Then she told the Princess the story of the ring and how Stephen had got the old witch to get it for him, and that if he had given her the gold he would have married the Princess in spite of all she could have done.
“But if Nardo still loves me, why does he keep away? Why does he not tell me of his love?” asked the Princess.
“He will, my dear Princess, when he remembers,” said the fairy, “and there is where the difficult part comes in.
“We must get the ring or the stone. It is only the stone that holds the charm, but that is still on Stephen’s finger, and to get near to him the dragon must be overpowered.”
“Oh! I will send all my father’s soldiers,” said the Princess; “they can kill the dragon, I am sure.”
“Not a dragon that belongs to a witch,” said the fairy, “and if my plan works, and I think it will, we shall not need soldiers. I will be back before the sun rises. Wait for me.”
Away went the fairy to her Queen and again asked to be changed into a nightingale. “It is to help some one in trouble, dear Queen,” she said, “and never again will I ask to change my form.”
The Queen granted her wish and away flew the nightingale toward the sea, where lived the witch and the dragon.
When she was near the cave she began her sweetest song, and as she flew nearer she sang more sweetly and softly until she alighted on a tree right over the rock where lay the dragon and the sleeping Stephen.
The eyes of the dragon were wide open, watching on all sides for any one who might dare attempt to rescue Stephen.