The Beautiful Prince Dawn. A Fairy Tale

Для читателей, а не кликкеров - это исходник. После 28.08.2025 я пишу только на патреоне ilangoria. Я жива, со мной всё хорошо, но больше не публикуюсь на стихи.ру! Поэтому смотрите сайт ilangoria.com или Патреон. https://www.patreon.com/c/Ilangoria
Спасибо.

пояснительная бригада - это пример сеттинга для волшебного мира Илангории, где нежить и нечисть тоже пишут песни, байки, шутки, только - магические. Это одна из них.


Mila Rada

In turbulent times in a strange, unknown land,
The Beautiful Prince Dawn walked through the earth so young and grand.
In those years, Sun and Moon, laughing, danced across the skies,
Whilst Grandfather Wind held the first rain in his hand.

The earliest trees stretched their branches to heaven and bloomed,
And rushing rivers carried torrents to lands unconsumed.
Night lulled the stars to sleep in cradles made of cloud,
And argued with Moon in ancient tongues melodious and loud.

Forest undead basked lazily in the shade,
The first young beasts were born and made.

A na;ve world was ruled by "being in love,"
And everyone was smitten from above!
And everyone was a hero following the light,
And everyone was drunk on dreams so bright...

***

One day, Night sat quietly by the stream,
Her thoughts were bitter-sad, no longer a dream.
The water lilies' measured dance, their petals white,
In her dark curls, the moths had settled for the night.

From thickets every woodland creature drew near,
Black veils fell lower, atmosphere grew drear.
And every soul, warmed close, breathed soft and low.

The whole world lay exhausted at her feet,
A chur* by the fir fell silent in defeat. (Gazing at sweet Night)

The forest hushed, awaiting Night's tall tale,
Shadow games and magic's mystic veil,
Sweet dreams that curtain weary eyes from sight.

The beauty's fame spread far and wide,
Yet still she sat in sorrow by the riverside.

Into the darkening blue she dipped bare toes,
Sat there unbraiding her dark hair's repose.

And falling, spinning - daisies, cornflowers blue,
The river's current carried them from view.

"What troubles you, dear child of beauty rare?
What makes you sad, sweet one? Please tell me, share."

But Night, sighing wistfully, shook her head:
"I cannot, Auntie River," she said,
"Share secrets with you here!
If you should spill my secret like your flow,
You'll be my doom, you know!
Though heavy grows my heart with passing day,
This burden I must bear in my own way."

"Sinave's* face grows dark and drear,
She frightens water spirits with her fear.
You, daughter dear, have no right
In places that you love and know,
To court both Melancholy and Woe,
And spend your days in sorrow's blight.
Cast off this human grief you've learned,
Let not your heart be so concerned."

"Stay with me longer, do not rush away,
Well-well...Keep your secret if you may—
Since we cannot make you tell!"

Night closed her dark eyes wearily,
And nodded dearly.


***

On branches, Dream-fairies unbraided hair so long,
All creatures sought their rest in evening's song.
A robin by the bush sang merrily—
Soon shall the sun appear for all to see,
And our fair maiden, listening entranced,
Among the roots in flowery blankets danced.

And now the first bright star before her rose,
The woodland folk fled swiftly as the day grows.

Prince Dawn comes flying, beautiful and bright,
Swift to chase away the clinging night...
And golden steed beneath him prancing high,
Preparing now to gallop across the sky.

The heavy clouds part wide and drift away,
Mist steps aside from valleys into day,
Night midst the flowers—
Oh, they're melting, see!
Silk coverlets dissolve so gracefully!

The glorious sunlight conquers all it meets,
— And is that sword he bears? Whose head he beats?

Upon his golden charger wild and free,
He chases Darkness to eternity.
Down to the river rides our hero bright,
No older than seventeen in sight.

— Like spring's first droplet—fresh, young, sweet and fair,
But oh, his steed's so "spirited" to bear!

Now bending ears, now tossing golden mane,
Now arching neck, responding to the rein.
And joyfully the chu-world greets his call,
The Ridge rejoices, creatures one and all:
"Stop, let us embrace you, dearest friend!"

But smiling only, onward he must wend.
The golden-maned one gallops like the wind,
His very soul takes flight, no bounds can bind.

Night, watching with a long and longing gaze,
Beside her sheltering tree sits all her days —
Her home and haven there.
Beauty supreme, yet filled with deepest care.
"Oh, Auntie Willow, what a wonder strange.
But Grandpa calls—time for a little change."
The bark whispers back its soft reply,
"Who in the thicket wouldn't want to spy... the plum..."

***

"Oh, hot and languid here,
Only within the crown, (plum-dark), I fear,
Must I await the sunset's golden hour,
How rich and vast his beauty's mighty power!
To everyone from small to great he brings
Warmth and joy—such happiness he wings!
With love and tender care he blesses all,
Good reigns supreme within this forest hall!"

Thus, passing days and losing peace, sleep, taste,
She waits for Dawn and prays... her hopes not waste...
If just once he might pause
By river's edge to water his bright cause!
But he flies past much swifter day by day...
And not one glance her way...
Not even fleeting... sends her way...

Poor little Night grows sadder than before,
Yet lovelier than ever, that's for sure.

Summer yields to autumn, then winter's reign,
And here comes spring again...
She's still in love with her hero's golden flame...

The rains pour down, the snows blow wild,
Autumn escorts her season, gold-beguiled,
And spider webs on bright days through woods she carries.
Rain falls all night long, never tarries.
Wind rages fierce, tears leaves apart,
Sometimes trees to earth depart...

Then Winter comes—with snows so white all paths she'll hide.
In burrows small creatures sleep inside.
Cold all around,
Morning frost abounds...

With Spring comes beauty's blessed time—
White fluffy snows melt sublime,
Rivers flood their banks with might.
First snowdrop wakes to morning light.
Not fearing cold, the little friend
Only solar rays does tend.

And then beneath the sun unfold their face
Sweet daisies, cornflowers in their place.

Midst fields of these lies little Night.
Dusk falls around, and Darkness's daughter bright
Plucks gentle flowers, braids them in her hair.
"What makes you sad?
However much we care?" -
The whole field hums.

But Night just sings with yearning tone:
"All kinds of love are known.
Last rays grow precious in sunset's glow,
Now comes my turn to rock and sow."

And creatures small and birds draw near the maid.
All can find shelter, none afraid,
Night covers all from sorrow and from woe,
Takes sadness as her own to bear below,
And sleeping ones—in gentle arms she sways,
From small to great, she never them betrays.

But Night herself grows pale and fades away...
"How can one love the Dawn of day?
How can one hope to meet with him?
I can but steal glimpses when light grows dim,
And in my dreams of him, I weave my schemes!
Oh wondrous friend, Prince Dawn supreme!

Otherwise the brilliant light his golden stallion's hooves beat out,
Chasing Shadow Prince about,
Would blind me in an instant, burn me quite!
I cannot be with him — and grief will drive me mad outright...
And if someone should learn about my dreams so wild,
They'll chase me from the river, mock this foolish child!
'Take care of yourself!'—I know aunties' advice by heart!
But how not to step from the shadows, just to start,
Though blinded by a bright flash, each creature woken,
Still give him but a smile, a loving token?
Let confessions from my lips take wing?"

But Night knows well, from that sad day, Earth-Mother would be grieving.
For day by day her lovely season's leaving,
Her chain of tales and songs and stories,
Wondrous dreams and inspiration's glories,
Moments of prophetic revelation.
How forget her sweet enchantment?
Each love's confession brings attachment.
To burn, but speak of love so true,
To burn, but leave a song of you.

Yet Night cannot understand at all
How everyone has learned to love and call
                and praise her.
How can one imagine a world without sleep's quiet ways here?
Without sweet revelations of awakening?
Under bright sun, no languorous rest we're taking.
Without black Night, there's no time to grieve,
Accept, forgive, reflect, and then achieve,
Start each new day fresh and clean,
Ready for what might have been!

And all would seek forgotten shade and coolness wandering in eternity!
Could such a thing be promised to our world's community?
Where to go and where to seek her?
What is there to say, much bleaker...

In the Ridge, both must preserve and praise their world together!
The little one lies midst the flowers bright
And gazes into the starry night.

Soon again across the sky will race the blazing star so fair.
And she will run to meet it there,
Where the glorious star becomes the Dawn at last
And golden radiance joyful spreads so vast.

Only the dry old tree alone can tell
What the child feels, what dreams within her dwell...
"When might I hear laughter, not drink sorrow's wine?"
But that maiden, hiding in the leaves so fine,
Still waits and waits for rain.

One day at dusk, groaning with its pain,
The tree awoke with a rustling, shaking sound,
Stretched out all branches, scratched, and moved around.
Like some old grandfather, playing, having fun,
Clicking with its knuckles in the sun,
So sweetly stretching every limb...

The child burst into laughter, eyes growing dim.

The tree called to the little one to come,
An important gift beneath leaves it had won...
Night approached — all around grew still.
Only in her chest the heartbeat's trill.

Like a swarm of fireflies above her head, there gleamed
Silent flock of little miracles, it seemed —
"Oh, you rogue, Granddad! Oh, you cunning sprite!"
Dawn's very first rays of light...
"They bite and sting, but only burn the skin!"
The maiden frowns, her patience growing thin.
"Of course they're cross — without them Dawn can't rise!"
"I caught them just for you!" the Tree replies
With happy laughter ringing through the glade,
"Now then, my dried-up plum, you look so frayed!
Lie down to rest at once, it's time for bed, so sweet,
To see good fairy tales in dreams is complete.
Your handsome Prince will come to you, my dear,
Beautiful Prince Dawn will soon appear."

But the wise old Grandfather didn't tell
The secret of his cunning magic spell,
How he managed to deceive and steal away
Dawn's very first bright rays of day.

Among the Huh trees, only the oldest knows
That without his rays, Dawn's glory goes!
And in that magical, wondrous hour divine,
When star — heaven's diamond so fine —
Hiding from eyes behind bright flashing beams,
Becomes Dawn at last, as in our dreams,
The sad transformation's end draws near—
For Dawn no longer has his radiant steed here,
That stamps its hooves, thundering through the sky,
Racing on the winds, soaring high,
Whispering secrets to birds in flight,
Gathering tales throughout the night,
Enchanted by this world so bright,
And singing songs until the light...

In those days Dawn grew terribly sad,
And from his cloudy beds, he never had
The will to rise, but lay there sunk in fleece so white.
His weary eyes no longer held their light.
The clouds rocked him, lulling with their song,
Whispering together: "Surely before long all will be well,
Stop your grieving, do not dwell,
Go down to earth below.
Enough of grey clouds' flow...
Without end..."

A week the rains wandered the land,
And clouds covered the sky so grand.
Not one ray of sun broke through their wall.

"Just wait it out," the old tree creaked and sighed,
"Are we in melancholy's grip again so tried?
Your lad cannot wander earth without his steed so bright!
But neither will he wish to stay long in heaven's height,
Here lies his earthly kingdom, his domain,
Need only wait for one thing to remain —
Let him grieve, then rise — not duty calls alone!
But friendship with this world he's always known!
And these fair places beckon to our Prince so dear,
His beloved lives right here.
My thought is plain and true!
He'll wear his feet right through
But come to her, he will!"
The tree chatters with a thrill,
"And through еруыу sleeping leaves, he'll find his way
And wake her with a kiss so gentle, I shall say!"
The happy old one creaks with glee,
"Enough now, weeping, let it be!" He laughs with pure delight.
"Beloved? Oh, who might that be?" the frightened girl whispers in the night.
And Granddad Plum tree says:
"But he makes haste,
And to pursue his bride with no time-waste,
He'll have to come to us, you see,
To ask his steed returned to be!
'Tis yours to choose
How to greet this guest whose visit you can't lose."
Little Night began to muse:
"Who does the Prince love? What if not me, he'd choose?
I have no strength to think of this!
Oh, too much pain! No one can bring me bliss.

And what made me suddenly decide that he loves me, or so?
More likely Spring's the one he'd love — I know
She has the same sun's power burning bright!
While I, so black, walk only in the night,
And in the darkness I shall live my days...
Well then, at least I'll sing him praise!"

Little Night slept on,
Seventh daughter of heaven's dawn.
She saw a wondrous dream unfold,
Where she and he walked, brave and bold.
Then hidden by cool shade, they sat,
By the river's edge, where the golden horse stood wet.
The Prince held Night so tenderly near
And kissed her neck so sweet and dear...
Night woke up. Smiling bright,
Chasing rain with radiant light,
Dawn himself walks straight to her;
All troubles flee in frightened blur,
Scurrying through woods and squeaking as they hide.

"Come to ask for your steed?" the tree asked with pride,
Bending playfully, branches ringing like a bell.
"Why should I need him?" laughs Dawn, all is well,
"On him I've galloped round the world entire!
In every forest I've been, through fields of fire,
All meadows I have crossed with care,
But joy, alas, I found nowhere.
And every day, much earlier, I woke my faithful friend,
Trying to find you, love, until the end,"
Whispered Prince Dawn with passion burning bright,
"I searched for you, but found only traces of delight!
In fields of daisies, cornflowers blue,
They all were scented through and through with you.
And every day I came much earlier, oh, still,
Through sleepy fairy kingdoms wandered at will,
You were not there, nowhere to be found...

"She shared you with the Moon so round.
Each day she came down to our river's shore,
To stay in shade, not burn from your brightest lore.
To gaze at you from far away —
Her only wish each passing day,"
Laugh river, Ridge, and forest deep...
Even the chur laughs from Aspen steep!

"How sly my horse—he disappeared!"
Marvels Dawn with joy sincere.
"Just when I turned away one time,
Crafting a bouquet so sublime,
When I looked back around—
My horse was nowhere to be found..."

"Your steed loves plums so very much,
He ran after one, the rascal such!
As soon as his nose caught that magical scent,
After a little dessert, the stubborn horse went.
I was so glad to catch him there,
Though I had to strip his saddle bare,
Lest he decide to gallop to the sky, the daring one!

And in the crown, the little lights
Dance playfully through the plum tree's heights,
Leaping, dancing wild and free among the plum so dark.

And Night, quieter than day,
Fearing fire's burning ray,
In gorgeous robes hiding from the light...
Laughs softly—
The lad paid her attention, her alone, so bright!

He walked up to his horse and unbuckled the reins.
"Run free, be like the wind once again!
Gallop, seek your destined star!
To her alone be faithful, and never stray far!
Give her your time alone! The task is complete!
From you, I lift this burden to repeat—
Spreading Dawn throughout the land.
Now I'm in love, you understand,
Brightly I shall shine and glow,
Covering all in golden show!
And Night, laughing in her beautiful attire,
Sparkling in dresses of desire,
Will run from me much faster, day by day,
Continuing to hide, to play,
Her lullabies for me
And more to her desire to create.

While I'm dancing, captivated by my fate,
Enchanted, drunk on love so true,
Will chase her light the whole world through,
In flowers, leaves, and shadows deep,
Between the lines her traces seek,
To kiss her sweet and jealous, wild!"

The horse ran off, by Fate's own fury styled,
Leaving splashes of bright colours in his wake,
Becoming storm himself for someone's sake,
Free now, like wind so wild,
He galloped to his dream, beguiled,
To her... with whom he fell in love,
Marked for him by God above.

"You gazed at me alone, and breathed
Only for me, your heart was wreathed
With longing just to touch my face,
You wanted kisses in an embrace,
To follow at my heels? To dance?
And never let me go, perchance!
How funny, Fate, that little sprite,
Scared us both with blazing light!
I knew I had no strength to take
Even one step closer for love's sake.
Your fearsome horse would trample Night
Who's quieter, humbler in your sight."

"And I was so enchanted by your grace,
Madly in love with your sweet face,
I dreamed of you through all my days,
But jest aside—I was not full of praise!
All year, at crack of dawn, I'd tear
Cloud pillows in the morning air,
Rush to the daisy fields so bright,
Dreaming, I would find you sleeping? Only light
Among the flowers whispering, singing clear,
And wake you with a kiss, my dear.
But in the dusk the sky grows dark and deep,
Behind shaggy pillows, I cannot peep
At you. You hid within the leaves—
While I sought you where flower weaves
Its patterns. I was so afraid
Another might have won, betrayed
My hopes. He led you far away...
That you might sing and dance at play
For him, your lullabies were sweet,
And I'd be robbed of kisses. How neat...
I wept with jealousy and dreamed with all my heart
That I myself would have the art
To pluck and braid the flowers in your lovely hair so dark.
I searched for you each day at daylight's mark...

Growing earlier each dawn,
Until the frosts came on,
And in the cold your trace was lost and gone..."

So many years have passed away,
But Night and Prince Dawn, to this day,
Together are. She runs from him with laughter bright,
While he, in love, a lad of light,
Pursues her still.
Drunk with love and thrilled,
He hurries after with all his will.
In fields and flowers, trees embrace her still...

In those years, love ruled the world entire,
And everyone burned with love's fire.
And everyone was hero taking wing,
And everyone was drunk on dreams of spring...

The world was young, alive, inspired, free,
Stars talked with clouds, waves whispered by the sea
In strange and ancient tongues melodious and fair.
But time's forgotten when old Wind would care
For clouds like children in his weathered hands,
And sing them ancient tales of distant lands.
The river carried coolness far away
And basked in such refined words every day
That Granddad Plum would playfully sing
To water, gently offering
His blossoms as a gift so rare...

And do you know this parable has a beginning, brief and fair?
"Stars drowsily mumble unclear."

And this tale itself is a puzzle-piece, my dear, that little Ilangoria must solve with care, to find the magic path of power there? Will you help her on her quest? Then the great game begins—you're our guest! https://www.patreon.com/c/Ilangoria