As they were looking about to find where the largest berries grew they heard the tramp of horses approaching , so loud that you would have thought a whole army was riding by . But it was only the emperor going to hunt with his friends and attendants . They were all fine handsome young men , who sat their horses as if they were part of them , but the finest and handsomest of all was the young emperor himself . As they drew near the three sisters , and marked their beauty , they checked their horses and rode slowly by . ` Listen , sisters ! ' said Anna , as they passed on . ` If one of those young men should make me his wife , I would bake him a loaf of bread which should keep him young and brave for ever . ' ` And if I , ' said Stana , ` should be the one chosen , I would weave my husband a shirt which will keep him unscathed when he fights with dragons ; when he goes through water he will never even be wet ; or if through fire , it will not scorch him . ' ` And I , ' said Laptitza , ` will give the man who chooses me two boys , twins , each with a golden star on his forehead , as bright as those in the sky . ' And though they spoke low the young men heard , and turned their horses ' heads . ' I take you at your word , and mine shall you be , most lovely of empresses ! ' cried the emperor , and swung Laptitza and her strawberries on the horse before him . ` And I will have you , ' ` And I you , ' exclaimed two of his friends , and they all rode back to the palace together . The following morning the marriage ceremony took place , and for three days and three nights there was nothing but feasting over the whole kingdom . And when the rejoicings were over the news was in everybody 's mouth that Anna had sent for corn , and had made the loaf of which she had spoken at the strawberry beds . And then more days and nights passed , and this rumour was succeeded by another one -- that Stana had procured some flax , and had dried it , and combed it , and spun it into linen , and sewed it herself into the shirt of which she had spoken over the strawberry beds . Now the emperor had a stepmother , and she had a daughter by her first husband , who lived with her in the palace . The girl 's mother had always believed that her daughter would be empress , and not the ` Milkwhite Maiden , ' the child of a mere shepherd . So she hated the girl with all her heart , and only bided her time to do her ill . But she could do nothing as long as the emperor remained with his wife night and day , and she began to wonder what she could do to get him away from her .
At last , when everything else had failed , she managed to make her brother , who was king XXXXX the neighbouring country , declare war against the emperor , and besiege some of the frontier towns with a large army .
As If So from near of on over that though