Music Welcome to snoozecast, the podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find us at snoozecast.com and wherever you listen to podcasts. If you'd like to listen ad-free or unlock our entire vast and snoozy catalog of sleep stories, go to snoozecast.com slash plus. This episode is brought to you by Reaths of Wild Flowers. Tonight, we'll read the first part to The Fairy of the Dawn, a Romanian fairy tale by author Marie Cremnitz. The second half to this story will air in our next episode. Snuescast first read this story back in January of 2022.

Tonight's story features a prince who doesn't seem at first to be destined for heroism, unlike his brothers, who seek fortune, adventure, and battles. This prince prefers singing, laughing, and enjoying life's simple pleasures, yet, as the tail and folds his heart and courage reveal a hero in his own right. The author of this story, Marie Kremnitz, born in Germany, later moved with her husband and children to Romania. There she became made of honor to Queen Elizabeth of Romania, a fellow writer and romantic dreamer. The two formed a close bond, writing several books together under pen names. Cremnitz later established herself as a prolific author in her own right, often blending whimsical folklore with elegant prose. Elizabeth Elizabeth, known by her pen name, Carmen Silva, was an avid collector and teller of fairy tales, and her creative influence can be felt in Cremnitz's works. Their collaboration often explored themes of inner strength, moral growth, and the transformative power of kindness, elements that are woven into the fairy of the dawn. The tale reflects not only their shared literary style, but also the rich cultural traditions of Romanian folklore, which brim within chantment and mystery.

Let's get cozy.

Close your eyes.

Relax your body into the softness of your bed. Now take a few deep breaths. Once upon a time, what should happen did happen, and if it had not happened, this tale would never have been told. There was once an emperor, very great and mighty, and he ruled over an empire so large that no one knew where it began and where it ended. But if nobody could tell the exact extent of his sovereignty, everybody was aware that the emperors right I laughed while his left eye went. One One or two men of valor had the courage to go and ask him the reason of this strange fact, but he only laughed and said nothing, and the reason of the enmity between his two eyes was a secret only known to the monarch himself.

And all the while the Emperor's sons were growing up, and such sons they were, all three like the morning stars in the sky. Aurea, the eldest, was so tall and broad-shouldered that no man in the kingdom could approach him. Costan, the second, was quite different. Small of stature and slightly built, he had a strong arm and stronger wrist. Petro, the third and youngest, was tall and thin, more like a girl than a boy. He spoke very little, but laughed and sang, sang and laughed, from morning till night. He was very seldom serious, but then he had a way when he was thinking

of stroking his hair over his forehead, which made him look old enough to sit in his father's counsel. You're all grown up, Floreya, said Petru one day to his eldest brother.

Why don't you go and ask father, why one eye laughs? After all grown up, Floreya said Petru one day to his eldest brother.

Why don't you go and ask Father? Why one eye laughs and the other weeps? But Floreya would not go. He had learned by experience that this question always soured his father's mood. true next went costan, but did not succeed any better with him. Well, well, as everyone else is afraid, I suppose I must do it myself. Observed Petru at length. No sooner said than done, the boy went straight to his father and put his question to him. What business is it of yours? exclaimed the emperor in wrath. Petru returned to his brothers and told them what had befallen him, but not long after it struck him that his father's left eye seemed to weep less, and the right eye to laugh more than before. I wonder if it has to do with me asking the question, he thought. I'll try again, after all, what do my feelings matter? So, he put his question to his father for the second time and had the same answer. But now the left eye only wept now and then, while the right eye looked ten years younger. It really must be true, thought Petru. Now I know what I have to do. I shall have to go on putting that question to him, accepting his wrath, till both eyes laugh together. No sooner said than done. Petru, my dear boy, cried the emperor, both his eyes laughing together. I see you have got this on the brain. Well, I will let you into my secret. My right eye laughs when I look at my three sons and see how strong and handsome you all are. And the other eye weeps because I fear that when I am gone, you will not be able to keep the empire together and to protect it from its end of But if you can bring me water from the spring of the fairy of the dawn to bathe my eyes, then they will laugh evermore. For I shall know that my sons are brave enough to overcome any foe. Thus spoke the Emperor, and Petru picked up his hat and went to find his brothers. The three young men took counsel together and talked the subject over well as brothers should do. And the end of it was that Florea, as the eldest, went to the stables, chose the best and handsomest horse they contained, saddled him and took leave of the court. I am starting at once, said he to his brothers. And if after a year, a month, a week, and a day, I have not returned with the water from the spring of the ferry of the dawn you, Custon, had better come after me. So saying he disappeared round a corner of the palace. For three days and three nights he never slowed. Like a spirit the horse flew over mountains and valleys till he came to the borders of the Empire. Here was a deep trench that girdled it the whole way around, and there was only a single bridge by which the trench could be crossed. Florea made instantly for the bridge, and there pulled up to look around him once more to take leave of his native land. Then he turned, but before him was standing a dragon, a dragon with three hats, all with their mouths wide open, one jaw reaching to heaven, and the other to earth. At this sight, Fluria did not wait to give battle. He put spurs to his horse and dashed away, where he neither knew nor cared. The dragon heaved his eye and vanished without leaving a trace behind him. A week went by, Fluria did not return home, too past, and nothing was heard of him. After A month, Kostin began to haunt the stables and to look out for a horse himself. And the moment the year, the month, the week and the day were over, Kostin mounted his horse and took leave of his youngest brother. If I fail, then you come," said he, and followed the path that Floria had taken. The dragon on the bridges, three heads, were more terrible than before, and the young hero rode away still faster than his brother had done.

Nothing more was heard either of him or Flaria and Petru remained alone. I must go after my brothers, said Petru one day to his father, Go then, set his father, and may you have better luck than they.

And he... to his father, go then, set his father, and may you have better luck than they, and he bade farewell to Petro, who rode straight to the borders of the kingdom. The dragon on the bridge was yet more dreadful than the one floreya and costan had seen. For this one had seven heads instead of only three. Petru stopped for a moment when he caught sight of this creature. Then he found his voice. Get out of the way, cried he. Get out of the way. He repeated again as the dragon did not move. Get out of the way, he said as one final summons and he drew his sword and rushed upon the dragon. In an instant the heavens seemed to darken round him, and he was surrounded by fire. Nothing but fire, whichever way he looked, for the dragons' seven heads were breathing flame. The horse snayed and reared, and Petru could not use the sword he had in readiness. Be quiet, this won't do." Petru said, dismounting hastily, but holding the bridle firmly in his left hand and grasping

his sword in the right. But even so, he got on no better, for he could see nothing but fire and smoke. There's no help for it.

I must go back and get a better horse," said he, and mounted again in road home-arts. At the gate of the palace, his nurse, old Beersha, was waiting for him eagerly. Ah, Petru, my son. I knew you would have to come back," she cried.

You did not set about the matter, my son. I knew you would have to come back," she cried.

You did not set about the matter properly. How ought I have to set about it? As Petru, half angrily, half sadly. Look here, my boy.

Replyed old Beersha.

You can never reach the spring of the fairy of the dawn, unless you ride the horse with your father, the emperor, rode in his youth. Go and ask where it is to be found, and then mount it, and be off with you. Petru thanked her heartily for her advice, and went at once to make inquiries about the horse. By the light of my eyes exclaimed the emperor, when Petru had put his question to him, who has told you anything about that, it must have been that old beer shop. Have you lost your wits? Fifty years have passed since I was young, and who knows where the bones of my horse are buried, or whether a scrap of his reigns still lie in his stall? I have forgotten all about him a long time ago. Petru turned away in frustration and went back to his old nurse. Do not be cast down, she said, with a smile. If that is how the affair stands, all will go well. Go and fetch the scrap of the reins. I shall soon know what must be done. The place was full of saddles, bridles, and bits of leather. The intro picked up the oldest and blackest and most decayed pair of reins and brought them to the old woman who murmured something over them and sprinkled them with incense and held them out to the young man. Take the reins, Sachi, and strike them against the pillars of the house. Petru did what he was told, and scarcely had the reins touched the pillars when something happened. How, I have no idea, that made Petru stare with surprise. A horse stood before him. A horse whose equal and beauty the world had never seen.

With a saddle on him of gold and precious stones, and with such a dazzling bridle, you hardly dared to look at it, lest you should lose your sight. A splendid horse, a splendid saddle, and a splendid bridle, all ready for the splendid young prince. Jump on the back of the brown horse, said the old woman, and she turned round and went into the house. The moment Petru was seated on the horse, he felt his arm three times as strong as before and even his heart felt braver. Sit firmly in the saddle, my Lord, for we have a long way to go and no time to waste," said the brown horse, and Petru soon saw that they were riding as no man and horse had ever ridden before. the bridge stood a dragon but not the same one as he had tried to fight with. For this dragon had 12 heads. Each shooting forth more terrible flames than the other. But he had met his match. Petru showed no fear.

Rolled up his match. Petru showed no fear, rolled up his sleeves. That his arms might be free. Get out of the way, he said when he had done, but the dragons had its only breathed forth more flames and smoke. Petru wasted no more words, but drew his sword and prepared to throw himself on the bridge. Stop a moment, be careful, my lord. Put in the horse, and be sure you do what I tell you. Dig your spurs in my body, draw your sword and keep yourself ready. For we shall have to leap over both bridge and dragon and if you need to use your sword, you must clean it and put it back before we get to the other side. So Petrude dug in his spurs, drew his sword, swashed it with focus in the air, and cleaned it carefully, putting the sword back in the sheath before the horse's hooves touched the ground again.

And in this fashion they passed the bridge. But we have got to go further still," said Petru, after he had taken a farewell glance at his native land. And yes, four words answered the horse, but you must tell me, my lord, at what speed you wish to go, like the wind, like thought, like desire, or like a curse. Petru looked about him, up at the heavens, and down again to the earth. A desert lay spread out before him, whose aspect made his hair stand on end. It was so immense. We will ride at different speeds," said he, not so fast as to grow tired, nor so slow as to waste time. And so they rode, one day like the wind, the next like thought, the third and fourth like desire and like a curse, till they reached the borders of the desert. Now walk," said Petru, so that I may look about and see what I have never seen before. You rubbed his eyes like one who wakes from sleep, or like him who beholds something so strange. Before Petru lay a forest made of copper, with copper trees and copper leaves, with bushes and flowers of copper also. Petru stood and stared as a man does when he sees something that he has never seen before. Then he rode right into the wood. On each side of the way, the rows of flowers began to praise Petru and to try and persuade him to pick some of them and make himself a wreath. Take me, for I am lovely, and can give strength to whoever plucks me," said one.

They said such wonderful things to Petru in soft, sweet voices, if only he would pick them. Petru was not deaf to their persuasion and was was just doobing to pick one when the horse sprang to one side. Why don't you stay still as petru roughly? Do not pick the flowers. It will bring you bad luck. Answered the horse. Why would it do that? These flowers are under a curse, whoever plucks them must fight the goblin of the woods called Vilva. What kind of a goblin is the Vilva? Oh, just leave it be, but listen, look at the flowers as much as you like, but pick none, and the horse walked on slowly. Petro knew by experience that he would do well to attend into the horse's advice. So he made a great effort and tore his mind away from the flowers. But in vain, if a man is faded to be unlucky, unlucky he will be whatever he may do. The flowers went on besieging him and his his heart grew ever weaker. "'Mmm, well, what must come, will come,' said Petru at length. "'At any rate I shall see the field of the woods, what she is like, in which way I had best fight her. If she has ordained to win over on me, well, then it will be so.

But if not... in which way I had best fight her. If she is ordained to win over on me, well, then it

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