It'd be easy to poke holes in the story. After all, it was a folk tale. Nonetheless, Clopin talked like it was real, his fingers continuing to dance on the strings.
"The wise brothers went to the feast. The fool wished to go as well, but they said, 'Our mother is ailing and you're just a fool. You'll just embarrass us at the feast, so you are more use here.' So reluctantly, the fool remained home, tending to their mother. At the feast, the king gave a grand announcement: that his daughter was in a room on the second story of the castle tower. Whosoever could jump up from the ground and kiss her would be her husband. Surely, a man who was able to complete this impossible task would only be able to do so with the blessing of God, and was meant for the princess.
"At first, only noblemen tried to kiss the princess, but all of them failed. The wise brothers returned to their home and spread the news. The next dayTh king announced that peasants may attempt to kiss the princess. The wise brothers decided to go and try, but when the fool tried to come, they said, 'Our mother is ailing and you're just a fool. You'll just embarrass us at the castle, so you are more use here.' Reluctantly, the fool stayed.
"After the wise brothers had left, his mother asked him to go out and fetch water. He went out, dragging his feet and looking as if a rain cloud were following him. When he came to the stream in which he usually got water, a bush by the shore rustled. 'Fool,' it said, 'you come here every day with a smile on your face, but today, I see no smile.' A faerie woman rose from the bush, for it was she who was speaking. 'To see that smile again, I will give you a wish.'
"'All I wish is for a silver suit of armor, a grand steed, and a cudgel.' The faerie gave him what he asked for, along with a small sum of money. The fool dressed himself in armor and rode his horse down the way to the castle. Along the path, he overtook his wise brothers. To keep them from recognizing him, he brought down his cudgel on their heads, knocking them out, and gave each five ducats."