Then as suddenly it stopped , and , behold ! the water was ice , which held the animals firmly in its grasp . And the princess 's heart grew light again , and she sat down gaily to milk them , as if she had done it every morning of her life . The love of the emperor for Iliane waxed greater day by day , but she paid no heed to him , and always had an excuse ready to put off their marriage . At length , when she had come to the end of everything she could think of , she said to him one day : ` Grant me , Sire , just one request more , and then I will really marry you ; for you have waited patiently this long time . ' ` My beautiful dove , ' replied the emperor , ` both I and all I possess are yours , so ask your will , and you shall have it . ' ` Get me , then , ' she said , ' a flask of the holy water that is kept in a little church beyond the river Jordan , and I will be your wife . ' Then the emperor ordered Fet-Fruners to ride without delay to the river Jordan , and to bring back , at whatever cost , the holy water for Iliane . ` This , my mistress , ' said Sunlight , when she was saddling him , ` is the last and most difficult of your tasks . But fear nothing , for the hour of the emperor has struck . ' So they started ; and the horse , who was not a wizard for nothing , told the princess exactly where she was to look for the holy water . ` It stands , ' he said , ` on the altar of a little church , and is guarded by a troop of nuns . They never sleep , night or day , but every now and then a hermit comes to visit them , and from him they learn certain things it is needful for them to know . When this happens , only one of the nuns remains on guard at a time , and if we are lucky enough to hit upon this moment , we may get hold of the vase at once ; if not , we shall have to wait the arrival of the hermit , however long it may be ; for there is no other means of obtaining the holy water . ' They came in sight of the church beyond the Jordan , and , to their great joy , beheld the hermit just arriving at the door . They could hear him calling the nuns around him , and saw them settle themselves under a tree , with the hermit in their midst -- all but one , who remained on guard , as was the custom . The hermit had a great deal to say , and the day was very hot , so the nun , tired of sitting by herself , lay down right across the threshold , and fell sound asleep . Then Sunlight told the princess what she was to do , and the girl stepped softly over the sleeping nun , and crept like a cat along the dark aisle , feeling the wall with her fingers , lest she should fall over something and ruin it all by a noise . But she reached the altar in safety , and found the vase of holy water standing on it . This she thrust into her dress , and went back with the same care as she came .
With a bound she was in the saddle , and seizing the reins bade Sunlight take her home XXXXX fast as his legs could carry him .
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