Now Schal was happy until she realized her life was being wasted away. She was stuck everyday in a room with the old maid who had not spoken since she had given Schal the scarf and was only let out to go into town where the villagers watched her as closely as her parents did. Schal cried to the old maid about this and told her she wished to be taken away from this place forever. The old maid consoled her and the girl cried herself to sleep.
The next day Scahl was in town when a caravan arrived. Seeing the commotion it caused, Schal rushed home. When she arrived there, her parents were beaming with joy. Next to them was a tall handsome man that Schal realized was the Prince. Her mother happily fingered five gold pieces in her hand as Schal's father approached her.
"Ah our little Scahl," he said smoothly, "I have great news. The Prince has come to take you and the old maid to his castle where you will be happy."
Scahl was overjoyed with the news and quickly ran to help the old maid pack. The old maid was pleased to see the girl so happy and together they went off to the castle. When they reach the castle, the Prince led them to a large room.
"Here old maid," the Prince proclaimed, "you will weave Schal's hair and cut it whenever it reaches shoulder length. This will be your home Schal. Your meals will be brought to you and I will visit you as much as I can."
With that, the Prince left and locked the door. Schal watched the Prince go in dismay and realized that even though she had left her parents she was still a prisoner. She wept and cried to the old maid who sadly returned to weaving her hair. The weeks went by and the old maid and Scahl grew closer. Schal knew the maid was magic because of the power of the scarf she had made for her and so she told the old maid that she wished she was truly free from everyone and that no one would cut her hair for money.
As Scahl was telling her wish, the prince came in with an announcement. In two weeks, when Scahl's hair had grown down to her waist she would marry him. The Prince smiled at her and kissed her hand before leaving. Schal's heart sank and she thought all hope was lost. She knew the Prince was only marrying her so no one else could sell her hair. Schal felt hopeless until the night before the wedding. Schal, who had just finished brushing her new long hair, was tying the scarf to her head when the old maid came up to her. She gestured for Scahl to stand so she did. Then, talking Scahl's hands, the maid spoke. The words were in a language Schal could not understand and she jumped back in surprise when a white light consumed her and the maid. Suddenly they were in the hallway outside their room, but the old maid was no longer an old maid but a handsome young man. Schal stood back in horror but the man smiled at her.
"Do not be frightened dear Schal," he said quietly, "I am a mage who lived in your village since my birth. I was only two years old when you were born and I have been watching you ever since. You are special Schal, for more reasons than your hair but your parents never told you that. When I heard your parents wanted to weave and sell your hair I disguised myself as an old maid so that you would learn to trust me and confide in me. I knew then as I lived with you that I loved you. I tried to do everything to make you happy but nothing was enough. For everywhere you go people never see beyond how much money they can make from your hair. Since I love you, I cannot let you marry the Prince tomorrow. I want you to run away with me."
Schal, though touched by the mage's speech, could not bring herself past the fact that this man had been her friend the old maid and so she ran away from him ignoring his calls. Either by luck or because of a spell from the mage, Scahl escaped from the castle and ran into the forest.
The next day Scahl was in town when a caravan arrived. Seeing the commotion it caused, Schal rushed home. When she arrived there, her parents were beaming with joy. Next to them was a tall handsome man that Schal realized was the Prince. Her mother happily fingered five gold pieces in her hand as Schal's father approached her.
"Ah our little Scahl," he said smoothly, "I have great news. The Prince has come to take you and the old maid to his castle where you will be happy."
Scahl was overjoyed with the news and quickly ran to help the old maid pack. The old maid was pleased to see the girl so happy and together they went off to the castle. When they reach the castle, the Prince led them to a large room.
"Here old maid," the Prince proclaimed, "you will weave Schal's hair and cut it whenever it reaches shoulder length. This will be your home Schal. Your meals will be brought to you and I will visit you as much as I can."
With that, the Prince left and locked the door. Schal watched the Prince go in dismay and realized that even though she had left her parents she was still a prisoner. She wept and cried to the old maid who sadly returned to weaving her hair. The weeks went by and the old maid and Scahl grew closer. Schal knew the maid was magic because of the power of the scarf she had made for her and so she told the old maid that she wished she was truly free from everyone and that no one would cut her hair for money.
As Scahl was telling her wish, the prince came in with an announcement. In two weeks, when Scahl's hair had grown down to her waist she would marry him. The Prince smiled at her and kissed her hand before leaving. Schal's heart sank and she thought all hope was lost. She knew the Prince was only marrying her so no one else could sell her hair. Schal felt hopeless until the night before the wedding. Schal, who had just finished brushing her new long hair, was tying the scarf to her head when the old maid came up to her. She gestured for Scahl to stand so she did. Then, talking Scahl's hands, the maid spoke. The words were in a language Schal could not understand and she jumped back in surprise when a white light consumed her and the maid. Suddenly they were in the hallway outside their room, but the old maid was no longer an old maid but a handsome young man. Schal stood back in horror but the man smiled at her.
"Do not be frightened dear Schal," he said quietly, "I am a mage who lived in your village since my birth. I was only two years old when you were born and I have been watching you ever since. You are special Schal, for more reasons than your hair but your parents never told you that. When I heard your parents wanted to weave and sell your hair I disguised myself as an old maid so that you would learn to trust me and confide in me. I knew then as I lived with you that I loved you. I tried to do everything to make you happy but nothing was enough. For everywhere you go people never see beyond how much money they can make from your hair. Since I love you, I cannot let you marry the Prince tomorrow. I want you to run away with me."
Schal, though touched by the mage's speech, could not bring herself past the fact that this man had been her friend the old maid and so she ran away from him ignoring his calls. Either by luck or because of a spell from the mage, Scahl escaped from the castle and ran into the forest.