A wizard left each of his three sons a gift before he died. The oldest received a mirror, through which he could see anyone in the world. The second, a horse which could ride to any place in the world in one day. The third, a magic apple which would never rot, and when eaten would cure any disease.

One day the brothers heard about a princess in a faraway land who was dying of an unknown disease. Rumour had it the king would let the man who saved his daughter marry her. The brothers sprung into action. The first looked in his mirror and saw the ill princess and the land she lived in. All three jumped on the second brother's horse, and they rode so fast they got to the princess' land the next morning. Then the third son took his apple to the princess, who ate it and recovered full health instantly.

The king was grateful, and indeed intended to let one of them marry the princess. But it had taken the cooperation of all three brothers to save her. Which one did the king decide should marry his daughter?

The solution might be to allow the son with the apple to marry his daughter because in the eyes of the king and princess he is the only one who had given somthing. The king and princess never saw the son with the mirror or the son with the horse do anything. Also the son with the apple could have used the mirror and horse without either brother realizing anything (assuming he brings them both back unharmed).

Posted by amber on 2004-02-18 02:38:00