Zhili-Bwili…
Once there lived, once there was….
aTsarevich named Ivan who lived in a kingdom of the Russ. When his parents died, they told him to take care of his three sisters, the tsarevnas Tonya, Olga, and Anya.
A whole year went by, snow and spring and summer passed, and in the Autumn, when the birches blazed like flame on the hills, and mushrooms and fresh black bread steamed on every table, Tsarevich Ivan and his sister Tonya went for a walk in the forest. Above them a raven came circling, circling, and then lo & behold, he swooped down, struck the ground, and turned into tall dark knight with hair as black as branches at sunset, and eyes as bright and sparkling as a night in winter.
“Hail, Tsarevich Ivan! I’ve been perched near your kremlin for a month and a month and before the frost arrives and makes my way home bitter, I’d like your permission to make your dark-haired sister tsarevna of my kingdom.”
Tsarevich Ivan saw his sister blush like the birch leaves, and replied, “My sister doesn’t need my permission, and my blessing she already has; if she finds you and your kingdom pleasing, go with God.” So they wed; and they danced and they drank for three whole days before Tonya and the raven fled the winter wind to the raven’s kingdom.
A whole year went by, snow and spring and summer passed, and in the Autumn, when the barley glowed like bronze in the fields, and golden kvas frothed on every table, Tsarevich Ivan and his sister Olga went for a walk in the forest. Above them a hawk came circling, circling, and then lo & behold, he swooped down, struck the ground, and turned into tall golden knight with hair as light as a cold afternoon, and eyes as bright and sparkling blue as dawn in winter.
“Hail, Tsarevich Ivan! I’ve been hunting near your kremlin for a month and a month and before the frost arrives and makes my way home bitter, I’d like your permission to make your light-haired sister tsarevna of my kingdom.”
Tsarevich Ivan saw his sister glow like barley in the fields, and replied, “My sister doesn’t need my permission, and my blessing she already has; if she finds you and your kingdom pleasing, go with God.” So they wed; and they danced and they drank for three whole days before Olga and the hawk fled the winter wind to the hawk’s kingdom.
A whole year went by, snow and spring and summer passed, and in the Autumn, when the buckwheat ripened in the fields, and kasha and honey steamed on every table, Tsarevich Ivan and his sister Anya went for a walk in the forest. Above them an eagle came circling, circling, and then lo & behold, he swooped down, struck the ground, and turned into tall tan knight with hair as brown as fallen leaves, and eyes as bright and sparkling as the ice on the taiga on a winter morning.
“Hail, Tsarevich Ivan! I’ve been fishing near your kremlin for a month and a month and before the frost arrives and makes my way home bitter, I’d like your permission to make your brown-haired sister tsarevna of my kingdom.”
Tsarevich Ivan saw his sister sway like buckwheat in the fields, and replied, “My sister doesn’t need my permission, and my blessing she already has; if she finds you and your kingdom pleasing, go with God.” So they wed; and they danced and they drank for three whole days before Anya and the eagle fled the winter wind to the eagle’s kingdom.
A whole year went by in Tsarevich Ivan’s empty kremlin; snow and spring and summer passed, and in the Autumn, Tsarevich Ivan took a walk through the forest to visit his sisters in their husbands’ tsardoms. He walked three months, three weeks, and three days, until he came upon a host of troops lying slain on the field of battle.
Tsarevich Ivan shouted, “If any man remains alive here, let him answer! Who slew this great army?”
One man, still struggling to live, answered, “All this army was slain by Marya Morevna, the queen from beyond the sea.”
Tsarevich Ivan walked farther, beyond the boots and bodies and blood of soldiers, until he saw the white tents of Marya Morevna. As he stood there, she came out to meet him, cleaning her sword.
“Hail, Tsarevich Ivan,” she said, her eyes never leaving his own. “Where is God taking you? Is it by your will or against it?”
Tsarevich Ivan replied carefully, his eyes never leaving hers. “Brave knights don’t travel against their will, Marya Morevna. I am where I intend to be, and I am where I was meant to go.”
Marya sheathed her sword and smiled. “Well then, if you’re not in a hurry, be my guest and rest here in my tents.” Tsarevich Ivan did so, gladly, and spent three whole days as the guest of the queen from beyond the sea. On the third day, they married.
Marya Morevna took Tsarevich Ivan with her to her kingdom beyond the sea. For almost a year they lived together; spring and summer and autumn passed, and before the first snow, Marya left to wage war once more. She left her household in Tsarevich Ivan’s charge, admonishing him, “Go where you will, Do what you want, and take care of everything- but never look in my closet.”
She was gone for just three hours and three minutes. In that time, Tsarevich Ivan had already wandered the entire grounds, gone hunting, and inspected every room in the kremlin. He found himself facing Marya’s closet, so he did what any brave knight would do. He put the key in the lock, opened the door, and looked in. Looking back at him were the hollow eyes and skin-clad skeleton of Koschey the Deathless, hanging by twelve iron chains in Marya’s closet.
And then Koschey started to beg. “Please, take pity on me. Give me something to drink. For ten years I’ve hung here without food or drink, and my throat as dry as bones after battle.”
Horrified by what his wife had done to this man, Tsarevich Ivan gave him an entire bucket of water. “MORE!” croaked Koschey. Ivan gave him another bucket. “MORE!” bellowed Koschey. Ivan brought him another. After drinking the third bucket of water, Koschey recovered his former strength, shook off his chains and broke all twelve of them at once, and growled, “Thank you, Tsarevich Ivan! Now you will never see Marya Morevna again- not any more than you can see your own ears!”
With that he spun out of the window in a terrible whirlwind, overtook Marya Morevna the queen, seized her and carried her off to his cave. Tsarevich Ivan wept bitterly, packed his bags, and went to find her.
He walked one day, then another, and as the third day dawned in the taiga, he beheld a marvelous kremlin in the forest. Near the castle stood a grove of birches, and in the largest one sat a dark raven. The raven flew down from his perch, turned into a dark knight, and exclaimed “Ah, my dear brother-in-law! How does God favor you?”
Tsarevna Tonya ran out, greeted Tsarevich Ivan with delight, asked him about his health, and told him about her own good fortune. Tsarevich Ivan stayed with them for three whole days, and then said, “I cannot rest here for long. I am searching for my wife, Marya Morevna, the queen from beyond the sea.”
The raven looked at Tonya and Tonya looked at the raven. Finally the raven spoke. “I feel it will be hard for you to find her, Tsarevitch Ivan. Leave your silver spoon here just in case. We will look at it and remember you.”
Tsarevitch Ivan left his silver spoon with the raven, and went on his way. He walked one day, then another, and as the third day dawned in the taiga, he beheld a marvelous kremlin in the forest. Near the castle stood a grove of pines, and in the largest one sat a light hawk. The hawk flew down from his perch, turned into a golden knight, and exclaimed “Ah, my dear brother-in-law! How does God favor you?”
Tsarevna Olga ran out, greeted Tsarevich Ivan with delight, asked him about his health, and told him about her own good fortune. Tsarevich Ivan stayed with them for three whole days, and then said, “I cannot rest here for long. I am searching for my wife, Marya Morevna, the queen from beyond the sea.”
The hawk looked at Olga and Olga looked at the hawk. Finally the hawk spoke. “I feel it will be hard for you to find her, Tsarevitch Ivan. Leave your silver fork here just in case. We will look at it and remember you.”
Tsarevitch Ivan left his silver fork with the hawk, and went on his way. He walked one day, then another, and as the third day dawned in the taiga, he beheld a marvelous kremlin in the forest. Near the castle stood a grove of oaks, and in the largest one sat a tawny eagle. The eagle flew down from his perch, turned into a tan knight, and exclaimed “Ah, my dear brother-in-law! How does God favor you?”
Tsarevna Anya ran out, greeted Tsarevich Ivan with delight, asked him about his health, and told him about her own good fortune. Tsarevich Ivan stayed with them for three whole days, and then said, “I cannot rest here for long. I am searching for my wife, Marya Morevna, the queen from beyond the sea.”
The eagle looked at Anya and Anya looked at the eagle. Finally the eagle spoke. “I feel it will be hard for you to find her, Tsarevitch Ivan. Leave your silver tinderbox here just in case. We will look at it and remember you.”
Tsarevitch Ivan left his silver tinderbox with the eagle, and went on his way. He walked one day, then another, and as the third day dawned in the mountains, he came to the cave of Koschey, and found Marya Morevna. When she saw her beloved, she threw her arms around him, shed tears, and asked, locking her eyes with his own, “Ah, Tsarevich Ivan mine, why did you release Koschey the Deathless?”
He stared right back into her eyes and said, “Forgive and forget the past, Marya, my own- and let us slip away before Koschey can overtake us.” And so they fled into the forest where Koschey was hunting. Night fell, and as Koschey returned home to his cave, his steed stumbled beneath him.
“Why do you trip and stumble, hungry jade? Is there some trouble worth my knowing?”
The horse answered , “Tsarevich Ivan was here, and he’s taken Marya Morevna back beyond the sea.”
“And can we overtake them, Glue-Waiting-To-Be-Rendered?”
“My lord, we could sow wheat, wait for it to grow, reap it, thresh it, grind it into flour, bake five batches into bread, eat the bread, take a little nap, and even then overtake them!”
Koschey and the mare soon caught up with Tsarevich Ivan and Marya Morevna. “Well,” said Koschey. “I’ll forgive you this time for your kindness in giving me something to drink. I may even forgive you next time. But the third time,” he said, looking at Ivan from eyes as dark and lightless as his cave, “The third time, Ivan, I’ll cut you to pieces as small as my heart.”
With that he tore Marya Morevna from the Tsarevitch, and carried her off to the bottom of his lake.
Tsarevitch Ivan sat on a cold hard rock, and wept. He wept again, went to sleep, and wept some more. Then he journeyed to the dark and icy lake to find Marya Morevna.
Find her he did, while Koschey was hunting. She lay damp and cold near the center of the lake. Tsar Ivan swam to her and said, “Marya, my own- let us slip away before Koschey can overtake us.”
Her eyes locked onto his own, and she said, “He’ll catch us, Ivan. And though he’ll keep me, he’ll kill you.”
Ivan gazed at her and said. “Let him catch us. At least we’ll have another hour or two together,” and with that they fled into the forest where Koschey was hunting. Night fell, and as Koschey returned home to his lake, his steed stumbled beneath him.
“Why do you trip and stumble, hungry jade? Is there some trouble worth my knowing?”
The horse answered , “Tsarevich Ivan was here, and he’s taken Marya Morevna back beyond the sea.”
“And can we overtake them, Bones-Aching-To-Be-Ground-Into-Meal?”
“My lord, we could sow barley, wait for it to grow, reap it, thresh it, brew it into beer, drink ourselves drunk, sleep it off and even then overtake them!”
Koschey and the mare soon caught up with Tsarevich Ivan and Marya Morevna. “Well,” said Koschey. “I forgave you last time for your kindness in giving me something to drink. I even forgive you this time. But the third time,” he said, looking at Ivan from eyes as dark and lightless as the center of his lake, “The third time, Ivan, I’ll cut you to pieces as small as my soul.”
With that he tore Marya Morevna from the Tsarevitch, and carried her off to the top of his mountain.
Tsarevitch Ivan sat on a cold hard rock, and wept. He wept again, went to sleep, and wept some more. Then he journeyed to the dark and jagged mountaintop to find Marya Morevna.
Find her he did, while Koschey was hunting. She lay frozen and cold near the peak. Tsar Ivan climbed to her and said, “Marya, my own- let us slip away before Koschey can overtake us.”
Her eyes locked onto his, and she said, “He’ll catch us, Ivan. And he’ll keep me, and he’ll cut you and kill you.”
Ivan gazed at her and said. “Let him catch me. At least we’ll have another hour or two together,” and with that they fled into the forest where Koschey was hunting. Night fell, and as Koschey returned home to his mountain, his steed stumbled beneath him.
“Why do you trip and stumble, hungry jade? Is there some trouble worth my knowing?”
The horse answered , “Tsarevich Ivan was here, and he’s taken Marya Morevna back beyond the sea.”
“And can we overtake them, Gelatin-With-Skin?”
“My lord, we could plant trees, wait for them to grow, fell and plane them, build a cabin, sleep in it, and burn the cabin down, and even then overtake them!”
Koschey and the mare soon caught up with Tsarevich Ivan and Marya Morevna. Koschey said absolutely nothing, and cut Tsarevitch Ivan into tiny pieces. Then he sealed the pieces in a tarred barrel, bound the barrel with iron hoops, and hurled it into the deep blue endless ocean. Then he grinned at Marya Morevna, and carried her back to his kremlin in the forest.
At that moment, the silver in the castles of Ivan’s three brother-in-laws blackened and tarnished before their eyes. “Ah,” they said to their frightened wives. “We feel that Ivan is having a difficult day.” Without delay, the raven flew for the Water of Death, the hawk flew for the Water of Life, and the eagle fished for the barrel and hauled it out of the ocean. They broke open the barrel and then put the pieces of Tsarevich Ivan in what seemed the proper order. The raven sprinkled the Water of Death, and the pieces of Ivan sprang together and joined . The hawk sprinkled the body with the Water of Life, and Tsarevitch shuddered, rose, and yawned, “How long I’ve slept!”
The brother-in-laws looked at one another, and said, “You’d have slept for even longer if it hadn’t been for us! Now come and eat with us.”
“No,” replied Tsarevich Ivan. “For now I must rescue Marya Morevna.” With that he crept up to Koschey’s kremlin. When Koschey left the castle, he slipped into the chamber where Marya lay, face to the dark cold wall. She turned and locked eyes with him and asked, in a voice as bleak as winter, “Do you yet live, Tsarevich Ivan? How is it that you’ve returned?”
“This way and that way”, said Tsarevich Ivan. “But the only way we’ll be together is if you find out the field where Koschey got his accursed steed.” He slipped out of the kremlin, and Marya stared out of the window, thinking.
Later she crept out to Ivan in the forest, carrying Koschey’s handkerchief. “Beyond thrice nine lands in the thrice tenth tsardom, beyond a river of fire lives the witch Baba Yaga and her herd of mares. If you serve as her herdsman for three days, not letting even one horse go astray, Baba Yaga must give you a colt.”
“And the river of fire, Marya?”
Marya gave him the handkerchief. “Wave this three times to the right, and a high bridge will spring up over the river. The fire will not touch you.”
“And how did you get this from Koschey, Marya Morevna mine?”
“This way and that way, Ivan my own. But the only way we’ll be together is if you find the field where Koschey got his accursed steed.” He slipped out of the forest, and Marya stared after him out of the trees, thinking.
Tsarevich Ivan crossed the thrice nine lands, and came to the thrice tenth tsardom, crossed the river of fire, and went forth to find Baba Yaga the witch. Very tired, and very hungry, he came across a nest of birds from beyond the sea. He looked at the mother and he looked at the chicks and said “I’m sorry, but I need to eat one of your children.”
The bird begged him to spare her child. “Only do not eat him, and someday I may be useful.”
Starving, he walked on, until he saw a lioness and cub. He begged the lioness to let him eat the cub. She growled, “Only do not eat him, and someday I may be useful to you.”
Starving, he continued until he saw a beehive. “I’ve got to eat- it might as well be honey.”
The queen bee begged him to spare her hive. “Only do not eat our honey, and zzzzomeday we may be uzzzeful to you and to yours.”
Still starving, he plodded and stumbled until, as dusk fell, he stumbled upon the clearing where Baba Yaga’s house stood perched on chicken legs, nestled in a fence of bone. There were twelve tall fence posts. Eleven of these were capped with human skulls, the eyes of which glowed brightly in the forest gloom. One pointed stake was bare and waiting.
“Zdrastvetya, grandmother!” called Tsarevich Ivan to the old crone glaring in the window.
“Hail, Tsarevich Ivan! What brings you to my forest? Is it your own free will or out of hungry need?”
“I’ve come to work, Grandmother, and to earn one of your great steeds,” replied Tsarevich Ivan.
“Well you can certainly try, tsarevich. I won’t even ask a years’ service, but only demand three days of your precious youth. If you can tend my mares, I’ll give you a mighty steed. If not, don’t hold it against me, but your head will go on that last stake.”
“”Agreed, grandmother!” And with that the witch fed him and gave him drink, and commanded him to set to work the next cold morning.
No sooner had Tsarevich Ivan driven the mares to pasture than they raised their tails and scattered through the meadows to the corners of the kingdom. The tsarevich wailed, wept, and slept upon a stone. The sun was setting on the frozen forest when the bird from beyond the sea flew up to him, and woke him by pecking on his shoe. “Rise up, Tsarevich Ivan! The mares are safely home.”
Returning to the house, he heard Baba Yaga scolding and berating her mares. “Why on earth did you come home?!”
A grey mare replied, “Do not be angry with us, Grandmother- birds swarmed up from everywhere and nowhere at once, and nearly pecked our eyes out!”
“Ah, well. Just remember tomorrow not to run through the meadows, but to scatter in the forest instead, girls.” Tsarevich Ivan slipped back to the rooster-leg cabin, and fell asleep in the corner, one eye open. He awoke the next cold morning to the witch prodding him with her broom of twigs.
“Arise, Tsarevich! And remember, if you lose just one mare, the stake is ready to meet your foolish head.” With that, the witch fed him and gave him drink, and commanded him to set to work in the cold morning.
No sooner had Tsarevich Ivan driven the mares to pasture than they raised their tails and scattered through the woods to the corners of the kingdom. The tsarevich wailed, wept, and slept upon a stone. The sun was setting on the frozen forest when the lion padded up to him, and woke him by breathing softly on his face. “Rise up, Tsarevich Ivan! The mares are safely home.”
Returning to the house, he heard Baba Yaga scolding and berating her mares. “Why on earth did you come home?!”
A grey mare replied, “Do not be angry with us, Grandmother- wild beasts rushed up from everywhere and nowhere at once, and nearly tore us to pieces!”
“Ah, well. Just remember tomorrow not to run through the forest, but to plunge into the deep blue sea instead, girls.” Tsarevich Ivan slipped back to the rooster-leg cabin, and fell asleep in the corner, one eye open. . He awoke the next cold morning to the witch prodding him with her iron pestle.
“Arise, Tsarevich! And remember, if you lose just one mare, the stake has been sharpened to fit your foolish head.” With that, the witch fed him and gave him drink, and commanded him to set to work in the frigid morning.
No sooner had Tsarevich Ivan driven the mares to pasture than they raised their tails and scattered through beyond the corners of the kingdom to the deep blue sea. The tsarevich wailed, wept, and slept upon a stone. The sun was setting on the frozen forest when the bee arrived, and woke him by buzzing near his face. “Rizzzzze up, Tzzzarevich Ivan! The marezzz are zzzafely home, only when you return, go to the zztable and hide behind the manger. ZZZZere you will find a mangy colt wallowing in dung. Zzteal him, and leave the houzze at midnight.”
Against his better judgement, Tsarevich Ivan did as he was told. Returning to the house, he heard Baba Yaga scolding and berating her mares. “Why on earth did you come home?!”
A grey mare replied, “Do not be angry with us, Grandmother- Bees rushed up from everywhere and nowhere at once, and nearly stung us to death!”
Muttering bitterly, Baba Yaga fell asleep while waiting for Ivan to return. On the stroke of midnight, Tsarevich Ivan stole the mangy colt, saddled him, mounted, and galloped to the river of fire. Wittout even stopping, he waved his handkerchief to the right three times. Lo and behold, a bridge rose up high and strong over the fiery river. He galloped across, and waved the handkerchief to the left only twice, leaving a narrow, rickety arch above the flowing fire. As he passed, he dipped the kerchief in the river of fire and set it alight.
In the icy morning, Baba Yaga awoke and realized that Ivan was gone, and that the mangy colt was nowhere in sight. With a curse, she pursued him in her iron mortar, urging it through the forest with her pestle, and sweeping her tracks with her broom of twigs. She rode through the forest to the river, but as she crossed the bridge it snapped and plunged her to one of her many deaths in the river’s fire.
As soon as Tsarevich Ivan fed his colt in the meadows, the poor ragged beast was transformed into an amazing steed. With a snort, the horse galloped to the kremlin of Koschey the Deathless and the prison of Marya Morevna. With a flick of his horse’s tale, Ivan cut through the bars of her chamber and carried off the queen from beyond the sea.
Night fell, and as Koschey returned home to his kremlin, his steed stumbled beneath him.
“Why do you trip and stumble, hungry jade? Is there some trouble worth my knowing?”
The horse answered , “Tsarevich Ivan was here, and he’s taken Marya Morevna back beyond the sea.”
“And can we overtake them, Hide-Enough-For-Bootsoles?”
“My lord, they could milk cows, make cheese, ripen it, slice it, serve it, and take a snooze even then we may not overtake them, for God knows Tsarevich Ivan has a steed better than myself!”
Maybe a long time, maybe a short time later, Koschey and the mare soon caught up with Tsarevich Ivan and Marya Morevna. Tsarevich Ivan’s steed kicked with all his strength and struck Koschey from his steed. Marya Morevna the queen beyond the sea struck him dead with her sword, and Tsar Ivan burned him to ashes with the fire he’d stolen from Baba Yaga’s river.
Together, they set to work. Quickly, quietly, they sealed the ashes with blood from the lion and wax from the bee’s hive, and packed them in an empty egg from the bird beyond the sea. Quickly, quietly, they tucked the egg in the silver tinderbox, and sank the box and Koschey into center of the lake near Koschey’s cave.
Marya mounted Koschey’s steed and Tsarevich Ivan mounted his own. First they went to see the raven, the hawk and the eagle. Wherever in the world they went, they were received with joy. They visited, they feasted, they danced and they drank, and then at last they rode back to their own tsardom, where they began to live and to prosper.
Copyright 2003 Marya Morevna
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