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What else could they do but lament and complain? Meanwhile the time passed, and by the diminution of the food and drink they knew that the seven years were coming to an end. They thought the moment of their deliverance was come; but no stroke of the hammer was heard, no stone fell out of the wall, and it seemed to Maid Maleen that her father had forgotten her.
When they were both alone, he said, "On the way to church thou didst name Maid Maleen, who was my betrothed bride; if I could believe it possible, I should think she was standing before me thou art like her in every respect." She answered, "I am Maid Maleen, who for thy sake was imprisoned seven years in the darkness, who suffered hunger and thirst, and has lived so long in want and poverty.
He took her by the hand and led her to church. On the way was a nettle-plant, and she said, "Oh, nettle-plant, Little nettle-plant, What dost thou here alone? I have known the time When I ate thee unboiled, When I ate thee unroasted." "What art thou saying?" asked the King's son. "Nothing," she replied, "I was only thinking of Maid Maleen."
She went out and found Maid Maleen, and said, "Girl, what didst thou say to the church-door?" "I said nothing but, "Church-door, break not, I am not the true bride." "That will break thy neck for thee!" cried the bride, and flew into a terrible passion, but she hastened back into the room, and said, "I know now what I said to the church-door," and she repeated the words.
Her father's castle lay in ruins, the town and the villages were, so far as could be seen, destroyed by fire, the fields far and wide laid to waste, and no human being was visible. When the opening in the wall was large enough for them to slip through, the waiting-maid sprang down first, and then Maid Maleen followed. But where were they to go?
With this canst thou likewise give back to thy brothers their human form." Then the youth hastened to the King's daughter, and when he entered the room, she was standing there in the full splendour of her beauty, and joyfully they exchanged rings with each other. 198 Maid Maleen
"If thou didst not do it, then thou art not the true bride," said he. So she bethought herself, and said, "I must go out unto my maid, Who keeps my thoughts for me." She went out and sought Maid Maleen. "Girl, what hast thou been saying to the nettle?" "I said nothing but, "Oh, nettle-plant, Little nettle-plant, What dost thou here alone?
When they came to the church-door, she said once more, "Church-door, break not, I am not the true bride." "What art thou saying there?" asked he. "Ah," she answered, "I was only thinking of Maid Maleen." Then he took out a precious chain, put it round her neck, and fastened the clasp. Thereupon they entered the church, and the priest joined their hands together before the altar, and married them.
"Then thou art not the true bride." She again said, "I must go out unto my maid, Who keeps my thoughts for me," And ran out and found Maid Maleen, "Girl, what didst thou say to the foot-bridge?" "I said nothing but, "Foot-bridge, do not break, I am not the true bride."
The son of the King in whose kingdom they were, was, however, the very man who had been betrothed to Maid Maleen. His father had chosen another bride for him, whose face was as ugly as her heart was wicked.
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