now when the battle was over and the youth had disappeared , the courtier crawled down from his tree , and threatened to kill the princess if she did not say before all the people that he , and none other , had rescued her . the king 's daughter did not dare refuse , since she feared for her life . so she returned to her father 's castle with the courtier , where they were received with great distinction . and joy reigned throughout the land when the news spread that the oldest princess had been rescued from the troll . after a time there was a great tumult out at sea , and a sea - troll rose from the waves . he had three heads and three dogs . but silverwhite 's dogs overcame those of the troll , and the youth killed the troll himself with his sword . thereupon he took out his silver - mounted knife , cut out the troll 's eyes , and went his way . but the courtier lost no time . he climbed down from his tree and forced the princess to promise to say that he , and none other , had rescued her . then they returned to the castle , where the courtier was acclaimed as the greatest of heroes . 
he pretended to have saved the two princesses .
why was the courtier acclaimed as the greatest of heroes ?
why was the courtier acclaimed as the greatest of heroes ?