Join us at the campfire for tales from around the world, told by storytellers of all backgrounds and creeds. From the heros and heroines of old, let us relearn and rediscover the wisdom of our ancestors. Shhh..the story begins..
The mysterious and elusive Firebird is featured in several Slavic folktales. One such story from Russia tells of a young huntsman, too eager to please his master, the king of the realm. One day, the huntsman found the Firebird's beautiful golden feather while he was riding through the forest. The huntsman's horse...a wise animal...urged that the plume be left where it was, since to take it would bring nothing but trouble. The young man, however, could not abstain from taking the feather, thinking it would make a fine present for his ruler.
Indeed, the king was delighted with the gift, but immediately began to covet the bird from which such a magnificent feather had come. He gave the huntsman a cruel ultimatum: he must catch the Firebird and deliver it into the king's hands, or else pay for failure with the price of his head.
The young man was consumed with anxiety and feared for his life, but his faithful horse reassured him, telling the huntsman to strew a great field with corn and then wait patiently for the hungry Firebird to arrive and eat its fill.
Sure enough, the Firebird quickly arrived. As soon as it landed, the resourceful horse dashed out and pinned down the wing of the bird with its heavy hoof. The huntsman then picked up the hapless creature and carried it triumphantly to his master. The king was so impressed with the deed...and the bird...that he promptly demanded that the young man go forth and fetch him a bride to be his queen. The monarch's desires, however, were very specific. He wanted Princess Vasilisa, a woman of enchanting beauty who lived at the far end of the Earth. The hunter was informed that he would be well-rewarded if he returned with the captivating princess but, if he did not succeed, then the price for failure would be the same as before. He would be obliged to pay with his life.
Again, the young man was filled with despair and wept desperate tears, but the horse urged him not to worry, telling the huntsman that he should set out a rich banquet on a seaside hilltop. Passing by in her boat of silver, Princess Vasilisa noticed the enticing feast and, unable to resist, came ashore to taste the sumptuous fare. One glass of spellbinding wine and the charming princess fell fast asleep. The huntsman called to his loyal horse, and they transported their prize to the palace, where the king was restlessly awaiting their arrival.
The monarch rejoiced at his good fortune but, when the princess awoke, she was furious at her abduction. She declared that she would not marry the king unless she could wear her own wedding dress that lay far out in the middle of the sea beneath a huge stone. Immediately, the king sent for the young huntsman, ordering him to collect the gown from its resting place under the waves. Once more, the horse proved invaluable. Together, the huntsman and his devoted steed went down to the shore, where the horse trapped a crab beneath his hoof. The crab pleaded for mercy, promising any favor in return for his freedom. So, the horse charged it with finding Princess Vasilisa's bridal shift. Calling together all of its relations to assist in the search, the crab found the gown in no time at all.
However, the princess it seemed had one more demand to make. She now asked that the huntsman bathe in boiling water, but the resourceful horse set a charm upon the young man to keep him safe from harm and he emerged from the seething cauldron as a paragon of beauty. The king was so impressed with the transformation that he promptly plunged into the still-bubbling pot and met his death. Princess Vasilisa fell in love with the now-handsome huntsman on the spot and they were married, ruling together over the old monarch's kingdom. And what became of the Firebird? The story does not say...but we can only hope it was granted liberty.
In another tale, the Firebird made a nuisance of itself by stealing golden apples from the garden of King Vyslav Andronovich. The disgruntled king set his three sons to keep watch on the trees and catch the bird if it came to cause trouble again. Prince Dimitri watched the first night, but fell asleep while on duty. Prince Vasily watched the second night, but fared no better. On the third night, however, Prince Ivan watched and suddenly, the whole area was flooded with a dazzling, golden light. The Firebird alighted in the trees and began picking apples. Stealthily, Prince Ivan crept forward and seized the creature by its tail. Quickly, the Firebird managed to slip from the prince's grasp and he was left holding a single, miraculous feather. When the king was presented with the treasure, he was determined to have the bird and commanded his two older sons, Dimitri and Vasily, out into the world to find the fantastic creature and capture it at all costs.
Prince Ivan, however, was also eager to join in the quest. At last, the king reluctantly gave his youngest son permission, and Ivan rode off into the world, like his brothers had before him, to try his fortune. He had not ridden far when he noticed a pillar with an inscription: Those who went left, it read, would be killed although their horses would get through unscathed; those who went right would themselves be spared but lose their horses. Prince Ivan took the right-hand path and, before very much time had elapsed, a huge grey wolf bounded up and snatched the horse from beneath him.
The disconsolate prince toiled on, increasingly footsore, and in time, the wolf reappeared and spoke to him quite courteously. It apologized for eating the horse and offered to carry Ivan on its own back. The prince accepted the offer and the wolf took him straight to the stone walls of a magical garden. Beyond the walls, Inside a golden cage, could be seen the Firebird. It was there for the taking, the wolf assured Ivan, but not so much as a bar of the cage could be touched. If it was, then King Dolmat's men would assuredly capture him.
The prince did as he had been instructed and was just leaving with the prize when he began to think how much more convenient it would be to transport the Firebird if it were in its cage. Ivan reached out to take it and a thunderous cacophony rang through the garden. Guards came running from every quarter. They took Ivan into custody and carried him off to face King Dolmat. The ruler was furious with the prince for trying to steal what he would have gladly bestowed as a gift, if he had been asked. Ivan was informed that he must now atone for his crime by going to a neighboring kingdom ruled by King Afron, who was in possession of a magnificent horse with a golden mane. The prince was expected to bring this splendid steed back to King Dolmat's palace.
With Ivan upon its back, the wolf ran like the wind until they reached the stable where King Afron's golden-maned horse was stalled. The animal could simply be taken, so said the wolf, but its bridle must remain in the stable. Again, the prince believed he knew better and removed the bridle from the wall. It fell with a clatter and a jingle, and Ivan was soon caught and dragged before King Afron. This monarch, too, was angry that the prince had attempted to rob him and ordered Ivan to do a service in order to repay such a wrongdoing. He was to journey to the end of the Earth, where the lovely Princess Elana lived, and bring her back to be King Afron's bride.
The young prince set off once more upon the back of the grey wolf. In time, they reached the garden where Princess Elana was walking. The wolf bounded into the palace grounds and spirited the girl away from her attendants. As they traveled back to King Afron's realm, the heart of Prince Ivan grew heavy for he had fallen in love with the fair Elana and dreaded the thought of giving her up to another. Once more, the wolf offered to help. Taking on the form of the princess, the wolf allowed itself to be presented to King Afron, who was totally delighted with his newly-betrothed and cheerfully gave Prince Ivan the precious golden-maned horse. Then, accompanied by the real Elana, Ivan quickly left the kingdom of King Afron.
The grey wolf remained with King Afron for three days before escaping. It caught up with Ivan and Elana, and they journeyed on to King Dolmat's realm together. But, by now, the prince was beginning to realize that he did not want to relinquish the golden-maned horse. Undergoing another transformation, the wolf allowed itself to be presented to King Dolmat in the guise of the magnificent steed. The monarch was quite deceived and equally as delighted. He handed over the Firebird, and Prince Ivan went on his way. A few days later, the wolf-horse threw its royal rider and rejoined its traveling companions.
Arriving at the place where it had devoured Ivan's former mount, the wolf bade him farewell. The prince and princess rode on together and, when night fell, lay down to sleep by the roadside. Without his friend and protector, however, Ivan was easy prey when his envious brothers came by and found him deep in slumber. Not only was he in possession of the Firebird, but also had a wondrous horse and a beautiful woman too. They murdered him on the spot and carried his treasures away with them.
A month later, the grey wolf came upon Ivan's body just as the ravens were gathering round to eat the flesh. The wolf caught one of the younger birds beneath its giant paw and made as if to tear it apart, until its father begged the attacker to show some mercy. The wolf agreed, on the condition that the raven flew to the end of the Earth and returned with a vial of the Water of Life, which was to be found there.
The raven eagerly did as it had been bid and the wolf sprinkled the enchanted water over Ivan's body. The prince immediately got up and shook himself, as if he had merely been sleeping. Then, carried by the wolf, he rode back to his father's palace and strode into the Great Hall to claim his bride. Princess Elana vouched for his story and told the king what his older sons had done. They were thrown into a deep dungeon for their crimes, but Ivan and Elana were married that very day and, of course, lived happily ever after.
Novareinna welcomes all tale-travelers to Penumbra, her newly-established and beautiful site/sight of stories and poetry and design (some elements are still under construction).
