The queen searched the forest for her lost daughter, the princess. The princess found shelter with a red bird but was then attacked by a dragon. She was rescued by a prince on a passing ship. The princess fell in love with the prince but was confused about her feelings and whether to marry the prince or his brother, as her father wished. She fled by boat but was saved from drowning by whales and reunited with her mother. In the end, the princess accepted when the prince asked her to marry him and they lived happily ever after.