` No , it must have been his skates , for he went away with his skates ! ' ` Very likely , ' said the crow , ' I did not see for certain . But I know this from my sweetheart , that when he came to the palace door and saw the royal guards in silver , and on the stairs the footmen in gold , he was not the least bit put out . He nodded to them , saying , `` It must be rather dull standing on the stairs ; I would rather go inside ! '' ` The halls blazed with lights ; councillors and ambassadors were walking about in noiseless shoes carrying gold dishes . It was enough to make one nervous ! His boots creaked dreadfully loud , but he was not frightened . ' ` That must be Kay ! ' said Gerda . ' I know he had new boots on ; I have heard them creaking in his grandmother 's room ! ' ` They did creak , certainly ! ' said the crow . ` And , not one bit afraid , up he went to the princess , who was sitting on a large pearl as round as a spinning wheel . All the ladies-in-waiting were standing round , each with their attendants , and the lords-in-waiting with their attendants . The nearer they stood to the door the prouder they were . ' ` It must have been dreadful ! ' said little Gerda . ` And Kay did win the princess ? ' ' I heard from my tame sweetheart that he was merry and quick-witted ; he had not come to woo , he said , but to listen to the princess 's wisdom . And the end of it was that they fell in love with each other . '
` Oh , yes ; that was XXXXX ! '
Gerda Kay councillors crow door footmen love room round standing