The Tale of the Golden-Haired Prince

In ancient times, in a mighty kingdom, there lived a king and a queen. They had two sons, named Bogos and Bedros. The king had a loyal friend and advisor, a black Arab, who served as the royal stablemaster.

Tragedy struck—the queen passed away. The king mourned for five years, observing a period of deep grief. One day, he summoned the stablemaster and said:

"Saddle two horses. I need to clear my mind. A bit of fresh air will do me good."

They set out on a horseback ride through the outskirts of the capital. Suddenly, they noticed three beautiful sisters filling their jugs with water at a public fountain. Their cheerful laughter and beauty caught the king's attention, and hiding behind a column, he decided to listen to what the girls were saying.

"If I were queen, I would weave a carpet so large that half of it would be enough to accommodate the entire royal army," said the eldest sister.
"If I were queen, I would sew a tent so vast that half of it would be enough to shelter the entire royal army," said the middle sister.
"And if I were queen, I would bear the king golden-haired sons and daughters," said the youngest sister.

The king returned to the palace and summoned his advisor. The stablemaster was ordered to bring the sisters to the king. He found them still at the fountain. When the stablemaster informed them that the king demanded their presence, the girls began to bid farewell to life, fearing they had said something offensive about the king. When the advisor brought the sisters before the king, he declared that he knew what each of them had promised if they became queen. He turned to the eldest sister:

"You promised to weave a carpet so large that half of it would be enough to accommodate my entire army. Did I understand you correctly?"
"Oh, my king, of course you did. Give me enough wool for such a task, and I will set to work," replied the eldest sister.

The king realized her promise was empty—mere boasting. Then he turned to the middle sister:

"Did you speak the truth when you said you would sew a tent so large that half of it would be enough to shelter my entire army?"
"Oh yes, my king! Just give me enough fabric for such a task, and you will see it for yourself," replied the middle sister.

Again, the king understood these were empty words—nothing but bragging. Then he turned to the youngest sister:

"Do you truly wish to bear me golden-haired sons and daughters?"
"Oh, my king! You bargain as if in a paint shop. Time will tell."

The king thought it over and married the youngest sister. After the wedding celebrations, her elder sisters were allowed to stay in the palace. When the time came, the queen gave birth to a son. The boy had shining golden hair. The queen's sisters were furious. They ordered the stablemaster, who feared them, to place a puppy in the cradle instead of the infant and to throw the child into the sea. For this service, they paid the stablemaster five hundred silver coins. The midwife who delivered the child was also given five hundred silver coins to keep silent.

However, instead of drowning the child, the stablemaster hid him in the stables, in a manger. At midnight, he mounted his horse and took the infant to the mountains, where he decided to hide him in a cave—a cave in the Monastery Mountain. The stablemaster returned to the palace that same night, quietly slipping into his quarters and going to sleep. In the morning, many townspeople came to the palace to congratulate the king on the birth of his child.

"And what is there to congratulate?" hissed the queen's elder sisters. "She gave birth to a puppy."

The king was shocked. In anger, he ordered the stablemaster:

"Throw this unworthy woman into the sea."

Once again, the stablemaster disobeyed the order. He hid the queen in the stables and returned to the palace a few hours later.

"Did you carry out my command?"
"Yes, my king. I threw her into the sea."
"Excellent."

That night, the stablemaster took the queen to the same cave where he had hidden her child. The poor queen thought she was about to be killed.

"Do not fear, my queen, I will not harm you," said the stablemaster. "You can trust me. From this day on, consider me your brother. You did not give birth to a puppy, as your sisters told the king. You gave birth to a golden-haired, beautiful son."

The young queen found her son in the cave. From then on, the stablemaster cared for both of them. By day, he served the king, and by night, he served the queen and the prince. He brought them food, clothing, and everything they needed to live.

When the prince turned ten, the stablemaster gave him a bow and arrows. The boy began to hunt daily, roaming the mountains, forests, and valleys. He grew into a very clever boy, wise beyond his years.

Fifteen years passed. Let us now return to the capital and see what the king was doing. One day, he said to his friend, the stablemaster:

"Saddle the horses. Let us go hunting."

They armed themselves with swords, clubs, bows, and arrows, mounted their horses, and set off.

"Where shall we go?" asked the king.
"Wherever you wish, for you are the king," replied the stablemaster.
"I am the king, but you choose the hunting grounds," said the king.

They headed toward the Monastery Mountain. On the same day, the golden-haired prince was also hunting in those very mountains. He was dressed in deerskin, his curls hidden under a hat. Just as the young man raised his bow to shoot an arrow at a deer, two riders appeared out of nowhere and began chasing his prey. The youth decided to wait and see what would happen. The king shot the deer with a precise arrow. Before he could dismount to approach his kill, a young man suddenly appeared, grabbed the deer, slung it over his shoulders, and disappeared.
- "Shoot an arrow after him!" the king angrily shouted to his friend.
The equerry deliberately shot over the young man's head, who had safely hidden in a cave.

- "What’s wrong, my son? You look so frightened—what happened?" asked the queen.
- "Two riders are chasing me. I took a deer from them, which they prevented me from hunting."

Meanwhile, the riders dismounted and entered the cave. The mother and son met them at the entrance.

- "Where is the deer I shot?" asked the king. "And who gave you the right to steal my hunting trophy?"
- "Long life to you, my king," replied the youth. "The game belongs not to the one who shoots but to the one who takes it into their hands."
- "How do you know I am the king?"
- "Your fame spreads far and wide. That’s how I know."

The king felt a growing fondness for the young man. He and his friend ventured deeper into the cave. The equerry acted as if he were unfamiliar with the cave's inhabitants. The king was astonished to find the cave cozy, tidy, and well-kept, adorned with numerous hunting trophies—so impressive that even the king felt envious. The hosts offered the guests a meal of choice venison. After the meal, the equerry went to saddle the horses, and the youth addressed the king:

- "Take your deer, my king," he said, handing over the prize.

The deer carcass was tied to the saddle, but the king was in no hurry to leave. Some vague feelings held him back.

- "What shall we do with this young man?" the king asked his friend. "Leave him here or take him with us?"
- "Long live the king. I must confess something to you. Do you remember the three sisters you met by the fountain and the promises they made? You married the youngest. Well, she kept her promise: you have a son—a golden-haired prince."

The equerry removed the youth’s hat, and golden locks tumbled down the prince’s shoulders. The king was nearly overcome with shock. He could not believe his eyes or ears. He fell to his knees before the queen, begging for forgiveness.

- "I don’t even know how to thank you for your kindness," the king said to his friend. "Bring two more horses from the city: my wife, son, and I are leaving this place."

Upon returning to the palace, the equerry told Bogos and Bedros:

- "I have joyful news for you! Your golden-haired brother, the prince, has been found, and so has our queen, his mother. They are alive and well. Soon they will return home with our king."

The queen’s elder sisters were dumbfounded upon hearing this news. The equerry returned to the cave with two horses—for the prince and the queen—and the four of them safely arrived at the palace. Joyful townspeople came out to greet them. In the festively decorated palace, the king, queen, and golden-haired prince were welcomed by advisors and nobles. When the prince left the cave, he took the Bird of Truth with him. This bird was the only living soul that had stayed with his mother while he was out hunting.

Seven days later, the queen’s elder sisters decided to face the king, queen, and golden-haired prince, hoping to convince them of their repentance and seek forgiveness for the harm they had caused. As the sisters entered the hall, the Bird of Truth shattered its crystal cage, flew out the window, and disappeared.

- "Oh, my Bird! My Bird of Truth has flown away!" the prince lamented.

To console his son, the king said:

- "Don’t be upset, my son. Your bird will be caught and returned to the palace."

Then, turning to the queen’s elder sisters, he said:

- "The Bird of Truth flew away because of you. Get out of my sight, and never let your presence be felt here again."

The evil sisters were driven from the palace. Bogos and Bedros volunteered:

- "Let us catch the Bird of Truth. We will return it to our brother."

Bogos was the first to set out. He took a detachment of forty horsemen with him. When night fell during their journey, Bogos ordered the group to make camp. They set up tents, had dinner, and went to sleep. At midnight, a deafening, heart-wrenching scream echoed through the dark forest. The men jumped to their feet, thinking that robbers were attacking someone nearby. Mounting their horses, they rushed toward the sound. They heard the terrible scream again, resembling the cry of a mortally wounded partridge. Suddenly, all forty warriors and Prince Bogos turned to stone.

A week later, Bedros said:

- "My brother hasn’t returned. Now it’s my turn. I’ll find out what happened to him."

The king allowed him to go in search of his brother.

Bedros, like Bogos, took a detachment of forty horsemen. Along the way, they made camp in the same place where Bogos and his men had stopped. At midnight, the same heart-wrenching scream rang out. The armed men headed toward the sound to investigate, and they too turned to stone.

Meanwhile, the golden-haired prince insisted that his father let him search for his brothers. The king was reluctant:

- "What if something happens to you? Who will take my place on the throne?"
- "I must find my brothers," the prince insisted.
- "Then take a thousand horsemen with you," said the king.
- "Father, I’m not going to war. One person will be enough—our friend, the equerry."
- "I am always at your service, my prince," said the equerry, bowing.
- "Let’s take twenty pounds of roasted wheat with us," the prince told him.
They bid farewell to the king, saddled their horses, and set off on their journey. Nightfall found them at the same spot where Bogos and Bedros, along with their men, had previously stopped. Before going to sleep, the prince ordered the stableman to scatter roasted wheat around their campsite. The stableman slept restlessly. He lifted his head and looked around: a fox had crept up to the camp and was eating the grain. He picked up his bow and said to the prince:

- A fox is eating the roasted wheat. Should I shoot it?
- Don’t shoot a hungry fox. Let it eat its fill.

Two hours later, the stableman woke the prince again:
- Look, this fox has settled on your cloak. Should I shoot it?
- What are you saying? The poor thing has found a soft, warm place to sleep. And you want to shoot it...

Just before dawn, the stableman saw the fox rise from the cloak and begin to leave.
- Prince, the fox is leaving. Should I shoot it after all?
- No, let it go in peace.

Upon hearing these words, the fox turned around and spoke in a human voice:
- Oh, golden-haired prince! Tell me your most cherished wish.
- My most cherished wish is to find my brothers alive and well and bring them home, said the astonished prince.

And then he added:
- And my Bird of Truth as well.
- Leave your weapon with your friend and follow me, said the fox.

She led the young man to the Bird City.

- You will find your Bird of Truth there, in the barn on the outskirts of the city. But be careful. Take only your bird, and don’t touch the others.

The prince entered the barn and saw a whole flock of birds. There were so many that he decided it wouldn’t be a great sin if he took one more bird besides his own. As soon as he took the second bird, a terrible uproar broke out. The prince was seized and taken to the bird king.

- Why did you take what doesn’t belong to you? asked the bird king.
- I don’t know… Probably just ordinary human greed.
- Here’s what I’ll tell you. I’ll give you the second bird if you bring me a black horse. This horse is in the possession of the leader of a gang of forty bandits. They rob people near the Monastery Mountain.

The bird king ordered the young man to be released. As soon as he left the gates of the Bird City, the fox approached him.

- Didn’t I tell you to take only your bird? Why did you leap from the frying pan into the fire? Come, follow me.

The fox led the prince to the area near the Monastery Mountain where the bandits’ lair was located.

- Take only the horse. Don’t touch the saddle, she warned him.

Sneaking into the bandits’ camp, the golden-haired prince saw the horse. It stood saddled. And what a saddle it was! It was worth two such horses.

- Why, exactly, can’t I take the saddle? thought the prince.

He mounted the horse, intending to ride far away from this place, but then bandits rushed at him from all sides, dragged him off the horse, and took him to their leader.

- Well, well, boy… So you wanted to steal my saddle too? asked the leader.

After a moment of thought, he added:
- If you’re such a daring fellow, I’ll entrust you with the task of fetching for me the beautiful guri-peri who lives on Mount Aragats. Then I’ll personally saddle my black horse and give it to you as a reward for your bravery.

When the prince left the bandits’ camp, he was met by the fox:
- Are you a Turk or something? I told you in Armenian: take only the horse. Why didn’t you listen to me?
- It’s hard for people to resist temptation. What could I do?
- Fine, then. Follow me.

The prince carefully listened to all the instructions the fox gave him. The road to Mount Aragats was very dangerous and difficult to traverse. The fox advised the young man to climb the mountain very cautiously.
- When you meet the guri-peri there, do not greet her. Do not speak to her, and not a single word should escape your lips. Cut off a lock of her hair and run away. You will hear cries of "Stop the thief! Don't let him escape!" – pay no attention to them.

The prince began to climb the rocks. It was very difficult, so he had to take off his shoes and climb barefoot. When the guri-peri noticed him, she came up to meet him and exclaimed:

- Oh, golden-haired prince! I searched for you everywhere, and here you are, coming to me on your own.

The prince did not reply. He cut off a lock of her hair and rushed to run away. Immediately, all the stones and trees began to shout after him:

- Stop the thief! Don't let him escape…

At the foot of the mountain, the young man was met by a fox.

- Here is the lock of guri-peri's hair.
- Give it to me.

The prince gave the lock of hair to the fox, and lo and behold! The fox turned into a beautiful maiden, the guri-peri. "I am the fox, the fox," the maiden assured him. "Now take me to the chieftain. Leave me there, and then take a horse and ride away. I will join you later." The chieftain nearly died of joy when he saw the beauty brought to him from Mount Aragats. He ordered his bandits to saddle a black horse and give it to the young man. The prince jumped on the horse and was gone. The chieftain, however, tried to embrace and kiss the maiden. She pushed him away:

- What kind of man are you? – she said, freeing herself from his embrace. – You barely see me, and already you try to embrace me. Are there no other women here? I want to meet them.

The chieftain called the wives of the bandits. Then everyone saw that the guri-peri maiden was the most beautiful among them.

- Take her with you to the garden, – said the chieftain to the women.

In the garden, the guri-peri approached the wall, climbed over it, and ran away. Turning back into a fox, she caught up with the prince.

- Come, I will take you to the Bird City. Now we will do this: you will leave the horse tied in the stable, and take me to the Bird King, – said the fox, turning into a horse, exactly like the one gifted by the bandit chieftain.

The Bird King was overjoyed when the young man brought him the horse.

- Give him two birds and let him go wherever he wishes, – he said.

The young man took the two birds, mounted the horse he had left in the stable, and rode away from the city. The horse that remained with the Bird King kicked its owner, leaped over the wall, and was gone. Turning back into herself, the fox caught up with the golden-haired prince, who was waiting for her in the camp with his friend, the stablemaster. She led the young man to the place where Bogos, Bedros, and their warriors had turned to stone.

- Oh, golden-haired prince, look at these stones! Do you recognize them? – asked the fox.
- To be honest, no. I am puzzled; they look more like statues of people than just stones.
- Look, prince, these are your brothers. They have turned to stone, but they can see us! And around them are their warriors.

Then a cry, like that of a wounded partridge, was heard, and all the people turned to stone, along with their horses, came back to life. The fox led them all back to the camp.

- Oh, golden-haired prince! If you had not treated me to roasted wheat, you would now be a stone like your brothers. But now it is time for us to part, for I have fulfilled your deepest desires, – said the fox, and she went into the forest.

The three brothers, the stablemaster, and eighty horsemen returned safely to the capital. With them were the two Birds of Truth and the black horse – a gift from the bandit chieftain. The king's heart overflowed with joy when he saw his sons and his friend, the stablemaster, alive and well. A feast was held in honor of their return. A few days later, Bogos and Bedros said to the king:

- Father, let us convene the State Council.

The king thought they wanted to speak kind words about their brother in front of all the nobles and dignitaries, and he agreed to convene the State Council the following week. When everyone had gathered, Bogos and Bedros, standing before the king with their hands over their hearts, said:

- May your years be long, O king. You are no longer young, and it is difficult for you to bear the burden of ruling the state. Allow our brother, our savior, to ascend the throne in your place.
- I have been thinking about this myself, – replied the king. – And I am very glad that there is such harmony and understanding among my sons.

It was the golden-haired prince's turn to speak:

- Do not ask this of me, O king. For you are alive, my father, and in good health. And my brothers are older than I, – the young man said anxiously.

And he added:

- I never wanted to be king.
- We see only you as king and cannot imagine it otherwise, – replied Bogos and Bedros.
- Very well, I accept this great honor, but my heart is not at peace, – said the golden-haired prince. – Let our father continue to reign, and I will only rule in his name.
- Excellent, we agree, – replied the brothers.

Some time later, the golden-haired prince convened the State Council, inviting his father, his brothers, the stablemaster, advisors, and nobles, and said to them:
- How do you feel about the idea of me and my brothers finally settling down, getting married, and starting a family life? Father, perhaps you have some good brides in mind?
- I give you my consent and blessing to enter into marriage, said the king.
- Father, we want our wives to be twin sisters. That way, there will be no grounds for envious talk about whose wife is more beautiful and whose is not.
- Very well, my children, let it be as you wish, said the king. Tomorrow, my friend the equerry and I will disguise ourselves as dervishes and wander through our kingdom. God willing, we will find good brides for you.

The next day, as promised, the king dressed in the rags of a dervish. The equerry did the same, and they set off on their journey. Whether their journey was long or short, only they could tell. At one point, they stopped on the outskirts of a small town near a mill. Nearby stood a shepherd's house. The travelers sat and watched as the shepherd herded sheep and goats into the pen, and a beautiful girl with woolen yarn in her hands came in and out of the house. They had no idea that this was not one girl, but three different girls—twin sisters. The shepherd entered the house and began to scold his wife and daughters:

- Aren’t you ashamed? Two hungry dervishes are sitting nearby, and you haven’t even brought them a crust of bread.

He went out into the yard and called the travelers:

- Come into the house, dervishes. Be my guests.

The shepherd set a fine table for his guests and invited them to eat.

- Do you see? These three twin sisters are his daughters, whispered the king and the equerry.

After spending the night in the shepherd's house, the travelers set off on their return journey. Upon returning to the palace, the king said:

- I have found brides for you—three twin sisters. They are beauties, though of humble birth: their father is a shepherd. But it seems to be God’s will.

The equerry returned to the shepherd's house and gave him a royal gift—a thousand silver coins. The shepherd used the money to start his own business, and within three months, he became a prosperous merchant. After this, the equerry visited him again:

- The king wants his sons and your daughters to marry. How do you feel about this proposal?

The merchant, thinking it must be a joke, smiled.

- I’m not joking, said the equerry. I’ve come here to arrange the wedding.
- If the king’s sons wish to take my daughters as their wives, I will be delighted, said the merchant.

The equerry took out three wedding rings and placed them on the mantelpiece. The girls came out, approached the fireplace, took the rings, and put them on their fingers. It turned out that the eldest sister put on the ring of the eldest prince, the middle sister put on the ring of the middle prince, and the youngest—the golden-haired prince.

- This occasion must be celebrated properly, said the merchant.

They held a feast. The next day, the equerry departed for the palace, telling the merchant that on the first of May, he would return with a wedding procession led by the king to take the brides and bring them to their grooms. When the time came, the king gathered his nobles, musicians, and a thousand horsemen and prepared to fetch the brides. The golden-haired prince felt uneasy. He warned his father not to set up camp or stop for the night near the Forbidden Stream, which crossed their path. The king promised to follow this instruction. But on the way back to the capital, after picking up the brides, many of the wedding party were drunk with wine and, despite the king’s order, camped for the night near the Forbidden Stream.

At dawn, the king awoke to find his entire camp surrounded by a vishap—a huge dragon. The men drew their swords and sabers, waiting for the king’s order to attack. But the dragon suddenly spoke in a human voice:

- Calm down, people. Your swords and sabers won’t frighten me. They are useless in a battle against me.

The king bowed his head and said:

- My dear dragon, please let us go in peace. I promise to fulfill any of your requests.
- Send me your golden-haired son, replied the dragon.

The king was in mourning. All his people were terrified. But the king could not take back his word. He ordered everyone with him not to tell the golden-haired prince about what had happened—not until after the wedding.

Upon arriving at the palace, they proceeded with the wedding ceremony. Bogos stepped forward and took the eldest sister’s hand. Then Bedros stepped forward and took the middle sister’s hand. The golden-haired prince did not step forward or take a step toward his bride, and she remained standing, unclaimed by her groom.

- Let her be my sister rather than my widow. For I am no longer a prince, but a sacrifice you have offered to the dragon, the golden-haired prince said bitterly.
- If our brother speaks this way, then let our brides also be as sisters to us. It is not right for us to celebrate a wedding at a time when we are losing our brother, said Bogos and Bedros.

A week after this conversation, the prince bid farewell to all he knew and said:

- As I go to the dragon, let the people mourn for forty days in my memory and pray for the repose of my soul.

When the prince went to the stream, all the people wept, as did the youngest daughter of the merchant, who never became the prince’s wife. And the king? He kept his word to the dragon, for breaking it would have brought great misfortune upon his kingdom. Reaching the place where the king had camped, the young man bathed in the stream and lay down to rest on its bank. Upon waking, he saw the dragon standing before him.

- So, so… You’ve finally come here, golden-haired prince. Well then, prepare for your flight.

The dragon approached the young man...
- Close your eyes.

The prince closed his eyes. And when he opened them, he saw that the dragon was soaring in the sky, and he was sitting on its back.

- Look down at the ground. Tell me, what do you see there? – asked the dragon.
- I see mountains. They are all covered in snow, as if sprinkled with flour, – replied the prince.

The dragon rose even higher into the sky.

- Listen, have a heart, after all. You'll roast me alive in the sun, – shouted the prince.
- Tell me, what do you see now? – the dragon asked him again.
- I can no longer make out anything below, – answered the young man.
- We are now flying over the land of Chin-ma-Chin. Can you bring me the daughter of the king of Chin-ma-Chin?
- I'll try.
- You'd better try. Otherwise, I might just drop you from this height. You won't be able to gather your bones afterward.

The dragon landed on the other side of the sea, in the land of Chin-ma-Chin. With its tail, it lifted the young man off its back and placed him on the ground. Well, now, as they say, good luck, – the dragon said to the prince. – May fortune be with you. The prince set off for the capital of Chin-ma-Chin. He felt heavy-hearted. Suddenly, he looked and saw – what was going on? At the top of a mountain, three Hovts were fighting each other.

- This mortal will interfere with us settling our dispute, – the Hovts said to each other upon seeing the approaching young man.

The golden-haired prince approached them and said:

- What's going on here? Why are you fighting?

The Hovts replied that they were three brothers and were dividing their inheritance: a hat, a key, and a tablecloth.

- And you're fighting over such trifles? – the young man was surprised.
- These are not trifles at all, – the Hovts took offense. – If you put this hat on your head, you'll become invisible. You can walk past a hundred thousand people, and no one will see you. And with this key, you can open and close any door, no matter the locks or bolts.

The golden-haired prince took three stones, threw them into the abyss, and said to the Hovts:

- Now, you go down to the bottom of the gorge. When I give you the signal, climb back up as quickly as you can. The one who comes first will get the hat. The second one will get the tablecloth. And the key will go to the one who comes last.

The Hovts rushed down to the bottom of the gorge.

- Climb up! – shouted the prince.

The Hovts began scrambling up the mountain, while the young man, in the meantime, put on the hat and became invisible. The Hovts spread their paws wide, trying to catch the prince, but where could they find him… The prince, having taken the key and the tablecloth, was already far away.

- He deceived us, – the Hovts were upset. – But we have no one to blame for our own stupidity but ourselves. After all, only those who allow themselves to be deceived can be deceived.

Meanwhile, the young man was making his way to the capital of Chin-ma-Chin. Only God knows how long he walked until he reached a place where his path was blocked by seven devs. It was a narrow passage between a high cliff and a raging sea, and there was no way around the devs. The monsters noticed the young man:

- It's been a long time since we've had the pleasure of feasting on human flesh, – the devs growled, impatiently swallowing their saliva.

The prince began to frantically think: what should he do? And he decided to test the magic tablecloth. The young man prayed to God and spread out the tablecloth. The devs had a feast like they had never even dreamed of:

- We haven't eaten anything like this in seven years, – said the devs and asked the young man how they could repay him for the meal.
- Just let me pass, – said the prince, folding the tablecloth. – I'm heading to the capital, to the king of Chin-ma-Chin.

The devs not only let the young man pass, but they also gave him a tuft of wool as a farewell gift, saying:

- Whenever you need our help, throw this tuft of wool into the fire.

The prince continued on his way. Whether he walked for a long time or a short time, only he knows. Finally, he reached a place where there were many ants. They were already ready to pounce on him and eat him, but the prince didn't panic. He spread out the magic tablecloth in front of them and prayed to God: the ants ate their fill.

- Thank you, you may go on your way. Just take this little claw with you. Whenever you need our help, throw it into the fire, – said the ants.

The young man went on. He walked and walked, and finally, he reached a place where the sky was filled with huge flocks of white birds. These birds were about to tear the prince to pieces, but he quickly spread out the magic tablecloth and prayed to God. The birds were very grateful to the young man for the meal. As they bid him farewell, they gave him a feather and said:

- Whenever you need our help, throw this feather into the fire.

The prince continued on his journey. Whether he walked for a long time or a short time, only he knows. Finally, he reached the capital of the kingdom of Chin-ma-Chin. In the city, after resting in the shade of the plane trees, the young man began looking for a place to stay. He rented a room in an old woman's house and lived there, doing nothing, for a whole week. And then, one morning, he said to his landlady:
- Mother, go to the king and tell him that I want to marry his daughter.
- Son, forget about it. The king will never give his daughter to you. If you don’t want to lose your head, don’t get involved in this matter, - the old woman replied.
- Don’t worry about me. Just do as I ask. I want to marry the princess.

There was nothing else to do. The old woman went to the palace, sat on a bench by the gates, and began to wait. A royal advisor came out and asked:

- What do you want here, old woman?
- My son wants to marry the king’s daughter.

The advisor went to the king and reported:

- There’s a widow of some shepherd outside. She’s proposing her son as a suitor for your daughter.
- Really? Well then, let her in.

The old woman was brought before the king.

- So, so… Tell me, what do you want? - the king asked her.
- My son wants to marry your daughter. That’s why I’ve come to ask for her hand.
- If your son wishes to become my son-in-law, he will have to pass some trials. If he fails even one of them, he will lose his head. So warn him.

The old woman went home and soon returned to the palace with the young man, who had tied a scarf around his head so that his golden hair was not visible.

- Before I give you my daughter, you must pass the trials. You must prove that you are worthy of her, - the king declared.

In the evening, the royal guards locked the young man in a room. On seven large copper platters, they left seven roasted lamb carcasses:

- If you eat all seven carcasses in one night, the king’s daughter is yours. If not, we’ll cut off your head in the morning, - the guards said.

How can one person eat seven lambs? The prince realized that this task was impossible and immediately remembered the seven devs. The young man took a tuft of wool from his pocket and burned it. Then, using the magical key he had obtained from the hovts, he opened the door: the seven devs stood on the threshold. The prince invited them into the room, treated them to the lamb, and then escorted them out and locked the door behind them. Having finished, the young man lay down to sleep. In the morning, the king called the executioner and said:

- Go, cut off the boy’s head and bring it here.

The executioner, seeing that the young man was sleeping soundly and that the roasted lamb carcasses were gone, rushed back to the king and exclaimed:

- He ate it all! Perhaps this young man’s luck will soften your heart?

The king jumped up, put on his shoes, and rushed to the room where the young man was locked. He looked—indeed, all the food was gone.

- It’s a pity you didn’t give me any bread, - the young man smirked, looking at the king. - Or do you only eat bread on holidays?

The king was so astonished he was speechless. He sent the prince home under guard. As the young man was being led through the palace, the princess saw him. She liked the handsome prince so much that she immediately fell in love with him. The next day, the king invited the young man to the palace for lunch. After the meal, the prince was taken to a large room where a whole mountain of grain—rye, wheat, and millet—was scattered, and locked inside.

- I want you to sort all this grain by type, young man, - the king said. - If you fail, you will lose your head.

The prince was disheartened. But suddenly, his gaze cleared—he remembered the ants. He burned a small claw—their gift—and immediately, from everywhere—under the door, from the ceiling, through the windows—ants began to enter the room.

- What can we do for you, golden-haired prince?
- Sort this pile of grain by type: separate the rye, wheat, and millet.

The ants completed the task in two hours. The young man spread out a self-setting tablecloth and generously fed the ants. After they had eaten and left, the prince lay down to sleep. Early in the morning, the king and the executioner went to cut off the young man’s head. Seeing them, the prince did not want to let them in, declaring:

- I don’t trust you. Bring honest people who fear God’s wrath, let them enter first and see my work. Otherwise, people like you might just mix up a handful of grain when you come in.

The king summoned honest people who feared God’s wrath. They entered the room and saw that the grain had been sorted:

- He has won, he should get your daughter, - they said.

Once again, the king invited the prince to lunch. And the next morning, he said:

- I want you to bring your white birds to fight my black birds. If my birds win, you will lose your head. If my birds lose, I will give you my daughter.

The king’s black birds flew out to battle, and the sun darkened—there were so many of them. The prince was at a loss. He didn’t know what to do. Then, like a bolt of lightning, an idea struck him: the feather! He took a bird’s feather, a gift from the birds, from his pocket and burned it. Cutting through the air with powerful wingbeats, countless flocks of white birds appeared. And they clashed in battle, the white birds and the black. The black birds fell from the sky, their lifeless bodies covering the ground. Not a single black bird remained in the sky; the white birds had driven them all away. This time, the young man did not take out the self-setting tablecloth. He didn’t want to do it in the king’s presence.
- "I will treat you later," promised the prince to the white birds. "Now fly back to your nests."

Then, approaching the king, the young man said:

- "May your years be long, O king. Does it not seem to you that I have passed the trials?"

And the king replied:

- "You are right. You have won. My daughter is yours."

For seven days and seven nights, the wedding feast lasted. The prince and the princess became husband and wife. But when they entered the bedroom, the prince drew his sword and placed it on the bed between himself and his wife.

- "What are you doing?" cried the princess. "If only you knew how many brave young men who sought my hand lost their heads!"
- "Forgive me, princess, but for forty days we shall live together as brother and sister."

One day, when the young man was alone in his chambers without a headscarf, the princess unexpectedly entered the room and saw it filled with a golden radiance. She rushed to her father:

- "Come quickly! Look at your son-in-law..."

The king, queen, and princess hurried to the prince's chambers. By that time, he had already tied a scarf around his head. The princess approached him and pulled the scarf off the young man's head. The chambers were once again filled with a wondrous golden light emanating from his golden curls. Only then did the king realize that the young man was none other than the son of the king to whom he paid tribute.

- "Forgive me, prince, for all the dangers I put you through," the king began to plead.
- "What is done is done. I have forgiven you, so allow me to return to my country with your daughter."

The joyful king immediately agreed and sent the young couple on their way, bestowing them with rich gifts and a generous dowry. On their journey home, the newlyweds encountered flocks of white birds, so numerous that it seemed as if winter had come. The prince spread out a self-laying tablecloth and fed them. The birds let them pass. Then they came to the land of ants. The young man fed them as well. The satisfied ants allowed him to continue his journey.

Next, it was time to spread the self-laying tablecloth before the seven devas. Once they were satiated, the devas gladly let them pass. Finally, they reached the place where the dragon awaited them. The prince lifted his head, searching the sky for the dragon. He hoped that his bride would tell the dragon the truth—that they had lived together as brother and sister, not as husband and wife.

- "Why are you so anxiously looking at the sky?" asked the princess.
- "Look! Do you see the dragon? I must hand you over to him," replied the prince.

The girl paled and trembled. As soon as the dragon landed, it shed its dragon skin and transformed into a young man who closely resembled the golden-haired prince's wife. As it turned out, he was none other than the princess's own brother. Brother and sister, with tears in their eyes and joy in their hearts, embraced and kissed. Then they rushed to hug the prince. The girl told her brother how the golden-haired prince had passed all the trials and won her hand.

- "My father was very cruel to all who sought my sister's hand. He built a seven-story house from their skulls," began the princess's brother, speaking to the golden-haired prince. "I could not bear the cruelty of this tyrant. I prayed to God, asking to be transformed into a dragon."

The princess's brother put on the dragon skin and turned into a dragon. He placed the young couple on his back and carried them across the sea.

- "Farewell, my friends," began the princess's brother.
- "Wait, hold on. Will you remain a dragon? Everything has changed now. Perhaps you could start a new life?" asked the golden-haired prince.
- "Actually, I have taken a liking to a certain girl," replied the princess's brother. "I saw her the day I surrounded your father's army at the Forbidden Stream. She is the merchant's youngest daughter. I thought that if she liked me, I might..."
- "That's wonderful," rejoiced the prince. "Come with us."

The three of them safely reached the capital of the kingdom. In the city, the first person they encountered threatened them with his fists. He shouted angrily:

- "How dare you enter our city with a bride in a white dress when we are in mourning and all wear black? Do you not know that our entire kingdom mourns the loss of our golden-haired prince?"

The prince gave him a gold coin and said:

- "Run quickly to the king and tell him that his missing son has returned."

The king rewarded the messenger and, accompanied by musicians, came out of the palace to greet his son. The merchant's youngest daughter sadly watched the welcoming ceremony from her window. The golden-haired prince approached her and said:

- "Come with me, beauty. If your fate is to marry a prince, do not turn away from it."

A great feast was held. Bogo married the merchant's eldest daughter. Bedros married the middle daughter. The princess's brother, Chin-ma-Chin, married the merchant's youngest daughter. As for the golden-haired prince and Princess Chin-ma-Chin, they celebrated their wedding within the walls of their own home. The feast lasted seven days and seven nights. All who wished could come and congratulate the newlyweds. Their dreams had come true, and may yours come true as well.

↑ To the top

The Tale of the Golden-Haired Prince

More fairy tales