Abridged (I think--I don't have the original) by K.M. Briggs in The Anatomy of Puck.
here were once three King's sons, the youngest of whom was called Childe
Roland, and they had a sister called Burd Helen. One day, as the boys were
playing football, Childe Roland kicked the ball over the church. Burd Helen
ran to fetch it, but never returned.At length the eldest brother set out to find her, and went, by his mother's advice, to learn what he should do from the wizard Merlin. Merlin told him that when he got to Elfland he must chop off the head of everyone who spoke to him until he met Burd Helen, and must bite no bit nor drink no drop while he was in Elfland. He set out, but never returned. The second received the same advice, but fared no better. At length Childe Roland, girded with his father's good sword, set out the same way.
Following Merlin's instructions, he cut off the head of the King of Elfland's horseherd and cowherd, ox-herd, swineherd, and henwife. Then he came to the green fairy knowe, and encircled it three times widdershins, crying "Open door! Open door!" The third time the door opened, and he found himself in the Dark Tower of Elfland, where there was neither sun nor moon, and the walls shone with gems.
There in the great hall he found Burd Helen, who greeted him sadly, and told him that their brothers lay in a deep death trance. They talk ed long and Childe Roland grew hungry, and asked for meat and drink. Burd Helen had no power to warn him; she brought him what he asked; but before he drank he looked at her, and dashed the cup to the ground. At the sound the Elf King came in with an ogreish cry, nd they fought together until Childe Roland forced the Elf King to the ground, and made him promise to restore his brothers to life and set Burd Helen free. The Elf King fetched a phial of red liquor, and touched the ears and eyelids, nostrils, lips, and fingertips of the two princes, so that they revived. Then he freed Burd Helen from her spell, and they went home together in great joy.
Robert Browning's "Childe Roland"