The giant and the mermaid

How it all ends

King Rötel sends Erla to the witch Kranawitha. She gives the giant a ring, saying, ”If you turn this ring three times on the middle finger of your right hand, you will take on the appearance of a human.” Erla is overjoyed. “But remember”, continues the witch, “the magic will only last for one summer!”

Erla does not care. At last he can move into the splendid castle with his beloved Blondchen. The wedding is a grand affair, with guests pouring in from near and far. The giant and the mermaid then enjoy one blissful summer together.

But then autumn comes. The leaves change colour and as the days become shorter and the sun takes early leave behind the great mountain range, Blondchen grows quieter. The mermaid is homesick – she misses the Laudachsee. And Erla can only watch, powerless, as his beloved wife becomes more and more ill. When the first snow covers Traunstein’s peak, Blondchen dies in Erla’s arms.

The giant places the body in a silver coffin and sets it into the Traunsee. With a broken heart he withdraws to the mountains and is never seen again. He is supposed to have chiselled the face of his beloved mermaid into the Erlakogel, which lies next to Traunstein, in Blondchen’s memory.