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And from that hour there was no record of the Elle-people or the mighty Kong Tolv having been ever again seen in Zealand. Hyldemoer, elder-mother, is the name of a Danish elf inhabiting the elder-tree. Eda signifies a grandmother or female ancestor. Children born on Sundays were especially under the power of the elves.
"It is Kong Tolv rolling himself in the sunshine," cried the trembling child; "Look away, my sister, lest he should hear us." Again Hyldreda's fearless laugh made music through the still air, and she kept looking back until they passed from the open road into the gloom of the oak wood. "It is strange that thou shouldst be so brave," said Resa once more.
She said to her lord, "Let me go back for a little while to my native village, and my ancient home, that I may show them all my splendor, and my greatness. Let me enter, sitting in my gilded chariot, with the four white horses, and feel myself as queen-like as the lady I once saw beneath the oak-wood." Kong Tolv laughed, and assented. "But," he said, "keep thy own proud self the while.
"No," said little Resa, rather fearfully, "you know Kong Tolv never lets any mortal king pass the bridge of Skjelskör." "Kong Tolv! what, more stories about Kong Tolv!" laughed the merry maiden; "I never saw him; I wish I could see him, for then I might believe in thy tales, little one." "Hush, hush!
"Let me go to ask my mother's forgiveness, and above all, to crave the church's blessing on this my innocent babe." Kong Tolv frowned, and then looked sad. For it is the one great sorrow of the Elle-people, that they, with all others of the elfin race, are shut out from Heaven's mercy.
When the mother and sister of Hyldreda lifted up their eyes, they saw nothing but a cloud of dust sweeping past the cottage-door, they heard nothing but the ancient elder-tree howling aloud as its branches were tossed about in a gust of wintry wind. Kong Tolv took back to the hill his mortal bride.
Forgetting her lord's command, she sighed, she even wept one regretful tear; and that moment in her presence stood Kong Tolv. "Kill me, but save my mother, my sister," cried the wife, with a broken heart.
In the white frozen grass, for it was wintertime, knelt the wife of Kong Tolv, holding fast to her bosom the elfin babe, who shivered at every blast of wind, yet, shivering, seemed to smile. Hyldreda knelt, until the chapel-bells ceased at service-time. And then there came bursting from her lips the long-sealed prayers, the prayers of her childhood.
Kong Tolv, or King Twelve, is one of the Elle-kings who divide the fairy sovereignty of Zealand. Dronningstolen, or Queen's Chair. I followed the soldiers as they marched beyond the outer boulevard, and gained the open country.
At night, the strange eyes never closed, but looked at her with a dumb entreaty. And tenfold returned the mother's first desire, that her darling should become a "christened child." Much the old grandame gloried in this, looking with distrust on the pining, withered babe. But keenly upon Hyldreda's memory came back the saying of Kong Tolv, that for a soul would be exchanged a life.
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