The Three Riddles
It was a fine day, sunny and bright. Little Annie, a ribboned hat on her head, a lovely frilled dress on her sweet person, and a basket in her hand happily romped over the hills and dales. Flowers and red ripe berries were all that she went to gather from the neighboring glen. "What a cute rabbit and it is wearing a red coat too!" exclaimed Annie as the little creature joyfully nibbled at the fresh cabbage leaves. She ran towards it and the rabbit ran away. There followed a long long chase. Down the hill and up they went, hopped and skipped over streamlets when suddenly the rabbit disappeared under a thicket. Annie stealthily peeped into it and saw no rabbit but a small opening in the ground. "Surely it is hiding in there," she said and squeezed herself into the hedge and lying flat on her belly looked through the hole. A strange sight met her eyes! Far below, there was a large and beautiful hall and little stars twinkled in it. In the flickering light of a thousand candles wee fairies, their wings folded, lay in deep slumber. And the rabbit in the red coat? Well, it was striding to and fro, hands behind the back, as if in deep contemplation.
Meanwhile, the ant clan trooped into Annie's nostrils that were almost grazing the ground, taking them to be caves interesting enough for exploration. There followed a series of sneezes. The sound woke up the winged beings. They vanished instantly. All of them. The fairies, the rabbit, the candles, the stars. There was only darkness. Annie ran back home as fast as her little legs could carry her. "Daddy! Daddy!" she exclaimed with bated breath. "Today, beyond that yonder hill, I saw fairies! No, not in my dreams, but real ones. They had little wings, a wand in each one's hand, and stars shone over their heads." A silence fell. A look of anxiety appeared on the faces of the farmer couple. "Alas, what have you done, my dear daughter? You've unwittingly spied on the fairies! For whosoever does so is bound to invite their wrath," said Annie's mother with a tear trickling down her cheek. "What should we do now?" asked the dismayed farmer. "The good old witch lives in the trunk of the great oak tree. Carry seven plum cakes, a big round pumpkin, a jar of fresh milk, and fourteen brown eggs for her and seek her advice," said his wife. The farmer at once set out on his mission. It was not difficult for him to locate his destination. For the great Oak towered over all other trees. When the good old witch heard what the farmer had to say, she remained quiet for a moment and then started in a cackling voice.
"At midnight, when the moon shines over your hamlet, the fairies will come to fetch your daughter. For they are not going to spare any mortal spying on them. But I can brew a spell that will prevent them from entering, provided your farmhouse is completely quiet. Mind you, even the yawn of a mouse or a twitch of its tail, even the slightest of the faintest sound will break the spell and your daughter would be lost to you." Thanking the farmer for his generous gifts, she then closed the oval door of her treehouse. The farmer hurried back home. The cats were locked, along with the cows, in the barn, the horses in the stable and the watchdog were drugged to sleep soundly. The fire was raked out of the hearth so that the burning logs do not cackle. All the clocks were stopped, for there should be no ticking to break the silence. The moon shone brightly in the sky and the church bell struck twelve. There was a distant hooting of the owl and the gentle lapping of the river nearby. The farmer and his wife who sat in the darkness of their kitchen heard the swishing of wings. The fairies had come to take away their daughter. But they only buzzed around, unable to enter the farmhouse, against the magical spell of complete silence that protected it. The farmer and his wife were unaware that Annie had smuggled her pet spaniel to sleep with her under the quilt. When he heard the angry whisperings and mutterings of the fairies outside, he jumped out of the bed and began to bark furiously. The spell was at once broken and Annie's bed lay empty. The little dog still barked frantically but in vain.
On the morrow, the farmer again went to the good old witch. When he had told her what had happened, she opened her ancient spell book and glanced through the brittle pages. "This time the task is going to be much more difficult," she said at length. "You must now look for three gifts. First, something that does not burn but gives light. Secondly a chicken without any bones. Lastly, you must find an animal that will give you a part of itself without losing a single drop of blood. With these three things, you must go to the abode of the fairies and ask for their king. When he sees you along with these presents, he'll be obliged to return your daughter." The following morning the farmer's wife set off to the neighboring town with the hope of getting some help to solve the three riddles. On the way, sitting on a milestone beside the rivulet was a hawker. "Kind lady," he said, "I'm hungry and cold. Could you spare me some food and drink?" "Certainly," replied the farmer's wife. She fed him with the lunch she was carrying for herself and offered him a homemade delicious drink. Then, taking off her shawl, she covered him with it. "You've been warm towards me, helpful as a glow worm which does not burn but sheds light. Goodbye and may God be with you," said the hawker and he went away. The bewildered but happy woman continued on her journey. She now knew what it is that does not burn but gives light. As she was entering the forest she heard the sweet song of a lark. Looking up she saw a cat on a higher branch, about to pounce on the bird who was singing joyfully, unconscious of the impending danger. She at once shouted, waving her umbrella and frightened the cat away.
"How tender you are!" said the bird, "Like the boneless chick just coming out of an egg!" Then it flew away. "Did the bird know about the second riddle?" wondered the farmer's wife as she reached the outskirts of the town. She had yet to find out what the witch meant by the third condition. She asked each and everyone she knew, but no avail. Disappointed, she turned back homewards. Just as she was emerging out of the woods she heard a pitiful cry. "Surely some innocent creature is in distress," thought she and followed the sound. She came across a rabbit, wearing a red coat, caught in a trap. She immediately set it free and bandaged its bruised leg. "I wish my leg had been like a lizard's tail! Seize a lizard by its tail and it will wriggle itself free, leaving behind its tail in your hand and without having lost a single drop of blood!" said the rabbit and it sped away, casting a meaningful look at the lady. The sad face of the farmer lit up with joy when his wife recounted her strange adventures.
The three presents were gathered and the farmer proceeded to the dwelling of the fairies. There he saw a wonderful sight. The Fairy King sat on his golden throne. Around him, the courtiers and the fairies feasted and danced to the tune of lilting music. But the farmer's eyes shone and his heart leaped up when he beheld his dear Annie sitting beside the king on a chair that glittered with diamonds. Behind her, on a silver stool sat the rabbit with the red coat, now with his spectacles on, reading a book, the History of the Fairyland. When the king saw the farmer with the three gifts in his hands, his face turned gloomy. But unconcerned, Annie continued to play with the golden ball, laughing joyously. "O Fairy King, accept these presents from the humble farmer and return his dear daughter to him," said he in a polite tone bowing to His Majesty. Little Annie stood up and looked in wonderment from the king to the farmer and from the farmer to the king. Then, suddenly, she ran into her father's arms. The magic spell she was under had broken.
"Dear Annie," said the Fairy king, "we love you dearly. Won't you choose to stay with us in the Fairyland? Here you'll remain ever young and never know the sadness of the world of men. You'll be able to sleep and dream all day and revel in the night. Stay with us, little Annie!" Annie looked intently at her father's eyes, thought of the loving embrace of her mother, her spaniel, the birds, the streams, the butterflies in the world outside, and calmly replied, "O King, I choose the life of men, of grief, joy, and struggle. For I'm sure to grow through them all into a much deeper, higher, and more beautiful myself. Goodbye. O, King! Goodbye, my little winged friends." As soon as the farmer and Annie came out into the open air, lo and behold, instead of the shimmering dress of beaten gold, she found herself again in her striped nightgown, the one she wore when the fairies carried her away! The white rabbit suddenly appeared before them and it was no longer wearing a red coat. "Due to a curse many many years ago, I was bound to live with the fairies. It was foretold that the day someone brings the three gifts to the king, the spell will be broken and I'll be free," said the rabbit. Annie now had two darling pets, the spaniel and the rabbit. For the rabbit loved Annie and desired to stay on with her. As for the fairies, at night on her birthdays, the king and the queen never failed to visit her in her dream and bless her with their magic wands.
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