The prince looked at her and was rather disappointed . The maiden was pretty enough , but not much out of the common . ` Oh , you must not wonder at her pale face and heavy eyes , ' said the queen hastily , for she saw what was passing in his mind . ` She has never got over the loss of both father and mother . ' ` That shows a good heart , ' thought the prince ; ` and when she is happy her beauty will soon come back . ' And without any further delay he begged the queen to consent to their betrothal , for the marriage must take place in his own country . The queen was enchanted . She had hardly expected to succeed so soon , and she at once set about her preparations . Indeed she wished to travel with the young couple , to make sure that nothing should go wrong ; but here the prince was firm , that he would take no one with him but Laufer , whom he thought was Lineik . They soon took leave of the queen , and set sail in a splendid ship ; but in a short time a dense fog came on , and in the dark the captain steered out of his course , and they found themselves in a bay which was quite strange to all the crew . The prince ordered a boat to be lowered , and went on shore to look about him , and it was not long before he noticed the two beautiful trees , quite different from any that grew in Greece . Calling one of the sailors , he bade him cut them down , and carry them on board the ship . This was done , and as the sky was now clear they put out to sea , and arrived in Greece without any more adventures . The news that the prince had brought home a bride had gone before them , and they were greeted with flowery arches and crowns of coloured lights . The king and queen met them on the steps of the palace , and conducted the girl to the women 's house , where she would have to remain until her marriage . The prince then went to his own rooms and ordered that the trees should be brought in to him . The next morning the prince bade his attendants bring his future bride to his own apartments , and when she came he gave her silk which she was to weave into three robes -- one red , one green , and one blue -- and these must all be ready before the wedding . The blue one was to be done first and the green last , and this was to be the most splendid of all , ` for I will wear it at our marriage , ' said he . Left alone , Laufer sat and stared at the heap of shining silk before her . She did not know how to weave , and burst into tears as she thought that everything would be discovered , for Lineik 's skill in weaving was as famous as her beauty .
As she sat with her face hidden and her body shaken by sobs , Sigurd XXXXX his tree heard her and was moved to pity .
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