Childe Roland

Three princes played ball in the garden one evening. But, alas, their sister Ellen came out to join them.
"Catch!" shouted the youngest prince, but the ball flew over the church, and Princess Ellen ran after it.

An hour passed, then another. Night fell, but the princess did not return.
"I'll go find her!" said Childe Roland.
His brothers joined him. They mounted their horses, spurred them on, and rode tirelessly to the ends of the earth.

But a year passed, then two, and still they found no trace of the princess.
Finally, the eldest brother went to the famous wizard Merlin, told him everything, and asked if he knew where Lady Ellen was.

"The fair Lady Ellen has likely been taken by the fairies," Merlin replied. "She broke a sacred custom—she walked around the church against the sun! Now she is in the Dark Tower of the Elf King. Only the bravest knight can free her."

"I will free her or die trying!" said the eldest brother.
"Very well, try your luck," said the wizard. "But woe to anyone who dares this without wise counsel!"

Undeterred by the warning, the eldest brother resolved to find his sister and asked Merlin for help. The wizard taught him what to do and what to avoid on his journey. And so, the eldest brother set off for the land of the fairies, while the two younger brothers and the queen mother stayed behind.

A year passed, then two, and no word came from the eldest brother.
Heartache and sorrow filled their hearts. Where was their deliverance from this evil fate?

Then the middle brother went to Merlin. The wizard repeated his advice, and the middle brother also set off to find Lady Ellen, leaving Childe Roland and the queen mother to wait.

Another year passed, then two, and still no news.
Heartache and sorrow deepened. Where was their deliverance?

At last, Childe Roland, the youngest brother, decided to set out. He went to his mother, the queen, and asked for her blessing. At first, she refused—Childe Roland was her youngest and dearest son, and losing him would mean losing everything. But he pleaded with her, and finally, she relented. She gave him a mighty sword that never missed its mark and cast a spell upon it to ensure victory.

Childe Roland bid farewell to his mother and went to Merlin's cave.
"Tell me one last time," he asked, "how can I save Lady Ellen and my brothers?"

"My son," Merlin replied, "you need only two things. They may seem simple, but they are not easy. First, do this: when you enter the land of the fairies, strike off the head of anyone who speaks to you until you find your sister Ellen. Second, do not eat or drink a single bite or sip, no matter how hungry or thirsty you are. If you do, you will never see the sun again."

Childe Roland thanked Merlin and set off. He walked and walked until he saw a herdsman tending the king's horses. By their fiery eyes, he knew they belonged to the Elf King. He had reached the land of the fairies.

"Tell me," Childe Roland asked the herdsman, "where is the Dark Tower of the Elf King?"
"I don't know," the herdsman replied. "Go a little further, and you'll find a shepherd. Perhaps he can tell you."

Without hesitation, Childe Roland drew his mighty sword, and the herdsman's head fell from his shoulders. He walked on until he saw a shepherd tending the king's cows. He asked the same question.

"I don't know," the shepherd replied. "Go a little further, and you'll find a poultry woman. She will know."

Again, Childe Roland raised his sword, and the shepherd's head fell. He walked on until he saw an old woman in a gray cloak. He asked her if she knew where the Dark Tower was.

"Go a little further," she said, "and you'll see a round green hill, terraced from base to summit. Walk around it three times against the sun, and each time say, 'Open the door, open the door, let me in.' On the third time, the door will open, and you may enter."

Childe Roland was about to leave when he remembered Merlin's warning. He drew his sword, but the old woman vanished as if she had never been there.

He walked on until he reached the round green hill, terraced from base to summit. Three times he circled it against the sun, each time saying, "Open the door, open the door, let me in."

On the third time, the door opened. Childe Roland entered, and the door slammed shut behind him, leaving him in darkness.

It was not entirely dark—a faint light seeped through the walls and ceiling. Soon, he saw a corridor with arches of translucent stone. Though made of stone, the air was warm, as it always is in the land of the fairies.

Childe Roland passed through the corridor and came to a tall, wide double door. It was slightly ajar, and when he pushed it open, he beheld a wonder.

Before him was a grand hall. Golden pillars supported the ceiling, draped with garlands of flowers made of diamonds, emeralds, and other precious stones. At the center of the ceiling hung a massive chandelier made of a single, hollow, and perfectly transparent pearl of unimaginable size. Inside the pearl, a giant carbuncle spun, casting bright rays that lit the hall like a setting sun.

At the end of the hall stood a lavish bed with a velvet coverlet embroidered with silk and gold. On the bed sat Lady Ellen, combing her golden hair with a silver comb.

"Why are you here, dear brother?" she said. "For sorrow and woe. Know that whoever enters here never leaves. Go home, my youngest brother—I no longer hope for freedom. You will lose your head here, for sorrow and woe. Childe Roland, brother, you have not left, for sorrow and woe. Soon the king will arrive and take your life."

But Childe Roland did not listen. He sat beside Lady Ellen and told her everything. In return, she told him how his brothers had reached the Dark Tower, only to be enchanted by the Elf King. As they spoke, Childe Roland felt a sharp hunger—his journey had been long. He asked his sister for food, forgetting Merlin's warning.

Lady Ellen looked at him sadly but could not remind him of the wizard's advice. She left the hall and returned with bread and milk in golden dishes. Childe Roland was about to drink when he looked at his sister and remembered why he had come.

"Not a sip will I drink, nor a bite will I eat," he said, "until I free my sister Ellen!"

Just then, they heard footsteps and a loud voice:
"Fee-fi-fo-fum,
I smell the blood of a mortal one.
Be he dead or be he alive,
He shall find no peace here."

The doors burst open, and the Elf King stormed into the hall.

"Fight me if you dare, foul spirit!" cried Childe Roland, rushing at him with his mighty sword.

They fought long and hard. At last, Childe Roland brought the Elf King to his knees, and he begged for mercy.

"I will spare you," said Childe Roland, "if you lift the curse from my sister, restore my brothers to life, and set us all free!"

"Agreed!" said the Elf King.

He rose, went to a chest, and took out a vial of blood-red liquid. He dabbed it on the ears, eyelids, nostrils, lips, and fingertips of the two brothers, and they came to life. Then he whispered a few words to Lady Ellen, and the enchantment was broken.

The four of them left the hall, passed through the long corridor, and escaped the Dark Tower of the Elf King. Forever.

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Childe Roland

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