Romanian Fairy Tales
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Once upon a time, there was a king who had twelve daughters — twelve princesses. Each was more beautiful than the last. They had all grown up now, and the king planned to find them husbands.
Soon, however, he realized that all twelve princesses danced through the entire night. No one in the castle knew where they went. The king was worried.
He began locking their bedroom door to prevent them from leaving. But all his attempts were useless, because he kept finding the princesses' shoes worn out. He grew so worried that he made an announcement.
— Whoever discovers the secret of the princesses' dancing shall have the right to marry any one of the princesses and will become king after my death. However, if he fails to do so within three nights, he shall lose his life.
The First Suitor
The news spread like wildfire, and soon a prince came forward, eager to discover the princesses' secret.
— I am the prince from the neighboring kingdom, and I have come here to discover the princesses' secret.
He was warmly received at the king's palace. In the evening, after dinner, he was given a room to sleep in. The room was next to the princesses' bedroom. His bed was placed so that he could easily watch the princesses and see where they went to dance.
The door to the princesses' bedroom was left open. The prince was in his room. Two of the princesses came to him and offered him a glass of wine.
The prince drank a little wine and began to watch what the princesses wanted to do. He sat down on the bed for a moment, but felt dizzy and fell asleep.
He woke up in the morning and realized the princesses had been dancing. The same thing happened the following two nights. On the fourth day, when the prince could not come up with any answer, the king had him killed without a shred of mercy.
The Soldier and the Wise Old Woman
After a while, many others came for the same cause. But they all failed to discover the secret. All of them were killed by the king.
The king took no pleasure in having to kill them and was saddened that he could not get an answer about the princesses' secret dancing.
In the kingdom, there was a soldier who had been forced to leave the army because of an injury. Now, having nothing to do in life, he decided to go to the king's city. On his way to the capital, he helped an old woman.
She thanked him and asked:
— Where are you headed? — I don't know. I was thinking of going to the king's city. — Oh, for the princesses? — No. What do you mean by the princesses? — Haven't you heard about the king's announcement? — Oh, I've heard about it. But I think if I pursue this cause, I'll lose my life, just like many others who have tried before. — You must not drink the wine that is offered to you before bed, and you must pretend to be asleep.
Saying this, the old woman gave him a cloak.
— You will become invisible when you put it on. It will help you follow the twelve princesses.
Discovering the Secret
The soldier thanked the old woman and set off for the king's castle. The king received him as well. The soldier was given the same treatment as the other candidates.
Late in the evening, he was given a room next to the princesses' bedroom. After a while, the eldest princess entered the soldier's room.
— Good evening, princess! — Good evening. I've brought you some wine. Please accept it as a welcome gesture from us.
The soldier already knew about this. He drank all the wine but didn't swallow it, because he had placed a sponge under his tongue. After the princess left the room, he took out the sponge and pretended to fall asleep.
All the princesses rejoiced when they saw him sleeping. They all got dressed to go out dancing. When they were all ready, the eldest princess knocked on the bed, and it immediately disappeared underground. The twelve princesses descended through the opening, one after another.
The soldier saw everything. He put on the cloak and followed them. He went down the stairs with the youngest princess. Halfway down the stairs, she became frightened.
— I think someone is walking beside me. — You sometimes get that feeling when walking in the dark. Come on!
The soldier stepped on her dress a little. She became even more frightened.
— Someone is pulling my dress! I'm so scared! — It got caught on a nail. Unhook it and let's go!
The soldier smiled and continued on with the princesses. They went to a beautiful garden where all the leaves on the trees were made of silver. The soldier plucked one as proof.
As he did so, there was a cracking sound. The youngest princess was frightened again.
— Did you hear that sound? — Yes, it's a gunshot of joy because we've gotten rid of yet another man.
They continued on and arrived at a garden with golden leaves on every tree. The soldier plucked a leaf. Again, there was a cracking sound. The eldest princess urged the youngest to ignore it.
Walking even further, the princesses reached an avenue full of diamonds. The soldier picked up a diamond. And once again, the youngest princess heard a cracking sound and was frightened.
Then they arrived at a wonderful lake where twelve princes waited with twelve boats. Each princess sat beside a prince. The soldier chose to accompany the youngest princess.
— Oh, princess, the boat seems very heavy today. I must use all my strength to row. — I don't know, but it feels warm here.
The twelve boats reached the other side of the lake, where there stood an absolutely magnificent castle. The twelve couples entered the castle, and so did the invisible soldier. When they entered the hall, the music began.
The twelve princes danced energetically with the princesses. They danced until three o'clock, until their shoes were worn out. They decided to return.
The twelve princes took them by boat back to the other side of the lake. This time, the soldier sat with the eldest princess. When they were nearly back in their room, the soldier went ahead and lay down in bed, just before the princesses arrived.
— We're safe. Let's change our clothes and go to bed.
This happened every evening. The soldier followed them, gathered the evidence, and returned to bed before them.
The Truth and the Reward
On the final day, when the king summoned the soldier:
— Your Majesty, all twelve princesses leave through beneath their room. There is a castle beneath your kingdom.
And he explained the entire story. The king looked at the princesses, who were listening to all of this from behind the curtain.
— Is this true? — Here is the evidence, Your Majesty!
And he showed him the silver and golden leaves and the diamonds he had brought. Then the princesses confessed. They admitted what they had been doing.
The king was glad to learn the truth. He congratulated the soldier.
— Which of my daughters would you like to marry? — I'm not so young anymore, so I shall marry the eldest daughter.
The king ordered his people to make the necessary preparations for the wedding, and the ceremony took place that very day.
— My young man shall be crowned after my death.
And they lived happily ever after.
