In the Brothers Grimm tale “Faithful Johannes,” Johannes becomes a stone statue after revealing the forbidden warning. He serves the old king faithfully and promises to protect the king’s son after the king dies.
Johannes learns that three ravens will fly around the prince’s ship and bring disaster unless the prince avoids three dangers. The warnings require Johannes to remain silent, but he eventually speaks to save the prince from the predicted events. Because he has broken his vow, Johannes is turned to stone.
The prince later learns that Johannes can be restored if the prince sacrifices his own children. He agrees, and the children are eventually brought back to life after Johannes’s loyalty is proven. The tale’s title is often translated as “Faithful John,” so the character may appear under either English name.