The Loyal Prince
Once upon a time, there lived a king who had only one son, known throughout the land for his charm and handsome looks. One day, the prince went hunting. Suddenly, from the thicket, a golden deer sprang out.
The astonished prince ordered his soldiers to form a circle.
The Talking Deer
But then...
"Let me go."
To their amazement, the animal spoke in a human voice.
"I will give you infinite treasures." "I already have many riches, but I don't have a golden deer." "Then I will give you more than treasures." "And what would that be?" "I will carry you on my back, and I will bear you as no mortal has ever been borne." "Agreed."
The Magical Journey
The shining deer rose. For seven days and seven nights, it carried the prince through the wide world.
On the evening of the seventh day, it touched the ground once more and vanished on the spot.
The Land of Demons
Prince Baramgor rubbed his eyes. He couldn't believe it, for he had never been to such a strange land before.
"How did you get here and what are you looking for, my son?" "I came riding on a golden deer. It brought me to this strange land and then disappeared." "You are in the land of demons! I am the demon Jazdrul, whose life you saved when I was on earth, in the form of a golden deer." "Is that you?" "Come with me, my son!"
Jazdrul's Palaces and Gardens
The demon Jazdrul took the prince to his home. Jazdrul gave him 100 keys.
"What are these for?" "These are the keys to my many palaces and gardens. Enjoy yourself, and somewhere you might find a treasure worth keeping."
So every day, Prince Baramgor opened a new palace and a new garden. Again and again, he found riches greater than anything his heart could desire.
When he reached the hundredth palace, it was a hut full of venomous snakes and insects. But the garden he had arrived in was by far the most beautiful of all gardens.
Princess Shapasand
He walked 7 kilometers one way and 7 the other.
While he slept, the fairy princess Shapasand, who had taken the form of a dove, happened to fly over the garden. Seeing the handsome and young prince, the fairy descended to earth, fascinated by the prince's beauty.
Love and Homesickness
As soon as they saw each other, they fell madly in love. Thus, they decided to marry without losing another moment.
However, the prince felt he should consult his host, the demon Jazdrul, knowing this was his land.
"I have found the princess I wish to marry." "Wonderful!"
To the prince's delight, the demon seemed extremely happy. Prince Baramgor and Princess Shapasand married and lived very happily.
But the thought of his home, which he had left behind, gave the prince no peace, and he began to think longingly of his mother and father.
"What troubles you, my prince?"
He began to speak of them to the princess, his new wife. And then he started sighing constantly, refusing to eat, until he became weak and pale.
"You must eat! You are wasting food!" "Oh, I don't care. I want to go home."
Jazdrul's Promise
Now, the demon Jazdrul sat every night in a small room beneath the prince and princess, listening to them to ensure they were happy. He asked Prince Baramgor why he was so pale and why he sighed so often.
"Oh, good demon!"
The amiable young prince would rather have died than commit the impoliteness of telling his host that he wished to leave.
"Let me see my parents! Let me go with the princess! Otherwise, I will surely die!"
At first, the demon refused, but then he felt pity for the prince.
"So be it. However, you will soon return here, to the land of demons. Your world has changed since you left it, and you will face trouble. Take this hair with you. When you need my help, burn it, and I will come at once to your aid."
The Return Home
"I'm sorry. I have nothing." "Oh dear! I can't believe it's you!" "Oh, my prince! Where have you been?" "I was taken to a strange land where I met this beautiful princess. What happened to our kingdom? Where are Mother and Father?" "I'm sorry, Prince. They are no more." "No! It cannot be true!" "I am very sorry."
Indeed, his parents were dead. A usurper had seized the throne and placed a price on Prince Baramgor's head, should he return. The hunter agreed to let the young couple stay in his house.
"My old mother is blind. She won't see you coming or going. And you can help me hunt, as I helped you."
The Princess's Escape
So they hid in the hunter's house. One fine day, when the prince went hunting, Princess Shapasand took the opportunity to wash her wonderful golden hair. Her long hair fell from her neck to her feet, like a cascade of light.
And after she washed and combed it, she left the window open for the fresh morning breeze to blow through her hair and dry it. Just then, the city's chief administrator was passing by and saw the princess with her shining golden hair.
He was so fascinated by her that he fell from his horse directly into the ditch. The chief couldn't stop dreaming of the beautiful golden-haired fairy in the hunter's house.
The Search for the Princess
The story, however, reached the king's ears, who sent soldiers to the hunter's house. But the old woman, being blind, had no idea what the soldiers were talking about.
"There's no one here! No beautiful woman, no ugly one! Just me and my son! But go up to the attic and see for yourselves if you must!"
Using a knife, the princess made a hole in the wooden roof. Then, taking the form of a dove, she flew out. And when the soldiers burst in, they found no one.
The princess, extremely upset at having to leave her young husband, as she flew past the old blind woman, whispered in her ear:
"I will go to my father's house, on the Emerald Mountain."
Great was his sorrow when he found the attic empty, and the old blind woman could not tell him much about what had happened. Nothing else apart from the mysterious voice she had heard.
"She went to her father's house, on the Emerald Mountain?" "That's what I heard!"
At first, he was somewhat relieved, but when he realized he had no idea where the Emerald Mountain was, he became very sad. He refused to eat and cried for his princess every day.
The Demons' Help
Finally, he remembered the magic hair and threw it into the fire. It began to burn gently when...
"My prince, what can I do for you?" "Show me the way to the Emerald Mountain." "You will not reach there alive. Let me guide you, forget your past, and start a new life." "I have only one life. And that will be no more if I lose my princess. If I must die, let me die searching for her."
Moved by the young prince, Jazdrul promised to help him as much as possible. In the land of demons, he gave him a magic wand and took him to the house of the demon Nanak Chand.
"You will encounter many dangers, but keep the magic wand in your hand day and night, and nothing will happen to you. That is all I can do for you, but Nanak Chand, my elder brother, can help you further."
He held the magic wand in his hand day and night, and no harm came to him. He finally reached the house of the demon Nanak Chand. The demon had just woken from a 12-year sleep, so he was very hungry, and at the sight of the prince, his mouth watered.
"How can I help you?"
When the demon Nanak Chand heard the story, he shook his head.
"You will never reach the Emerald Mountain, my son. Let me guide you. Forget all that was and start a new life." "I have only one life. And that will be no more if I lose my princess. If I must die, let me die searching for her."
This answer moved Nanak Chand, so he gave the loyal prince a box of antimony powder and told him to travel through the land of demons until he reached the house of the great demon Safed.
"Safed is the elder brother. If there is anyone who can do what you want, he is the one. In case of need, put this powder on your eyes, and whatever you wish to be near will be near. But whatever you wish to be far will be far."
When the prince showed the demon the wand, the powder, and told him the whole story, Safed shook his head.
"You will never reach the Emerald Mountain, my son. Let me guide you. Forget all that was and start a new life." "I have only one life. And that will be no more if I lose my princess. If I must die, let me die searching for her."
"You are brave. I must do all I can for you. Take this cap. Whenever you put it on your head, you will become invisible. Go north. And after a while, in the distance, you will see the Emerald Mountain. Put the powder on your eyes and wish the Emerald Mountain to be near. It is an enchanted mountain. The higher you climb, the further it moves away. On the peak will be the Emerald City. Enter secretly with the help of your invisible cap."
The Reunion
However, he could not find her. In fact, the princess's father had locked her behind seven gates, fearing she might leave again. Being her father, he was worried she would return to earth and to her handsome prince.
"If your husband comes to you, then very well. But you will never go to him."
The poor princess cried all day, for how could a mortal reach the Emerald Mountain?
When he saw her, the prince could barely stop himself from rushing towards her. But remembering he was invisible, he waited for the maid to leave, who locked all seven gates, one by one.
She thought she was dreaming, but when all the food disappeared, she was convinced someone was in the room with her.
"Who is eating from the same plate?" "Ah, my beloved prince!"
The next day the maid was astonished when she found the young prince beside the princess. The King, upon hearing what had happened, was impressed by Baramgor's courage and ordered the princess to be released.
"Her husband has found his way to her."
The King designated the prince as his heir.
Conclusion
The loyal Prince Baramgor and his beautiful bride lived happily ever after in the Emerald Kingdom.
