Chairs in the Snow (Stühle im Schnee)

Do you want me to read another fairy tale to you?

Once upon a time in a distant kingdom there was a princess.

She had to rule the country, but she didn't do it alone.

It was the chair she sat on,

her throne, which was always on her side and gave her continuous advice.

When winter came and the first snowflakes fell, an evil knight appeared on court,

accompanied by 100 hunters and 100 archers.

They invaded the throne room and the knight stood before the princess with his army behind him.

"I have come to take control of this realm.

I will take you to be my wife and reign your country for ever."

The hunters and archers roared with joy in the background and the princess was filled with fear.

But the chair whispered courage and she embraced it tighter.

The knight continued:

"But I am not a cravenly man.

And thus I give you a possibility to defeat me and free yourself."

The knight clapped his hands and the heavy door to the outside opened.

Snowflakes where sharply blown inside, followed by all the animals

which ever sat foot or hoof on this world.

"You may choose one animal.

You may sent one outside

and if it fools my hunters and archers and reaches the border of your realm,

I will let go of you and you are free again."

The princess looked at the animals.

Crocodile, Eagle, horse and lion stood before her,

but she didn't know which to choose.

Then her chair spake to her:

"Take the sheep, princess.

Take the sheep."

And although the princess didn't understand the advice,

she trusted her chair and chose the white sheep.

The hunters and archers doubled up sneering

and the evil knight laughed at the princess, too.

But when they opened the throne room's gate and the sheep stepped outside,

her laughter disappeared,

because deep white snow covered the realm.

And with its first step into it, the sheep was invisible and vanished.

Then the princess knew:

Snow was her salvation.

Then the princess knew:

Snow was her salvation.

Fairy tales always were the best of all for me.

These are are the most beautiful tales, because there is always some truth to it.

Do you believe in fairy tales?

But you have to believe in them.

You are still a child...

may still use their imagination.

If I was to say to somebody that I am into fairy tales, they would think -

I am crazy.

What now?

Do you believe in fairy tales?

I never had to believe in anything.

Then you start now.

Come, let's play something.

Are you all there?

Come on,

it's no fun without you.

Let's play a guessing game.

You... you woke me up.

Another 5 minutes, please.

Be quite Chief Burst Runner.

Klara, listen to me carefully.

Tomorrow you turn 14.

Hey that's right.

You'll turn 14 years old.

Is that true?

Is it really my birthday soon?

Klara, listen to me carefully!

It's your birthday.

Tomorrow you'll turn 14, you have to tell him that.

How long have I been here?

Tell him have to go home.

Tell him to give you his key.

When you have his key, you'll get out of here.

But you have to be careful, it's dangerous.

You have to be quiet now.

You are not allowed to speak when he is in the room.

Klara, we'll help you!

We can carry on now.

It's my birthday tomorrow.

I can't stay here any longer.

Where do you want to go?

I always celebrate my birthday with my family.

This one, you stay here.

Do you want me to carry on?

I can explain again.

When you build chairs, you have to be really careful.

Only this way you can breathe life into them,

so that they are sturdy.

You have to know that chairs have a soul.

I believe the sledge has one, too.

Well, it's a chair with runners.

Look:

You always have to grind along the grain.