“Fairer-than-a-Fairy.” The Yellow Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang, London, New York, Bombay: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1906, pp. 126-133.

Tale Summary

There was once a King who at long last had a beautiful daughter, and he gave her the name Fairer-than-a-Fairy. The fairies of his kingdom thought this was disrespectful, and when she was seven years old she was kidnapped along with her dog and cat by the eldest fairy. Her name was Lagree, and she was ill-natured and so old she only had one eye and one tooth which she had to keep in strengthening liquid at night. The girl was brought to a pretty room in a splendid palace and given two orders: she must never let the fire in the grate die out, and she must always take great care to protect two glass bottles which she was given which contained the evil fairy’s strengthening potion. She lived peacefully there for several years and forgot all about her old life. One day she stopped to admire a rainbow which had formed on the surface of a garden fountain, when she heard a young man’s voice speak from the rays. He told her that he was a prince, but that Lagree had kidnapped him and deprived him of his human form, and that he had fallen in love with the princess. She returned his affections, and never missed a chance to talk to him when the light hit the water just right. One such conversation kept her away from the fire for too long and it went out, causing Lagree to act with cruelty. She ordered the girl to go to a horrible monster, named Locrinos, for fire. On her way, Fairer-than-a-Fairy heard a bird tell her to pick up a shiny pebble, which she did. Upon arrival, only the monster’s wife was home, who was pleased by the girl’s manners and the shiny pebble, and so let her have the fire without harm, as well as exchanged her shiny pebble for another. Her lover had heard of the adventure from a fairy who protected him, and had devised a plan to meet with her more easily. Every morning, she filled a basin with water and set it on her windowsill so that the early sun would create a rainbow, and the lovers were able to talk freely without worrying about the fire or the two bottles. One day, Prince Rainbow appeared to tell the girl that he was to be banished and he did not know where to. The next morning was cloudy, with the sun only appearing for a few short minutes, and the only liquid Fairer-than-a-Fairy had was in the two bottles. She did not hesitate to pour them into the basin, and she and the prince said their goodbyes. After he had disappeared, the girl started off with her pets, a sprig of myrtle, and her pebble. Lagree followed in pursuit and overtook the girl while she took refuge in a cave, but her dog bit her and broke off her only tooth, giving Fairer-than-a-Fairy time to escape. She went on for as long as she could but became so tired that she sank to the ground. When her sprig of myrtle touched the earth, it turned into a tree and gave her shade to rest in. Lagree then caught up with her, but the princess’s cat bit out her only eye and Fairer-than-a-Fairy was forever free of Lagree. The girl was soon overwhelmed by hunger and thirst and found refuge in a little green and white house where a kind woman treated her very well and gave her a nut that she should only open in urgent need. After more time on her journey, she was received in another pretty house by a lady exactly like the one she had met before, who gave her a golden pomegranate. She then rested in a third house, and a lady just like the other two gave her a crystal smelling-bottle. These three women were fairy sisters, who loved to help those in misfortune. Fairer-than-a-Fairy came to a wonderful silver castle suspended above ground which she wanted to enter but could see any doors. She opened the nut and out came a porter who had a silver chain and a tiny golden key. He took him with her as she climbed to the castle, and he unlocked a hidden door and let her in, where she found Prince Rainbow in a deep, magical slumber on a rainbow couch suspended from the ceiling. The girl dared not look at his human form, and was hurt at the indifference she thought he was showing her as she tried to recount her adventures. She opened the golden pomegranate, which released many tiny violins which flew up and played for the Prince, who opened his eyes but was not completely awake. Impatient, Fairer-than-a-Fairy opened the crystal scent-bottle, and a little siren flew out and whispered the girl’s story to Prince Rainbow, who awoke and threw himself at the girl’s feet. The room transformed to reveal a golden throne, and as a magnificent Court assembled, several elegant carriages arrived. The first bore the prince’s mother who embraced him and informed him that his father had died and he should return to reign as King. Then the three fairy sisters appeared and revealed the secret of the girl’s nobility, and the Queen took the lovers back to the capital of the kingdom where they were married.