The King then fell upon his knees before Moonflower and implored her to become his wife. The dwarf added his entreaties to those of his Majesty, and the Princess promised that, if they lived to reach the kingdom of the Crystal Mountains, she would bestow upon him her heart and her hand.
So they started for the cavern’s mouth, followed by the troop of those rescued from the Enchanter’s malice.
When they had traversed the marsh they heard a sound like thunder, and, looking back, perceived that the mud palace had sunk into the earth, and that, in its place, there had arisen a grove of palm-trees the stems of which were of gold and the leaves of emeralds.
The marsh, too, had changed its aspect in a very wonderful manner. The brackish water had become as clear as amber, golden fish darted about in it and shot to and fro among the rushes, which were of crystal and aquamarines. A thousand will-o’-the-wisps with diamond lanterns flashed about and the air was full of the songs of birds.
At the cavern’s mouth they stopped, not knowing how to go on, when Grimaçon took the Enchanted Leaf from his pocket and gave it to Moonflower. She touched it, and behold, it blazed up like a star in her hand, throwing light into the mouth of the cave and illuminating the falling water. Then they observed a little staircase cut in the rock which wound upwards, ascending high out of their sight. It had a crystal balustrade which made the ascent quite easy, and in a few moments they were all on their way up it.
It took them two days to reach the top and the poor Princess nearly fainted with weariness, but, supported by the King, she at last accomplished it, after which they sat down to rest awhile at the foot of the Crystal Mountains.
All at once they perceived flying towards them in the air two magnificent chariots, so glorious and brilliant that never, in the whole world, had anything appeared like them.
The first was drawn by twenty silver swans. In it sat a lady from the border of whose cloak hung fringes of pearls and jacinths. She alighted on the ground, close by the Princess, who, pale with astonishment, was watching the second chariot approaching. This was drawn by twelve peacocks, and made entirely of emeralds. It was driven by the most lovely lady imaginable, no less gorgeous than her companion, wearing a crown of opals which shone like the stars on a summer night.
The two Fairies stepped out of their chariots, and thus addressed the astonished King: