The Crimson Fairy Book

The door was so heavy, that it took Helga some time to open it,
and Sigurd grew so impatient that he pushed it wide open and
walked in. There he saw a splendid horse, all ready saddled, and
just above it hung a richly ornamented sword on the handle of
which was engraved these words: 'He who rides this horse and
wears this sword will find happiness.'

At the sight of the horse Sigurd was so filled with wonder that he
was not able to speak, but at last he gasped out: 'Oh, do let me
mount him and ride him round the house! Just once; I promise not
to ask any more.'

'Ride him round the house! ' cried Helga, growing pale at the mere
idea. 'Ride Gullfaxi! Why father would never, never forgive me, if I
let you do that.'

'But it can't do him any harm,' argued Sigurd; 'you don't know how
careful I will be. I have ridden all sorts of horses at home, and have
never fallen off not once. Oh, Helga, do!'

'Well, perhaps, if you come back directly,' replied Helga, doubtfully;
'but you must be very quick, or father will find out!'

But, instead of mounting Gullfaxi, as she expected, Sigurd stood
still.

'And the sword,' he said, looking fondly up to the place where it
hung. 'My father is a king, but he has not got any sword so
beautiful as that. Why, the jewels in the scabbard are more splendid
than the big ruby in his crown!  Has it got a name?  Some swords
have, you know.'

'It is called "Gunnfjoder," the "Battle Plume,"' answered Helga, 'and
"Gullfaxi" means "Golden Mane." I don't suppose, if you are to get
on the horse at all, it would matter your taking the sword too. And
if you take the sword you will have to carry the stick and the stone
and the twig as well.'

'They are easily carried,' said Sigurd, gazing at them with scorn;
'what wretched dried-up things!  Why in the world do you keep
them?'

'Bather says that he would rather lose Gullfaxi than lose them,'
replied Helga, 'for if the man who rides the horse is pursued he has
only to throw the twig behind him and it will turn into a forest, so
thick that even a bird could hardly fly through. But if his enemy
happens to know magic, and can throw down the forest, the man
has only to strike the stone with the stick, and hailstones as large as
pigeons' eggs will rain down from the sky and will kill every one for
twenty miles round.'

Having said all this she allowed Sigurd to ride 'just once' round the
house, taking the sword and other things with him. But when he
had ridden round, instead of dismounting, he suddenly turned the
horse's head and galloped away.

Soon after this Helga's father came home and found his daughter in
tears. He asked what was the matter, and when he heard all that
had happened, he rushed off as fast as he could to pursue Sigurd.

Now, as Sigurd happened to look behind him he saw the giant
coming after him with great strides, and in all haste he threw the
twig behind him. Immediately such a thick wood sprang up at once
between him and his enemy that the giant was obliged to run home
for an axe with which to cut his way through.

The next time Sigurd glanced round, the giant was so near that he
almost touched Gullfaxi's tail. In an agony of fear Sigurd turned
quickly in his saddle and hit the stone with the stick. No sooner
had he done this than a terrible hailstorm burst behind, and the giant
was killed on the spot.

But had Sigurd struck the stone without turning round, the hail
would have driven right into his face and killed him instead.

After the giant was dead Sigurd rode on towards his own home,
and on the way he suddenly met his stepmother's little dog, running
to meet him, with tears pouring down its face. He galloped on as
hard as he could, and on arriving found nine men-servants in the act
of tying Queen Ingiborg to a post in the courtyard of the palace,
where they intended to burn her.

Wild with anger Prince Sigurd sprang from his horse and, sword in
hand, fell on the men and killed them all. Then he released his
stepmother, and went in with her to see his father.

The king lay in bed sick with sorrow, and neither eating nor
drinking, for he thought that his son had been killed by the queen. 
He could hardly believe his own eyes for joy when he saw the
prince, and Sigurd told him all his adventures.

After that Prince Sigurd rode back to fetch Helga, and a great feast
was made which lasted three days; and every one said no bride was
ever seen so beautiful as Helga, and they lived happily for many,
many years, and everybody loved them.

[From Islandische Mahrchen.]