There was once a poor peasant who had only a small house and a daughter. The daughter suggested they ask the King for land. The King, hearing of their poverty, granted them a field.
While digging, they found a golden mortar. The father wanted to give it to the King, but the wise daughter warned, "If we give the mortar without the pestle, we'll have to find the pestle too. Better say nothing."
The father ignored her and presented the mortar to the King. The King then demanded the pestle. When the peasant couldn't produce it, he was imprisoned. In his cell, he lamented, "If only I had listened to my daughter!"
Hearing this, the King summoned the daughter. Impressed by her wisdom, he set her a riddle: "Come to me not clothed, not naked, not riding, not walking, not in the road, and not out of the road. If you can do this, I will marry you."
The daughter cleverly fulfilled the riddle: she wrapped herself in a fishing net (not clothed, not naked), had a donkey drag her in its cart ruts (not riding, not walking; not in the road, not out of the road). The King, satisfied, married her, freed her father, and gave her charge of the royal possessions.
Years later, a peasant lost his newborn foal to another man whose oxen it had lain beside. The King ruled the foal should stay where it was found. The distressed peasant sought help from the Queen, who was known for her peasant wisdom.
The Queen instructed him to pretend to fish on dry land the next day. When the King passed and questioned him, the peasant was to reply, "It is as easy for me to fish on dry land as it is for an ox to have a foal."
The peasant did as told. The King, realizing the clever retort was not the peasant's own idea, had him beaten until he confessed it came from the Queen.
Furious at her interference, the King banished the Queen, allowing her to take "the one thing dearest and best" in her eyes. She agreed, gave the King a sleeping draught, and when he fell asleep, she had him wrapped in linen and carried to her old cottage.
Upon waking, the King asked where he was. The Queen explained, "You said I could take what was dearest. Nothing is more precious to me than you, so I brought you with me." Moved to tears, the King declared, "Dear wife, you shall be mine and I will be yours." He took her back to the palace, and they lived happily ever after.