'Now, as all good people do, let us eat bread together.'
'We all stand silently, looking at the bread. The ancient Elf rises from where he sits and, leaning on his cane, walks slowly to where the bread is cooling. He places his hand on a loaf and looks at it for a long time, speaking very softly.
'He pinches off a piece of bread from the loaf and from that piece pinches off another. Leaning on his cane, he walks slowly to where the Princess stands, watching him, and gives to her the pinch of bread.
'We were in need,' he says, 'and you helped us. By helping those in need you have shown us that you, too, deserve to be helped.'
'You and I nod in understanding. The meaning behind the words of
Omar the Oak and Cyril the Spider are now clear.
'The ancient Elf points to a tunnel opening in the cavern's wall. 'From here the tunnel has many branches, and many have turns that lead deeper and deeper into the enchanted, tangled forest. By yourselves, you would have lost your way. We will guide you through the tunnel to the cove where your ship waits.'
'The Princess and the ancient Elf silently eat the bread they hold in their hands.
'The other Elves crowd around and thank us for showing them how to bake bread and rolls. They wish us well on our journey home.
'We wave good-bye, and with ten stalwart Elves carrying lighted torches to lead the way, we walk along the tunnel. After many turns into branch tunnels and an hour of climbing ladders and stairways we are out again into daylight. We see the cove. A lively offshore breeze is blowing.
'The Elves drag a boat from among nearby reeds. We take seats in the boat and our escorts row us out to our ship. We climb aboard, and wave farewell.