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.”
King Red Flame shook his head in doubt. “My good nurse,” he groaned,
“what hope can there be that such a prince would ever love my poor
daughter, who is nothing but a quivering flame?”
“Is there no charm that you can bestow upon her, so that even though
she remains a flame it will win his heart, and make him long to set her
free?” inquired Grey Smoke.
Again the King sank into deep thought, and as he sat there silently the
soft cry of the flame again sounded in his ears.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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