The Strange Tale of the Snake Ring (8 page)

A platform had been built at one side of the green, and the crowds cheered as Thomas and Gerda climbed the steps. Thomas made a sign for the crowd to be silent, and then spoke to them:

“My friends,” he said, “it would take too long to tell you of all the places I have been since I left the farm. But I have seen the world, and made my fortune. I have been greatly honoured by the king. But I have also been a prisoner, I have been poor and I have been hungry. I have lived in the king's palace and in a robbers' den. But now I am married, and I have come home.

“In all my travels, I was never as happy as when I was working with my sweetheart Gerda, on the farm. So that is what I will do. Tomorrow, I shall put on my working clothes and begin work on the farm. But once a year, on this day, I shall put on these fine clothes, and ride through the village and through the town and you will all remember who I am. All robbers and cheats and criminals of all kinds, keep away! Because I can bring the king's anger down upon you. So this land will be happy and peaceful, now and forever.

“And now, my friends, let the rejoicing begin! There is food and drink for all, and there will be singing and dancing far into the night!”

With that, amid more cheering from the crowds, Thomas and Gerda returned to their carriage, and were driven back to the farm, to be together as man and wife for the first time.

Thomas carried out his promise, and the story was told round many firesides in the land: of the farm-boy who became a prince, and then chose to be a farmer again, and the village girl who married the prince without the help of a fairy godmother.

Wilhelm and Gertrud lived to a ripe and comfortable old age, and Thomas made sure that they had every comfort in their cosy cottage.

Robert went to Spain to train as a priest, and when he was given a parish of his own, became a wise and holy counsellor to all the people.

But not everyone lived happily ever after. The king agreed that Thomas should be allowed to choose what punishment Riese and Zwerg should receive. He decided that he did not wish to see them hanged.

“After all,” he explained to the chief magistrate, “they could have treated me much worse when I was their prisoner. They shall be sent under armed guard to the king's palace. Each winter Riese will keep every room in the palace supplied with coal and logs for the fires. All through the summer, he will cut wood and saw logs for the winter. There are nearly two hundred rooms in the palace.

“Zwerg will spend his time cleaning out the king's stables. There are over a hundred horses. If either of them tries to escape, then they will be kept in a dark cell without windows.”

“Of course, the king could pardon them at any time, but I do not think he will.”

And so the story draws to its end. But if you were to visit the farm by the two rivers at haymaking time, you would see two happy people working in the hayfield. If you were to look closely you would see that the girl is wearing a wedding ring and also another ring: a most unusual one formed from two snakes intertwined, with jewels for eyes. And if you were to listen, you might hear two melodious voices singing together: