Then he spoke to them with a mighty and terrible voice , and said , ` Because you have dared to come here , I lay upon you the punishment . Every year you must bring me from among your people twelve youths and twelve maidens , that I may devour them . If you do not do this , I will destroy your whole nation . ' Then he desired one of his beasts to show the men the way out of the garden , and dismissed them . They then left the island and went back to their own country , where they related what had happened to them . Soon the time came round when the king of the beasts would expect the youths and maidens to be brought to him . The King therefore issued a proclamation inviting twelve youths and twelve maidens to offer themselves up to save their country ; and immediately many young people , far more than enough , hastened to do so . A new ship was built , and set with black sails , and in it the youths and maidens who were appointed for the king of the beasts embarked and set out for his country . When they arrived there they went at once to the Lake , and this time the lions did not stir , nor did the springs flow , and neither did the Lake speak . So they waited then , and it was not long before the earth quaked even more terribly than the first time . The Seven-headed Serpent came without his train of beasts , saw his prey waiting for him , and devoured it at one mouthful . Then the ship 's crew returned home , and the same thing happened yearly until many years had passed . Now the King of this unhappy country was growing old , and so was the Queen , and they had no children . One day the Queen was sitting at the window weeping bitterly because she was childless , and knew that the crown would therefore pass to strangers after the King 's death . Suddenly a little old woman appeared before her , holding an apple in her hand , and said , ` Why do you weep , my Queen , and what makes you so unhappy ? ' ` Alas , good mother , ' answered the Queen , ' I am unhappy because I have no children . ' ` Is that what vexes you ? ' said the old woman . ` Listen to me . I am a nun from the Spinning Convent , -LRB- 10 -RRB- and my mother when she died left me this apple .
Whoever eats this XXXXX shall have a child . '
apple crown flow garden hand maidens mother nation sails time