Evil Fate
Once upon a time, there lived seven sisters, seven royal daughters. The sisters grew up in the palace, free from worries and sorrows. As the saying goes: for the rich and happy, even a candle shines like the sun.But as soon as the eldest daughter turned twenty-one, and the youngest, Santina, reached her fifteenth year, happiness abandoned the royal family. An enemy army attacked the kingdom. The king lost his army, then his throne, and eventually, he himself was taken captive. The queen and her seven daughters had to flee to a foreign kingdom and take refuge in a remote forest, in a dark hut that once belonged to a charcoal burner.
Now the royal family learned the second half of the proverb: for the poor and unfortunate, even the sun smokes like a tallow candle. Instead of soft down pillows and satin blankets, they had bare planks barely covered with dry grass. Instead of golden and silver dishes, they had one clay bowl and eight wooden spoons. And what was in the bowl? Sometimes a thin gruel, and sometimes nothing at all. That’s how they lived.
One evening, the queen mother stepped out of the hut to sit by the doorstep. An old, very old woman approached her with a basket in her hands and asked:
"Would you like to buy some wine berries?"
"Ah, kind woman," the queen sighed in response, "not long ago, I could have bought a hundred such baskets from you. But now I don’t have a single coin. Take this comb and give me seven wine berries for my seven daughters."
"I don’t need your comb," said the old woman, "I’ll give you the berries anyway. Tell me about your sorrow. Perhaps I can help."
The queen told the old woman everything that had happened to them over the past year.
The old woman listened, shook her head, and said:
"Poor queen! One of your daughters has an evil fate. All your misfortunes stem from this. As long as the girl Fortuna—the girl of Misfortune—is with you, don’t expect any luck."
"Which of my daughters has an evil fate?" asked the queen.
"The one who sleeps with her arms crossed over her chest," replied the old woman. "Send her away, and everything will turn out well."
Then she picked up her basket from the ground and disappeared among the trees.
The queen entered the hut, lit a candle, and bent over her eldest daughter. She slept with her arms stretched out. The second daughter had her arms thrown behind her head, the third rested her hands under her cheek, the fourth tucked them under her pillow, the fifth covered her eyes with one hand, and the sixth let her arm dangle down. Each time, the queen sighed with relief. But when she brought the candle to the youngest daughter, Santina, she nearly cried out—the youngest daughter slept with her arms crossed over her chest.
The queen knelt by her bed and wept bitterly. Tears streamed from her eyes. One hot tear fell on the girl’s cheek. She woke up and heard what her mother was saying.
"Oh, my dear daughter! You are so loving and tender, could you truly bring misfortune? No, no, my poor Santina, I will never call you Fortuna, no matter what the old woman says. I will never send you away. We will share everything that your evil fate brings."
It was bitter for the young princess to hear this, but she lay still as a mouse and gave no sign that she was awake.
When her mother, after weeping, dozed off, Santina got up, tied her belongings into a bundle—an old dress, a comb, and a wooden spoon—took one last look at her sleeping sisters and mother, and left the hut.
She walked through the forest until dawn, and as soon as the sun rose, she reached a plain. As far as the eye could see, there were no hills or bushes, only one house standing on the plain. The princess approached the house and peered through the window. She saw three women sitting at looms, weaving. One wove with golden threads, another with silver, and the third wove red threads on a blue background. Under the skilled fingers of the weavers, the threads formed such beautiful patterns that the princess couldn’t take her eyes off them.
Suddenly, the one weaving with gold raised her head and noticed the girl. The weaver stood up and opened the door.
"Would you like to come in?" she asked.
"If I may," replied the princess.
"What is your name?"
The princess thought, "If I truly bring misfortune, let me be called Misfortune—Fortuna." So she told the weavers, and then added:
"If you let me stay in this house, I will serve you. If not, I will move on."
"Very well," said the weavers. "Stay."
And Fortuna set to work. She swept the floor, lit the fire in the hearth, and began to cook.
By noon, the meal was ready. The weavers ate, praised the skilled cook, and returned to their looms.
As the sun began to set, the eldest of the weavers, the one who wove blue and red patterns, said:
"Today we are invited as guests. The journey is not short, and we won’t return until morning. Guard the house well in our absence. Our yarn is made of silver, gold, and silk, and the fabrics from our looms have been ordered by the king himself for the wedding attire of the bride. Bolt the door behind us, and we will hang a large lock outside." The weavers put on their festive dresses and left.
Fortuna tidied everything up, washed the dishes, then laid a straw mattress in the corner and, after blowing out the candle, fell asleep.
She woke up exactly at midnight. It seemed to her that someone was walking around the room. Something clinked and rustled.
"Who’s there?" the girl cried out.
In response, a creaky old woman's voice came from the darkness:
"It's me, your fate. In the morning, you'll see what a lovely little gift I've prepared for you." And fate let out a piercing giggle.
Then everything fell silent. Fortuna thought, "The door is firmly locked from the inside and outside, no one can enter the house. Surely, I must be dreaming."
Thinking this, she turned to her other side and closed her eyes.
In the morning, the weavers returned and loudly knocked on the door.
The princess jumped up and opened the door for the mistresses. A ray of sunlight burst into the room. Fortuna turned pale, and the weavers gasped in shock. The expensive yarn was tangled and torn, and the golden and silver fabrics were cut into pieces. This was the work of Fortuna's wicked fate.
"Oh, you wretch!" the weavers shouted at the poor girl. "Is this how you repay our kindness? Get out of here!"
Kicks and shoves rained down on her. And once again, the young princess wandered off, not knowing where she was going.
By evening, she arrived at some village. Friendly lights already glowed in all the windows. At this hour, families gathered around the hearth for dinner after a day of work. But there was no place for Fortuna in any of these houses. She couldn't bring herself to knock on any door. Fortuna trudged to the square and sat down on the stone step of a wealthy house's porch.
Soon, the owner came out to close the shutters and saw the girl.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I have no strength left to walk," Fortuna replied. "Please, don't send me away."
"Girl, it seems you don't know who you're dealing with. I supply wine to the king himself. I can't let you sit here on the steps. Get up and come inside."
Fortuna entered.
"Climb onto these wine barrels and sleep," the owner said. "They won't be harmed; it's just ordinary wine. As for the wine prepared for the king's wedding, it's sealed in ten small barrels and stored right here in the cellar."
And the owner boastfully tapped on the hatch door in the floor.
Exhausted, Fortuna fell into a deep sleep. Just before dawn, she had a strange dream. She dreamed she was sitting by a stream. The stream ran over pebbles, babbling and murmuring like a child. Its song was so sweet to listen to, yet Fortuna felt inexplicably afraid.
Then she woke up in fright and suddenly heard someone muttering in a creaky voice:
"Ten red streams, gather into a lake! I know my business, and the girl won't escape me."
Poor Fortuna realized that her wicked fate had caused more trouble. The princess screamed loudly:
"Help! Help!"
The sleepy owner came running with a candle. And what did he see? No one was in the shop except the girl. The hatch was open. Wine was splashing in the cellar. Ten empty barrels floated on top.
What could poor Fortuna say? Silently, she endured the scolding and beatings.
After shouting his fill, the owner pushed her out the door.
Bursting into bitter tears, Fortuna wandered off again, going wherever her feet took her. By noon, she reached the bank of a river and saw a woman washing clothes.
"Hey," the woman said, "a helper has come to Franchesca the laundress. Isn't that right, girl?"
"If you'll allow me," Fortuna replied, "I'd gladly help you."
"Well, then get to work," said Franchesca the laundress. "I'll soap, and you rinse."
Their work went quickly. The sun hadn't yet tired of shining, and all the laundry was already hung up. As soon as it dried, Fortuna sat down on the grass and began mending holes. Franchesca started helping her, but her work was much worse.
"Just think," the laundress said, "for twenty years I've been washing and mending clothes for our young king, and I always thought no one in the world could do it better than me. But now I see I'm only fit to be your apprentice. Here's what, child, stay and live with me."
"Oh, kind woman," the girl replied, "I dare not even cross the threshold of your house. It's no accident I'm called Fortuna. My wicked fate brings misfortune to me and to any house I enter."
"Well, that's nonsense!" Franchesca said. "Fate is, of course, an important thing. But a person isn't a weathervane to turn wherever the wind blows. One can turn against the wind, and even make a wicked fate kinder. Sit here, I'll be back soon."
In less than an hour, the laundress returned. She brought two large, golden-brown pretzels.
- Take these pretzels, - she said to Fortuna, - and go downstream along the river. The river will lead you to the sea. Stand on the seashore and call for my fate.
- How can one call for fate? - Fortuna asked in surprise.
- It's very simple. Shout loudly: "Oh-ho-ho! The fate of Francesca-ah-ah!" And do this three times. Then my fate will appear. Be polite to her, but, well, I don’t need to teach you that... Give my fate one pretzel, bow to her on my behalf, and ask her how to find your own fate. Give the second pretzel to your fate.
Fortuna walked and walked until she reached the seashore. Three times she called for Francesca’s fate, and it appeared before her.
- Signora Fate of Francesca! Francesca sends you her greetings and this pretzel. And also, if it pleases you, teach me how to find my own fate.
- I can teach you, - said Francesca’s fate. - But you won’t be happy about this meeting. Your fate is a nasty old hag. But if you want, listen. Do you see the mountain trail leading into the hills? Follow it. When you reach the gorge, turn into the first crevice between the rocks. In the darkest corner, there’s a stove, and by the stove, an old woman is bustling about. That is your fate. As for how to talk to her, well, you’ll have to figure that out yourself, because even the devil couldn’t reason with her. Fortuna thanked Francesca’s fate and went to find her own fate.
Here was the gorge, here was the crevice, here was the stove. And here was Fortuna’s fate. Oh, what a sight she was! Gray hair hung in dirty clumps, her hooked nose was smeared with soot, and her dress was torn to shreds. The young princess was almost sixteen, and one could swear that in all those years, her fate had never once washed.
- Why have you come? - the old woman growled when she saw Fortuna. - When I need you, I’ll find you myself. For now, get out of here.
- I’ll leave now, dear Signora, my fate. But first, take this pretzel as a gift.
- As if I need your gifts! - said the fate, turning her back to the girl.
But Fortuna thought the old woman’s voice had softened just a little.
The girl placed the pretzel on the stove and quietly left.
Meanwhile, the laundress Francesca took the laundry to the king. The young king looked at the laundry and exclaimed:
- Nya Francesca.
The king called the laundress Nya Francesca - Aunt Francesca - because for as long as he could remember, he had known her, as she had even washed his diapers. So, seeing the laundry, he exclaimed:
- Nya Francesca, you’ve never washed better than today. How white it is! And the mending! It’s more beautiful than the lace on my shirts. Here are ten scudi extra for your payment.
Francesca was overjoyed and bought all sorts of good things with the money - a dress for Fortuna, shoes for Fortuna, and a black lace shawl for her head.
Fortuna stayed with Francesca for a whole week. Sunday passed, Monday came, and on Mondays, Francesca always had a big royal laundry. They set to work together. By noon, everything was washed, and then Fortuna spent the whole night mending and ironing.
In the morning, when the laundress brought the laundry to the king, he said:
- Ah, Nya Francesca, you’re becoming more skilled with each passing day. How neatly the folds are pressed! And the white collars rise like sea foam.
And the king gave the laundress a full twenty scudi extra. Nya Francesca thanked the king and went shopping again. This time, she bought another dress, shoes, and a beautiful headscarf. But that wasn’t all; she also bought soap, a sponge, a comb, and a whole bottle of precious rose oil.
The laundress brought the purchases home and said to Fortuna:
- Look at the gifts I’ve prepared for your fate. I’ll bake a pretzel now, and you’ll go visit her. Dress her in all the new things, but first, wash her thoroughly.
Fortuna’s fate was as dirty as before, but she greeted the girl more kindly.
- Did you bring the pretzel? - she asked when she saw Fortuna.
- Of course, dear Signora, my fate. And she handed the pretzel to the old woman.
As soon as the fate approached Fortuna, the girl grabbed her firmly by the hands and dragged her to the stream. Oh, how the old woman screamed when Fortuna scrubbed her with the soapy sponge!
- I don’t want to wash! I don’t want to wash! - she cried, struggling.
But Fortuna paid no attention to her cries. She washed her fate clean, combed her hair, dressed her in a new beautiful dress, put her in new squeaky shoes, and poured the entire bottle of rose oil over her.
Oh, what a sweet, kind old woman stood before her now! And she smelled like ten rose bushes. As everyone knows, all women, even the oldest, love new clothes. The fate couldn’t stop admiring herself. She kept adjusting the ruffles on her skirt, squeaking her new shoes, and trying on the shawl.
- You’re a clever girl, - she said to Fortuna. - This is how it goes: if a person has an evil fate, all they do is complain and curse it. So it becomes even worse. No one ever thinks that they should try to make their fate more beautiful. You, my dear, did just that. Now everything will go well for you. Thank you for the gifts, and take this little gift from me.
And the fate gave Fortuna a small box. The girl kissed the old woman on both cheeks and hurried back to Francesca.
Together with Francesca, they opened the little box. And what was inside? Just a small piece of braid, about the length of a finger.
"Your fate isn't very generous," said Francesca, and she tucked the box into a drawer of the dresser.
Well, on Monday, as usual, Sfortuna and Francesca washed the laundry, and on Tuesday, the laundress carried it to the palace.
This time, the king didn't even glance at the laundry, so preoccupied was he.
"Your Majesty," said the laundress, "Madam Francesca dares to ask you, what is troubling you?"
"Ah, Madam Francesca, I have a thousand troubles and a hundred worries. You see, my advisors have found me a bride in a foreign kingdom. I've never even seen this bride, and I don't want to marry her at all. But once my advisors get something into their heads, they won't let it go. So I agreed."
"What's so bad about that?" said Francesca. "A wedding is a joyful occasion."
"Well, I'm not joyful at all. First of all, I have no wine for the wedding. Some girl wandered into my supplier's place and drained all the best wine from the barrels..."
"That's not such a disaster!" said Francesca. "When the guests have danced enough, they won't care what kind of wine they drink to quench their thirst."
"Secondly," continued the king, "the bride demanded that I gift her three dresses—one of gold, one of silver, and one of blue and crimson brocade. Three weavers wove the brocade. But some girl wandered in and cut up all the precious fabrics."
"Ah, Your Majesty," said Francesca, "the most beautiful attire for a bride is a white dress."
"That's what I decided, too. A dress of white silk is already ready. The hem is trimmed with braid. But here's the trouble! Imagine, Madam Francesca, we ran out of braid. Just a tiny piece, about the length of a finger, is missing. And there's no more of that braid in the entire kingdom."
"Your Majesty!" exclaimed the laundress. "Wait, I'll be right back."
Francesca ran home, rummaged through the dresser, and brought the king the little box with the braid. It was indistinguishable from the braid used to trim the bride's dress.
"Well, Madam Francesca!" exclaimed the king. "You've saved me from shame before the foreign princess. For this, I will give you as much gold as your braid weighs."
They began to weigh the piece of braid. First on small scales, then on medium ones, then on the largest ones. But no matter how much gold they poured, the braid always weighed more.
"Madam Francesca," asked the king, "tell me the truth: whose braid is this?"
Francesca told him about Sfortuna. The king wished to see the girl.
And so Sfortuna, in her new dress, came to the palace. As soon as the king and Sfortuna saw each other, they fell in love. And there was nothing surprising about it, for both were young and beautiful.
The king immediately called his advisors and said:
"You searched for a bride for me overseas. But I have found her in my own kingdom. If any of you prefer the foreign princess, let him marry her himself."
And the king ordered everything to be prepared for the wedding.
Then he summoned the three weavers and the wine supplier. They were stunned when they saw the king's bride.
The king paid them for the ruined brocade and the spilled wine and sent them away in peace.
Now no one called the princess Sfortuna, for she was no longer the girl of misfortune. She was now called by the name her father and mother had given her—Santina.
Three days before the wedding, Santina said to her fiancé:
"Ah, Your Majesty, how I wish I could know about my dear mother and sisters, about my unfortunate father."
"Calm yourself, dear Santina," replied the king. "On the day I first saw you, I sent messengers to the neighboring kingdom. Today the messengers returned with joyful news. Your father, the king, escaped from captivity, gathered an army, and reclaimed his throne. Your mother, the queen, and your sisters are now on their way. They are coming here."
Santina's joy knew no bounds.
The wedding day arrived. At the lavish table, in the place of honor, sat the newlyweds, with Santina's father, mother, and six sisters seated beside them. Of course, Madam Francesca was there too.
And behind the bride's chair stood another guest. She nodded joyfully every time she heard Santina's laughter. But no one could see this guest except the young queen, for it was her own fate.
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