Romanian Fairy Tales
The Traveler and the Jeweler
Once upon a time, there was a fellow named Jay, who traveled around the world, enjoying the beauty of nature, with his best friend, a dog named Rusky.
One day, as they were walking through a field, Rusky looked into a pit and started barking.
— What is it, boy? What did you see in there?
Jay went towards the pit, where he saw a man, a monkey, a tiger, and a snake stuck inside.
Being a kind and good-hearted person, he decided to do something.
— Oh, no! I must save the man before he is devoured by those animals!
He looked around and found a long rope. He took it and threw one end of the rope into the pit.
Saving the Animals and the Man
Immediately, the monkey grabbed onto it and climbed up. Then, the snake coiled around the rope and climbed up too.
Finally, the tiger caught hold of the rope and was pulled up as well. The three animals were very grateful to the traveler and thanked him for his help.
— Thank you, sir! I live in the hills near the city of Norlog. If you ever pass by there, I will gladly help you. — We are very grateful that you helped us. I live on the walls of Norlog city. If you ever need help, you can count on me. But I ask you not to save the man in the pit, for like all humans, he is very ungrateful. — Listen to us! He is a greedy and ungrateful man who didn't want to help us and was arrogant with us when we were trying to get out of there. Anyway, thank you for your help, and if you ever pass through the forest near the Serona River, I will offer you a wonderful gift, you know!
And with these words, they disappeared into the jungle. Jay didn't listen to them and decided to help the poor man.
Jay pulled the rope and got the man out of the pit.
— Thank you! My name is Rorkan and I am a jeweler. If you ever come to the city of Norlog, I will repay your kindness.
With these words, the jeweler left for the city, and Jay continued his journey.
The Journey Continues and Gifts of Gratitude
Jay continued walking, and Rusky, sometimes playing with birds, sometimes chasing a butterfly, until they reached the hills, where they were greeted by a monkey.
— Hello, friends! I'm glad to see you. Wait for me here, I'll be right back. — Sure!
Jay and Rusky waited under a tree for the monkey to return. In a few minutes, the monkey came back with a wonderful bamboo flute.
— When you need help, blow this flute and I will come to help you. — Thank you very much! Now we must move on.
And they said goodbye to the monkey and started to go down the hill. As they descended, they walked through the forest, where they saw the tiger coming towards them.
He bowed and said:
— Thank you once again for saving me. And stay here, I will bring you something now, yes.
The tiger went up the river, where he found the princess of Norlog, who wanted to swim with some ladies-in-waiting. He went to them and let out a mighty roar.
— Roar!
Seeing the majestic beast, standing on a rock, the princess and her ladies-in-waiting were frightened and, grabbing whatever they could, they ran away.
— Ahh! Run, princess, run!
The tiger climbed up and there he found a sparkling pearl necklace.
— Aha!
He took the necklace, returned to the traveler, and placed it in front of him.
— Please accept this gift from me, as a thank you. — Thank you! You are very kind! — And an apple for this little one.
Not knowing where the tiger had gotten the necklace, the two bowed, crossed the river, and arrived in the city of Norlog.
— Look, Rusky! We've reached the city. Here we can rest, and tomorrow we can continue our journey. Come on, let's go! It would be wonderful if we found the jeweler Rorkan here. We could ask him to sell this necklace on our behalf, so we have some money for food, right? What do you say, buddy? Let's see if we can find him in the market.
The Jeweler's Betrayal and the King's Punishment
Meanwhile, the ladies-in-waiting returned for the princess's clothes and searched everywhere for the precious pearl necklace, but they couldn't find it. They returned to the king, who promised a reward to anyone who could bring him the necklace.
Jay and Rusky went to the market, where they found Rorkan at a jewelry shop.
— Look, there he is!
Rorkan was happy to see the traveler.
— Hello! How glad I am to see you here. How can I help you? — I need to pass through the city and I need a place to eat and rest tonight, but I only have this necklace. I was hoping you could buy it. Some money would be useful for my travels.
Seeing the necklace, Rorkan recognized it immediately.
— Ahh! This is the necklace I made for Princess Rea. I must inform the king and I will become a rich man! — Hmm. I'll make sure to bring you something to eat first. Have a seat! I'll be right back!
Jay sat down, and Rorkan quickly left. The jeweler went to the king's court immediately and told him what he knew.
— Your Majesty, the person who stole the necklace is now in my shop. — Wonderful! Soldiers, bring that man to me at once!
Jay and his dog Rusky were brought before the king. Seeing the necklace in his hands, the king ordered the soldiers to punish the traveler.
— But, but, but... — I don't want to hear another word! You will walk through the city in chains, so everyone can see what happens when you steal from a king! Take him now and lock that dog up somewhere!
And so, poor Jay was made to walk in chains through the city, and people passed by him, booing.
— Boo! Thief! Boo!
Hearing the people of the city insult and boo him, Jay thought:
— If I had listened to those animals when they said this man was ungrateful and thankless, I wouldn't be in this situation.
But just then, he remembered the gift from the monkey. He took out the flute and blew it.
Unexpected Help and the Truth Revealed
Hearing him, the monkey came to the city.
— Oh, no! It's Jay!
He went to the snake's den and called him.
— Hey, little snake! Come out!
The snake came out of the hole in the wall.
— It's about Jay! He's in trouble! We must help him! — I know how! Thanks for telling me!
He went to his sister, who was actually a spirit, and told her the whole story. She agreed to help him.
— Here! Give this to the man when you can. I will cast a spell on the princess, and you tell the traveler that the only way he can wake the princess is if he makes her smell this leaf.
And so, the spirit cast a spell on the princess, who fell into a deep sleep.
The snake went to the cell where Jay and Rusky were imprisoned and told Jay the plan.
— Take this leaf, and when you are called into the princess's room, make her smell this leaf and she will recover.
The next day, the king and his ministers were discussing how to wake the princess.
— Your Majesty, all the doctors and healers have tried to wake the princess, but nothing has worked. — Call the wizard! He will know what to do! — Wizard? But we don't have a wizard in the city! — Then call a witch! I don't care, find one now!
Just then, the ground shook and from a thick smoke, a witch appeared.
— Did someone call a witch? — What? Soldiers! — I know how to wake the princess. — Wait! Please tell us! — The only one who can break the spell and save the princess is the one who was unjustly imprisoned. — Okay! Call the prisoner!
Jay was called to the princess's room, where he made her smell the leaf, and the princess immediately woke up from that aroma.
— My little angel! Thank you so much, my son! You saved my daughter! Tell me, if you didn't steal the necklace, where did you get it from?
Jay told the king everything, who rewarded him for saving the princess, and the jeweler Rorkan was imprisoned by the king, as punishment for false information and for not helping Jay, even though Jay had saved his life.
— What? No!
Thus, Rorkan learned a very important lesson: that you must always be grateful and kind to those who help you, and help them in return, not be greedy and selfish.
