It could even help those with no eyes at all! The prince tried it, and to his and the princess's joy, he could see again!

Later, as the princess slept due to the heat, the prince saw a small shining lamp on a chain around her neck. He took it off to look at it, but he dropped it. A hawk instantly snatched the lamp pendant! The prince chased the hawk for a very long time. He ended up back in the same woods where he had been before. When the princess woke up, she followed him. But she was captured by the same robbers!

The Troll's Questions

The prince found twelve young men looking for work. He joined them. They all went to work for a troll. The troll told them they had to take care of his house for a year. Then, they would have to answer three questions. If they answered correctly, they would get a sack of gold. If they failed, they would be turned into beasts.

After a year, the prince heard the troll talking to another troll. The troll said he would ask:

• How long they had been there (the young men had been too busy partying to know).
• What shone on the roof (it was the lamp the troll had stolen from the princess).
• Where their food came from (it came from the king's table).

When the troll asked these questions, the other young men didn't know the answers. But the prince answered all of them correctly! So, they all received their gold and left. On the way, they met an old beggar. The beggar asked for money. The prince gave him his whole sack of gold. It was the troll in disguise! The troll then gave the prince the lamp he had stolen. He also told the prince that the princess was in the same cave where the prince had first found her.

Reclaiming What's Right

The prince disguised himself as a peddler. He ordered many pots and pans from a goldsmith. He used these to distract his mother. While she was busy, he found and took back his magic sword and mail shirt.

When the robber chief returned, the prince took away his fancy clothes. He sent the robber into the forest, where he faced the wild animals. The prince also sent his mother back to her own country. He then rescued his wife, the princess. They ruled over both her country and his for a very long time.