The Lady and The Lion Story in English _ Stories for Teenagers _ @EnglishFairyTales

English Aqsa's Stories

Transcript

00:00Lady and the Lion

00:06Once upon a time, there was a merchant who had three daughters.

00:11He loved them dearly, especially his youngest one, Amelia, for she was his favorite.

00:17One day, as he was leaving for a long voyage to conduct his work,

00:21he asked his daughters what they would like him to bring back to them.

00:25I would love a beautiful set of shiny pearls.

00:29I would like a set of sparkling diamonds.

00:32Dear father, I would like a beautiful singing nightingale.

00:36Very well, my children. If I can manage to get it, then you shall have it.

00:41He bid farewell to his daughters and left.

00:45The merchant bought the pearls for his eldest daughter and diamonds for his second daughter.

00:51He searched everywhere for a singing nightingale, but it was all in vain.

00:57This worried him as Amelia was his favorite, and he did not want to upset her.

01:03His venture brought him to a forest.

01:06He went on and on till he found a magnificent castle with a tall tree at the side of it.

01:12Upon that tree sat a beautiful nightingale, singing melodiously.

01:17Ah, I have got you at the right time.

01:20Go up that tree and get that nightingale for my daughter.

01:24Just as the servant was about to approach the tree,

01:27a lion jumped out from behind the tree and roared so loud that the leaves on the tree trembled.

01:33Who dares to steal my nightingale? I will eat you up, the thief!

01:38My apologies, oh mighty lion. I did not know that the bird is yours.

01:43Please spare my life. I shall pay you a heavy ransom for my mistake.

01:48Nothing can save you unless you promise to give me the first thing that meets you when you return home.

01:55If you agree, I shall spare your life and give you the bird as well.

02:01But, but, what if it is my Amelia?

02:04Do not worry, sir. It is not necessary that your daughter will be the first to meet you.

02:09It might just be a cat or a dog.

02:14The merchant had been persuaded.

02:16He took the nightingale and made his promise to the lion and left to go back home.

02:21When the merchant reached home, his youngest daughter Amelia ran towards him and hugged him tightly.

02:28After seeing that he brought the nightingale, she was filled with joy.

02:32The merchant could not rejoice and began to cry.

02:37My dear Amelia, it has cost me, for I had to make a promise to the lion prince that I will send him the first person I meet.

02:49I fear that he will tear you to pieces when he has you in his power.

02:54The merchant explained all that had happened.

02:58Oh father, a promise is a promise and it must be fulfilled. I must go to the lion prince.

03:04No, please, he will kill you.

03:07Nothing can change what's written in my fate. Isn't that what you taught us, father?

03:12The merchant was taken back.

03:15Do not worry, father. My heart tells me that I will be fine and the heart is always right.

03:22Also something that you have taught us.

03:25The next day, Amelia left for the forest while her father and sisters cried as they waved her goodbye.

03:33I hope the lion prince is kind to her and we get to see your little sister again.

03:38The lion was actually an enchanted prince.

03:42By day he was a mighty lion, as were all of his followers, and by night they would transform back into human form.

03:51When Amelia reached the forest, she was received kindly and was taken to the castle on a golden carriage led by lions.

04:00When Amelia entered the castle, she was welcomed by a pride of lions who carried many gifts for her.

04:07Welcome, my beautiful queen. I see that your father has stood by his promise,

04:13and I am glad that you were the first to see him as you are very beautiful.

04:19I shall be honored to have you as my wife.

04:22I am greatly flattered, but I do not share your happiness as I fear that you are a lion.

04:28A lion! Just then, a ray of moonlight shone through the window,

04:32and the lion prince magically transformed, leaving a handsome prince before her.

04:38I am actually a prince, and we have been bound by an enchantment that makes us lions by day.

04:44Amelia smiled, for she was happy and in love with the lion prince.

04:49Amelia agreed to marry the prince, and the wedding was held at once with due magnificence.

04:56They lived happily together as lions would, sleeping through the day and staying up all night.

05:03One day, the lion prince came up to her and said,

05:06There is a festival at your father's house tomorrow to celebrate the marriage of your eldest sister.

05:12If you wish, the lions could escort you.

05:15That would be so lovely. I am so eager to see my father.

05:20Then I shall call for the lions immediately, and they will take you there in grand style.

05:26But, my prince, I will not go alone. You will come along as well.

05:31My queen, it is too dangerous, for even if a small beam of light touches me,

05:37I will turn into a dove and would have to fly about for seven years.

05:41Do not worry. I will make sure to keep you safe and protect you from every ray of light.

05:47And thus, the prince and the princess set out to go for the wedding.

05:51The merchant and his daughters were happy at the sight of Amelia,

05:54and were delighted to learn about the lion prince.

05:58They welcomed the lion prince with love.

06:01The princess had a great hall built with walls so thick that no ray of light could penetrate through them.

06:08This was where the lion was to retire when the torches and candles were kindled.

06:13But since the wood was fresh, it split, causing a crack so small

06:18that when the procession of people with torches and lights came back from the wedding,

06:23a small ray of light about the size of a hair fell upon the lion prince.

06:29Within a second, the lion prince turned into a dove.

06:33When Amelia returned, she saw nothing but a white dove sitting there.

06:39For the next seven years I will have to fly about,

06:42and at every seventh step I shall drop a white feather,

06:46and if you follow it, you can set me free.

06:50Princess Amelia followed the white dove as a white feather fell at every seventh step,

06:56to show her the way.

06:58As the seven years nearly passed,

07:01Amelia followed the trail of white feathers all the way without any rest.

07:08Oh, I am so glad that these seven years are almost over.

07:12We shall soon be free of our troubles.

07:15But it was long before Princess Amelia and the prince would be free.

07:20One day, the white feathers ceased to drop, and Amelia was worried.

07:25A man cannot help me with this.

07:28Princess Amelia climbed up a tree and called out to the sun.

07:33Oh, sun, so bright you shine from valleys to mountain peaks, from land to mine.

07:39Do you know where I can find a white dove of mine?

07:42No, little child. I have not seen a white dove.

07:46But take this little casket and use it when you are in dire need.

07:51Thank you so much.

07:53Princess Amelia went on and on looking for her prince till night fell.

07:58When the moon shone out, she went up to the moon and asked,

08:01Oh, beautiful moon, you shine all night over field and forest.

08:07Have you seen a white dove flying by?

08:10No, I haven't. But here is an egg. Crack it open when you are in need.

08:16Princess Amelia thanked the moon, went on looking for the prince.

08:21As the night wind blew, she asked,

08:24You blow among all the trees and leaves. Have you seen a white dove flying by?

08:30I have seen the white dove. It has flown away to the Caspian Sea,

08:35where it has regained its form of a lion and is fighting with a mighty dragon,

08:41who is an enchanted princess named Asteria.

08:46Here is a magic wand.

08:48Go on to the Caspian Sea and point it towards the dragon and say,

08:53Abracadabra.

08:55After this, the lion will be able to master the dragon

08:59and they both will regain their human form.

09:03Next, you will find a majestic winged griffin who dwells by the Caspian Sea.

09:10Hop onto its back with your beloved prince and it will carry you back across the sea.

09:17Drop the magic wand when you are in the middle of the ocean

09:22and out of it will immediately spring up tall trees

09:26which will show the griffin the directions to cross the sea.

09:30Amelia thanked the wind and set out on her journey.

09:34When she reached the Caspian Sea, she found the lion prince and the dragon fighting.

09:39She immediately removed her magic wand and pointed it towards the dragon.

09:44Abracadabra!

09:46The magic from the wand hit the dragon and it dropped into the ground.

09:50The lion prince put his paw on the dragon's head and immediately returned to his human form.

09:56The dragon too returned to her human form and transformed into Princess Asteria.

10:03Just as they were free, Princess Asteria looked at the lion prince and fell in love.

10:10She immediately cast a spell on him, took the prince in her arms and magically disappeared.

10:17No!

10:20Princess Amelia cried for her beloved prince,

10:23but just then a gentle breeze of wind passed, giving her courage.

10:27I will go wherever the winds shall blow,

10:30and I will go as long as the sun sets and rises over the horizon.

10:34I will search far and wide till I find my prince.

10:40She hopped onto the griffin's back and followed the direction of the wind.

10:45She went on and on till she came across a castle where the wind stopped blowing.

10:51Amelia understood that this is where her prince was.

10:55She thanked the griffin and then entered the castle.

10:59When she spoke to the people of the kingdom,

11:02they told her about the grand festival that was held to celebrate the wedding of the prince and princess.

11:08Oh, heaven help me!

11:11Just then, Amelia opened the casket, given by the sun,

11:15and out came a beautiful dress, as brilliant as the sun itself.

11:20She also cracked open the egg that the moon had given her, and out came a golden hen.

11:27She entered the castle wearing the dress, carrying the golden hen.

11:31Everyone looked at her with amazement, including the bride-to-be.

11:36Princess Asteria was so amazed by Amelia's dress and the golden hen

11:41that she went up to her immediately.

11:44This dress is so magnificent! I would like to buy it from you along with the hen.

11:51You may have it, but in return, you must let me speak with the bridegroom in his chamber tonight.

11:59Princess Asteria was hesitant, but she wanted the dress and the hen so bad that she finally consented.

12:07Later that night, she ordered the chamberlain to give the lion prince a sleeping draft.

12:14The prince who was nearby heard some murmurs and later asked the chamberlain what it was all about.

12:21The chamberlain confessed to the prince that he was ordered to slip in a sleeping draft in his drink

12:26as a poor girl was to be in the room with him that night.

12:30Pour the drink and keep it by my bed.

12:33That night, when the moon shone bright, Princess Amelia was taken to the chambers to speak with the prince.

12:40The lion prince, meanwhile, pretended to be asleep.

12:44For the past seven years, I have followed you as you flew around the world.

12:49I have been to the sun and moon and the four winds to look for you.

12:54I helped you master the dragon. Will you forget me now?

12:59He recognized the voice of his dear wife immediately.

13:03For the first time, I am truly free, for it has all been like a dream.

13:09Princess Asteria has cast a spell on me, leaving me to forget you, my love.

13:14But your love has blessed me and broken that spell.

13:18Oh, my prince, I have gone to the ends of the earth to find you.

13:23How glad am I to finally get you back.

13:26Let us hurry and get out of this place before the enchanted princess finds us.

13:31The prince and princess quietly snuck out of the castle,

13:34for they feared that the princess Asteria might catch them.

13:39They mounted the griffon who carried them over the Caspian Sea

13:42and took them back to their castle in the forest.

13:46When they reached home, all the lions turned to their human form and rejoiced.

13:51The lion prince couldn't thank princess Amelia enough and loved her dearly,

13:57for it was her determination and will that had finally restored happiness in their lives.

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