The Story of the Three Dogs - Part Thirteen

The Boy lay almost dead in the forest. But he was not forsaken. His faithful dogs came close to him to warm his body, and they licked his wounds. The dogs did not leave and their master slowly regained his breath and showed signs of life.

Then, the Boy regained his strength and started his way to the king's palace and finally reached there too.

The Boy was shocked because he found that in the kingdom, there were banquets everywhere and everyone was happy and joyful.

The Boy asked one of the people in the kingdom what the celebrations were for. 

The people replied. “The three daughters of the kingdom are back safe and sound from the power of the mountain ogres and today is the wedding of the two eldest princesses.”

“Is the youngest princess also getting married?” The Boy asked anxiously.

The people unhappily shook their heads. “The youngest princess would not accept anyone as her husband and she is constantly weeping. But nobody knows why she is so unhappy.”

The boy was happy because he realized that the third princess also loved him and that was the reason that she had not accepted anyone as her husband. 

He then went to the guard room and sent a message to the king. “I am a guest at the wedding and I ask permission to add to the joy of the weddings by showing my performing dogs.”

The king was happy when he heard this message and he asked that the stranger should be received and brought inside the palace.

Adapted from Swedish Folk Stories

The Story of the Three Dogs - Part Twelve

The two princes told the others that they had been very unsuccessful and were now forced to return home on foot, when they had met the Boy and the three princesses.

The Boy was worried about the two princes, and he asked them to travel with them so that they could all go back together to the kingdom of the three princesses.

However, when they were travelling together, the two princes realised how the poor Boy had not only protected the three princesses and brought them back, but he also served them well. 

Naturally, the two princes were very envious of the Boy and decided to do away with him. That way, the two princes could tell everyone that they were the ones who had saved the three princesses.

Soon the two princes found themselves alone with the Boy and they fell on him and choked him and left him dead in the deep forest.

After that, the two princes threatened the three princesses to take an oath to keep a secret about what had happened. If the princesses did not agree to it the princes said that the princesses would be killed. Now that the three princesses were under the power of the princes, they did not refuse the princes. 

Though they deeply grieved for the Boy who had lost his life for them, they could not do anything.

The youngest princess who loved the Boy wept day and night.

The two princes took the three girls back to the kingdom and there was great joy there.

Adapted from Swedish Folk Stories