Once upon a time, in a land not far from her, called the land of 1000 stitches, lived King Needle Eye VI with his royals - a King, who was loved by the folk through his big heart and his gentleness. With the royal suite he lived in Cross-Stitch-Castle near the Yarn-River in the Valley of Phantasie under the Silky Hills, composing the Batting Mountains.

Every morning, when the charming sun rised up and the first sunbeams flowed through the castle's windows, King Needle Eye had a conference with his best friend, brother-in-law and counselor of the little Kingdom Sir Hoopy Thimble. Normally also Lord Pattern of Patchwork takes part - as at this morning and General Scissor. But this morning the gerneral had an on-site-inspection and was absent with valid excuse.

And so the three men sat at the "Roundstitchtable", the King in front - behind him at the wall a great embroidered picture of "Stitchalon", at  his right Lord of Patchwork and on the other Counselor Thimble.

"We have a big problem, Majesty", the counselor started the conference and his face was full of sorrow.

"Yes, indeed!" Lord Pattern of Patchwork interupted him. "Again the horrible giant with his wife have stolen embroidery-machines and the folk is more and more hopeless. So many top-designs, creative ideas and no chance to stitch them out."

"We have to do something more effective now", King Needle Eyes said with his deep and sonourus voice. "More effective then our last tries have been. We have lost many good men - dead or missed in action."

"I'd have a phonecall with direktor D.D.Hoover yesterday in this case" Lord Pattern of Patchwork rubed his hands through his eyes while he said. "And..."

This was the moment when the door of the conferenceroom was opened by Prince Thimblehead. And his dog, pooch Piddle Diddle, ran in with fluttering tail.

"Father!" And Thimbleheads view walked from one to another, before he continued with loud voice: "I'm old enough and strong! I will search for the giant and kill him!"

A smile appeared on the king's face.

"You're nearly still a boy. But as my father says to me: Do, what you have to do! But if you do, you have to go with Private Darning. He is a good stitcher and adapted in fighting!"

And so, later this morning, the young prince Thimblehead and Private Darning sadlled their hobbyhorses and rode off.

...Riding for many days now on their hobbyhorses they came to a wonderful looking open countryside inside a forrest. And because they were hungry, they decided to catch a rabbit.

"Let's go!" was the sign of Private Darning.

Daring rode clockwise and Thimblehead to the other direction. And while the prince wighed, there scampered something through his way. In seconds he jumped down from his hobbyhorse and with another big jump he caught it.

And what do you think, that he catches!?

A little dwarf!

Thimblehead held him tight in his hand while the dwarf was crying. So loud, that Private Darning, who rode at the other side of the meadow heard it and therefore came in fast gallop to them.

"Hold him tight, Prince - hold him thight!" so Darning now cried loud. "Dwarfs always knows all the ways over and under the ground - I'm sure, that he will know the way to the giants!"

Hearing this - the dwarfs moanes became louder and louder.

"You are searching for the giants!?" he asked with falsetto and his eyes glowed wild and crazy. "They have done so many bad things to me. Three years I've smithes the needle 'Greatstitch' and then they stealed it. It would be a pleasure to me to help you."

Thimblehead gave the dwarf free and when the dwarfs stood on his feets again, he said with a smile: "If I would...I could escape now and you never will catch me again! But I will help you, so that I never must fear the giants again."

And while the three sat in the mellow gras, the dwarfs continued: "Be back tomorrow morning in the early morning hours at this place. Then I will bring you the needle "Greatstitch". Also, if the giants will sleep on it."

So the dwarf said and disapeared in sight of Thimbehead and Private Darning like a mice in a hole.

Next day the prince and the private arrived in time at the meadow. But after one hour of waiting Private Darning meant: "I don't trust the dwarf - think that he is double-tounged and would'nt come."

But just in this moment the dwarfs appeared. He snuffled and transpired like a horse after a hard race, so heavy was the needle 'Greatstitch'. Prince Thumblehead seized it and swung it arround with an easiness as if it would be nothing in particular.

"Now you're as strong as a dozen men. Let's go in and win!" the dwarf cried out.

"Let's go!" Private Darning repeated and while that he used the stirrup and with a powerful swung he sat on the saddle.

"You must help me" said the dwarf and Prince Thimblehead lifted him up, so that he sat in front of him on the hobbyhorse.

After a short "We have to ride over there!" they headed for the place the giants live.

Some hours later they arrived at a very high rock. And under this rock there was a very large hole and some smoke was to be seen.

"That's the robber's den!" And again the dwarf disappered from one moment to another.

Prince Thimblehead and Private Darning tied their hobbyhorse to a tree and then they begun hiking into the cave.

Deeper and deeper they wnt into the cave and then, suddenly, they could see a light from a fireplace. And they saw the giant just eating a young wild pig, his eyes big like a soup plate. He looked like a horse - a creture, that wether Thimblehead nor Private Darning ever had seen before.

When the giant noticed them, he jumped up with swearing like a trooper and searched for the needle "Greatstitch". But he couldn't find it - it was away - and we know, that it was 'stolen' by the dwarf.

So the horselike looking giant pulled a burning limb out of the fire and begun to hit in direction of Prince Thimblehead. But Thimblehead avoided fast and used "Greatstitch". He lanced the giant and a very loud cry came out of the giants mouth. And with furioness the giant slaped around with carzy looking eyes. And the limb hit the cavernwalls and striked light.

At the moment when Private Darining begun helping Thimblehead, he felt big hands on his shoulder from behind. It was the giants wife, throwing him to ground. There she lay her big hands around his neck - powerful.

"Thimblehead...help...!" he cried and tried to get free.

Holding 'Greatstitch" with both hands and with all the power he had, Thimblehead stitched into the giants heart, jumped through all the smoke and fireflames and raised the weapon against the giants wife. And then the final stitch came. The fight was over and the giants dead.

A loud "Wow!" escaped the Private while standing up drawing breath. Then he gave his hand to Prince Thimblehead and thanked him: "You saved my life, Prince. Now, I be indebted to you."

"Don't let it trouble you", answered the Prince with a big smile on his face. "You would have done the same for me."

"That's true, my Prince!"

"So, I think, it's now time to have a look for the stolen embroidery-machines!"

They begun to look around in the cavern and after a short time they found a small room, where the giants had placed all the wonderful machines and many more, like designs, fabrics and all kind of expensive yarn.

"For now we will pick up as many as our hobbyhorses could carry."

So they did and later, meanwhile it was afternoon, they started riding home.

You can imagine, that there was big big enjoyment, when they came back and all the royals celebrated this event together with the folk for three days.

And if you believe me or not, the dwarf has been also there...with his wife and the needle 'Greatstitch'...Prince Thimblehead has stitched it into a rock and said: "Who ever will be able to pull it out can keep it private!" And since then many men have tried, but the needle always sticks in that stone.

END

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