SHORT STORIES

The Golden Eagle

There was once a king who had a wonderful pleasure garden behind his palace, complete with a tree that produced golden apples. When the apples began to ripen, they were counted, but one was missing the next morning. When the King learned of this, he ordered that a watch be kept beneath the tree every night.

The King had three sons, the eldest of whom he dispatched into the garden as soon as night fell; but when midnight came, he couldn't keep himself awake, and the apple vanished again the next morning.

The second son was assigned to stand watch the next night, and he did not fare much better; as soon as twelve o'clock struck, he fell asleep, and an apple was missing the next morning.

Now it was the third son's turn to watch, and he was fully prepared, but the King had little faith in him, believing that he would be of no more service than his siblings, so he finally let him go. The young man lay down beneath the tree, but he remained alert and did not succumb to sleep.

Something rustled through the air as the clock struck twelve, and he saw a gold-feathered bird approaching in the moonlight. The bird had just plucked an apple from the tree when the youth shot an arrow at him. The bird flew away, but the arrow had struck his plumage, and one of his golden feathers fell to the ground. The youth picked it up and took it to the King the next morning, telling him what he had seen the night before.The King summoned his council, and everyone declared that a feather like this was worth more than the entire kingdom. ”

The eldest son walked out, confident in his abilities and believing that he would easily locate the Golden Bird. He primed his g*n and took aim at a Fox sitting at the edge of a wooded area after a short distance. "Do not shoot me!" pleaded the Fox. I'll give you some sound advice in exchange. You're on your way to the Golden Bird, and this evening you'll arrive in a village with two inns facing each other. One of them is brightly lit, and everything appears to be running smoothly inside, but do not enter it; instead, enter the other, even if it appears to be a horrible one."

"How can such a bumbling beast offer wise counsel?" ", the King's son reasoned, pulling the trigger. He did, however, miss the Fox, who extended out his tail and dashed into the woods.

So he continued on his journey and arrived in the village by dark, when he saw two inns, one of which was singing and dancing and the other of which had a dismal, miserable appearance. He thought to himself, "I would be a fool indeed if I went into the shabby tavern and passed by the good one." So he went into the cheery one, lived there in riot and revelry, and forgot the bird and his father, and all good counsels.

After some time had passed and the eldest son had not returned home for month after month, the second set off in search of the Golden Bird. The Fox greeted him as he had the eldest and offered him sound advice, which he ignored. When he arrived at the two inns, his brother was standing at the window of the one where the music was coming from, calling out to him. He couldn't stand it any longer and went inside to live just for pleasure.

After some time had gone, then't's youngest son desired to go out and try his luck, but his father refused. "It's pointless," he muttered, "he'll find the Golden Bird even less than his brothers, and if a mishap befalls him, he'll have no idea how to save himself; he's a bit lackingn't." But, as he couldn't sleep, he finally let him go.

The Fox was sitting outside the woods once more, begging for his life and offering his wise counsel. "Be easy, little Fox," the adolescent murmured, "I'm not going to hurt you."

"You shall not repent it," the Fox said, "and to get on more swiftly, get up behind my tail." He hadn't even sat on when the Fox started running, and away he raced over stock and stone until his hair whistled in the wind. When they arrived in the settlement, the young man dismounted; he followed the wise advice and entered the small inn without glancing around, where he spent the night quietly.

The next morning, as soon as he entered the open country, the Fox was already waiting for him, saying, "I will tell you more about what you have to do.Go on straight until you come to a castle, in front of which a whole regiment of soldiers is lying, but do not worry about them, because they will all be asleep and snoring.Go straight through the middle of them straight into the castle, and go through all the rooms, until you come to a chamber where a Golden Bird.

When he arrived at the castle, he discovered everything as the Fox had said. The King's son entered the chamber where the Golden Bird was imprisoned in a wooden cage, guarded by a golden one, and the three golden apples were scattered around the room. "However," he reasoned, "it would be silly if I left the lovely bird in the common and unattractive cage," so he opened the door, grabbed it, and placed it in the golden cage. However, the bird let out a piercing screech at the same time. Soldiers rushed in, awoke him, and took him to prison. He was summoned before a court of justice the next morning and sentenced to death after confessing everything.

The King, on the other hand, stated that he would offer him his life on one condition: that he bring him the Golden Horse, which could run faster than the wind, and that in that event, he would receive the Golden Bird in addition to his life.

The King's son set out, but he sighed and groaned again, because how could he possibly find the Golden Horse? But then he noticed his old friend the Fox sitting on the side of the road. "Look at you," the Fox continued, "this has happened because you didn't pay attention to me." However, keep your wits about you. I'll offer you my assistance and explain to you how to find the Golden Horse. You must continue straight until you reach a castle, where the horse is stabled. The grooms will be sleeping and snoring in front of the stable, allowing you to quietly lead out the Golden Horse. But one thing you must remember: mount on him the common wood and leather saddle, not the golden one that hangs nearby, or else it will make you sick." Then the Fox spread out his tail, the King's son sat on it, and away they went, over stock and stone, until their hair whistled in the wind.

Everything went exactly as the Fox had predicted; the prince arrived at the stable where the Golden Horse was stabled, but as he was about to mount him with the ordinary saddle, he thought to himself, "It will be a shame to such a beautiful beast if I do not give him the good saddle that is rightfully his."

However, the horse began to neigh loudly as soon as the gold helmet reached him. The grooms arose, seized the young man, and imprisoned him. The next morning, he is condemned to death by the court. However, the King agreed to give him his life, as well as the Golden Horse, if he could return the lovely princess from the Golden Castle.

The young man headed out with a sorrowful heart, but happily for him, he soon came across the dependable Fox. "I should just leave you to your misfortune," the Fox replied, "but I pity you, and will get you out of your predicament once more." This route leads directly to the Golden Castle, which you will reach by evening; and at night, when all is peaceful, the lovely princess retires to the bathing-house to wash. When she enters, go up to her and kiss her; she will then follow you, and you can take her away with you; however, do not allow her to leave her parents first, otherwise you will become ill."

The Fox then extended out his tail, the King's son sat on it, and off the Fox went, over stock and stone, until his hair whistled in the breeze.

It was just as the Fox had predicted when he arrived at the Golden Castle. He waited till midnight, when everything was quite asleep and the lovely princess was on her way to the bathing-house. Then he leapt to his feet and kissed her. She expressed her desire to accompany him, but she begged him pitifully and tearfully to allow her to leave her parents first. He initially refused her prayer, but as she sobbed more and more and fell at his feet, he finally gave in. But no sooner had the girl arrived at her father's bedside than he and the rest of the castle awoke, and the boy was apprehended and imprisoned.

"Your life is forfeited," the King remarked the next morning, "and you can only find mercy if you remove the hill that sits in front of my windows and prevent me from looking beyond it; and you must complete it all within eight days." If you do that, you will be rewarded with my daughter."

The King's son began digging and shoveling without stopping, but when he realized how little he had accomplished after seven days, and how all of his labour was as good as nothing, he was devastated and lost all hope. "You do not deserve that I should take any trouble about you," the Fox stated on the seventh day's evening. "But just go away and lie down to sleep, and I will do the task for you."

When he awoke the next morning and glanced out the window, the hill had vanished. The young man raced to the King, bursting with delight, and informed him that the mission had been completed, and that whether he liked it or not, the King had no choice but to keep his word and give him his daughter.

So the two of them headed out together, and it wasn't long before the dependable Fox joined them. "You surely have the best," he continued, "but the Golden Horse also belongs to the Golden Castle maiden."

"How am I going to obtain it?" " enquired the youngster. "I'll tell you," the Fox replied, "but first take the lovely woman to the King who ordered you to the Golden Castle." There will be unheard-of joy; they will willingly hand over the Golden Horse to you and bring it out. Mount it as fast as possible, and extend your hand to everyone as a farewell; last but not least, to the lovely maiden. And as soon as you have her hand in yours, toss her up onto the horse and gallop away; no one will be able to catch you, because the horse is faster than the wind."

Everything went smoothly, and the king's son rode the Golden Horse away with the lovely princess.

"Now I will help you get the Golden Bird," the Fox remarked to the lad, not staying behind. Allow the maiden to descend when you reach close to the castle where the Golden Bird can be found, and I shall take her under my care. Then gallop into the castle-yard on the Golden Horse; there will be a lot of joy at seeing you, and they will bring out the Golden Bird for you. Return to us as soon as you have the cage in your possession, and take the maiden away."

"Now you shall thank me for my help," the Fox remarked after the plan worked and the King's son was about to ride home with his spoils.

"Can you tell me what you need for it?"

" enquired the youngster. "Shoot me dead and chop off my head and feet when you go into the woods over there."

"That would be excellent gratitude," the king's son responded. "I'm afraid I won't be able to help you."

"If you don't do it, I'll have to leave you," the Fox replied, "but before I leave, I'll give you some sound advice." Keep two things in mind. "Do not buy gallows' flesh or sit at the brink of any well," he said as he dashed towards the woods.

"That is a beautiful beast, he has peculiar whims; who is going to buy gallowsflesh?" wondered the young man. It has never possessed me with the impulse to sit at the edge of a well."

He continued on with the lovely maiden, and his path led him back to the village where his two brothers had remained. There was a lot of commotion and noise, and when he inquired about it, he was told that two guys were about to be hanged.

As he got closer, he realized they were his brothers, who had been up to all kinds of nefarious deeds and had spent all of their money. He wanted to know whether they couldn't be set free. "If you are willing to pay for them," the people replied, "but why should you spend your money on immoral men and purchase them free?" He did not hesitate to pay for them, and when they were set free, they all went their separate ways.

They arrived at the wood where the Fox had first met them, and the two brothers said, "Let us rest a little by the well, and eat and drink." He agreed, and while they were talking, he forgot himself and sat down on the edge of the well without foreboding any danger."

The two brothers, on the other hand, threw him backwards down the well, taking the damsel, the Horse, and the Bird with them, and returning to their father. "Not only do we bring you the Golden Bird," they explained, "but we've also won the Golden Horse and the maiden from the Golden Castle." There was considerable delight, but the Horse refused to eat, the Bird refused to sing, and the maiden sat and grieved.

However, the younger brother was still alive. Fortunately, the well was dry, and he landed safely on soft moss, but he couldn't get out again. Even in this dire situation, the faithful Fox did not abandon him: it came running up to him and chastised him for forgetting its counsel. "But I can't give up," he replied, "so I'll lift you up into daylight again." He told him to grab his tail and hang on tight, and then he dragged him up.

"You're not completely safe yet," the Fox warned. "Your brothers were not certain of your death, and have encircled the wood with watchers who will kill you if you let yourself be seen." However, a poor man was sitting on the road, with whom the youth changed clothing, and in this way he arrived at the King's palace.

Nobody knew who he was, but the bird began to sing, the horses began to feed, and the lovely maiden began to cry. "What does all this imply?" the King wondered, perplexed. "I don't know," the damsel replied, "but I've been so sad and now I'm so joyful!" "I feel as if my genuine bride-groom has arrived," she said, despite the fact that the other siblings had warned them her murder if she betrayed them.

The King ordered that everyone in his castle be brought before him, and among them was the young man in his shabby clothes; however, the maiden recognized him right once and fell upon his neck. The wicked brothers were apprehended and executed, but he married the lovely lady and was named heir to the throne.

How did it go over with the poor Fox, though? Long after, the King's son was walking through the woods when the Fox approached him and said, "You have everything you could wish for now, but there will never be an end to my misery, and yet it is in your power to free me," and he asked him to shoot him dead and chop off his head and feet once more.

So he did it, and it was hardly done when the Fox was transformed into a man, and shown to be none other than the lovely princess's brother, who was finally liberated from the magical spell that had been placed upon him. And now, as long as they lived, nothing could stand in the way of their bliss.