The Firebird and Prince Ivan

The Tree of Golden Apples

In a far-off kingdom of old Russia, there lived a Tsar who had a garden famous throughout the world. In the very centre of it grew a magnificent tree, and upon that tree grew apples of pure gold.

The Tsar treasured his golden apples above all his riches. But one autumn he noticed, to his dismay, that every morning a few more apples were missing. Some thief was robbing him in the dark of night. So the Tsar called his three sons and commanded them to keep watch.

The eldest son watched the first night, but he fell asleep and saw nothing. The second son watched the next night, and he too slept. On the third night it was the turn of the youngest, Prince Ivan.

Ivan was determined not to sleep. Deep in the night, the whole garden suddenly blazed with light — for down from the sky swept a bird of fire, its feathers glowing red and gold like living flame. It was the Firebird. As it landed and began to pluck the golden apples, Ivan crept close and snatched at its tail. The Firebird tore free and flew away, but in Ivan's hand remained a single, gleaming tail-feather, bright as a flame.

The Quest Begins

When the Tsar saw the glowing feather, he was filled with longing. "Whichever of my sons brings me the Firebird itself," he declared, "shall have half my kingdom." So the three princes mounted their horses and rode off in different directions to find it.

Prince Ivan rode for many days into a vast, dark forest. One morning, while he slept, a great Grey Wolf came upon him and devoured his horse. When Ivan awoke and found his horse gone, he was heartbroken and continued sadly on foot.

Then the Grey Wolf appeared before him and spoke. "Prince Ivan, do not grieve. I am sorry I ate your horse, for you were weary and meant no harm. To make amends, I shall serve you faithfully. Climb upon my back, and tell me what you seek."

Ivan, astonished, told the wolf of his quest for the Firebird. "I know where it is kept," said the wolf. "Hold tight." And away they raced, swift as the wind.

The First Warning

At last the wolf brought Ivan to the high wall of a far kingdom. "Beyond this wall," said the wolf, "in a garden, hangs the Firebird in a plain wooden cage. Climb over, take the bird — but I warn you, do not touch the golden cage that hangs beside it. Take only the Firebird, or you will come to grief."

Ivan climbed over and found the Firebird glowing in its dull cage, just as the wolf had said. But beside it hung a cage of dazzling gold, studded with jewels. Surely, Ivan thought, such a magnificent bird deserves a golden cage. Forgetting the warning, he reached for the golden cage — and at his touch, hidden bells rang out, alarms clanged, and guards rushed in and seized him.

He was brought before the Tsar of that land, who said, "Thief! For your crime you must die — unless you bring me the Horse with the Golden Mane from the kingdom beyond." Shamed and sorry, Ivan returned to the wolf and confessed.

"Did I not warn you?" sighed the wolf. But loyal as ever, he said, "Climb on. I will help you still."

The Second Warning

The wolf carried Ivan to the next kingdom. "In the stable stands the Horse with the Golden Mane," said the wolf. "Take the horse — but do not touch the golden bridle hanging on the wall, whatever you do."

Ivan slipped into the stable and found the splendid horse. But on the wall hung a bridle so bright with gold that he could not resist it. A horse this fine must wear a golden bridle, he thought — and reached for it. At once the bells rang, the guards came running, and Ivan was caught again.

This Tsar, too, spared his life on one condition: that Ivan bring him the Princess Helena the Beautiful from a distant land. Once more Ivan returned, ashamed, to the wolf.

"Twice you have ignored my warning," said the wolf gently. "But I see your heart is good, only your hand is greedy. This time, let me do the difficult part myself."

The Princess and the Clever Plan

When they reached the garden where Princess Helena walked, the wolf said, "Wait here." Then the wolf leaped over the wall, and when the princess passed by, he gently carried her away upon his back to where Ivan waited.

But now a strange thing happened. As they journeyed back, Ivan and Helena fell deeply in love, and the thought of trading her away to the Tsar broke both their hearts. Seeing this, the loyal wolf said, "Do not despair. I have a plan."

Using his magic, the Grey Wolf changed himself into the likeness of the Princess Helena. Ivan presented the false princess to the Tsar and received the Horse with the Golden Mane in return. Then, once Ivan had ridden safely away with the real Helena, the wolf — still disguised — slipped from the Tsar's grasp, turned back into himself, and bounded away to rejoin them. The trick was repeated with the next Tsar, so that Ivan won the Firebird as well, while keeping the horse, the princess, and his honour besides.

Home at Last

At last Prince Ivan came home, bringing the Firebird in its cage, the Horse with the Golden Mane, and Princess Helena the Beautiful at his side. The Tsar, his father, wept with joy and gave him half the kingdom as promised.

As for the Grey Wolf, when his task was done, he came to Ivan one final time.

"My debt to you is paid, Prince Ivan, and more," said the wolf. "Remember always: gratitude returned is never wasted, and a single shortcut taken in greed can cost you everything. Farewell."

And with that the loyal Grey Wolf turned and vanished into the deep forest. But Ivan and Helena never forgot the friend who had carried them through every danger — and they told the tale of the Grey Wolf for all the rest of their long and happy lives.

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The moral: Loyalty and gratitude are repaid many times over, and wise counsel ignored brings nothing but trouble. The friend who helps you ask for nothing is the truest friend of all.

Want more world folktales? Try The Legend of the Northern Lights or Anansi the Spider next.