The Flower Queen's Daughter facts for kids

The Flower Queen's Daughter is a wonderful fairy tale from a place called Bukovina. It was first written down by Dr. Heinrich von Wlislocki. Later, a famous writer named Andrew Lang included it in his book, The Yellow Fairy Book. This story is about a brave prince who goes on an amazing adventure to rescue a beautiful princess from powerful dragons.

The Story of the Flower Queen's Daughter

A Prince's Kindness

One day, a kind prince was walking when he saw an old woman stuck in a ditch. He quickly helped her out. To thank him, the old woman told him a secret. She said the most beautiful woman in the world was the daughter of the Flower Queen. But sadly, she had been kidnapped by scary dragons! The old woman told the prince he could save her and even marry her.

A Magical Gift

To help the prince on his dangerous quest, the old woman gave him a special bell. This bell had amazing powers. If he rang it once, the King of the Eagles would appear. If he rang it twice, the King of the Foxes would come. And if he rang it three times, the King of the Fishes would arrive to help him.

The prince was very excited. He told his father, the King, that he was going to rescue the Flower Queen's daughter. Then, he set off on his long journey.

The Long Search

The prince traveled for a whole year. Finally, he met a very old man. The old man didn't know where the dragons lived. But he told the prince to travel for another year, and he might find his own father, who might know.

So, the prince continued his journey. After another year, he found the old man's father. But even this man didn't know where the dragons were. He sent the prince to his own father, who was even older.

Finally, the prince met the oldest man of all. This wise old man knew the secret! He told the prince that the main dragon had just gone to sleep. Dragons slept for one year and woke up the next. But the princess was being held by the Mother Dragon. She lived in the next mountain and held a big ball every night. The Flower Queen's daughter would be there.

Facing the Mother Dragon

The prince bravely went to the Mother Dragon's home. He told her he had heard about her great beauty and kindness. The Mother Dragon was actually a very ugly woman with three heads! But she was pleased by his flattery.

She told him he could work for her. His first job was to take her special mare (a female horse) out to pasture for three days. He had to bring it back every single day.

The Mare's Escapes

On the first day, the mare suddenly vanished! The prince remembered his magic bell. He rang it once, and the King of the Eagles appeared. The eagles found the mare racing high among the clouds and brought her back. The prince returned the mare to the Mother Dragon. As a reward, she gave him a cloak made of shining copper. She also let him go to her ball, where many he-dragons and she-dragons were dancing. There, he met the beautiful Flower Queen's daughter! She secretly told him to ask for the mare's foal (baby horse) as his reward.

On the second day, the mare vanished again! This time, the prince rang the bell twice. The King of the Foxes came and found the mare hiding on a distant hill. He brought her back. The Mother Dragon gave the prince a silver cloak and let him go to the ball again.

On the third day, the mare vanished one more time! The prince rang the bell three times. The King of the Fishes appeared and brought the mare back from a deep river. The Mother Dragon was very happy with him. She gave him a golden cloak and said she would make him her special body servant. When he asked for the mare's foal, she gave it to him, still pleased by his flattery. The Flower Queen's daughter had told him they would meet in the meadow if he succeeded.

The Great Escape

The Mother Dragon let the prince go to the ball, but he went to the stables instead. At midnight, he and the Flower Queen's daughter quickly fled on the foal. The other dragons woke their brother, but it was too late. The prince and princess reached the Flower Queen, who protected them from the dragons.

A Happy Ending

The Flower Queen was very happy to see her daughter safe. She agreed to the wedding, but with one condition: her daughter had to come and live with her every winter. The prince agreed, and even with this arrangement, he and his bride lived happily together for the rest of their lives.