Atondido Stories
there was a room in the palace which was never opened. In this
room there was a fierce beast which always came to life again
whenever it was killed. The giant princess had always been anx-
ious to see the beast with her own eyes, and she suggested that
they should use the key to unlock the door of the forbidden
room and take a peep at the beast.
Her husband, however, gave her no encouragement to do
this. He decided that it was too risky a bit of amusement; but one
day when he had gone hunting with the king and court the prin-
cess was overjoyed to find that the magic key had been left be-
hind. She at once picked it up and opened the forbidden door.
The beast gave a great leap, roaring out at her, “You are the very
one I have sought,” as he seized her with his sharp claws.
When her husband and father returned from their hunting
trip they were very much worried to find that the princess had
disappeared. No one knew where she was. After searching
through the palace and garden all in vain they went to the place
where the beast was always kept. The prince recognized his
magic key in the door, but the room was empty. The beast had
fled with the giant princess.
Once more the young man made use of his magic boot and
soon was by the side of the princess. The beast had hidden her in
a cave by the sea and had gone away in search of food. The giant
princess was delighted to find her husband whom she had never
expected to see again and wanted to hasten away from the cave
with him at once.
“You have got yourself into this affair,” said her husband. “I
can get you out again, I think, but I believe that it is your duty to
at least make an effort to take the beast’s life. Perhaps when he
comes back to the cave you can extract from him the secret of his
charmed life.”
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