The Twelve Brotherspage 3 / 5
He was astounded that she was so beautiful, that she was wearing royal clothing, and that she had a star on her forehead.
"I am a princess and am looking for my twelve brothers. I will walk on as long as the sky is blue, until I find them." She also showed him the twelve shirts that belonged to them.
Benjamin saw that it was his sister, and said, "I am Benjamin, your youngest brother."
She began to cry for joy, and Benjamin did so as well. They kissed and embraced one another with great love.
Then he said, "Dear sister, I must warn you that we have agreed that every girl whom we meet must die."
She said, "I will gladly die, if I can thus redeem my twelve brothers."
"No," he answered, "you shall not die. Sit under this tub until our eleven brothers come, and I will make it right with them."
She did this, and when night fell they came home from the hunt. As they sat at the table eating, they asked, "What is new?"
Benjamin said, "Don't you know anything?"
"No," they answered.
He continued speaking, "You have been in the woods while I stayed at home, but I know more than you do."
"Then tell us," they shouted.
He answered, "If you will promise me that the next girl we meet shall not be killed."
"Yes," they all shouted. "We will show her mercy. Just tell us."
Then he said, "Our sister is here," and lifted up the tub. The princess came forth in her royal clothing and with the golden star on her forehead, so beautiful, delicate, and fine.
They all rejoiced, falling around her neck and kissing her, and they loved her with all their hearts.
Now she stayed at home with Benjamin and helped him with the work. The eleven went into the woods and captured wild game, deer, birds, and doves, so they would have something to eat. Their sister and Benjamin prepared it all. They gathered wood for cooking, herbs for the stew, and put the pot onto the fire so a meal was always ready when the eleven came home. She also kept the house in order, and made up the beds white and clean. The brothers were always satisfied, and they lived happily with her.