The Frisian Princess: A Tale of Deception, Magic, and Destiny

Once upon a time, in a sunlit chamber of his stone castle, the noble Sir Uptitious was roused from his morning reverie by the flutter of wings against his window. A tiny bird perched delicately on his windowsill, a slender parchment fastened to its leg. Intrigued, the knight carefully unrolled the tiny scroll. To his astonishment, the message was penned by none other than a Frisian Princess, pleading for salvation:

“Kind Sir, save me from this dreadfully cold and horrid land.
I will reveal to you the secret way in—if you help me find the way out.
Bring with you a Spanish flag, a ship laden with green peas, and the gift of fire.
Yours in desperate hope,
:- <3″*

Never one to resist the call of a damsel in distress, Sir Uptitious summoned his loyal servant at once.

“Prepare my ship! I sail at dawn for the heart of the cold Frisian Kingdom to rescue the fair Princess!”

Thus, with sails billowed and resolve firm, Sir Uptitious embarked upon his whimsical yet perilous quest, armed with the peculiar trio: a Spanish flag, a ship full of green peas, and firewood and flint for fire.

The Journey Into Frisia

As his ship approached the frosty Frisian coast, a sluice gate blocked his path. From above dangled a wooden clog on a fishing line, demanding eleven pieces of gold for entrance. But Sir Uptitious, wise and prepared, hoisted the Spanish flag high and declared with a feigned accent:

“No comprendo, Señor!”

Baffled by the foreigner’s boldness, the gatekeeper let him pass without payment.

Navigating deeper into the kingdom, Sir Uptitious sailed through icy canals, tranquil brooks, and shimmering lakes. Soon he reached a bridge so low, his proud ship could not pass. An old woman on the bridge handed him a saw. Without question, the knight cut down the mast. Yet still, the ship was too tall.

Ingenious, he flooded the ship’s hold—drenching the peas—until the vessel settled low enough to glide under. But the damage was done. His ship was too waterlogged to sail. With no alternative, Sir Uptitious took up the oars, rowing laboriously through the chilling waterways.

But winter tightened its grip, and the canals froze solid. Trapped in ice, the knight faced a bitter halt. Then, remembering the final item he had brought—fire—he set his own ship ablaze, boiling the peas into a giant pot of pea soup. The delicious aroma drifted far and wide, drawing curious Frisian villagers on ice skates.

Selling the hearty soup to a farmer, Sir Uptitious exchanged the meal for two pairs of ice skates, which he donned to continue his journey across the frozen waterways.

The Castle and the Two Secrets

Eventually, Sir Uptitious reached the Frisian royal castle, situated beside a grand frozen lake where villagers danced upon the ice under a starlit sky. Watching the revelers was a lone maiden dressed in grey, her eyes forlorn. The knight, ever gallant, approached her:

“Why does a maiden as fair as yourself not join in the dance?”

“I never thought I might enjoy such frivolity,” she admitted.

With a smile, Sir Uptitious offered her the spare pair of skates. The skates fit her perfectly, and soon the knight and the maiden glided joyfully across the ice until the stroke of midnight.

Yet Sir Uptitious remained troubled. He had come all this way—but what next? And then, an inkling of suspicion stirred within him. He asked:

“Tell me, why did you send that bird for me?”

The maiden paused before revealing:

“I must confess. I am no Princess. I am a Witch, trapped here by the King’s curse. I sent out many birds, but only you were clever enough to make it this far.”

Anger and betrayal surged within the knight, but before he could storm off, the Witch added:

“Yet still, you can help me escape. And perhaps, yourself as well.”

The Great Escape

Moved by curiosity and compassion, Sir Uptitious agreed. Under the cloak of night, they stole two royal horses and galloped toward the kingdom’s border. The King, upon discovering their flight, dispatched two squadrons of soldiers to capture them.

When the first pursuit neared, the Witch waved her wand and transformed:

• Herself into a grand Library

• Sir Uptitious into a stooped Old Man with a pipe

• The horses into an oak table and a chair

When the soldiers arrived, they asked the old man if he had seen the fugitive Witch.

“Seen her? Why yes. She lives in my books! Step inside and read if you wish to find her.”

The soldiers, bewildered and unconvinced, left empty-handed. But when they reported back, the King, enraged, beheaded them for their incompetence.

When the second squad closed in, the Witch once again transformed:

• Herself into a Planetarium

• Sir Uptitious into a bearded Astronomer

• The horses into a clock and telescope

The soldiers asked again:

“Have you seen the King’s Witch?”

“Oh yes,” said the Astronomer. “She is written in the stars! Would you like to see?”

But the soldiers, puzzled, returned with nothing—and the King, ever merciless, executed them as well.

Now only the King himself pursued them. In their final transformation, the Witch became a jar of Mustard, Uptitious a giant wheel of Cheese with holes, and the horses, a humble table and chair.

The King arrived, starving and mad with fury. Without hesitation, he devoured the Cheese dipped in Mustard, and even swallowed the table and chair.

But he ate so much that his belly swelled dangerously, and in his greed, he stumbled past the border, collapsing in death. His body became a great hill, upon which a church with a bell tower soon stood—formed from the transfigured horses.

The Final Secret

Safe at last, the Witch turned to Sir Uptitious.

“Thank you for saving me. And though you forbade me, I must reveal my second secret: you, Sir Uptitious, are destined not to be a mere knight—but a mighty Wizard. Like I became a Witch, so too can you find your magic.”

Sir Uptitious was stunned.

“I had never imagined myself as a Wizard… whether I could ever succeed or not.”

“For every calling, there must be an invitation,” the Witch said. “Let this be yours.”

And so, the knight-turned-wizard embraced his true destiny. Together, they returned to the hill where the King had fallen, and in celebration, they built a Mustard Museum, which stands to this day, welcoming curious visitors and hungry travelers alike.

And they never returned to the cold Frisian Kingdom again.

Moral of the Story

Destiny often lies hidden behind deceptions and challenges. It takes courage, cleverness, and an open heart to discover who you truly are.