` No , I do not , ' answered the old man . ` But if you go straight along this road for a year , you will reach a hut where my father lives , and possibly he may be able to tell you . ' The Prince thanked him for his information , and continued his journey for a whole year along the same road , and at the end of it came to the little hut , where he found a very old man . He asked him the same question , and the old man answered , ` No , I do not know where the Dragon lives . But go straight along this road for another year , and you will come to a hut in which my father lives . I know he can tell you . ' And so the Prince wandered on for another year , always on the same road , and at last reached the hut where he found the third old man . He put the same question to him as he had put to his son and grandson ; but this time the old man answered , ` The Dragon lives up there on the mountain , and he has just begun his year of sleep . For one whole year he is always awake , and the next he sleeps . But if you wish to see the Flower Queen 's daughter go up the second mountain : the Dragon 's old mother lives there , and she has a ball every night , to which the Flower Queen 's daughter goes regularly . ' So the Prince went up the second mountain , where he found a castle all made of gold with diamond windows . He opened the big gate leading into the courtyard , and was just going to walk in , when seven dragons rushed on him and asked him what he wanted ? The Prince replied , ' I have heard so much of the beauty and kindness of the Dragon 's Mother , and would like to enter her service . ' This flattering speech pleased the dragons , and the eldest of them said , ` Well , you may come with me , and I will take you to the Mother Dragon . ' They entered the castle and walked through twelve splendid halls , all made of gold and diamonds . In the twelfth room they found the Mother Dragon seated on a diamond throne . She was the ugliest woman under the sun , and , added to it all , she had three heads . Her appearance was a great shock to the Prince , and so was her voice , which was like the croaking of many ravens . She asked him , ` Why have you come here ? ' The Prince answered at once , ' I have heard so much of your beauty and kindness , that I would very much like to enter your service . '
` Very well , ' said the Mother Dragon ; ` but XXXXX you wish to enter my service , you must first lead my mare out to the meadow and look after her for three days ; but if you do n't bring her home safely every evening , we will eat you up . '
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