THE FLOWER QUEEN’S DAUGHTER(23)
by Andrew Lang · from The Yellow Fairy Book
Adapted Version
A kind Prince lived far away. He always helped people.
One day, the Prince rode his horse. He rode in a big, green field. He saw a deep, dark ditch. He heard a sound. A woman cried for help. Her voice was soft. The Prince helped her out. He was a good man. He was very kind.
The woman was a Good Fairy. She had bright eyes. She said, "You are kind." She gave a gift. "The Flower Princess is beautiful. She has golden hair. A dragon holds her. He is a big dragon. You can save her."
The Good Fairy gave him a small, magic bell. "Ring it once for eagles. Ring it twice for foxes. Ring it three times for fish." Then she left. The earth opened and closed. It was a strange sight.
The Prince went on a long, hard trip. He looked for three long years. He met wise old men. They showed him the secret way. He found the Dragon's big house. It was dark and scary. It was high on a tall mountain.
Seven big dragons stood guard. The Prince said kind words. He was very polite. He praised the Big Dragon. She liked his words. The dragons let him in. He felt brave. He would work for the Big Dragon.
The Big Dragon had a strong horse. "Take my horse to the green field," she said. "Bring her back each night. Do not fail. If not, I will be angry." Prince said yes.
Each day, the horse ran far away. The Prince rang his magic bell. Big eagles came. Clever foxes came. Small fish came. They found the lost horse. They brought her back to him, safe.
Each night, the Prince went to a big party. He got pretty, shining cloaks. He danced with the beautiful Flower Princess. They talked about how to leave. They spoke softly. They made a secret plan.
Last day, Prince asked for a reward. "Please give me a baby horse," he said. "A small one." The Big Dragon liked his kind words. She smiled. She said, "Yes, you can have it." She was happy.
The Prince and the Flower Princess rode far away. They rode the small baby horse. The Big Dragon woke up. She was angry. She chased them fast. She was very mad.
The kind Flower Queen saw them. She used her strong magic. Big, bright flowers grew very tall. They made a thick wall. The Dragon could not pass. She was stopped.
Queen said, "Marry my daughter." She told the Prince one rule. "My daughter must live with me. She loves the cold. She will come in winter. She will come when it is cold. She must return."
The Prince and the Flower Princess married. It was a happy day. They were very happy. Their love was strong. She lived with him in warm summer. She went to her mother in cold winter. They loved each other always. Their love grew.
The Prince and Princess were very happy. Their life was good. They knew their love was strong, no matter the season. It was true. They lived a happy life together. A good life.
Original Story
THE FLOWER QUEEN’S DAUGHTER(23)
(23) From the Bukowinaer. Von Wliolocki.
A young Prince was riding one day through a meadow that stretched for miles in front of him, when he came to a deep open ditch. He was turning aside to avoid it, when he heard the sound of someone crying in the ditch. He dismounted from his horse, and stepped along in the direction the sound came from. To his astonishment he found an old woman, who begged him to help her out of the ditch. The Prince bent down and lifted her out of her living grave, asking her at the same time how she had managed to get there.
‘My son,’ answered the old woman, ‘I am a very poor woman, and soon after midnight I set out for the neighbouring town in order to sell my eggs in the market on the following morning; but I lost my way in the dark, and fell into this deep ditch, where I might have remained for ever but for your kindness.’
Then the Prince said to her, ‘You can hardly walk; I will put you on my horse and lead you home. Where do you live?’
‘Over there, at the edge of the forest in the little hut you see in the distance,’ replied the old woman.
The Prince lifted her on to his horse, and soon they reached the hut, where the old woman got down, and turning to the Prince said, ‘Just wait a moment, and I will give you something.’ And she disappeared into her hut, but returned very soon and said, ‘You are a mighty Prince, but at the same time you have a kind heart, which deserves to be rewarded. Would you like to have the most beautiful woman in the world for your wife?’
‘Most certainly I would,’ replied the Prince.
So the old woman continued, ‘The most beautiful woman in the whole world is the daughter of the Queen of the Flowers, who has been captured by a dragon. If you wish to marry her, you must first set her free, and this I will help you to do. I will give you this little bell: if you ring it once, the King of the Eagles will appear; if you ring it twice, the King of the Foxes will come to you; and if you ring it three times, you will see the King of the Fishes by your side. These will help you if you are in any difficulty. Now farewell, and heaven prosper your undertaking.’ She handed him the little bell, and there disappeared hut and all, as though the earth had swallowed her up.
Then it dawned on the Prince that he had been speaking to a good fairy, and putting the little bell carefully in his pocket, he rode home and told his father that he meant to set the daughter of the Flower Queen free, and intended setting out on the following day into the wide world in search of the maid.
So the next morning the Prince mounted his fine horse and left his home. He had roamed round the world for a whole year, and his horse had died of exhaustion, while he himself had suffered much from want and misery, but still he had come on no trace of her he was in search of. At last one day he came to a hut, in front of which sat a very old man. The Prince asked him, ‘Do you not know where the Dragon lives who keeps the daughter of the Flower Queen prisoner?’
‘No, I do not,’ answered the old man. ‘But if you go straight along this road for a year, you will reach a hut where my father lives, and possibly he may be able to tell you.’
The Prince thanked him for his information, and continued his journey for a whole year along the same road, and at the end of it came to the little hut, where he found a very old man. He asked him the same question, and the old man answered, ‘No, I do not know where the Dragon lives. But go straight along this road for another year, and you will come to a hut in which my father lives. I know he can tell you.’
And so the Prince wandered on for another year, always on the same road, and at last reached the hut where he found the third old man. He put the same question to him as he had put to his son and grandson; but this time the old man answered, ‘The Dragon lives up there on the mountain, and he has just begun his year of sleep. For one whole year he is always awake, and the next he sleeps. But if you wish to see the Flower Queen’s daughter go up the second mountain: the Dragon’s old mother lives there, and she has a ball every night, to which the Flower Queen’s daughter goes regularly.’
So the Prince went up the second mountain, where he found a castle all made of gold with diamond windows. He opened the big gate leading into the courtyard, and was just going to walk in, when seven dragons rushed on him and asked him what he wanted?
The Prince replied, ‘I have heard so much of the beauty and kindness of the Dragon’s Mother, and would like to enter her service.’
This flattering speech pleased the dragons, and the eldest of them said, ‘Well, you may come with me, and I will take you to the Mother Dragon.’
They entered the castle and walked through twelve splendid halls, all made of gold and diamonds. In the twelfth room they found the Mother Dragon seated on a diamond throne. She was the ugliest woman under the sun, and, added to it all, she had three heads. Her appearance was a great shock to the Prince, and so was her voice, which was like the croaking of many ravens. She asked him, ‘Why have you come here?’
The Prince answered at once, ‘I have heard so much of your beauty and kindness, that I would very much like to enter your service.’
‘Very well,’ said the Mother Dragon; ‘but if you wish to enter my service, you must first lead my mare out to the meadow and look after her for three days; but if you don’t bring her home safely every evening, we will eat you up.’
The Prince undertook the task and led the mare out to the meadow.
But no sooner had they reached the grass than she vanished. The Prince sought for her in vain, and at last in despair sat down on a big stone and contemplated his sad fate. As he sat thus lost in thought, he noticed an eagle flying over his head. Then he suddenly bethought him of his little bell, and taking it out of his pocket he rang it once. In a moment he heard a rustling sound in the air beside him, and the King of the Eagles sank at his feet.
‘I know what you want of me,’ the bird said. ‘You are looking for the Mother Dragon’s mare who is galloping about among the clouds. I will summon all the eagles of the air together, and order them to catch the mare and bring her to you.’ And with these words the King of the Eagles flew away. Towards evening the Prince heard a mighty rushing sound in the air, and when he looked up he saw thousands of eagles driving the mare before them. They sank at his feet on to the ground and gave the mare over to him. Then the Prince rode home to the old Mother Dragon, who was full of wonder when she saw him, and said, ‘You have succeeded to-day in looking after my mare, and as a reward you shall come to my ball to-night.’ She gave him at the same time a cloak made of copper, and led him to a big room where several young he-dragons and she-dragons were dancing together. Here, too, was the Flower Queen’s beautiful daughter. Her dress was woven out of the most lovely flowers in the world, and her complexion was like lilies and roses. As the Prince was dancing with her he managed to whisper in her ear, ‘I have come to set you free!’
Then the beautiful girl said to him, ‘If you succeed in bringing the mare back safely the third day, ask the Mother Dragon to give you a foal of the mare as a reward.’
The ball came to an end at midnight, and early next morning the Prince again led the Mother Dragon’s mare out into the meadow. But again she vanished before his eyes. Then he took out his little bell and rang it twice.
In a moment the King of the Foxes stood before him and said: ‘I know already what you want, and will summon all the foxes of the world together to find the mare who has hidden herself in a hill.’
With these words the King of the Foxes disappeared, and in the evening many thousand foxes brought the mare to the Prince.
Then he rode home to the Mother-Dragon, from whom he received this time a cloak made of silver, and again she led him to the ball-room.
The Flower Queen’s daughter was delighted to see him safe and sound, and when they were dancing together she whispered in his ear: ‘If you succeed again to-morrow, wait for me with the foal in the meadow. After the ball we will fly away together.’
On the third day the Prince led the mare to the meadow again; but once more she vanished before his eyes. Then the Prince took out his little bell and rang it three times.
In a moment the King of the Fishes appeared, and said to him: ‘I know quite well what you want me to do, and I will summon all the fishes of the sea together, and tell them to bring you back the mare, who is hiding herself in a river.’
Towards evening the mare was returned to him, and when he led her home to the Mother Dragon she said to him:
‘You are a brave youth, and I will make you my body-servant. But what shall I give you as a reward to begin with?’
The Prince begged for a foal of the mare, which the Mother Dragon at once gave him, and over and above, a cloak made of gold, for she had fallen in love with him because he had praised her beauty.
So in the evening he appeared at the ball in his golden cloak; but before the entertainment was over he slipped away, and went straight to the stables, where he mounted his foal and rode out into the meadow to wait for the Flower Queen’s daughter. Towards midnight the beautiful girl appeared, and placing her in front of him on his horse, the Prince and she flew like the wind till they reached the Flower Queen’s dwelling. But the dragons had noticed their flight, and woke their brother out of his year’s sleep. He flew into a terrible rage when he heard what had happened, and determined to lay siege to the Flower Queen’s palace; but the Queen caused a forest of flowers as high as the sky to grow up round her dwelling, through which no one could force a way.
When the Flower Queen heard that her daughter wanted to marry the Prince, she said to him: ‘I will give my consent to your marriage gladly, but my daughter can only stay with you in summer. In winter, when everything is dead and the ground covered with snow, she must come and live with me in my palace underground.’ The Prince consented to this, and led his beautiful bride home, where the wedding was held with great pomp and magnificence. The young couple lived happily together till winter came, when the Flower Queen’s daughter departed and went home to her mother. In summer she returned to her husband, and their life of joy and happiness began again, and lasted till the approach of winter, when the Flower Queen’s daughter went back again to her mother. This coming and going continued all her life long, and in spite of it they always lived happily together.
Story DNA
Moral
Kindness and perseverance can lead to great rewards, and true love can overcome even the most unusual circumstances.
Plot Summary
A kind Prince rescues an old woman who reveals herself as a good fairy and gifts him a magical bell to help him rescue the Flower Queen's daughter from a dragon. After a three-year quest, the Prince finds the Dragon's Mother and, through flattery and the use of his magical bell, completes three impossible tasks for her. He conspires with the Flower Queen's daughter during nightly balls, and they escape on a magical foal. Though pursued by the awakened Dragon, they are protected by the Flower Queen's magic. The Flower Queen consents to their marriage, but only if her daughter lives with her underground during the winter, leading to a unique, happy life of seasonal reunion and separation.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The Bukovina region has a rich mix of cultures (Romanian, Ukrainian, German, Polish, Jewish), suggesting a blend of folklore influences.
Plot Beats (13)
- A young Prince helps an old woman out of a ditch.
- The old woman reveals herself as a good fairy and, in gratitude for his kindness, offers him the most beautiful woman in the world, the Flower Queen's daughter, who is imprisoned by a dragon.
- The fairy gives the Prince a magical bell that can summon the King of Eagles, Foxes, or Fishes, and then disappears.
- The Prince sets out on a quest, searching for three years, guided by three progressively older men to the Dragon's Mother's castle.
- At the castle, the Prince flatters the Mother Dragon and her seven dragon guards to gain entry and enter her service.
- The Mother Dragon tasks the Prince with tending her magical mare for three days, threatening to eat him if he fails.
- Each day, the mare vanishes, and the Prince uses his magical bell to summon the King of Eagles, then Foxes, then Fishes, to find and return the mare.
- Each evening, the Prince attends the Mother Dragon's ball, receiving a cloak of copper, silver, and gold, and dances with the Flower Queen's daughter, secretly planning their escape.
- On the third day, the Prince asks for a foal of the mare as his reward, which the Mother Dragon, smitten by his flattery, grants him.
- The Prince and the Flower Queen's daughter escape on the magical foal, pursued by the awakened Dragon.
- The Flower Queen protects her palace with a forest of flowers, preventing the Dragon's siege.
- The Flower Queen agrees to the marriage, but stipulates that her daughter must live with her underground during winter.
- The Prince and the Flower Queen's daughter marry and live happily, reuniting each summer and separating each winter.
Characters
The Prince
A young man of noble bearing, likely of average height and a sturdy build, capable of riding for extended periods and lifting an old woman. His features are not explicitly described but would be considered handsome, reflecting his kind heart and royal lineage.
Attire: Initially, he wears practical riding attire suitable for a prince on a journey, perhaps a tunic of fine wool or linen, breeches, and sturdy leather boots. Later, he wears cloaks of copper, silver, and gold, likely over simple undergarments while in the Mother Dragon's service, before returning to his princely attire for his wedding.
Wants: To find and marry the most beautiful woman in the world, the Flower Queen's daughter, driven by the promise of the good fairy.
Flaw: Can be naive, as shown by his initial belief in the Mother Dragon's 'beauty and kindness'. His determination can also lead him to endure great hardship.
Transforms from a somewhat naive prince into a seasoned adventurer, proving his bravery and resourcefulness to win his bride. He learns perseverance and the value of magical aid.
Kind-hearted, determined, brave, resourceful, polite.
The Good Fairy (Old Woman)
Initially appears as a frail, very poor old woman, hunched with age and hardship, with a wrinkled face and possibly thin, bony hands. Her true form is that of a powerful fairy, though her appearance as an old woman is the only one described.
Attire: Simple, worn peasant clothes, likely a coarse linen shift and a dark, patched wool skirt, indicative of poverty. No specific colors are mentioned, but they would be drab and practical.
Wants: To reward the Prince for his kindness and to facilitate the rescue of the Flower Queen's daughter.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, as she is a powerful magical being.
Appears briefly to set the Prince on his quest and provide him with the means to succeed, then disappears, her role fulfilled.
Wise, benevolent, grateful, powerful, mysterious.
The Flower Queen's Daughter
The most beautiful woman in the world, with a complexion like lilies and roses, implying fair skin with a healthy blush. Her form is graceful and ethereal, reflecting her connection to flowers.
Attire: A dress woven out of the most lovely flowers in the world, suggesting a constantly changing, vibrant, and natural garment that appears to be alive with blossoms and petals. This would be her signature attire.
Wants: To be freed from the Dragon's captivity and to marry the Prince who rescues her.
Flaw: Vulnerable to capture and bound by her mother's seasonal decree.
Remains largely consistent, acting as the prize and guide for the Prince. Her arc is tied to her seasonal existence, moving between her husband and her mother.
Gentle, beautiful, intelligent (giving the Prince advice), appreciative.
The Mother Dragon
The ugliest woman under the sun, with three heads. Her body would be monstrous and imposing, reflecting her dragon nature, even in a humanoid form. Her skin might be scaly or warty, and her overall appearance grotesque.
Attire: No specific wardrobe is mentioned, suggesting her monstrous form is her primary 'attire'. If she wears anything, it would be dark, heavy, and perhaps adorned with crude, large jewels, emphasizing her power and ugliness.
Wants: To maintain her power and possessions, including the Flower Queen's daughter and her magical mare. She desires flattery and admiration.
Flaw: Her extreme vanity makes her susceptible to flattery, which the Prince exploits.
Remains static in her villainy, though her vanity is exploited. She is ultimately outwitted but not defeated.
Cruel, vain (despite her ugliness), demanding, easily flattered, possessive.
The Flower Queen
A powerful, regal figure, whose appearance would reflect her dominion over flowers and nature. She would be beautiful but with an aura of ancient power and wisdom.
Attire: Regal attire made of or adorned with flowers, similar to her daughter's, but perhaps more elaborate and queenly, reflecting her status and power over nature. Colors would be vibrant and natural.
Wants: To protect her daughter and ensure her well-being, even if it means a seasonal separation.
Flaw: Her daughter's vulnerability to capture (initially), and her own binding to the seasons.
Appears at the end to set the conditions for her daughter's marriage, establishing the cyclical nature of their lives.
Powerful, protective, wise, fair (setting conditions for the marriage).
Locations
Meadow with a Deep Ditch
A vast, open meadow stretching for miles, featuring a deep, open ditch. The ground is likely grassy and possibly uneven near the ditch. The air is clear, and the time is likely morning or early afternoon.
Mood: Initially peaceful, then surprising and a little desolate due to the old woman's predicament.
The Prince encounters and rescues an old woman (a good fairy in disguise) from a ditch, receiving a magical bell as a reward and the quest to find the Flower Queen's daughter.
Old Woman's Hut at Forest Edge
A small, humble hut situated at the very edge of a forest, visible in the distance from the meadow. It is likely a simple, rustic structure, possibly made of wood and thatch, typical of a peasant dwelling in a Bukowinian setting.
Mood: Mysterious and humble, quickly becoming magical as the hut vanishes.
The Prince brings the old woman home, where she reveals herself as a fairy and gives him the magical bell before vanishing with her hut.
Mother Dragon's Golden Castle on the Second Mountain
A magnificent castle made entirely of gleaming gold, perched high on a mountain. It features diamond windows that sparkle, and a large gate leading into a courtyard. Inside, there are twelve splendid halls, all constructed from gold and diamonds. The twelfth room contains a diamond throne where the three-headed Mother Dragon resides.
Mood: Imposing, opulent, dangerous, and slightly terrifying due to the dragons, yet also a place of social gathering.
The Prince enters the castle, serves the Mother Dragon, attends her balls, and plots the escape of the Flower Queen's daughter.
Flower Queen's Dwelling / Palace
The dwelling or palace of the Flower Queen, initially described as a 'dwelling' and later as a 'palace'. It is protected by a magical forest of flowers that grows sky-high, making it impenetrable. The palace itself is likely vibrant and natural, reflecting its owner's connection to flowers, possibly with organic architecture or structures woven from living plants.
Mood: Magical, protective, beautiful, and a sanctuary.
The Prince and the Flower Queen's daughter escape to this dwelling, which is then magically protected. It becomes the place where the Flower Queen gives her consent to the marriage, establishing the seasonal living arrangement.