Both struck hard , but in the end the snake proved the stronger , and would have twisted himself round the neck of the raven till he died had not the king 's son drawn his sword , and cut off the head of the snake at a single blow . And when the raven beheld that his enemy was dead , he was grateful , and said : ` For thy kindness to me this day , I will show thee a sight . So come up now on the root of my two wings . ' The king 's son did as he was bid , and before the raven stopped flying , they had passed over seven bens and seven glens and seven mountain moors . ` Do you see that house yonder ? ' said the raven at last . ` Go straight for it , for a sister of mine dwells there , and she will make you right welcome . And if she asks , `` Wert thou at the battle of the birds ? '' answer that thou wert , and if she asks , `` Didst thou see my likeness ? '' answer that thou sawest it , but be sure thou meetest me in the morning at this place . ' The king 's son followed what the raven told him and that night he had meat of each meat , and drink of each drink , warm water for his feet , and a soft bed to lie in . Thus it happened the next day , and the next , but on the fourth meeting , instead of meeting the raven , in his place the king 's son found waiting for him the handsomest youth that ever was seen , with a bundle in his hand . ` Is there a raven hereabouts ? ' asked the king 's son , and the youth answered : ' I am that raven , and I was delivered by thee from the spells that bound me , and in reward thou wilt get this bundle . Go back by the road thou camest , and lie as before , a night in each house , but be careful not to unloose the bundle till thou art in the place wherein thou wouldst most wish to dwell . ' Then the king 's son set out , and thus it happened as it had happened before , till he entered a thick wood near his father 's house . He had walked a long way and suddenly the bundle seemed to grow heavier ; first he put it down under a tree , and next he thought he would look at it . The string was easy to untie , and the king 's son soon unfastened the bundle . What was it he saw there ? Why , a great castle with an orchard all about it , and in the orchard fruit and flowers and birds of very kind .
It was all ready XXXXX him to dwell in , but instead of being in the midst of the forest , he did wish he had left the bundle unloosed till he had reached the green valley close to his father 's palace .
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