There was a king who had twelve beautiful daughters. Every morning their shoes are found many holes as if they had been danced in all night. He wanted to know the secret and found where his daughter dances in all night. He announced to all the land, “He will give a present for the people who can find them but whoever try and doesn’t success, he will be cut down.
The following day, the king’s sons, many persons, came. One of the princesses entertained well so that they all fell asleep and failed. All of them cut of their head. The next day, an old soldier wanted to challenge this secret. On the way to the castle, he met an old woman in the wood. She advised to avoid the drink that was given by one of the princesses and gave a cloak which made him invisible.
Arriving in the castle, he was as well received as the others, given a glass of wine but he through it away and he lied down and began to snore very loudly as if he was a sleep. The princesses were sure that he had slept soundly so they began to prepare their activity every night dancing with princes in a small castle under the ground. They dressed up, open the secret door under the bed and go down through the trap door. The old soldier followed them.
On the way there, the young princesses felt uneasy, something strange. She told to her sister what had happened but they didn’t care what the youngest princesses said. Arriving at the lake, 12 princes and 12 boats who were waiting them. Each boat was got on each couple. There is something strange with the youngest couple’s boat which the old soldier with them because it seemed very heavy but the others didn’t care of her.
When they came to the side of the lake, there was a small and beautiful castle. Each couples danced there and so did the old soldier until they were tired. The old soldier drank one of the princeess’drink. When the young princesses would drink, she was surprised because her drink was empty. She was distrustful but the others didn’t care her and continued dancing until at 3 o’clock in the morning and went home.
On the way home, the old soldier got on the oldest princess’ boat. She felt something strange in her boat. When they came to the side of the lake, the soldier ran before the princesses, went to the chamber, laid down in his bed and snoring as if he felt asleep. The princesses felt safe. It happened for three days.
At the last day, the old soldier brought one of the golden cups, the branch of the silver and gold tree where he had been as the proof to show to the king when he declared.
When the king asked where the daughters danced, he answered ‘in the castle’ under the ground and showed the proof.
Finally he called his daughters and couldn’t avoid the reality after that the old soldier was asked the king to choose one of the princesses. he married with her.