The horses , thus left without any control , dashed blindly against a tree , and the queen was flung out on the ground , where she lay for some minutes unconscious . A rustling sound near her at length caused her to open her eyes ; before her stood a huge woman , almost a giantess , without any clothes save a lion 's skin , which was thrown over her shoulders , while a dried snake 's skin was plaited into her hair . In one hand she held a club on which she leaned , and in the other a quiver full of arrows . At the sight of this strange figure the queen thought she must be dead , and gazing on an inhabitant of another world . So she murmured softly to herself : ' I am not surprised that people are so loth to die when they know that they will see such horrible creatures . ' But , low as she spoke , the giantess caught the words , and began to laugh . ` Oh , do n't be afraid ; you are still alive , and perhaps , after all , you may be sorry for it . I am the Lion Fairy , and you are going to spend the rest of your days with me in my palace , which is quite near this . So come along . ' But the queen shrank back in horror . ` Oh , Madam Lion , take me back , I pray you , to my castle ; and fix what ransom you like , for my husband will pay it , whatever it is . But the giantess shook her head . ' I am rich enough already , ' she answered , ` but I am often dull , and I think you may amuse me a little . ' And , so saying , she changed her shape into that of a lion , and throwing the queen across her back , she went down the ten thousand steps that led to her palace . The lion had reached the centre of the earth before she stopped in front of a house , lighted with lamps , and built on the edge of a lake of quicksilver . In this lake various huge monsters might be seen playing or fighting -- the queen did not know which -- and around flew rooks and ravens , uttering dismal croaks . In the distance was a mountain down whose sides waters slowly coursed -- these were the tears of unhappy lovers -- and nearer the gate were trees without either fruit of flowers , while nettles and brambles covered the ground . If the castle had been gloomy , what did the queen feel about this ? For some days the queen was so much shaken by all she had gone through that she lay with her eyes closed , unable either to move or speak . When she got better , the Lion Fairy told her that if she liked she could build herself a cabin , as she would have to spend her life in that place .
At these words the queen burst into tears , and implored her gaoler to put her XXXXX death rather than condemn her to such a life ; but the Lion Fairy only laughed , and counselled her to try to make herself pleasant , as many worse things might befall her .
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