Princess Marianna
Once upon a time, there lived a just king. One day, a cunning noble dethroned him and conquered the kingdom. The defeated king was imprisoned. Sadly, the king did not survive his grave injuries.
Fortunately, the queen managed to escape. She quickly fled into the nearby forest, with her baby in her arms. Soon, she got lost. She wondered aloud:
— Oh, what shall I do now? It's very cold and dark. Where should I go? I have no choice, I must go on.
So the queen continued to walk. Much later, she found a small cottage with a thatched roof. She knocked on the door. The door was opened by a dwarf.
Marianna and the Dwarf
Sadly, being exhausted, she didn't even get a chance to explain before the queen collapsed and died, after handing the baby to the dwarf. The dwarf felt pity and decided to raise the girl as if she were his own child.
He named her Marianna, because when her mother brought her to the cottage, she had a golden heart-shaped locket with a crown and the letter M written in diamonds. Marianna grew up and became a wonderful young woman.
The Elf King's Letter
Seventeen years passed. One morning, a little yellow bird flew into their house and handed the dwarf a letter.
— Who could it be from? — A letter from the Elf King, who wants to meet. Hmm. — But why are you worried? — Because mortals are not allowed there. How can I leave you alone? — Don't worry! Give me a crystal bottle with the water of life, and I will explore the world until you return. Perhaps I will find someone who can explain what this locket means or tell me about my mother's past.
With a heavy heart, the dwarf agreed.
Marianna's Journey
After giving Marianna the bottle, the dwarf let Marianna go to explore. Marianna went to several villages and towns, where she encountered many helpless and sick people, rich and poor, for whom she felt pity and whom she healed with the water of life. However, the mystery of her locket remained unsolved.
One day, Marianna was walking through a village when a distressed old woman came to her with tears in her eyes.
— Please come with me! I need your help!
Deeply moved, Marianna followed her to a hamlet where, in a cottage, a young and beautiful peasant girl lay on a bed.
— She's dying of fever! Please help! — I will gladly help her, however I can.
Then, she touched the girl with the water of life. Suddenly, the peasant girl became well.
— Thank you! You are so kind! I am forever in your debt!
The Little Yellow Bird
Just then, Marianna heard the faint chirping of a bird. When she looked, she saw a little yellow bird in a corner, crying sorrowfully. It was the same little yellow bird that had brought her father's message.
She bent down and took it in her hand.
— Poor little bird, why are you crying? Has someone hurt you? But the bird only let out a muffled sob. — I found it yesterday. It seems to have a broken wing. — I will heal you, dear one!
Then Marianna touched the bird's injured wing with the water of life. As soon as she did that, the little bird began to flap its wings joyfully.
— Oh, now you are well, my dear!
Then Marianna said goodbye to the peasant girl and left. The little yellow bird perched on her shoulder and decided to go with her.
Garabin and Prince Desire
After some time, Marianna arrived in an area with plains, small hills, and rivers lined with long willows.
— This place is superb!
Marianna didn't know it, but this place was part of her father's kingdom. While Marianna was in the forest, the cunning noble died, and his cruel brother, Garabin, was left to rule the kingdom and look after his young nephew, Prince Desire. But Garabin was afraid that one day he would have to give up the kingdom and hand it over to the prince.
So, when the prince turned 20, Garabin decided to get rid of him, but fearing the people's wrath, he thought of a trick. And Garabin went to a magician and told him what he wanted.
— I want you to make Desire ill with a mysterious sickness that no one can cure.
The magician nodded and laughed wickedly. As a result, Desire was close to death, for he was growing weaker and weaker.
The Magician's Plan
One day, the captain of the court soldiers came to Garabin.
— Marianna, the girl with the gift of healing, has come to the kingdom. Perhaps we should ask for her help to cure the prince.
Hesitantly, Garabin agreed. Marianna, with the little yellow bird on her shoulder, was brought to him by two soldiers. Garabin immediately noticed the golden locket she wore around her neck. He realized at once that it was a royal jewel and that Marianna must be the missing princess and, therefore, the rightful queen of the kingdom. He was shocked and troubled.
— If I refuse to let Marianna help the prince, I will arouse suspicion. But if I let her heal him, she will take the throne. Yet Marianna's right to the throne is even greater than my nephew's.
Not knowing what to do, Garabin went again to the evil magician to ask for his help. The magician listened to Garabin. Then, he told him his idea.
— Don't worry! I will destroy both claimants to the throne at once. Tonight, I will cast a sleeping spell on Marianna. I will steal the bottle, empty it of the water of life, and fill it with a liquid that will cause a severe illness in a few hours. Then I will replace the bottle with a mysterious potion before Marianna wakes up. Allow her then to visit the prince. When she touches him with the mysterious potion, the prince will become gravely ill. Then you can judge Marianna for gravely sickening the prince and condemn her to be thrown into the abyss.
Marianna's Betrayal and Arrest
Garabin was now delighted. That night, the magician put something else in the bottle and left. Unbeknownst to him, the little yellow bird noticed what he did and followed the magician to see where he hid the true water of life.
The next morning, Marianna was brought to the king again.
— My dear nephew, Prince Desire, has been ill for months with a sickness that no doctor can understand. I hope you will be able to cure him with the water of life. — Oh, dear! I will do everything in my power to save the prince!
So, Marianna was led to the prince's chamber by Garabin and his men. Desire lay stretched out on an old bed, his face burning with fever. Marianna's heart filled with pity when she saw him. As for Desire, he fell instantly in love with Marianna at first sight.
When Marianna leaned over the prince to touch his forehead with the water of life, the little yellow bird began to squawk wildly. As soon as she did that, because of the poisonous water, the prince's face turned pale and he fell back onto the pillow. Everyone was shocked, and Marianna, horrified by what had happened, dropped the bottle, which shattered into a thousand pieces.
— Princess! She has killed the prince!
Marianna and the little yellow bird were seized and thrown into prison.
Rescue and Truth
At the trial, Marianna was condemned to be thrown into the abyss, for the doctors declared that the prince was gravely ill, and the bird was to be locked up and given to a cook.
Fortunately, the cook's helper was the peasant girl whom Marianna had saved. The girl recognized the little yellow bird and decided to free it, letting it fly out the window. Chirping happily, the little yellow bird flew away.
An hour later, Marianna, bound with heavy chains, was led to the top of a cliff by some soldiers, by Garabin and the magician, and by Garabin's retinue. Awakened by bells, the prince laboriously went to the window.
— Stop! Stop!
Then he fainted onto the floor.
Meanwhile, the little yellow bird returned to the magician's empty room and found the small bottle containing the water of life. It took it in its claws and flew towards the prince's room. Desire was still on the floor, near the window, when, from above, the little yellow bird poured the contents of the small bottle onto him. The prince rose, strong as a lion, and took his sword and ran to save Marianna.
The prince arrived at the cliff just as Marianna was about to be pushed.
— Release her! I command you!
Garabin became furious beyond measure.
— Seize them! Throw them both into the abyss!
Divine Justice
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