There was once a king and a queen. They had three children. They had their palaces in addition to a very beautiful garden. And it was so dear to the king flowers that was maintaining the garden himself weeding them. In the bottom of the gardens grew an apple that was totally golden. King could not joy more that in his garden is a tree so as not found worldwide. It all turned on near him and kept looking on all sides to him, and leaking eyes. When, one day, saw that the tree budding, blooming, flowers and fruit shakes are shown: then start ripen in the evening. King was extremely excited and he was mouth-watering when he was thinking that the next day at his table have golden apples, which are not heard before.
The next day it was still very early in the dusk of the day, and the king was in the garden to the golden apple tree to reconcile insatiable he had to look at them. But he was left that out of your mind, when, instead of ripe golden apple, saw that the tree again burgeoning, and apples weren’t anywhere. Since being there, saw the tree flourishes, such as flowers and fruit falls it is shown again.
Then he come back to his senses and felt peaceful in his heart and decided to wait until the next day. The next day, the apples were nowhere to be find. That made him very angry and commands as guards to look to catch the thieves. But was in vain!
The tree flourished in every day, shake the flowers, fruit growing and so mellow evening. Over the night was baked. Who could then take them without the king's men catch the news. It seems that something was done: that someone who takes the apples also mocked and the king and all his guards. This king was no longer furious now that golden apples cannot be served at his table, despite the most was that no one had seen the first fruits of this tree is not even.
This made him feel so sad in his heart so that was ready to leave the seat of the kingdom and give it to the one that will link to catch the thief.
Sons of the king, apparently understood his thoughts that his feelings and they were coming before him and ask him to let them watch the golden tree as well. There was much joy when you hear from the mouth of the king's older son who was committed himself to grab the thief. They shook hands so willingly, and they decided to work together.
First day was watching the eldest son; in the end he failed and happen to live the same shame as the other guard before him.
The next day watch and middle, he did not succeed, but like his older brother turned down his nose and come back to his father all ashamed.
They said that until midnight were doing well, but after that cannot keep up with the tiredness what grabs them and they fall into a deep sleep and not know anything.
Youngest son listen and he kept silent. Then, after the end of the greatest brothers said that had happened, and he is asked from his father to let him and watched him. How sad was his father because it was not any sturdy that would catch the thieves when they hear the grated apple. But the young prince persuaded him after much prayer. Then the youngest son prepared for ambush.
How come the evening, took his quiver, bow and sword, and went into the garden, he selected a lonely place and away from any trees and walls, so will not to have to lean over. He decided to stand on a cut tree trunk so that when would come the time to take a nap sleep, to have nothing to accommodate him below and so he would fall down and wake up.
So he did, and after he fell down twice and loose his sleep and he managed to remain awake and not frightened.
When, very early in the morning when sleep is sweetest, he heard a fluttering like a flock of birds approaching.
The prince eavesdropping and feel that someone was stealing from the apple tree. He took an arrow from the quiver, sat it down on his bow, then he drawn that arrow and then make not a movement, just listen carefully. Then he fired another arrow and nothing happen again. When pulled with a third arrow then the fluttering was heard again and he thought that flock of birds should be flown.
He approaches the golden apple and saw that the thief had not time to take all the apples. That stiff had taken most of the apples, but not all them, so a few apples remained. He sat there and thought he sees something shining down. Then he reached down with his hand and raises something that glistened. When, what do you reckon he saw? Two feathers made of gold totally. The young prince of very confuse.
How was almost day time, he picked a few apples, put them on a platter of gold, and attached the feathers by his hat and then he went to his father to present him the precious apples.
The king, seeing apples, was to get out of his minds of the joy but he held his nature trail. He asked his servants to shout out through the whole city that his youngest son managed to bring apples and to learn that the thief is a bird.
Prince Charming asked his father to give him permission to seek and find the thief now. His father did not want to know the thief, because God helped him to taste these apples so much desired.
Younger son of Emperor didn’t give up his idea that easily, but he insisted until the king gave him his permission to go to search and find that mysterious thief. Then the prince start to prepare himself for the journey, and when he was he went to his mother, the Empress, took off his golden feathers on the hat and shook them to his mother, as to wear them until he will return.
He took spare clothes and spending money, quiver hangs back, on the left thigh he hang the sword, bow in one hand and with another of his faithful servant’s neck, and he hit the road. And they travelled for a while, went a long way distant, until they reached the desert. Here they made the stop and advised by his faithful servant, find way to take the east road. They travelled a good piece, reached a dense forest and bushy. Through this bushy forest they were going with big difficulty, and a lot of effort, when all of the sudden, in the distance a wolf awful huge that had its forehead made of copper and lead. Once they saw the wolf, then they prepared their defence. When the wolf approached them and was within the range of this bow, then Prince Charming grabs his bow put arrow to the eye.
But the wolf seeing all this, he starts shouting to the prince:
- Wait, Prince Charming, don’t shoot me, that much good you ever catch from me.
Prince Charming listen to him and let the bow down. Approaching, the wolf ask the prince where is he going and what is he looking through these unknown forests where no man ever step a foot, and Prince Charming told him the whole story of the apples in the garden of his father, and now goes to seek the thief.
Wolf told him that the thief was king of birds. When he came to steal the apples, gather the sharp-flight birds and they flock together and picking them. That bird’s kingdom is on the outskirts of the forest. He said that all the properties around there where wooing because of the thefts made through their gardens, and shows them the nearest and easiest road.
Then, giving the prince a beautiful sight cranberry, he said:
- Remember, Prince Charming, this cranberry. When you ever have need of me, than look at him, and I think I'll be there soon.
Prince Charming took the cranberry and put him in the breast, then, taking his leave, starting with his faithful servant and walking chaparral forest, reached the city it was in that bird.
He searches through the city and he was told that the king of that place holds the kind of birds closed into a golden cage in his garden.
He felt it was enough to know.
He went to royal court, made a few circling around and listens and watches carefully to all little details that were surrounding the royal court. When the night darkness fell over, he comes with his faithful and farthing in a corner, waiting there until everyone in court fell quiet and asleep. Then the servant helped Prince Charming to climb over the wall and from here to jump in the garden. When the prince landed in the garden, run and grabbed his hand on the cage, and the bird’s king starts screaming, as in a blink of one eye. Then the prince saw a lot of birds surrounding him, some smaller some bigger and all of them were screaming in their language. And as much clamour the birds created that is awakening all royal servants. And soldiers were running in the garden, finding Prince Charming with the golden cage in his hand and surrounded by the other birds who wanted to tear him apart, and the prince was defending himself.
The servants captured and seized him and they took him to their king, who also woke up to see what had happened.
How the king saw him, he recognised him immediately and told him:
- Sorry, Prince Charming, for all this happened. For you have come with good, or prayer, to ask me the bird, maybe I would be inclined to give you my own free will; trail now, caught by hand in the bag, as they say, after our custom by death you must die. And your name will remain defiled with the robber shabby.
- This bird, enlightened king, replied the Prince, has robbed several times golden apples from the tree that is my father’s garden, and so I came to get the thief and handle him to my father.
- Can be true what you say, Prince Charming, trail us; against our customs I am powerless. Only a large job you can made for our kingdom could escape you of all trouble and death.
- Say what your job you have for me to do, and I will dare to try.
- Since you managed to bring me the untamed horse that belongs to the king who is my neighbour, you get away with it, and I will give you the bird cage.
Prince Charming accepted the challenge. And even in that day he left with his faithful servant towards the next kingdom.
Arriving at the kingdom nearby, the prince took note of the court fencing. Then, as evening came, the prince together with his faithful servant sat down in a corner of the yard, where he seemed to be a little stream.
He had seen how the horse is walked around by two servants, and marvel at its beauty. She was white, had gilded and adorned bridle with blue stones gems, shinning like the sun light.
By the middle of the night, when sleep is sweetest, the Prince said his faithful servant to help him to climb over again, then on the wall and jump into the king’s stable. He was walking on his toe tips without to make any noise, until he reached the stable and, opening the door, put his hand on the mare bridle and drew after him. How mare reached the stable door once starts to neigh so powerful that the air was shaking hard and screams were heard all over the courts and palaces. Immediately all servants jumped out, caught on him Prince Charming and they went to the king, which woke up. This king also, as he saw Prince Charming, recognised him as soon as he saw him.
The kind demanded the prince to face for the treacherous deed that was to commit, and said that its country’s traditions require a dreadful death, and that against those manners he has no power.
Prince Charming was ashamed and he related to this king all guile with apples, the bird and what he had said to the king, his neighbour.
Then the king told him:
- Well, Prince Charming, if you could, get me the Queen Fairy, and maybe you managed to escape death and your name remain unblemished.
Prince Charming decided to dare and, taking with him his faithful, left. Along the way he remembered the cranberry. He took it out the breast, looked at him and thinks about the wolf. And as you wipe your eyes, the wolf was here.
- What is your desire Prince Charming? He said.
- What do I lust, he answered. Look what happened to me, and he related the wolf all his troubles. How do I do now to get back with good stunt?
- Don’t let your heart to be troubled, said the wolf. Let me assist you, and that entire nasty thing will come to one end.
And all three of them set off to find the Fairy Queen; after a while they stopped in a forest where the brightest of fairy palaces could be seen. The consent was that the Prince Charming and his faithful to take cover near an old tree, and wait for the wolf to return.
And pride and great were the fairy’s palaces,. Wolf himself is surprised by the beauty and everything was in good order there. As soon as he arrived, he did what he did and he sneaked into the garden.
But happened next was unbelievable. No one of these trees was no longer green and alive. They had fallen leafs and branches and they were cracked and they looked like naked. All over around on the floor, there were fallen dry leaves were and a lot of dry ash. Only one bush of red roses there was still alive, roses budded full of buds, some in bloom and some others open. To get to him, the wolf should go on his toe tips to not strip the land of dry rotten leaves, and he hidden in that flourished roses bush. He sat there and lurking, Fairy Queen behold out of palaces, accompanied by twenty-four slaves, to walk through the garden.
When the wolf saw her how beautiful she was, he forget for a moment what he came for and almost gave himself away, but in the end he mastered and find his cool. Because she was so beautiful and delicate the wolf was astounded by such beauty was never seen on earth. Have curly hair, totally golden. Her long and thick braids were reaching her legs. When someone looks at her eyes, big and black as blackberries, put him in sickness; she had some well-arched eyebrows, that looks like that were written, and a skin white as milk foam.
After circling the garden several times, she took a few maids after her, and came to the bush of red roses to break a few flowers. When she was close enough, the wolf, which was hidden in the grove, once picked her and rushes back the way where was to meet with the prince.
In meantime handmaidens, were so frightened that they scattered around like partridge chicks. As fast as he could, the wolf ran back and put into Prince’s Charming arms the fainted fairy. The prince seeing the beautiful fairy was sincerely touched but the wolf remembered him about his chore and that he is a sturdy young prince, and he came back to his senses.
Many kings wanted to steal this graceful fairy but they were defeated.
Prince Charming fell in love with her grace, and he could no longer give her to another.
Fairy Queen, after awakened from fainting in his arms and saw Prince Charming, said to him:
- If you are the wolf that stole me, than I will be yours.
Prince Charming replied:
- Mine to be, inseparable until death will make us apart.
Then they explain each other, and said each other it’s sad history.
The wolf seeing the hot love growing among them said:
- Let me, that I draw all things after the will of you.
Departure and return from where they came.
Along the way, the wolf stepped three times over the head, and he become just that Fairy Queen. Wolf apparently was having magical powers.
They decided that prince’s faithful servant and Fairy Queen to stay with the strain of a large tree in the forest, until Prince Charming returns with untamed mare.
Coming to the king that desired the mare, Prince Charming handled to him the fake Fairy Queen, who was in fact the wolf turned into a fairy. How the king saw her than his heart melted and he fall in love with the Hairy Queen that you cannot tell.
The king told him:
- Your worthiness, Prince Charming, escaped you from shame and death. Now you free to leave and as my reward to you for your good deed, I am giving you the horse.
How he put his hand on the mare, he grabbed that wonderful bridle and scuttles riding back to meet the Fairy Queen, put her on the saddle and together crossed the borders of that kingdom.
King gathers his counsellors and proceeded immediately to the church as to marry the Fairy Queen. When they reached the door of the church, the fake fairy stepped and turned upside down three times and became again the wolf, which tremble in the corner, shows his teeth grinning towards the king’s courtiers. These, as they saw the wolf, suddenly freeze in fear. Then, after a while they recovered their courage they took after him with shootings and screaming. But the wolf, you know, didn’t wait for them to catch him. Long step the wolf has taken, and no servant’s hand could ever shake him. And reaching the Prince Charming and his Fairy Queen joined them.
When the next kingdom was approaching, you remember, the one with the bird’s king, they decided to lure this king in a similar way as they did with the previous king. Wolf, has changed himself into an untamed mare, was taken to the king who, seeing the horse, no longer been upset as his heart were full of joy.
After welcoming Prince Charming with great kindness, the king he told him:
- You escaped Prince Charming, from any trouble and death. I will keep my word as a king, and my satisfaction will be always with you.
The king commands, and immediately shook the bird with her golden cage and all to the prince. And receiving the bird’s king and the cage, Prince Charming took farewell and left immediately. Arriving in the forest where he had left the Fairy Queen and his faithful servant and horse, set off together to his father's kingdom.
In the meantime, the king who received the mare, commanded his army to accompany him and also his entire kingdom’s rulers, which will watch him riding. They will be taught to ride on the horse so famous.
When they saw him, all soldiers shouted as one:
- To live, O king, that has acquired such a wonder! Let live this mare, which makes you look so great!
And indeed, the king and the mare together were looking absolutely great; they weren’t riding on the land, but they looked like they would have flown.
And the king was racing everybody else. But was nothing the king’s servants could do, no way could that someone come close to the mare, for all they were leaved behind.
When distance between the king and the rest of the courtiers were great enough, mare once stood, shut the king, she stepped over the head three times and she turned back again as wolf, and start running away, and run and run, until he reached the Prince Charming.
When the time to separate and say goodbye has come, the wolf said to Prince Charming:
- Here, this time you achieved all your desires. Keep yourself in your life not to covet things that are beyond your strength, because you will not get it right.
Then they parted, going to each one his own way.
Arriving at his father's kingdom and the emperor heard that little prince comes back home, they come forward to receive him, as is due.
There was much joy when they saw the prince with such beautiful wife as no longer found on earth, and with no mention jewels.
How arrived, Prince Charming send word and made a masterly barn for the mare, and the bird’s king and his golden cage were displayed in a safe area of the main garden.
Then his father made all necessary and wedding preparations have taken place. And after a few days the Prince Charming and Fairy Queen, get married and laid great weight for good and for evil, and joy concluded three days and three nights.
Then they were living in happiness, because Prince Charming did not lust for anything else. And they still be living, if they haven’t died, yet.
