They played the whole day, and Sigurd taught Helga all sorts of games she had never even heard of.As they walked home in the evening she said: 'We shall be able to play better still to-morrow, for my father will have to go to the town, so we can stay at home.'
When they were near the house Helga again held her glove over Sigurd, and once more he was turned into a bundle of wool, and she carried him in without his being seen.
Very early next morning Helga's father went to the town, and as soon as he was well out of the way the girl held up her glove and Sigurd was himself again.Then she took him all over the house to amuse him, and opened every room, for her father had given her the keys before he left; but when they came to the last room Sigurd noticed one key on the bunch which had not been used and asked which room it belonged to.'
Helga grew red and did not answer.
'I suppose you don't mind my seeing the room which it opens?'
asked Sigurd, and as he spoke he saw a heavy iron door and begged Helga to unlock it for him.But she told him she dared not do so, at least if she did open the door it must only be a very tiny chink; and Sigurd declared that would do quite well.
The door was so heavy, that it took Helga some time to open it, and Sigurd grew so impatient that he pushed it wide open and walked in.There he saw a splendid horse, all ready saddled, and just above it hung a richly ornamented sword on the handle of which was engraved these words: 'He who rides this horse and wears this sword will find happiness.'
At the sight of the horse Sigurd was so filled with wonder that he was not able to speak, but at last he gasped out: 'Oh, do let me mount him and ride him round the house! Just once; I promise not to ask any more.'
'Ride him round the house! ' cried Helga, growing pale at the mere idea.'Ride Gullfaxi! Why father would never, never forgive me, if Ilet you do that.'
'But it can't do him any harm,' argued Sigurd; 'you don't know how careful I will be.I have ridden all sorts of horses at home, and have never fallen off not once.Oh, Helga, do!'
'Well, perhaps, if you come back directly,' replied Helga, doubtfully;'but you must be very quick, or father will find out!'
But, instead of mounting Gullfaxi, as she expected, Sigurd stood still.
'And the sword,' he said, looking fondly up to the place where it hung.'My father is a king, but he has not got any sword so beautiful as that.Why, the jewels in the scabbard are more splendid than the big ruby in his crown! Has it got a name? Some swords have, you know.'
'It is called "Gunnfjoder," the "Battle Plume,"' answered Helga, 'and "Gullfaxi" means "Golden Mane." I don't suppose, if you are to get on the horse at all, it would matter your taking the sword too.And if you take the sword you will have to carry the stick and the stone and the twig as well.'
'They are easily carried,' said Sigurd, gazing at them with scorn;'what wretched dried-up things! Why in the world do you keep them?'
'Bather says that he would rather lose Gullfaxi than lose them,'
replied Helga, 'for if the man who rides the horse is pursued he has only to throw the twig behind him and it will turn into a forest, so thick that even a bird could hardly fly through.But if his enemy happens to know magic, and can throw down the forest, the man has only to strike the stone with the stick, and hailstones as large as pigeons' eggs will rain down from the sky and will kill every one for twenty miles round.'
Having said all this she allowed Sigurd to ride 'just once' round the house, taking the sword and other things with him.But when he had ridden round, instead of dismounting, he suddenly turned the horse's head and galloped away.
Soon after this Helga's father came home and found his daughter in tears.He asked what was the matter, and when he heard all that had happened, he rushed off as fast as he could to pursue Sigurd.
Now, as Sigurd happened to look behind him he saw the giant coming after him with great strides, and in all haste he threw the twig behind him.Immediately such a thick wood sprang up at once between him and his enemy that the giant was obliged to run home for an axe with which to cut his way through.
The next time Sigurd glanced round, the giant was so near that he almost touched Gullfaxi's tail.In an agony of fear Sigurd turned quickly in his saddle and hit the stone with the stick.No sooner had he done this than a terrible hailstorm burst behind, and the giant was killed on the spot.
But had Sigurd struck the stone without turning round, the hail would have driven right into his face and killed him instead.
After the giant was dead Sigurd rode on towards his own home, and on the way he suddenly met his stepmother's little dog, running to meet him, with tears pouring down its face.He galloped on as hard as he could, and on arriving found nine men-servants in the act of tying Queen Ingiborg to a post in the courtyard of the palace, where they intended to burn her.
Wild with anger Prince Sigurd sprang from his horse and, sword in hand, fell on the men and killed them all.Then he released his stepmother, and went in with her to see his father.
The king lay in bed sick with sorrow, and neither eating nor drinking, for he thought that his son had been killed by the queen.
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After that Prince Sigurd rode back to fetch Helga, and a great feast was made which lasted three days; and every one said no bride was ever seen so beautiful as Helga, and they lived happily for many, many years, and everybody loved them.
[From Islandische Mahrchen.]
