Act V [a palace above water, with king, queen and prince]

KING: At last, it is you. I am so happy to finally be returned to you! QUEEN: Yes, it has been long indeed since I have looked upon your face, dearest. KING: Well, I have kingly matters to attend to, but I shall be back within the hour. [KING exits] PRINCE: Mother! I haven't seen you for ages. QUEEN: Yes, well I am home at last. But anyway, son, you seem to be troubled. Tell me what is bothering you. PRINCE: It is nothing that can be helped. QUEEN: Well, at least tell me so I can share your grief. PRINCE: Well, I saw a beautiful deer while I was hunting, but it looked like no deer I have every seen. I fell in love with it. QUEEN: (laughing out loud) That is funny! PRINCE: (ashamed) You see! Now you're laughing at me! This isn't making me feel better! QUEEN: No, not laughing at your falling in love with a deer, but because that deer was really a maiden. I sent her to rescue my crown. She turned into a deer so she could run across the land to the giant's castle. PRINCE: So the deer really was a maiden! That's what I thought. QUEEN: I shall call her in. Cassandra! [CASSANDRA enters] CASSANDRA: Yes? QUEEN: I would like you to meet my son, the Prince. CASSANDRA: (shyly) Hello. PRINCE: (shyly) Hi. QUEEN: I think I must go attend to wedding preparations.