Hans had used the power of the magic book to change himself into a dog, a cow and finally a horse.
But the troubles for Hans began as soon as his father had sold the horse to the old man.
Even as the old man clutched the reins, Hans, who was the horse, realized that this was the old man from whom he had stolen the book.
Hands whined and kicked but there was nothing he could do.
The old man drove the horse away and wanted to forge new shoes for the horse and for that, the old man stopped at a smith's place. The smith however wanted to have a drink with the old man and they both tied the horse to a place there and went inside.
At that time a servant girl came out of the house.
The servant was shocked out of the wits when the horse spoke to her. “Take off my bridle and you will save my life.”
The maid was reluctant at first, but she finally took the bridle off.
The maid was even more stunned when the horse changed into a dove and flew away from the place.
However the old man realized what had happened and he changed himself into a hawk and flew after the dove.
Finally they flew over a king's palace.
A princess was walking in the garden around the palace when the dove changed into a ring and fell at the feet of the princess.
The princess liked the ring immediately and she wore it.
When she wore it, the ring felt right to her, as if the ring was made for her.
When she was alone at night the princess was stunned when the ring changed into a handsome man.
Hans tried his best to soothe the fears of the princess and spoke to her gently.
Over time after the fear of the princess had evaporated, Hans told the story of the old man and how he had changed into a ring to be safe from the old man.
The princess, on looking at the handsome Hans, soon fell in love with him.
So the princess and Hans lived together and when there were others, Hans transformed into a ring.
However the princess’ father, the king, soon found out that the princess was living with someone and that person was the reason that the princess refused all the suitors who had come to marry her.
The king was very angry knowing that the princess had not told him anything and had chosen a man for herself. So the king decided to wall-in his daughter in the princess’ summer house to starve her and her lover to death.
But Hans and the princess were very lucky, because just under the summer house where the 2 of them had been walled-in, there was actually a way out in an underground tunnel which led to a golden castle.
Hans and the princess both found the tunnel and were able to go on here in the castle.
They lived there happily for many years.
Hans finally disguised himself as a Prince of the neighbouring kingdom and came to the palace of the princess's father.
Naturally now Hans was a very rich man and the king thought that Hans was a noble man and decided to honour him.
There in the kingdom at night, Hans had a question for the king. “Your majesty, I have heard that your wisdom is unparalleled. There is a man in my country who buried his daughter alive because she loved a man who was born as a poor peasant. How can I punish this father?
The king nodded at the visiting prince. “Such a man has to be burnt alive.”
Hans heard it and threw off his disguise. “You are the man and I am the one who loves their daughter.”
The king finally realized that his daughter was alive and he fell on his knees and asked Hans for mercy.
After that the king himself conducted the marriage of Hans and the princess and they lived happily ever after.
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