Then she offered Helli a present and when he asked for her little locked box without a key she gave it to him at once.
“It is my most precious possession,” she said, “but you may have it for you spared my dear brother’s life when you might have taken it.”
After they had rested and feasted they bade the youngest sister farewell and Helli with his precious box held tightly in one hand mounted the Grouse’s back and off they flew towards home.
“Be careful of the box,” the Grouse said, “and don’t let it out of your hands until we reach some beautiful spot where you’d like always to live.”
They passed high mountains and wooded lakes and fertile valleys.
“Shall we stop here?” the Grouse asked. “Or here? Or here?”
“No, not here.”
At last they reached home and the Grouse told Helli that now they must part forever.
“By sparing my life three times,” the Grouse said, “and then feeding me for three years you have broken the enchantment that bound me and now I shall not have to go about any longer as a grouse but shall be able to resume my natural shape. Farewell, Helli, and when you find the spot where you think you would like always to live, drop the box and you will find you have a treasure that will more than reward you for your kindness to me.”