Gerda was obliged to rest again. Opposite where she sat, a great crow came hopping across the snow. He stood looking at her, then wagged his head and said, "Caw, caw; good-day, good-day." He pronounced the words as plainly as he could, then asked her where she was going all alone in the wide world.
Gerda understood the word "alone" well. She told the crow her story and asked if he had seen little Kay.
The crow nodded gravely. "Perhaps I have—it may be."
"No! Do you think you have?" cried Gerda, kissing and hugging him with joy.
"Gently," said the crow. "I believe I know. I think it may be little Kay; but he has certainly forgotten you for the princess."
"Does he live with a princess?" asked Gerda.
"Yes, listen," replied the crow. "In this kingdom lives a princess, wonderfully clever. She has read all the newspapers in the world and forgotten them too. She decided to marry if she could find a husband who knew what to say when spoken to, not one who could only look grand, for that was tiresome."
The crow explained that the princess announced a contest: any handsome young man could visit the castle and speak with her. The one who spoke best would become her husband. Crowds came, but they all became nervous and tongue-tied in the splendid palace.
"But Kay!" said Gerda. "Was he amongst the crowd?"
"On the third day," said the crow, "a little personage came marching cheerfully to the palace, without horses or carriage. His eyes sparkled like yours; he had beautiful long hair, but his clothes were very poor."
"That was Kay!" said Gerda joyfully.
The crow continued, "He passed through the gates, saw the guards and servants, but was not embarrassed. He went boldly up to the princess, who sat on a pearl as large as a spinning wheel. He spoke freely and agreeably, saying he had come not to woo her, but to hear her wisdom. He was as pleased with her as she was with him."
"Oh, certainly that was Kay," said Gerda. "Will you take me to the palace?"
The crow agreed to help. That evening, he returned with a tame crow (his sweetheart) who knew a secret back staircase. They led Gerda into the palace at night.
Gerda's heart beat with anxiety and longing. They passed through magnificent halls where dreams flitted like shadows. Finally, they reached a bedroom with two beds shaped like lilies. One was white, where the princess slept; the other was red. Gerda pushed aside a red leaf and saw a little brown neck.
"Oh, that must be Kay!" she cried, but when the person woke, it was not Kay—it was a young prince who only resembled him in the neck.
The princess awoke and asked what was the matter. Gerda wept and told her story. The prince and princess were kind. They praised the crows for helping and offered them positions as court crows.
They gave Gerda a bed for the night. The next day, they dressed her in silk and velvet and offered her a golden coach to continue her search for Kay. The crows said farewell, and Gerda set off once more into the wide world.