The Golden Apple and the Nine Peahens

 


The Golden Apple and the Nine Peahens

Once upon a time, in a small village nestled among the green hills of Bosnia, there lived a poor but kindhearted young man named Alija. He was known throughout the village for his honesty and hardworking nature. Alija had a small garden, and in the middle of it stood a beautiful apple tree. Every year, the tree bore the most magnificent golden apples that shone like the sun.

One day, Alija noticed something strange. Each morning, one of the golden apples was missing from the tree. Determined to solve the mystery, Alija decided to stay awake and keep watch.

The Nine Peahens

On the third night of his vigil, just as the moon rose high in the sky, Alija saw an incredible sight. From the heavens descended nine shimmering peahens. Their feathers sparkled like jewels, and their beauty was beyond anything Alija had ever seen. The peahens landed near the tree, and one of them transformed into a stunning maiden with golden hair and eyes as bright as the stars. She picked a golden apple, and the group began to feast on it.

Alija stepped forward, and the maiden gasped. “Who are you?” she asked, startled.

“I am the keeper of this garden,” Alija replied. “Who are you, and why do you take my apples?”

The maiden smiled shyly. “I am a princess from a faraway kingdom, and these are my sisters. We meant no harm. The apples are magical, and we only took them to prolong our enchantment.”

Though enchanted by her beauty, Alija boldly asked, “If you are truly kind, will you stay and share your story with me?”

The maiden agreed, and the two talked until dawn. Before she left, she promised to return the next night. Over the following weeks, Alija and the maiden fell deeply in love. But their happiness was not to last.

The Evil Sorcerer

Unbeknownst to them, a wicked sorcerer had cursed the princess and her sisters to live as peahens by day. He wanted to keep the maiden for himself and grew jealous when he discovered her visits to Alija.

One night, as Alija waited for the peahens, the sorcerer appeared in a cloud of black smoke. “You dare to steal what is mine?” the sorcerer roared. “I curse you to find your love only if you can reach my castle in the Forbidden Mountains.”

With that, the sorcerer and the peahens disappeared into the night sky.

The Quest for the Princess

Heartbroken but determined, Alija set out on a long and perilous journey to the Forbidden Mountains. Along the way, he encountered three old women, each in need of help. He shared his bread with the first, gave his water to the second, and helped the third cross a river. In return, they gave him magical gifts: a silver feather, a golden thread, and a crystal vial.

“These will help you reach the sorcerer’s castle and save your love,” they told him.

The Final Test

When Alija finally reached the castle, the sorcerer laughed and said, “You will never find the maiden among the nine peahens. They all look alike. Choose the wrong one, and you will lose her forever!”

Alija remembered the gifts from the old women. He sprinkled the crystal vial’s contents on the peahens, and eight of them fluttered away in fear. Only the maiden remained. The sorcerer, furious, lunged at Alija, but Alija used the golden thread to bind him, breaking the curse.

The maiden and her sisters were free, and the sorcerer vanished in a puff of smoke.

Happily Ever After

The maiden and Alija returned to his village, where they were married under the golden apple tree. The tree, in gratitude, bore more golden apples than ever before, and the village prospered. Alija and the maiden lived happily ever after, a testament to the power of bravery, kindness, and love.

Moral of the Story:

This Bosnian fairy tale teaches that kindness and courage can overcome even the darkest of curses. It also reminds us that true love is worth any challenge, no matter how difficult the journey may be.

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