The Maiden at War

Once upon a time, there was a king who had three daughters. One day, he received a message calling him to war. But he was old. So he sat and wept, wondering what to do. The eldest daughter came to him and asked:

— What’s wrong, father? Why are you crying?

— It’s none of your concern, you don’t need to know.

— No, father, tell me, or I won’t leave you alone!

— What can I tell you, poor child? I’ve been called to war, but I cannot go.

— Oh, what a misfortune! War and trouble, and I was hoping you were preparing to marry me off!

Then the middle daughter came and asked:

— What’s wrong, father? Why are you crying?

— It’s none of your concern, you don’t need to know.

— No, tell me what happened.

— I won’t tell you, or you’ll answer like your sister.

— No, father, I won’t answer like my sister.

— Listen, my dear, I’ve been called to war, but I am old and cannot go.

— Oh, what a misfortune! War and trouble, and I thought you were preparing to marry me off!

Finally, the youngest daughter came to the king and asked:

— What’s wrong, father? Why are you crying?

— It’s none of your concern, you don’t need to know.

— Tell me, father, tell me, my dear.

— Very well, but don’t answer like your older sisters. Here’s what’s happened, my daughter: I’ve been called to war, but I cannot go, for I am old.

— Stop shedding tears, is this really such a misfortune, father?! Give me men’s clothing and a good horse—I’ll go to war!

— It’s not proper for a maiden to go to war, my daughter.

— Don’t worry, father, I’ll go, I’ll fight—I’ll win the war!

— Very well, my child!

He gave her men’s clothing and a good horse. The princess went to war and won.

It so happened that a prince from a neighboring kingdom was also fighting in that war. On their way back, they stopped at an inn. The prince suspected that one of them was a girl and said to his mother:

— Mother, I think a maiden went to war!

— Nonsense, it’s unheard of for maidens to go to war!

— I’m telling you, mother, it’s definitely a maiden!

— Well then, let’s see what kind of warrior this is. When evening comes, invite him to sleep in the field, and choose a grassy spot. You’ll fall asleep at sunset and wake at dawn. Then look at the grass: if the grass beneath you is greener, then it’s a maiden; if not, it’s a lad.

He did as his mother said. They went out to the field and lay down to sleep. The prince fell asleep, but the girl got up, moved farther away, and lay down there; at dawn, she returned to her original spot. When they rose in the morning, the prince looked—the grass beneath the princess was greener. He went to his mother and said:

— Mother, the grass beneath me is withered, but beneath the warrior, it’s fresh and green.

— What did I tell you? See now, it’s a lad!

— No, — the stubborn prince replied, — it’s a maiden. When we return home, I’ll go to court her!

The prince returned home from the war, put on simple clothes, took spindles, thread, and beads, and went to the city where the princess lived. He stopped beneath the palace windows and called out:

— Who wants thread, who wants beads, who wants spindles!

The maids heard him and ran to the princess:

— Do you hear, mistress, what the foreigner is selling?

— Let him shout.

— Surely we’ll buy something?

— Go ahead, buy what you like.

The maids chose beads and tried to pay with money, but he refused:

— I don’t need gold coins, give me a bowl of millet as payment!

The girls were delighted and brought him a bowl of millet. But the cunning prince, with one hand, poured the millet into his bag, and with the other, scattered it on the ground. He sat and gathered the millet grain by grain until it grew dark. The maids came and asked:

— Why don’t you ask for another bowl? Why are you sitting here picking up grain by grain?

— I don’t want anything else, — he replied, — this millet was my payment, and it’s all I need! But let me stay the night, give me some little room!

The girls let him stay in a small room, and when night fell, he crept to the princess’s window and threw in some sleeping herbs. When she fell into a deep sleep, he grabbed her and carried her off to his homeland.

The princess woke up and saw that everything around her was unfamiliar. She realized who the merchant had been and, filled with anger, pretended to be mute.

A year passed, then three—still the girl remained silent. And with each passing year, the prince’s mother scolded him more:

— Have you lost your mind? You’ve brought home a good bride—mute and deaf! Leave her at once and find another!

There was nothing to be done, so the prince had to court a new bride. They became engaged, and the wedding day arrived. The guests gathered, and the couple was led to the altar. They gave the bride a candle and also gave one to the mute girl. The wax dripped, burning her hand, but she didn’t drop the candle, holding it even tighter. Then they began to say to her:

— Hey, mute one, you’ll burn your hand, drop the candle!

But she acted as if she didn’t hear. The groom approached and said:

— Hey, mute one, you’ll burn your hand, drop the candle!

The princess didn’t even blink. Then the bride in her wedding dress approached:

— Hey, mute one, you’ll burn your hand, drop the candle!

When the princess heard this, she became furious:

— Where do you get off telling me what to do!

The prince heard these words and understood everything. He left the new bride and took the princess as his wife. The wedding was merry, and they lived their lives in happiness and harmony. Perhaps they still live that way to this day.

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The Maiden at War

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