The giant and the king’s son made three parts of that night. One part they spent in telling tales, the second in eating and drinking, and the third in sound, sweet slumber.
Next morning the young man went away after breakfast, and never stopped till he came to the castle of the third giant; and a beautiful castle it was, thatched with the down of cotton grass, the roof was as white as milk, beautiful to look at from afar or near by. The third giant was as angry at meeting him as the other two; but when he was struck in the breast with the third cake, he was as kind as the best man could be.
When they had taken supper together, the giant said to his sister’s son, “Will you tell me what journey you are on?”
“I will, indeed,” said the king’s son; and he told his whole story from beginning to end.
“It is well that you told me,” said the giant, “for I can help you; and if you do what I tell, you’ll finish your journey in safety. At midday to-morrow you’ll come to a lake; hide in the rushes that are growing at one side of the water. You’ll not be long there when twelve swans will alight near the rushes and take the crests from their heads; with that, the swan skins will fall from them, and they will rise up the most beautiful women that you have ever set eyes on. When they go in to bathe, take the crest of the youngest, put it in your bosom next the skin, take the eleven others and hold them in your hand. When the young women come out, give the eleven crests to their owners; but when the twelfth comes, you’ll not give her the crest unless she carries you to her father’s castle in Ardilawn Dreeachta (High Island of Enchantment). She will refuse, and say that strength fails her to carry you, and she will beg for the crest. Be firm, and keep it in your bosom; never give it up till she promises to take you. She will do that when she sees there is no help for it.”
Next morning the king’s son set out after breakfast, and at midday he was hidden in the rushes. He was barely there when the swans came. Everything happened as the giant had said, and the king’s son followed his counsels.
When the twelve swans came out of the lake, he gave the eleven crests to the older ones, but kept the twelfth, the crest of the youngest, and gave it only when she promised to carry him to her father’s. The moment she put the crest on her head, she was in love with the king’s son. When she came in sight of the island, however much she loved him when they started from the lakeside, she loved him twice as much now. She came to the ground at some distance from the castle, and said to the young man at parting,—
“Thousands of kings’ sons and champions have come to give greeting to my father at the door of his castle, but every man of them perished. You will be saved if you obey me. Stand with your right foot inside the threshold and your left foot outside; put your head under the lintel. If your head is inside, my father will cut it from your shoulders; if it is outside, he will cut it off also. If it is under the lintel when you cry ‘God save you!’ he’ll let you go in safety.”