Oana Urcan

Once upon a time there was a prince, born to a good king and queen.

On the fateful day of his birth, the castle was filled with crying, which no one could stop.

They promised him the world, yet to no avail. Until the king said to him: my son I promise you

Everlasting youth and life without death! And so the prince stopped crying and they all lived happily until the day he turned eighteen. He came to his father white as a sheet and said: father, the day has come for you to give me what you have promised me.

And what is that my son?

Everlasting youth and life without death!

But it doesn’t exist my son, the king said. But the prince was determined to find what had been promised to be his. And so, he started preparing for the long journey ahead.

When he was looking for a horse fit for the journey, in the king’s stables, he came across a bony horse in a shadowy corner. This horse was an enchanted horse, with magic powers, and they became the best of friends, inseparable!

And so, they left the palace, soon the kingdom, charging through the fields and valleys, day and night and night and day, flying with the whispers of the wind.

They came across and won the battle with the sorceress, who then became an ally. She begged them to stay with her, but the prince would not find rest until he found what he was looking for.

Seven more valleys and seven more fields they covered until they came across a forest. In the middle of this forest lay a castle. There he found what he was looking for. Three princesses weaving the mystery of time since time began. They welcomed our travellers, for they knew why he was there.

He lived there happy, the time passed by, yet he remained as young as the day he arrived.

One day, he, absent mindedly walked into a valley full of snowdrops. All memories came flooding in…

his childhood, the faces of his parents, the land of his birth. An uncontrollable desire to return overtook him He called his horse and bid farewell to the princesses who were crying for they knew he was never to return.

And so they started the gruelling return, charging back to whence they came long, long time ago.

The prince was startled not to recognize a single village, valley or field. He came across towns lighted in the night, and peculiar things he had never encountered.

The prince could not understand why things had changed in such a short time, he felt sad and confused, by now he had a long white beard, he nudged the horse to keep on going until they reached the land of his kingdom, more unknown towns and villages.

They arrived at the castle of his parents, a ruin, no windows or doors, a wind of emptiness blowing through the wilderness.

Master! I brought you all the way back here! You have seen it all with your own eyes!

If you wish, let’s return immediately. The princesses are waiting for us in the castle of everlasting youth. I will not stay a moment longer, said the enchanted horse.

Go! Go now my friend, said the prince. Go and tell them I will come as well. Go fast!

Farewell my master! And the horse was gone!

The prince started walking through the castle.

This is the castle of my youth, the house of my father. I used to play here!

There used to be a well here and a flower path! The lights in the windows at night!

I used to watch the stars and listen to the birds. Why are they not singing anymore? From all that’s been there’s nothing left! Nothing!

Tired, he sits to rest on the stairs.

Let me close my eyes. Imagine all that’s been! From the moment I saw the light of day, until now. To touch these stones, these walls, this earth, these weeds, I love them all. I’m sleepy, very sleepy….

And so the prince, who went searching for everlasting youth and life without death, fell into a deep, dreamless sleep from which he never did return.