Swan Lake

Golden sword

Odile turned her gaze from Rothbert's face to the huge gate and walked slowly toward it. She climbed the stairs, but each step she passed caused her unbearable pain.

One more step, and she found herself at the gate, next to the huge head of a golden lion. Odile put her hand on the golden key, another minute, and she turned it. Some strange creak was heard around, Odile turned around in horror and saw that Rothbert was not around, and only a violent wind was walking through the caves, like on the steppe. The gates lit up with a bloody light, and Odile recoiled involuntarily. The gates were thrown open, and terrible monsters burst out with a terrible roar. Terrible, with sparkling eyes and clawed paws, possessing great strength, they were able to crush everything. One of them grabbed Odile's hair with its clawed paws, the other scratched her hand, a round dance of death whirled around the princess, and the golden key spread blood in her hands.

Odile fell to the ground, a green monster with terrible paws and fangs looming over her. Suddenly, someone threw the unearthly creature away from her. Odile looked up and saw Christian's face.

“What did I do,” she whispered.

“We have to close the gate,” Christian shouted.

Together they pounced on the gate, slammed it and turned the golden key that appeared in the well. At the same moment everything calmed down and became still calm.

“We won,” Christian whispered, looking at Odile.

“It must be so,” she said sadly.

“Stay with me,” said the prince.

“I can't,” Odile answered, “you will never understand, I am not a human, I am not mortal.”

“But you are beautiful.”

“Like a doll,” she said, “who can love a doll, the queen of black swans.”

“I could.”

“You don’t know yourself. what are you talking about.”

“No, I know,” Christian said, but she hastily turned away.

“Goodbye!” she said and immediately, breaking free from his embrace, turned into a black swan with a golden crown on her head. Christian stood and looked sadly after the flying bird. He had to enter Rothbert's castle again. He needed to find a relic of his family, his father's golden sword, which had once been tricked by Rothbert and Edwin. He had to regain his golden sword and punish those who caused his misfortune.

From behind the bushes a red-haired witch watched the couple in love. She was beside herself with anger. Her plan to destroy Odile and Christian again failed. Rothbert would never have sent Diana's daughter to the gates of hell. For this he had Edwin, before whom all the creatures of the night trembled.

There was no point in going back to the castle tonight. The empty hut, in which the hunters fled from the weather, came in very handy. First of all, Christian took care of the horse, then settled down for the night himself. The night was calm but cold. Christian clasped his arms across his chest to keep warm. It was safe in the house, no one looked into it at night. The prince was drawn to sleep, he fell asleep as soon as he lay down and did not remember what he dreamed.

Christian was awakened by a noise, and it seemed to him that a hand in a steel knight's glove touched him. The prince opened his eyes, a bright light blinded him.

In the middle of the hut there was a huge long table, behind it there were many empty seats. On the table were golden dishes: jugs decorated with precious stones, cups, plates and dishes of gold. In the center of the table lay the king's golden crown. Christian recognized it, it was the crown of the king of his country.

Dazed Christian got up involuntarily.

At the head of the table was a luxurious chair that resembled a throne. It bore the coat of arms of his kingdom, and he recognized the chair of his father the king. Nearby was a diamond engagement ring. It was worthy of only one girl in the world, and Christian knew her, that was Princess Odile. He took the ring and examined it, the diamonds on it sparkled and shimmered in brilliance. It was well stocked and designed for the thin finger of a gentle hand.

“That would be my present for your wedding,” a voice suddenly sounded from beside him. Christian looked up and immediately recognized the knight standing in front of him. With him was the ghost of his father, who was killed by a merciless killer.

“Father,” broke out from Christian, he looked in amazement at the vision that appeared before him.

“But you're dead,” Christian whispered, “you were killed many years ago.”

“I have to come here every night, and I will have to until you manage, even for a few minutes, to deprive the golden dragon. He holds my soul captive, only you can set me free.”

“I’ll do it,” Christian said. “I swear to avenge you, no matter what it takes.”

“It will be very difficult. The golden dragon has tremendous strength, but it can be paralyzed for a short time with a golden sword.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Do it for your love.”

“You know,” said Christian and sadly lowered his eyes, He could not forget the black swan and his love for Odile

“This ring,” said the king, “I wanted to give to your mother, but she broke me apart before I died. Then I decided to give it to your wedding, it is for the one you love, if she wears it, she will love you forever.”

“I love not just a day.”

“You love the black swan, Rothbert's daughter. Princess Odile is the most beautiful woman in the world and that's why you love her.”

Christian looked at the ring. Diamonds sparkled and shimmered with wondrous brilliance.

“Your brother also fell in love with a girl - a swan.”

“I know,” said the prince.

“His fate is as dangerous as yours. You fell in love with enchanted beauties.”

“Odile is bewitched, her father is an evil genius, he will never remove his curse from her.

“Then you must remove it from her.”

“But how?”

“You must deprive, at least for a short time, the powers of King Rothbert and the golden dragon. The curse will fall as soon as they are defeated, even for a minute.”

“Look at this crown,” said the king, pointing to the glittering crown in the center of the table. “It was a symbol of my power. If you prove yourself worthy of it, you too will become the king of a great country.”

“Farewell,” was heard in the silence, and the king slowly sat down on the throne at the head of the table. Immediately everything disappeared: the table, the crown, and the king himself, as before, emptiness reigned in the lonely house. Now Christian knew what he had to do, he had to find a golden sword and with its help paralyze enemies.

Night enveloped the high cliffs of the swan lakes. They were an irresistible force, dividing the human world with the witchcraft. At the very top, between heaven and earth, was kept a gem ring with a huge bloody ruby. It was kept in a crystal box with a lock on the box, the key to which was kept by the elves. The casket was guarded by two troll watchmen, more terrible than all of Rothbert's monsters.

The golden dragon soared in the sky, sparkling with its needle-hard brush. He quickly swept across the sky, over the rock, and rushed like a stone to the chest. No sooner had the trolls take up their spears than he broke the crystal box, grabbed the gem ring and flew away. The relic of evil has been stolen.

Odile walked slowly along the long gallery of the castle, on both sides of which torches blazed. Lighting up her passage. Suddenly, right in front of her, the golden dragon hit the ground and turned into Edwin.

Odile was calm, She was used to the transformations of her friend. She was not frightened by the appearance of the golden dragon, who protected her from all troubles.

“You're here again,” she said dispassionately.

“I’m ready to stay by your side forever, damn swan,” he replied, “I alone am not afraid of your curse, because I myself am cursed.”

“No,” she objected, “you are in love with your curse, you could not be a simple person.”

He was silent for a moment, but then he was the first to break the gnawing silence.

“What could be interesting in ordinary people? They are mortal, and I am eternal, and I can make you immortal too.”

“My father has already done it, because he is the king of all evil, I am a black swan, I have no right to love, like any other girl.”

“You could love me, not a prince of a distant land, not a mortal man. I am one of the masters of the shadow world, and he is a simple man. I will destroy him, he will pay me for everything.”

Odile lowered her eyes sadly, no, she could not forget Christian.

“I came to make you a present,” Edwin said finally, and handed her a golden ring with a scarlet ruby.

“This is it,” Odile whispered, “a ruby ​​gem. The stone about which legends are made, because it is priceless.”

“It proves my love for you,” Edwin replied.

“I cannot take it, it is worth the gold of the whole world, there is nothing more valuable than it in the kingdom of witchcraft.”

Odile looked at the stone. The temptation was too great. Her hand trembled as she accepted Edwin's gift. The ring suited her, it was deceiving and sinister, like her wonderful beauty.

“How did you get it?” Odile asked involuntarily.

“I just proved my power over the witchcraft world,” he replied, “you know that this is not a simple stone, it is a miracle of witchcraft, I brought it to you so that you will forever remain the ruler of the kingdom of darkness and a worthy daughter of your father.”

“Put it on,” Edwin asked, and Odile, not knowing why. obeyed his request. as an order. She slipped the ring onto her thin white finger and the ruby ​​shone even brighter on her hand. An ominous smile flickered across Edwin's lips as he saw his wish fulfilled.

Christian, meanwhile, drove up to the castle. He stopped at one of the fortress walls. He had to somehow overcome it in order to get into the castle unnoticed. The wall was even and smooth, but the prince noticed that in the neat masonry one of the stones protruded from the wall more strongly than the others. Christian pressed his hand down on him, and the wall opened in front of him, freeing a mysterious passage into the castle.

Christian entered and found himself on a long staircase, he quickly began to descend the steps and finally found himself in an underground cave, where on one side there was a road, on the other a river flowed.

The water smelled of rot and mold, but Christian walked on without stopping. The further he went, the cleaner the water in the river became. He stopped, and the water under his feet was already clear, spring and fresh, like a winter morning. The bottom of the river shone with gold. It was, however, pure gold. What riches did Rothbert have, if even the bottom of the river in his castle was golden, and the water was fresh and clear as crystal.

Christian moved on. Soon his path was blocked by a lattice overgrown with moss and mold, or a small gate, the Prince pressed on them, and they opened before him. He saw a long, winding staircase leading up. Christian began to climb up.

Suddenly, before he even had time to walk a few steps, a golden hand emerged from the river and grabbed his clothes. Christian lost his balance and fell, and two hands were made of pure gold, like a statue, but alive and strong, grabbed him by the neck and began to strangle him.

Christian pulled free and dashed away, up the stairs. Further on his way there were no obstacles. He safely climbed the stairs and found himself in a round room, bounded on all sides by stone walls. Is it a trap?

He leaned wearily against one of the walls and barely stood on his feet. The wall opened right in front of him, and now he looked into the eyes of the stone statue and could not look away. It was a statue of a girl in a crown of gold, studded with precious stones. It was hardly possible to find a girl in the world more beautiful than this stone queen, but Christian could not believe himself, the statue had Odile's face.

He looked at her for a long time, there was everything in her to call her perfection or a miracle of beauty. Only her eyes were sad and thoughtful, like those of a beauty who had lost her love. Maybe Rothbert was once in love, maybe it was Odile's mother, turned to stone after death.

Christian couldn't stay longer in one place. He hurried towards the dark tunnel that opened to the left of the stone statue. He did not have to walk for a long time, soon he found himself in a circle of torches, and the old man's ugly hand fell on the prince's shoulder.

“Do you want to come in here?” the ghost hissed.

“Yes,” Christian replied without fear.

“Do you agree to accept all the happiness and all the troubles that the relic that is kept here promises you?”

“Yes,” the prince confirmed.

“Then come in and take the golden sword,” said the ghost and disappeared into the darkness. Christian went to an iron door covered with mysterious inscriptions and drawings.

Christian pressed on the door and it opened in front of him. A bright dazzling light hit him in the eyes, he stood on the threshold of a huge bright hall filled from top to bottom with mountains of gold and jewelry. Gold coins and gold bars towered in huge heaps. There were also precious stones and expensive jewelry. Rothbert's wealth knew no bounds. In the center of the room, on a dais, lay a sword with a golden hilt, the one that the prince was looking for.

He walked over and took the sword. It flashed in his hand, finally finding her real master. It was time to get out of here. Christian tightly gripped the sword in his hand, and soon he was already in the living quarters of the castle. He could not resist, even for a glimpse of Odile sleeping. It was dangerous, but he made up his mind. He entered the half-open door, the room was dark, and he himself did not know how to get to bed to look at Odile. Suddenly a bright light flashed before his eyes.

“Looking for a second relic of evil, Prince Christian?” came a haughty voice, and he saw Odile, in a black dress, with her hair down, reclining on the furs. Beside her, in the luxury of the royal palace, a small golden dragon curled and hissed, and she hugged him with one hand.

The beauty was calm, being next to the monster, and the dragon hissed and wriggled next to her.

“Odile,” Christian said pleadingly, “have you really become the same as the king of evil, I remembered you alive and beautiful, and now ...”

“Now I am a black swan,” she said mockingly, “now I am a worthy daughter of an evil king.”

“No, you are the same as you were many years ago, I could not forget you. You are a fabulous beauty, you could not become evil.”

“But still I became one.”

They looked into each other's eyes, and none of them could forget the past. They were a former couple in love who could not forget their feelings and their love.

“You are the same again,” Christian whispered, and at that moment it was no longer a golden dragon, but Edwin stood between them, separated from Christian only by the blade of his golden sword.

“That's right,” Edwin hissed, “you are a robber, Prince Christine, and you deserve to die under the laws of this country.”

Christian already did not care, Odile refused him. He threw aside the unnecessary sword and stared silently at Odile.

“Grab him,” Edwin shouted. Christian was immediately grabbed by several black knights and dragged away. Odile wept bitterly. Edwin looked at her without a word and left the room.

Christian found himself in a dungeon, the steel door slammed shut behind him, there was no salvation and could not be, because who was a more dangerous enemy of Rothbert than Prince Christian, who wholeheartedly loved his daughter.

Chill emanated from the icy dark walls that hung heavy chains. He was here only through his own fault. He could not blame Odile, it was beyond his strength. He loved her both as a black-haired girl - a princess, and as a dazzling adult beauty. Love for her ruined him, now he had only one thing - to wait for the moment of his own death, he could not do anything else, could not save his beloved from eternal damnation.

Odile was bewitched, she was innocent.

Christian cast a long, sad look at his prison, apparently soon he will be executed. As he dies, he will remember the incomparable beauty, his black swan.

What is his brother doing now? Was he able to find his happiness, because he also loved the swan princess.

Christian pulled out of his pocket a gold ring his father had given him. How beautiful it was, how Odile fit. After admiring the ring, the prince put it back in his pocket. For him, the ring was a guarantee of their love, he will die with him.

The door of his dungeon suddenly flung open, and the guard who appeared behind it fell unconscious because someone hit him on the head. Christian could not believe that Odile had dealt the blow. She came here to help him. Christian rushed to her.

“Odile,” he blurted.

“As you can see,” she said, “I came here, risking everything to save your worthless life. Now, if we are hanged, then both are near.”

She walked around the camera.

“Yes, life here is not sugar,” she said, seeing a rat in the next corner, “do you think we will have to wait for execution in the same luxurious place? By the way, where are the gallows: in the yard or right here, I have never seen them,” she explained patiently.

“You came,” Christian said with relief.

“Why didn't you defend yourself?” she asked, “after all, you had a golden sword in your hands, with it you could defeat anyone.”

“I could not.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to die if you do not love me.”

“And because of such stupidity I had to come here,” Odile was indignant, “I can advise you one thing, collect the surviving things and run to your kingdom, there you have more chances to live than here.”

Christian just looked at her sadly. Odile could no longer restrain herself, she went up to him and kissed him.

“It was in vain that I hid my lies,” she said, “you are right, Prince Christian, we are nothing without each other, but I cannot sacrifice anything for our love.”

“Leave with me,” offered Christian, “we will run away from this country together.”

“It's impossible to escape the wrath of the king of darkness,” she replied thoughtfully.

“I can save you.”

“From my curse?” she asked mockingly, "no one can save me from it."

“But we can think of something!”

“It's impossible.”

Odile shook her head sadly.

“All is lost,” she said, “I’m a black swan, and you’re a simple person, but an enchanted beauty can also love.’

“Odile,” Christian said and touched her hand. He could not leave this land without her, he came here only for the sake of love for her, but rescuing her from the kingdom of darkness was much more difficult than he initially thought. however, there was always a way out, and Christian was not going to go.

“It's time for you to leave,” Odile said, “dawn is coming soon, and they will come here.”

Odile listened warily to the silence, as if she heard the distant footsteps of approaching danger.

“I will never forget you,” said the princess.

“I can’t part with you,” Christian said in dismay.

“You must,” Odile cut him off, “you cannot stay here any longer, otherwise you will perish.”

‘I do not want to leave.”

“I beg you,” Odile said.

“Okay,” Christian agreed, “but I won't leave this country. I will save you.”

“Go away,” Odile repeated, “you must save your life. I ask you about it.”

“Yes,” Christian said and gave her one last look.

“Goodbye,” came the silence.

Odile looked after him sadly, she knew that she would never forget Prince Christian and his love.