` Dear mother , ' said her son in despair , ` if you will not tell me what is the cause of all this misery I shall leave home and wander far through the world . ' ` Ah , my son , my son , ' cried the queen , ` it is the thought that I must part from you which causes me such grief ; for before you were born we vowed a vow to St. James that when your eighteenth birthday was passed you should make a pilgrimage to his shrine , and very soon you will be eighteen , and I shall lose you . And for a whole year my eyes will never be gladdened by the sight of you , for the shrine is far away . ' ` Will it take no longer than that to reach it ? ' said he . ` Oh , do n't be so wretched ; it is only dead people who never return . As long as I am alive you may be sure I will come back to you . ' After this manner he comforted his mother , and on his eighteenth birthday his best horse was led to the door of the palace , and he took leave of the queen in these words , ` Dear mother , farewell , and by the help of fate I shall return to you as soon as I can . ' The queen burst into tears and wept sore ; then amidst her sobs she drew three apples from her pocket and held them out , saying , ` My son , take these apples and give heed unto my words . You will need a companion in the long journey on which you are going . If you come across a young man who pleases you beg him to accompany you , and when you get to an inn invite him to have dinner with you . After you have eaten cut one of these apples in two unequal parts , and ask him to take one . If he takes the larger bit , then part from him , for he is no true friend to you . But if he takes the smaller bit treat him as your brother , and share with him all you have . ' Then she kissed her son once more , and blessed him , and let him go . The young man rode a long way without meeting a single creature , but at last he saw a youth in the distance about the same age as himself , and he spurred his horse till he came up with the stranger , who stopped and asked : ` Where are you going , my fine fellow ? ' ' I am making a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James , for before I was born my mother vowed that I should go forth with a thank offering on my eighteenth birthday . ' ` That is my case too , ' said the stranger , ` and , as we must both travel in the same direction , let us bear each other company . ' The young man agreed to this proposal , but he took care not to get on terms of familiarity with the new comer until he had tried him with the apple . By-and-by they reached an inn , and at sight of it the king 's son said , ' I am very hungry .
Let us enter and order something XXXXX eat . '
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