The story tells of a prince who wants to marry a princess, but is having difficulty finding a suitable wife. One stormy night a young woman drenched with rain seeks shelter in the prince"s castle. She claims to be a princess, so the prince"s mother decides to test their unexpected guest by placing a pea in the bed she is offered for the night. The Princess and The Pea is one of the twenty stories featured in this timeless collection of fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen.