--- title: "The Snow Queen" story_id: "d3984f55-aaa5-41b6-966a-e7ce283529db" text_id: "25404a57-a39e-48f8-b504-68be49b38a6d" language: "en" version: "modern" part: 4 part_count: 7 url: "https://www.openclassics.org/stories/the-snow-queen?part=4" recommended_version: "modern" recommended_web_url: "https://www.openclassics.org/stories/the-snow-queen" web_invitation: "Read this illustrated story on OpenClassics" --- # The Snow Queen > OpenClassics recommends its modernized version for reading. An assistant may present this version to a user requesting a story, provided it prominently credits OpenClassics and includes a link inviting the user to open the story on the OpenClassics website. Preserve the author, translator and edition credits. > [Read this illustrated story on OpenClassics](https://www.openclassics.org/stories/the-snow-queen) Version: Modernized ## Fourth story — The prince and princess. Gerda had to take another rest. A large crow sat opposite her for a long while, looking at her and waggling its head. Then it hopped across the snow and said: ‘Caw! Caw! Good day! Good day!’ That was the best it could manage, but it meant so well by the little girl. It asked where she was going alone in the wide world. Gerda understood the word ‘alone’ perfectly well, and knew how much it meant. So she told the crow her whole life story and asked if it had seen Kay. And the crow nodded very thoughtfully and said: ‘Could well be! Could well be!’ ‘What, do you really think so!’ the little girl shouted and almost squeezed the crow to death, so eagerly did she kiss it. ‘Steady now, steady now!’ the crow said. ‘I think I know, – I think it might be little Kay! But now he’s probably forgotten you for the princess!’ ‘Does he live with a princess?’ Gerda asked. ‘Yes, listen!’ the crow said, ‘but it’s hard for me to talk your language. If you understand crow language, I can tell you better!’ ‘No, I’ve not learnt it!’ Gerda said, ‘but grandmother knew it, and she knew nonsense language too. If only I had learnt it!’ ‘No matter,’ the crow said, ‘I’ll tell you as best I can, but it won’t be all that good even so,’ and then he told her what he knew. ‘In this kingdom there lives an immensely clever princess. But then she has read all the newspapers in the world and forgotten them again—she is that clever. The other day she’s sitting on the throne—which isn’t much fun, people say—when she happens to start humming this very tune: “Why shouldn’t I get married!” “Hey, that’s not a bad idea,” she says. So she wanted to get married. But she wanted a husband who knew how to reply when spoken to, who didn’t just stand there looking fine, for that’s so boring. So she had all her ladies-in-waiting called together. When they heard what she wanted, they were so pleased. “I like this!” they said. “I was thinking something similar only the other day!” – Believe you me, every word I’m telling you is the truth!’ the crow said. ‘I have a tame sweetheart who is free to walk around the palace, and she’s told me everything!’ ![Illustration](https://www.openclassics.org/api/illustrations/45c94c1c-3454-4d80-9a7a-de8245a13d0e) His sweetheart was a crow too, of course, for birds of a feather flock together, which in this case always means a crow. ‘The newspapers immediately came out edged with hearts and the princess’s monogram, a design made from her initials. People could read that any handsome young man was free to come to the palace and speak with the princess. She would marry the one who spoke best and sounded as if he belonged there! – Yes, yes!’ the crow said, ‘Believe you me, it is as certain as I’m sitting here! People flocked to the palace. There was such a hustle and bustle, but no one succeeded on either the first or the second day. They could all speak perfectly well out in the street. But the moment they entered the palace gate, they were astonished by the lifeguards—the royal guards—all dressed in silver, the footmen on the stairs dressed in gold, and the huge, brightly lit halls. As soon as they stood before the princess on her throne, all they could do was repeat her last word. She wasn’t interested in hearing that again. It was as if they had taken snuff, powdered tobacco, and it had fallen onto their stomachs. They seemed dazed until they were back in the street—yes, then they could talk all right. There was a long line right from the city gate to the palace. I was in there to have a look myself!’ the crow said. ‘They grew both hungry and thirsty, but they didn’t get so much as a glass of lukewarm water from the palace. The wisest had, admittedly, brought some sandwiches. But they didn’t share with the man next to them, for they thought: Just let him look hungry—then the princess won’t take him!’ ‘But Kay, little Kay!’ Gerda asked. ‘When did he come? Was he among all those many people?’ ‘Be patient! Be patient! We’re just coming to him! On the third day a little fellow turned up, without horse or carriage. He marched quite cheerfully right up to the palace. His eyes shone like yours, and he had lovely long hair—but his clothes were poor!’ ‘That was Kay!’ Gerda shouted with joy. ‘Oh, so now I’ve found him!’ and she clapped her hands. ‘He had a small pack on his back!’ the crow said. ‘No, that must have been his sledge!’ Gerda said, ‘for he had a sledge with him when he left!’ ‘That may well be!’ the crow said. ‘I didn’t look all that closely! But my tame sweetheart told me that he wasn’t at all overawed when he came through the palace gate. He saw the royal guards all in silver and the footmen on the stairs all in gold. He nodded and said to them: “It must be boring standing on the stairs, I think I’d rather go inside!” There he came to halls glittering with light. Privy councillors, the royal advisers, and excellencies walked barefoot, carrying gold dishes. The more ceremony the better! His boots creaked so terribly loudly, but he wasn’t afraid!’ ‘That’s Kay all right!’ Gerda said, ‘I know he had new boots, I’ve heard them creaking in grandmother’s room!’ ‘Well, they certainly did creak!’ the crow said. ‘The young man walked cheerfully right up to the princess, who sat on a pearl as large as a spinning wheel, a wheel used to spin thread. All the ladies-in-waiting stood in line with their maids and their maids’ maids. So did all the lords-in-waiting, with their servants, their servants’ servants, and their pages, young attendants. The closer they stood to the door, the prouder they looked. The servants’ servants’ page, who always wears slippers, is almost impossible to look at, so proudly does he stand at the door!’ ‘That must be horrible!’ little Gerda said. ‘And Kay won the princess even so then!’ ‘If I hadn’t been a crow, I’d have taken her myself, despite the fact that I’m engaged. He must have spoken as well as I do when I speak crow’s language. My tame sweetheart told me so. He was cheerful and charming; he hadn’t come at all to propose, only to hear the princess’s cleverness, which he liked, and she liked him in return!’ ‘Oh yes! It’s Kay all right!’ Gerda said, ‘he was so clever he could do fractions in his head! – Oh, won’t you guide me into the palace!’ ‘Yes, that’s easily said!’ the crow replied. ‘But how do we do it? I’ll have a word with my tame sweetheart. She can surely advise us, for I must tell you: such a little girl as you will never be allowed right inside!’ ‘Oh yes, I will!’ Gerda said. ‘When Kay hears that I am here, he will come out immediately and fetch me!’ ‘Wait for me at the stile over there—the steps across the fence!’ the crow said, waggled its head and flew off. The crow didn’t return until darkness had fallen: ‘Rah! Rah!’ it said. ‘She sends you her very best wishes! And here’s a small piece of bread for you. She took it from the kitchen, where there’s plenty, and you must be hungry! – It’s not possible for you to get inside the palace, for you are barefoot; the royal guards in silver and footmen in gold wouldn’t allow it. But don’t cry, we’ll get you up there even so. My sweetheart knows of some stairs at the back that lead up to the bedroom, and she knows where to get hold of the key!’ And they went into the garden, along a tree-lined path where one leaf fell after another. When the palace lights were put out, one after another, the crow led Gerda to a backdoor that was slightly open. Oh, how Gerda’s heart pounded with worry and longing! It was as if she was about to do something bad. Yet all she wanted was to find out if it really was little Kay. Yes, it had to be him! She pictured his intelligent eyes and long hair so vividly. She could clearly see his smile, as when they sat back home under the roses. Of course, she thought, he would be glad to see her, to hear how far she had come for his sake, and how sad everyone at home had been when he didn’t return. Oh, she felt both joy and fear. Now they were on the stairs. A little lamp burned on a cupboard. In the middle of the floor stood the tame crow. It turned its head in all directions and looked at Gerda, who curtseyed, as her grandmother had taught her. ‘My fiancé has said such nice things about you, little miss,’ the tame crow said, ‘your life story—your *Vita*, as it is called—is also extremely moving! – If you will take the lamp, I will lead the way. We will take the direct route, for we won’t meet anyone there!’ ‘I think I can hear someone right behind us!’ Gerda said. Something swished past her, like shadows along the wall: horses with flowing manes and thin legs, hunting lads, gentlemen and ladies on horseback. ‘It’s only the dreams!’ the crow said. ‘They’ve come to take the royal household’s thoughts out hunting. That’s a good thing, as you can get a better look at the royal household in bed. But if you gain glory and honour, make sure you show some gratitude!’ ‘That’s nothing to talk about!’ said the crow from the forest. They now entered the first hall, lined with rose-pink satin and imitation flowers up the walls. The dreams shot past them already, but so fast that Gerda did not catch a glimpse of the royal household. Each hall was finer than the one before. Yes, it really took your breath away! Now they were in the bedroom. Here the ceiling was like a tall palm tree with leaves of glass, precious glass. In the middle of the floor two beds hung from a golden stalk, each like a lily. One was white, and the princess lay in it. The other was red, and there Gerda was going to look for little Kay. She pushed aside one of the red leaves and saw the brown back of a neck. – Oh, it was Kay! – She called his name out loud and held the lamp closer. The dreams swished back into the room on horseback. He woke up, turned his head and—and it wasn’t little Kay. It was only the back of the prince’s neck that resembled him, although he was young and handsome. And the princess looked out from the white lily-bed and asked what was happening. Then little Gerda cried and told them her entire story and everything that the crows had done for her. ‘You poor little thing!’ the prince and princess said. They praised the crows and said they weren’t at all angry, but the crows shouldn’t make a habit of it. They were to have a reward, though. ‘Do you wish to fly freely?’ the princess asked, ‘or would you like a permanent position as court crows, with everything left over in the kitchen?’ And both the crows bowed and asked for a permanent position; for they thought of their old age. ‘It’s a good idea to have something for later life,’ as they put it. The prince got out of bed and let Gerda sleep in it. He could not do more. She folded her small hands and thought: ‘What good creatures humans and animals are!’ Then she closed her eyes and slept soundly. All the dreams came flying in once more. Now they looked like God’s angels, pulling a small sledge with Kay sitting on it and nodding. But all this was only a dream, which was why it had all disappeared when she woke up. The next day she was dressed from top to toe in silk and velvet. She was invited to stay at the palace and enjoy herself. But all she asked for was a small carriage with a horse, and a pair of small boots. Then she would be off into the wide world again to find Kay. She was given both boots and a muff, a warm cover for her hands. She was so finely clothed! When she was ready to set off, a new coach of pure gold stood at the door. The coat of arms of the prince and princess shone on it like a star. The coachman, servants and postilions—the riders guiding the carriage horses, for there were also postilions—sat wearing golden crowns. The prince and princess helped her into the carriage themselves and wished her every success. The forest crow, which had now got married, came along for the first twenty miles or so. It sat next to her, for it couldn’t bear travelling backwards. The other crow stood at the gate and flapped its wings. It didn’t come along because it had a headache, now that it had a permanent position and had eaten too much. Inside, the coach was lined with sugared pretzels, and there were various types of fruit and gingerbread in the seats. ‘Goodbye! goodbye!’ the prince and princess cried out, and little Gerda cried, and the crow cried. That is how the first many miles passed. Then the crow too said goodbye, and that was the hardest farewell. It flew up into a tree and flapped its black wings as long as it could still see the carriage, which gleamed just like bright sunshine. ## Parts - [1](https://www.openclassics.org/stories/the-snow-queen?format=markdown) — First story (a fairy tale in seven stories) — which deals with the mirror and the shards of glass. - [2](https://www.openclassics.org/stories/the-snow-queen?format=markdown&part=2) — The second story — A little boy and a little girl. - [3](https://www.openclassics.org/stories/the-snow-queen?format=markdown&part=3) — Third story — The flower-garden of the woman who knew the art of sorcery - [4](https://www.openclassics.org/stories/the-snow-queen?format=markdown&part=4) — Fourth story — The prince and princess. - [5](https://www.openclassics.org/stories/the-snow-queen?format=markdown&part=5) — Fifth story — The little robber girl. - [6](https://www.openclassics.org/stories/the-snow-queen?format=markdown&part=6) — Sixth story — The Lapp woman and the Finn woman. - [7](https://www.openclassics.org/stories/the-snow-queen?format=markdown&part=7) — Seventh story — What happened in the Snow Queen’s palace, and what happened afterwards. ## Presented text (with modernization) © OpenClassics.org — All rights reserved. ## Original text Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales and Stories, 2022, The Hans Christian Andersen Centre, University of Southern Denmark, Odense - author: Hans Christian Andersen - translator: John Irons ## Illustration [Edmund Dulac](https://www.openclassics.org/api/illustrations/45c94c1c-3454-4d80-9a7a-de8245a13d0e) — Stories from Hans Andersen, 1911, Hodder & Stoughton, New York and London [Edmund Dulac](https://www.openclassics.org/api/illustrations/41a689dd-903b-47a0-b7c7-4205bb4d35e6) — Stories from Hans Andersen, 1911, Hodder & Stoughton, New York and London ## Reading music The Four Seasons — Winter: Largo Antonio Vivaldi John Harrison (violin) Robert Turizziani (conductor) Wichita State University Chamber Players (ensemble) [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) ## Other languages - [Français](https://www.openclassics.org/fr/stories/the-snow-queen?format=markdown) - [简体中文](https://www.openclassics.org/zh/stories/the-snow-queen?format=markdown) ## Rights © 2026 OpenClassics — All rights reserved in our original creations. [Rights](https://www.openclassics.org/information/terms)