THE WHITE MARE
Based on a library book story called "The Seven Colored Horse" . Latter part created by Shivali.
Once upon a time, there lived a king who was married but for a long time had no children. One day, the king was out hunting when he suddenly lost his way. The king soon came to a white mare grazing by a river bank. The white mare had a coat that shone in the sun like smooth silk, and his hoofs looked like pure gold and silver. A voice called out to the king, “Take the mare and give it to your wife to pet.” “You will soon have some children.” The king was amazed. But he took the white mare back to the palace and gave it to his wife. After a few months, the queen had three baby girls. The king and queen named them, Sara, Lara, and Tara. Tara, who was the youngest, had silky hair and kind, brown eyes. She was the most beautiful princess.
One day, Tara and her sisters were walking happily in the palace gardens when a great wind arose. Sara and Lara ran to the palace doors. But Tara was not scared. She sang a sweet tune as the winds blew. At last, the storm was over. Suddenly, the White Mare ran out of the royal stables. It ran all the way to Tara. Tara and the White Mare soon became friends. Every morning, Tara would feed the White Mare and then eat her breakfast. In the afternoon, Tara and the White Mare would play together happily. And in the evening, Tara would lead the White Mare back to the royal stables.
One day, Sara and Lara saw Tara and the White Mare playing together. They became very jealous of Tara. That night, when everyone was asleep, Sara and Lara disguised themselves as old farm women. Then they went out into the quiet night. They went to the royal stables and seized the White Mare. Sara and Lara took the White Mare to the market and waited for the first merchants to come. Just before dawn, a young merchant came by. He had forgotten to bring his coat home with him. Just as he was leaving, Sara and Lara ran up to him. The merchant thought they were old farm women. Sara and Lara sold the White Mare to the young merchant. Then they ran back to the palace, dressed themselves as princesses again, and went to their rooms.
In the morning, Tara woke up and got dressed. She went to the royal kitchen to get some horse food and her own food. Then she went to the royal stables and called out to the White Mare. But the White Mare did not come. Tara sadly walked back to the palace. She did not eat that whole day. She was too busy thinking about what had happened to her beloved pet. Meanwhile, the young merchant sold the White Mare to a very rich man. This man was very cruel, and he treated the White Mare very badly. He and his wife did not give any food except a few crumbs to the poor horse.
By the year, the White Mare had grown very thin. One day, Tara was wandering by the bright meadows when she heard someone call to her. It was the White Mare! Tara ran to the White Mare and hugged him tight. The White Mare and Tara ran back to the palace. Soon, Tara noticed that the White Mare looked thinner than before. She was very sad. From that day on, Tara fed the White Mare with so much food, that within a month’s time he was normal again. But Tara wanted revenge. She swore an oath saying that she would harm the cruel man for mistreating her beloved pet.
One day, Sara and Lara saw the White Mare and Tara playing together again. They were furious. Sara and Lara planned to kill the White Mare in the night. That evening, when Tara was leading the White Mare back to the royal stables, he suddenly said to her, “Tara, I will tell you that your sisters are planning to kill me at night.” “When I am dead, take a little hair from my mane and keep it safe.” “Then cut off my hide and make a dress out of it.” “Wear that dress for a month.” “After one month, take off the dress and put it safely away.” “Whenever you need me, wear the dress and burn the hair.” With these words, the White Mare fell silent.
The next morning, Tara found out that her sisters had killed the White Mare. She wept and wept. Finally, Tara took a little hair from his mane and made a dress out of his hide. She wore that dress for a whole month. A few months later, the king and queen decided that it was time for Sara, Lara, and Tara to get married. So a contest was held. Each princess had to throw a golden apple into the sea. The prince that would bring back a golden apple would marry the princess the apple belonged to.
A noble man brought back Sara’s golden apple. A young warrior brought back Lara’s golden apple. But no one brought back Tara’s golden apple. So the next day, Tara packed a few things and set out to find her golden apple. After Tara had traveled for a whole week, she came to a beautiful meadow filled with golden grass. A horse with a golden mane was grazing in the meadow. The Golden Horse came up to Tara and showed her the golden apple. At that moment, the Golden Horse changed into a handsome prince. The prince said, “Here is your golden apple.” “My name is Ivan, and I am a prince.” “Your golden apple got washed out to sea, and I found it while I was fishing.” Tara looked up at Ivan.
“I will be glad to marry you,” said Tara. “But first you must tell me who your parents are.” Ivan said, “I have never seen my mother, for she died when I was born.” “My father is the White Mare, and he just died a couple of months ago.” “I have heard that two maidens have killed him.” “Those maidens were princesses who were called, Sara and Lara.” Tara knew this must be the White Mare’s son. So the next day, Tara and Ivan went back to the palace where they were married.
Ivan loved his wife Tara, but he hated Sara and Lara for those were the girls who had killed his father. One day, as Tara and Ivan were walking in the royal gardens, the White Mare suddenly came out of the bushes. Ivan immediately turned into the Golden Horse and ran to greet his father. Then Ivan turned back into a prince, and the White Mare turned into a king. Tara was very amazed. She asked, “How did this happen?” The king said, “Me and my sons were rulers of a great kingdom.” “My wife was called, the Silver Pony.” “She died when Ivan was just born.” “I turned my son into a golden horse, and myself into a white mare.” “Your father, the king, found me.” “Without me, you and your sisters would not have been born and here today.” Tara watched as the king turned back into the White Mare, and disappeared from sight.
For the next couple of days, Tara thought about the White Mare and Ivan. But Ivan did not think about it. Sara and Lara soon became jealous of Ivan and Tara. One day, they saw the White Mare, the Golden Horse, and Tara telling each other jokes. They were very jealous. One hot summer day, Ivan told Tara that he was going on a journey and would be gone for a year. Tara began to weep.
“What will I do without your company?” she asked. So Ivan brought a lady to keep Tara happy while he was away. This lady was very beautiful, and she sounded sweet. But she was really a mean witch who had been paid by Sara Lara to harm Tara. But the White Mare knew what the witch was planning. He was determined to save Tara. Before Ivan left, he changed into the Golden Horse. Then he set off. For the next 11 months, everything went okay. At the end of 12 months, the royal guards announced that Ivan was on his way home.
Just before Ivan was due, the witch came to Tara and said, “Tara, why don’t you take a bath and wash yourself so that when Ivan comes back you look very beautiful.” “Very well,” said Tara. But the witch had a plan. She filled the royal tub with water so hot, that if you stepped into it you would burn. But the White Mare knew what the witch was doing.
He tried to stop Tara from stepping into the tub, but the witch made sure that Tara went into the tub. As soon as Tara went in, her whole body turned into ash. The witch turned the ashes into a female lion. Tara, who was now a lion, sadly walked into the deep jungle. Meanwhile, the witch changed her shape. She cast a magic spell on herself which made her voice smooth, and her skin fair. Soon, the witch looked exactly like Tara. When Ivan came home, he thought that the witch was Tara. Everyone in the palace except the White Mare thought that the witch was the princess.
And so 10 months passed away. Meanwhile, at the jungle, Tara had three baby cubs. Two of them were males, but one was a female. As the cubs grew up, their mother taught them how to hunt, cut meat, and attack their prey. 3 years soon passed by. One day, as the cubs were drinking alone, a hunter caught them. Then the hunter sold them to the king. Now the king did not know that these were his own grandchildren. So he put them in a little cage and told everyone that he had caught three lion cubs.
As soon as the White Mare saw the lion cubs, he knew who they were. The witch knew too. She ordered the king to kill the lion cubs. But the king loved the cubs, for they were very cute. This made the witch very angry. It made her so angry that she killed herself. Ivan was also very sad, for he thought that the witch was his wife Tara. Meanwhile, Tara almost fainted when she found out what had happened to her children. At that moment, the White Mare appeared before Tara.
He said, “Put on the dress made out of my skin and burn the hair from my mane so I can help you.” Tara put on the dress and burned the hair. The White Mare carried Tara all the way back to the kingdom. Here, the White Mare turned Tara back into a woman. At that moment, Tara’s children turned back into humans, too. The king was amazed when he found out that the lion cubs had turned into humans. He sent messengers to find a clue about the mystery. The messengers came back with Tara as a princess and the White Mare. Ivan turned into the Golden Horse and ran to greet his father.
Then Ivan turned back into a prince and the White Mare turned into the king. The two kings soon found out that Sara and Lara had planned to harm Tara. But Tara forgave her sisters. Then Tara saw her children, too. The two kings decided to rule the land together. So they all lived happily ever after.
THE END
Once upon a time, there lived a king who was married but for a long time had no children. One day, the king was out hunting when he suddenly lost his way. The king soon came to a white mare grazing by a river bank. The white mare had a coat that shone in the sun like smooth silk, and his hoofs looked like pure gold and silver. A voice called out to the king, “Take the mare and give it to your wife to pet.” “You will soon have some children.” The king was amazed. But he took the white mare back to the palace and gave it to his wife. After a few months, the queen had three baby girls. The king and queen named them, Sara, Lara, and Tara. Tara, who was the youngest, had silky hair and kind, brown eyes. She was the most beautiful princess.
One day, Tara and her sisters were walking happily in the palace gardens when a great wind arose. Sara and Lara ran to the palace doors. But Tara was not scared. She sang a sweet tune as the winds blew. At last, the storm was over. Suddenly, the White Mare ran out of the royal stables. It ran all the way to Tara. Tara and the White Mare soon became friends. Every morning, Tara would feed the White Mare and then eat her breakfast. In the afternoon, Tara and the White Mare would play together happily. And in the evening, Tara would lead the White Mare back to the royal stables.
One day, Sara and Lara saw Tara and the White Mare playing together. They became very jealous of Tara. That night, when everyone was asleep, Sara and Lara disguised themselves as old farm women. Then they went out into the quiet night. They went to the royal stables and seized the White Mare. Sara and Lara took the White Mare to the market and waited for the first merchants to come. Just before dawn, a young merchant came by. He had forgotten to bring his coat home with him. Just as he was leaving, Sara and Lara ran up to him. The merchant thought they were old farm women. Sara and Lara sold the White Mare to the young merchant. Then they ran back to the palace, dressed themselves as princesses again, and went to their rooms.
In the morning, Tara woke up and got dressed. She went to the royal kitchen to get some horse food and her own food. Then she went to the royal stables and called out to the White Mare. But the White Mare did not come. Tara sadly walked back to the palace. She did not eat that whole day. She was too busy thinking about what had happened to her beloved pet. Meanwhile, the young merchant sold the White Mare to a very rich man. This man was very cruel, and he treated the White Mare very badly. He and his wife did not give any food except a few crumbs to the poor horse.
By the year, the White Mare had grown very thin. One day, Tara was wandering by the bright meadows when she heard someone call to her. It was the White Mare! Tara ran to the White Mare and hugged him tight. The White Mare and Tara ran back to the palace. Soon, Tara noticed that the White Mare looked thinner than before. She was very sad. From that day on, Tara fed the White Mare with so much food, that within a month’s time he was normal again. But Tara wanted revenge. She swore an oath saying that she would harm the cruel man for mistreating her beloved pet.
One day, Sara and Lara saw the White Mare and Tara playing together again. They were furious. Sara and Lara planned to kill the White Mare in the night. That evening, when Tara was leading the White Mare back to the royal stables, he suddenly said to her, “Tara, I will tell you that your sisters are planning to kill me at night.” “When I am dead, take a little hair from my mane and keep it safe.” “Then cut off my hide and make a dress out of it.” “Wear that dress for a month.” “After one month, take off the dress and put it safely away.” “Whenever you need me, wear the dress and burn the hair.” With these words, the White Mare fell silent.
The next morning, Tara found out that her sisters had killed the White Mare. She wept and wept. Finally, Tara took a little hair from his mane and made a dress out of his hide. She wore that dress for a whole month. A few months later, the king and queen decided that it was time for Sara, Lara, and Tara to get married. So a contest was held. Each princess had to throw a golden apple into the sea. The prince that would bring back a golden apple would marry the princess the apple belonged to.
A noble man brought back Sara’s golden apple. A young warrior brought back Lara’s golden apple. But no one brought back Tara’s golden apple. So the next day, Tara packed a few things and set out to find her golden apple. After Tara had traveled for a whole week, she came to a beautiful meadow filled with golden grass. A horse with a golden mane was grazing in the meadow. The Golden Horse came up to Tara and showed her the golden apple. At that moment, the Golden Horse changed into a handsome prince. The prince said, “Here is your golden apple.” “My name is Ivan, and I am a prince.” “Your golden apple got washed out to sea, and I found it while I was fishing.” Tara looked up at Ivan.
“I will be glad to marry you,” said Tara. “But first you must tell me who your parents are.” Ivan said, “I have never seen my mother, for she died when I was born.” “My father is the White Mare, and he just died a couple of months ago.” “I have heard that two maidens have killed him.” “Those maidens were princesses who were called, Sara and Lara.” Tara knew this must be the White Mare’s son. So the next day, Tara and Ivan went back to the palace where they were married.
Ivan loved his wife Tara, but he hated Sara and Lara for those were the girls who had killed his father. One day, as Tara and Ivan were walking in the royal gardens, the White Mare suddenly came out of the bushes. Ivan immediately turned into the Golden Horse and ran to greet his father. Then Ivan turned back into a prince, and the White Mare turned into a king. Tara was very amazed. She asked, “How did this happen?” The king said, “Me and my sons were rulers of a great kingdom.” “My wife was called, the Silver Pony.” “She died when Ivan was just born.” “I turned my son into a golden horse, and myself into a white mare.” “Your father, the king, found me.” “Without me, you and your sisters would not have been born and here today.” Tara watched as the king turned back into the White Mare, and disappeared from sight.
For the next couple of days, Tara thought about the White Mare and Ivan. But Ivan did not think about it. Sara and Lara soon became jealous of Ivan and Tara. One day, they saw the White Mare, the Golden Horse, and Tara telling each other jokes. They were very jealous. One hot summer day, Ivan told Tara that he was going on a journey and would be gone for a year. Tara began to weep.
“What will I do without your company?” she asked. So Ivan brought a lady to keep Tara happy while he was away. This lady was very beautiful, and she sounded sweet. But she was really a mean witch who had been paid by Sara Lara to harm Tara. But the White Mare knew what the witch was planning. He was determined to save Tara. Before Ivan left, he changed into the Golden Horse. Then he set off. For the next 11 months, everything went okay. At the end of 12 months, the royal guards announced that Ivan was on his way home.
Just before Ivan was due, the witch came to Tara and said, “Tara, why don’t you take a bath and wash yourself so that when Ivan comes back you look very beautiful.” “Very well,” said Tara. But the witch had a plan. She filled the royal tub with water so hot, that if you stepped into it you would burn. But the White Mare knew what the witch was doing.
He tried to stop Tara from stepping into the tub, but the witch made sure that Tara went into the tub. As soon as Tara went in, her whole body turned into ash. The witch turned the ashes into a female lion. Tara, who was now a lion, sadly walked into the deep jungle. Meanwhile, the witch changed her shape. She cast a magic spell on herself which made her voice smooth, and her skin fair. Soon, the witch looked exactly like Tara. When Ivan came home, he thought that the witch was Tara. Everyone in the palace except the White Mare thought that the witch was the princess.
And so 10 months passed away. Meanwhile, at the jungle, Tara had three baby cubs. Two of them were males, but one was a female. As the cubs grew up, their mother taught them how to hunt, cut meat, and attack their prey. 3 years soon passed by. One day, as the cubs were drinking alone, a hunter caught them. Then the hunter sold them to the king. Now the king did not know that these were his own grandchildren. So he put them in a little cage and told everyone that he had caught three lion cubs.
As soon as the White Mare saw the lion cubs, he knew who they were. The witch knew too. She ordered the king to kill the lion cubs. But the king loved the cubs, for they were very cute. This made the witch very angry. It made her so angry that she killed herself. Ivan was also very sad, for he thought that the witch was his wife Tara. Meanwhile, Tara almost fainted when she found out what had happened to her children. At that moment, the White Mare appeared before Tara.
He said, “Put on the dress made out of my skin and burn the hair from my mane so I can help you.” Tara put on the dress and burned the hair. The White Mare carried Tara all the way back to the kingdom. Here, the White Mare turned Tara back into a woman. At that moment, Tara’s children turned back into humans, too. The king was amazed when he found out that the lion cubs had turned into humans. He sent messengers to find a clue about the mystery. The messengers came back with Tara as a princess and the White Mare. Ivan turned into the Golden Horse and ran to greet his father.
Then Ivan turned back into a prince and the White Mare turned into the king. The two kings soon found out that Sara and Lara had planned to harm Tara. But Tara forgave her sisters. Then Tara saw her children, too. The two kings decided to rule the land together. So they all lived happily ever after.
THE END