The Tale of The Enchanted Gazelle

 


The Tale of The Enchanted Gazelle

Long ago, in the vast deserts of Iraq, there lived a wealthy merchant named Hassan who had three daughters. His youngest daughter, Leila, was the most beautiful and kind-hearted. She loved the desert and often wandered into the dunes, marveling at its beauty and the animals that roamed there.

One day, while walking alone, Leila came upon a wounded gazelle. Its leg was caught in a thorn bush, and its eyes glistened with pain. Feeling pity, Leila freed the gazelle and tended to its wounds. To her astonishment, the gazelle spoke:

"Thank you, kind girl. I am no ordinary gazelle but an enchanted prince cursed by a wicked sorceress. Because of your kindness, you may call on me in times of great need."

The gazelle gave her a single golden hair from its coat and said, "Burn this hair if you ever need my help, and I will come to you."

Leila returned home, keeping the golden hair hidden. Time passed, and her family fell on hard times when Hassan lost his fortune. To survive, Leila's two elder sisters urged their father to marry them off to wealthy merchants. Soon, Leila, too, was promised to a rich but cruel man, a decision made against her will.

On the night of her wedding, Leila wept bitterly and remembered the gazelle's gift. Desperate, she burned the golden hair, and instantly, the gazelle appeared before her.

"Follow me, Leila," it said. She climbed onto its back, and they raced across the desert until they reached a hidden oasis. There, the gazelle transformed into a handsome prince. He explained his story:

"I was a prince who angered a jealous sorceress, and she cursed me to roam the desert as a gazelle. Your kindness broke part of the curse, allowing me to transform back into a man in this oasis. But I need your help to lift the curse entirely."

Leila agreed to help. The prince revealed that the only way to break the curse was to retrieve a magical amulet from the sorceress’s lair, hidden deep in the mountains. Together, they embarked on the dangerous journey. Along the way, Leila’s courage and cleverness saved them from many traps set by the sorceress.

When they finally reached the sorceress’s lair, Leila tricked her into revealing the amulet’s hiding place by pretending to admire her magical powers. As soon as Leila took the amulet, the sorceress lost her powers and vanished in a puff of smoke.

The prince’s curse was lifted, and he asked Leila to be his queen. She agreed, and they returned to the oasis, which transformed into a magnificent palace. Leila and the prince lived happily, and her family, now free from poverty, joined them in the palace.

The tale of Leila and the Enchanted Gazelle became a legend, reminding all who heard it of the power of kindness, courage, and cleverness.

This Iraqi fairy tale reflects themes of compassion and bravery that resonate deeply in Middle Eastern folklore. 

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