The Water of Life
Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, there lived an old king who had fallen gravely ill. The royal physicians had tried every remedy, but nothing could cure him. The king grew weaker by the day, and the kingdom was filled with sorrow. One day, a wise old man came to the palace and said, "There is only one thing that can save the king: the Water of Life. It is a magical water that flows from a hidden spring in a distant land. Whoever drinks it will be healed of any ailment."
The king had three sons: the eldest was proud and arrogant, the middle son was clever but selfish, and the youngest, whose name was Ferdinand, was kind-hearted and humble. When the king heard of the Water of Life, he called his sons to him and said, "Whoever brings me the Water of Life will inherit my kingdom."
The eldest son set out first, determined to claim the throne. He rode through forests and over mountains until he came to a dark, enchanted valley. There, he met a dwarf who asked, "Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"I seek the Water of Life," the eldest prince replied haughtily. "Step aside, old man, and do not waste my time."
The dwarf frowned and said, "If you are so proud, you will surely fail." And with that, he cast a spell that trapped the prince in a narrow gorge, where he could neither move forward nor backward.
When the eldest son did not return, the middle son set out on the same quest. He, too, came to the enchanted valley and met the dwarf. "Where are you going?" the dwarf asked.
"I seek the Water of Life," the middle prince replied impatiently. "I have no time for idle chatter."
The dwarf shook his head and said, "If you are so selfish, you will surely fail." He cast the same spell, trapping the middle prince in the gorge.
Finally, the youngest son, Ferdinand, set out on his journey. Unlike his brothers, he was kind to everyone he met. When he reached the enchanted valley and encountered the dwarf, he greeted him warmly. "Good day, sir. I am searching for the Water of Life to save my father. Can you help me?"
The dwarf smiled at Ferdinand's kindness and said, "Because you have a good heart, I will guide you. The Water of Life flows from a spring in the center of a magical castle. But the castle is guarded by fierce lions. Take this iron wand and this loaf of bread. Use the wand to open the castle gates, and throw the bread to the lions to distract them."
Ferdinand thanked the dwarf and followed his instructions. When he reached the castle, he used the iron wand to open the gates and threw the bread to the lions, who let him pass. Inside the castle, he found a beautiful hall filled with enchanted princes and princesses who had been turned to stone. At the far end of the hall was a golden fountain, and from it flowed the Water of Life.
Ferdinand filled a flask with the magical water and was about to leave when he noticed a golden sword and a loaf of bread on a table. Remembering the dwarf's kindness, he took the sword and the bread as well. As he left the castle, the enchanted princes and princesses came back to life and thanked him for breaking the spell.
On his way home, Ferdinand met the dwarf again. The dwarf said, "You have done well, but your brothers are trapped in the gorge. Use the golden sword to free them." Ferdinand did as he was told, and his brothers were released. However, they were jealous of Ferdinand's success and plotted to steal the Water of Life.
When they reached a river, the eldest brother said, "Let us rest here and drink some water." As Ferdinand leaned over the river, his brothers pushed him in and stole the flask. They returned to the palace and gave the Water of Life to the king, claiming they had found it.
The king drank the water and was instantly healed. He was overjoyed and declared that the eldest son would inherit the kingdom. Meanwhile, Ferdinand was rescued by the dwarf, who gave him the loaf of bread he had taken from the castle. The bread had magical properties and allowed Ferdinand to return home safely.
When Ferdinand arrived at the palace, he revealed the truth about his brothers' treachery. The king was furious and disowned the eldest sons. He declared Ferdinand his rightful heir, and the kingdom celebrated with a grand feast.
Ferdinand ruled wisely and justly, and the kingdom prospered under his care. He married a kind princess, and they lived happily ever after. And so, the tale of the Water of Life teaches us that kindness, humility, and courage are the true keys to success and happiness.
