After many months of hoping and fearing, he decided to go to the old Lord and ask for his daughter’s hand. One beautiful morning he set out on his mission, to the Castle of Faulkenstein. This Castle was perched far up on the heights that rose above a small river.
It was a long journey, and he had almost lost his courage when he reached the place. However, he went at once into the presence of the Lord of Faulkenstein and boldly made known his wish.
The grim, old Lord looked at him long and closely, then in tones that were terrible to poor Kuno spoke.
“I will,” he said, “consider the matter if you will promise to do one thing for me.”
Without waiting to find out what he was to do, Kuno eagerly consented.
“Then,” said the Lord of Faulkenstein, “you may wed my daughter on condition that you build a convenient road over the jagged rock to the village. You are to ride up that road on your war horse before sunrise to-morrow morning.”
Poor Kuno was speechless. Nothing was to be said, for he knew how impossible was the task. Many months of hard labor would scarcely accomplish the great work.
Sadly he made his way down the rocks again. He had not been able to catch even a glimpse of the fair Irmangarde, his beloved, so he sat down upon a rock in the valley and began to reproach himself for his stupidity.
Suddenly he was aroused from his thoughts by a small voice calling to him.
He looked up and there before him stood the King of the Gnomes.
“Despair not,” said the kindly little man. “Myself and my subjects will gladly help so good a knight; so away to the inn where you left your steed. Before sunrise to-morrow morning the road shall be ready.”
At this the King of the Gnomes waved his hand. A great mist rose and covered the hill and valley with its dense vapor. Thousands of dwarf-like creatures now sprang out of the ground on all sides. They began using axes, hammers, and spades with great good will. All night long Kuno Von Sayne heard the crashing of great forest trees, and the breaking of stones. Now and then he heard a loud rumble like thunder; there was a continual clatter and crashing throughout the whole night. At dawn he came from his room, and was greeted by the inn-keeper.
“A great storm must have raged over the valley last night,” said the latter. “I was kept awake all the night by the noise.”