In a small village by the sea lived a girl called Annushka. She lived with her father and mother in a small house. The house's courtyard was planted with beautiful flowers, which the girl tended together with her mum, and together with her dad Annushka often went fishing.
In the evenings the girl loved to snuggle under a warm blanket, her mum would give her hot tea with warm pie and read her daughter fairy tales. Annushka always eagerly awaited a new story, because miracles always happened in them.
One lovely evening her mum told the girl a new fairy tale about a handsome prince who fell in love with a young maiden and took her to his luxurious palace.
When her mum switched off the light in the room and wished her daughter goodnight, the girl settled down comfortably and began to dream that someday in her life she would meet a prince who would love her, they would live together in a grand luxurious palace, and he would always protect her and shield her from all misfortunes.
Every day Annushka imagined that in the palace courtyard the most varied flowers would grow, and there would also be an enormous garden with fruit trees. She, in a beautiful dress, would sit on a sunny warm day in the shade beneath a lush apple tree and read new interesting magical fairy tales. With the prince they would live long and happily, and no one could separate them.
Time passed, and the little girl became a young, beautiful maiden. Her parents had died several years ago, and now she lived in her small house by the sea all alone. An old woman helped her with the housework, who even since childhood had treated the girl like her own granddaughter, and Annushka in return also helped the granny around the house, in the vegetable garden and in the orchard.
One evening, when the young beauty had already turned off the light in the house, switched on her bedside lamp, under which even in childhood her mum had read her fairy tales, and settled down comfortably, there was suddenly a knock at the door.
Who's there?
The maiden asked in surprise.
In response only silence. Annushka approached the door and listened. Suddenly there was another knock, more insistent than before.
Well, who is it? Why are you silent?
Curiosity overcame the maiden, and she cautiously opened the door. On the threshold stood a beautiful white horse. Its long wavy golden mane fell almost to the floor, and golden horseshoes sparkled with bright light.
Where did you come from?
Annushka exclaimed.
Where is your master? Why are you all alone at such a late hour?
The horse only shook its head anxiously, as if beckoning the maiden into the forest.
What's happened? Why are you so worried?
Then the horse reared up on its hind legs and neighed so loudly that the maiden recoiled backwards in fright.
You want me to come with you? That's why you knocked on my door? Just a moment, I'll just put on a jumper, wait for me, there's a good boy!
Annushka immediately threw on a cardigan, put on her shoes and rushed after her evening visitor. Finding herself in the dense, dark forest where the horse had led her, the maiden suddenly saw on the ground the bloodied body of a young man. Annushka thought that the lad was dead, bent over him, and suddenly heard a heartbeat.
He's alive!
She cried out.
Someone, help!!!
But in the forest there was utter silence, and no one around. Annushka tried to drag the young man onto the horse, but she didn't have enough strength.
And then the forest was illuminated with bright light, as if night had become day, and out of nowhere appeared a beautiful girl. She waved a magic wand, and Annushka suddenly felt herself becoming stronger. The rescuer lifted the young man and hoisted him onto the horse, which carried them both to Annushka's house.
A day passed, the young man came to himself. The maiden had cared for him all night, hadn't taken her eyes off him, brewed a herbal infusion using her granny's recipe and given the young lad drinks all night.
Some time later Annushka and the fine young man were married; it turned out that he was a prince and lived in a marvellous palace.
The maiden remembered how once long ago her mum had told her:
My dear girl, when you grow up, you will certainly meet your prince, who will love you, protect you and shield you! Believe in your dream, and the fairy tale will come to your home and all dreams will come true.
And then Annushka understood — there, in the forest, when the maiden had completely run out of strength, the fairy tale had helped her. And do you read fairy tales, do you believe in miracles?
