“Take her away,” commanded the King at last. “Let her be kept in a dungeon, away from everyone, until she consents to restore the Princess to her true form.” In spite of the Earth Fairy’s cries and struggles she was dragged away, to be kept securely under lock and key, until she was ready to obey the King’s command.
This done, King Red Flame had a golden box brought that contained the very finest wands that he possessed, and tried with all the skill he knew to break the spell cast over his daughter; but it was quite in vain—the white flame still fluttered above the cradle, and the baby Princess still remained invisible. The King was filled with despair, for he knew of nothing more that he could do to break the Earth Fairy’s spell. Overcome with grief he turned to leave the room.
And now a strange thing happened. The tiny white flame, leaving the cradle, followed after him very timidly, but very steadily, as if the fairy Princess knew him, and longed to be close by him, in the shelter of his love and protection.
“Look, look, Your Majesty,” cried Grey Smoke, “the little Princess follows you!”
The King was touched to the heart. He commanded that the Princess’s cradle should be brought to his own chamber, and there sitting beside it, he rested his head sadly upon his hand, and pondered deeply, while still the white flame hovered quivering and flashing softly above the cradle.
Suddenly there came a low knock at the door, and Grey Smoke’s voice was heard, asking if she might enter.
“Come in, Grey Smoke,” replied the King, and as the door opened, and the old nurse came in, he added, “Let us see whether you cannot suggest some way to help my poor little daughter. For me—I have no thought left.” He sighed heavily as he spoke, and from the white flame above the cradle there seemed to float a faint answering sigh.
“Your Majesty, do not despair,” counseled Grey Smoke. “It is true that the spell cast upon the Princess is a powerful one, but I am sure that in time everything will turn out well. I have been to see the Wise One, and he has told me that only the Veil of Disenchantment that lies hidden in his magic chest can break the spell that rests upon the Princess.”
The King sprang to his feet eagerly. “There is, then, some magic thing that can break this enchantment?” he cried. “Let us go at once and fetch it.”
“That is impossible,” replied Grey Smoke. “Only the prince who will one day come—he who is fated to win the Princess as his bride, can see this Veil. Only in his hands is it potent to restore her.”