The Singing, Springing Lark (Grimm)
Short summary
A merchant promised to bring his three daughters gifts from his journey. When he found a singing lark for his youngest child, a lion demanded whatever first met him at home in exchange. The Youngest Daughter was first to greet her father.
She went to the lion's castle where he transformed into a handsome prince at night. They married happily. At her sister's wedding, candlelight struck him and he became a dove for seven years. She followed him faithfully, receiving magical gifts from the sun, moon, and winds. At the Red Sea, she helped him defeat a dragon princess who then stole him away. The Youngest Daughter traded her magical treasures for nights in his chamber. She pleaded:
I have followed after thee for seven years. I have been to the sun and the moon, and the four winds, and have enquired for thee, and have helped thee against the dragon; wilt thou, then quite forget me?
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
The fathers promise to the lion
A merchant prepared to embark on a long journey and asked his three daughters what gifts they desired upon his return. The eldest requested pearls, the second wanted diamonds, but the youngest asked for a singing, soaring lark.
The father successfully acquired pearls and diamonds but searched everywhere in vain for the singing lark. On his homeward journey through a forest, he discovered a splendid castle with a tree nearby, atop which perched the very bird he sought. When his servant attempted to capture it, a fierce lion emerged and threatened to devour anyone who tried to steal his lark. The terrified father offered money as ransom, but the lion demanded a different price.
Life with the enchanted prince
Nothing can save thee, unless thou wilt promise to give me for mine own what first meets thee on thy return home; and if thou wilt do that, I will grant thee thy life
Despite his fears that his beloved youngest daughter might be first to greet him, the father agreed to the bargain. Upon reaching home, his worst fears materialized when his youngest daughter ran to embrace him. When she learned of her father's promise, she courageously accepted her fate.
Dearest father, indeed your promise must be fulfilled. I will go thither and soften the lion, so that I may return to thee safely.
The young woman traveled fearlessly to the castle, where she discovered the lion's true nature.
The wedding disaster and transformation into a dove
The lion was an enchanted prince who took human form at night, along with all his subjects. The couple married and lived happily, sleeping during the day and remaining awake at night. When the woman's eldest sister married, she attended the wedding accompanied by lions. Later, when the second sister's wedding approached, she insisted the prince accompany her despite his warnings about the danger of candlelight.
The prince explained that if any ray from a burning candle touched him, he would transform into a dove for seven years. They built a thick chamber to protect him, but the green wood door warped, leaving an unnoticed crack. During the wedding procession, a hair-thin ray of candlelight struck the prince, instantly transforming him into a white dove.
For seven years must I fly about the world, but at every seventh step that you take I will let fall a drop of red blood and a white feather, and these will show thee the way
The seven-year quest following the dove
The devoted wife followed the dove's trail of blood drops and white feathers for nearly seven years, never resting. When the trail suddenly disappeared and the dove vanished, she sought help from celestial beings. The sun gave her a casket for her greatest need, the moon provided an egg, and the night wind offered crucial assistance.
The south wind revealed that the dove had flown to the Red Sea, where it had become a lion again, now fighting a dragon. The night wind instructed her to count reeds by the sea, break off the eleventh, and strike the dragon with it. This would allow the lion to defeat the dragon, restoring both to human form. However, when the dragon-princess was freed from enchantment, she seized the prince and flew away with him on a griffin, leaving the faithful wife abandoned once more.
Final trials and reunion
Undaunted, the woman continued her search until she found the castle where the prince lived with the dragon-princess, who planned to marry him. Using the sun's gift of a brilliant dress, she bargained for a night in the prince's chamber, but the bride had him given a sleeping draught. The next night, she used the moon's golden hen and chickens to secure another chance. This time, the prince had learned of the mysterious visitor and avoided the sleeping potion.
When his wife began recounting her seven-year ordeal, the prince immediately recognized her voice and was freed from the dragon-princess's spell. They escaped together on the griffin, using the nut the night wind had given them to create a resting place over the sea. Finally reunited, they returned home to find their child grown tall and beautiful, and lived happily until their death.