Asmund , on his side , asked for the hand of Prince Ring 's sister , which was gladly granted him , and the double wedding was celebrated with great rejoicings . After this Prince Asmund and his bride returned to his country to live with the king his father . The two couples often met , and lived happily for many , many years . And that is the end of the story . -LSB- From Islandische Mahrchen . -RSB- Rubezahl Over all the vast under-world the mountain Gnome Rubezahl was lord ; and busy enough the care of his dominions kept him . There were the endless treasure chambers to be gone through , and the hosts of gnomes to be kept to their tasks . Some built strong barriers to hold back the fiery vapours to change dull stones to precious metal , or were hard at work filling every cranny of the rocks with diamonds and rubies ; for Rubezahl loved all pretty things . Sometimes the fancy would take him to leave those gloomy regions , and come out upon the green earth for a while , and bask in the sunshine and hear the birds sing . And as gnomes live many hundreds of years he saw strange things . For , the first time he came up , the great hills were covered with thick forests , in which wild animals roamed , and Rubezahl watched the fierce fights between bear and bison , or chased the grey wolves , or amused himself by rolling great rocks down into the desolate valleys , to hear the thunder of their fall echoing among the hills . But the next time he ventured above ground , what was his surprise to find everything changed ! The dark woods were hewn down , and in their place appeared blossoming orchards surrounding cosy-looking thatched cottages ; for every chimney the blue smoke curled peacefully into the air , sheep and oxen fed in the flowery meadows , while from the shade of the hedges came the music of the shepherd 's pipe . The strangeness and pleasantness of the sight so delighted the gnome that he never thought of resenting the intrusion of these unexpected guests , who , without saying ` by your leave ' or ` with your leave , ' had made themselves so very much at home upon is hills ; nor did he wish to interfere with their doings , but left them in quiet possession of their homes , as a good householder leaves in peace the swallows who have built their nests under his eaves . He was indeed greatly minded to make friends with this being called ` man , ' so , taking the form of an old field labourer , he entered the service of a farmer . Under his care all the crops flourished exceedingly , but the master proved to be wasteful and ungrateful , and Rubezahl soon left him , and went to be shepherd to his next neighbour . He tended the flock so diligently , and knew so well where to lead the sheep to the sweetest pastures , and where among the hills to look for any who strayed away , that they too prospered under his care , and not one was lost or torn by wolves ; but this new master was a hard man , and begrudged him his well-earned wages . So he ran away and went to serve the judge . Here he upheld the law with might and main , and was a terror to thieves and evildoers ; but the judge was a bad man , who took bribes , and despised the law . Rubezahl would not be the tool of an unjust man , and so he told his master , who thereupon ordered him to be thrown in prison .
Of course that did not trouble the gnome at all , he simply got out through the keyhole , and went away down to his underground palace , very much disappointed by his first experience XXXXX mankind .
After For So Under between of to upon with without