SandukTales

Bar ele joke ele…ilgeri ilgeri...

Once upon a time on the land of Kyrgyz lived a ruler named Temir khan. He was immensely rich: his pastures spread a long way, and uncounted herds and flocks were on them. When he stayed for encampment there grew so many yurts[1] that village looked like a city.

Temir khan’s tall white yurt was built a little further from all. The walls were decorated with rare kind of carpets, brought from distant countries. On the floor there laid skins of wild animals and beautiful shyrdaks[2]. His clothes were made of parcha and furs; his chekmen[3] and kalpak[4] were embroidered with gold and precious stones; on his fingers he wore expensive rings with milk white pearls, and blood-color rubies.

But his black eyes drew all the attention; when he got angry his eyes turned into two tiny slots which flashed lightings and could instantly burn to ashes no matter innocent or guilty one was.

There was only one person to whom khan was kind and warm and when he saw him even his evil heart would melt. That was his only child Nurdin who was not a slight resemblance of his father. Young man’s wide open eyes looked at the world cordially and joyfully. He never participated in father’s devastating raids. Most of all Nurdin loved nature; he wandered among mountains, bravely climbed on peaks and he was never alone, always accompanied by his friends – young herdsmen and shepherds. The peasants loved khan’s son for his kind heart and for he was nothing like his father.

Temir Khan knew all about it. He was upset with his son and cruel with son's friends – he would send them away to distant places where even on tulpar[5] one couldn’t reach or could just put them in one of his zindans[6] for many years.

Temir Khan gave a lot of thought how to become closer to his son and how to distant him from his friends. So he got an idea to marry Nurdin. He thought that Nurdin wouldn’t go away from his young wife. And he was intending to pick girls only from rich families, so he could even multiply his wealth.

But everything went not as he thought. Nurdin fell in love with a peasant girl whose name was Cholpon, the name Kyrgyz people gave to a morning star.

Nurdin knew very well his father’s temper and decided not to tell about his feelings to Cholpon. Only his friends knew about their love. Once when the sun was about to hide behind the mountains love birds met in the forest. Nurdin was nervous as he was going to tell her about his father’s intentions.

Cholpon became very pale when she heard the news but young man squeezed her hands and brought to his heart and promised:

“No, no, Cholpon, please, don’t get sad, nothing can apart us. Let your cheeks be always red like our apples, and eyes shine as stars in the sky. I will never betray you. I better die. I swore I will kill myself with this sword if my father forces me to change my decision.’’

A girl lifted her gaze full of tears, smiled and said:

“I know, I feel your heart beating for love.”

Meanwhile it was getting dark and they had gone too far into forest, big trees with hook like branches were blocking their way. Cholpon snuggled up to Nurdin and felt safe at once. She sat on a tree stomp and he laid his head on her knees. It got dark. Nurdin dosed off. And suddenly the forest brightened up with green lights. The noise was coming out from everywhere, black ravens were croaking, owls were whooing and whistling bats were flying around. Wolves were howling with despair.

Suddenly through that noise sharp barking laughter filled the air and in front of Cholpon ugly old woman with grey tangled hair leaping on one leg had appeared. She had burning evil eyes and big hook-like nose. Her hands also seemed to be crooked as if they were tree branches and her hump on her back looked taller than her head.

The old woman came closer to the girl and laughed so loud that the top of the trees shivered.

“You think you are more beautiful than me and you can keep Nurdin? Silly girl! His heart is beating only for me. You don’t believe me? I am a powerful fairy named Aidai. Tomorrow Nurdin will be mine. Only mine!” And at that moment in front of astonished Cholpon the old woman turned into a beautiful delicate nymph whose body was covered with airy fabrics and her face broke into a smile.

“Look at me, Nurdin wouldn’t be able to resist my beauty.”

With these words fairy waved her white scarf and disappeared.

Cholpon was stunned. May be she just saw a dream? She bent her head over sleeping Nurdin and ran her fingers through his hair and woke him up.

“Have I fallen asleep?” he asked.

“It’s time go”, she only replied.

All the way back Cholpon was very sad and quiet. She didn’t tell him anything. Nurdin thought she was sad as always before saying good-byes.

Meanwhile Temir khan sat in his white yurt and was deep in thoughts: "What is happening? His dearly loved son is lying to him and meeting with the daughter of a poor shepherd. He will never allow this marriage. He himself will pick up a bride for his son – the wealthiest and the most beautiful". Khan was in a dull mood. Sharp line lied around his mouth and his eyes were flashing angrily.

In such state Nurdin met his father. He listened to his angry words, and then lifting his head met bravely with his father’s eyes and said:

“Yes, father, I love Cholpon and I want to marry her.”

Neither sweet talks nor even threats could break Nurdin’s persistence. Khan had to send Nurdin to the yurt and ordered his people to guard him and not let him go anywhere. After he sent messengers to the neighboring khans and invited them to come with their daughters. Each of them dreamed to get closer to the powerful Temir Khan. So the guests started to arrive. So many beautiful brides there were, but Nurdin hadn’t even looked at their side. He sat there alone, sad and pale.

Suddenly a beauty entered the yurt, accompanied by a dozen of servants and rich retinue. The beauty started to dance. It seemed that she wasn’t even touching the ground, she seemed to float in the air – that light she looked.

Nurdin looked at her and his heart started beating frequently. He came closer to the beauty took her hand and asked:

“What is your name, beauty?”

“Aidai!”

Carried away by her beauty Nurdin agreed to marry Aidai. Temir Khan was very pleased, everything went as he planned. But at that moment Cholpon burst into and fresh morning mountain breeze filled the yurt instantly. As soon as Nurdin saw her the scales fell from his eyes and he let the fairy’s hands go. Aidai staggered, but she gathered all her magic strength and twirled in a furious dance to destroy her rival. But her strength started to melt down in front of clear and pure eyes of Cholpon.

The witch stooped, looked furiously and disappeared from the yurt. And so did her servants. As for Nurdin, he saw nobody but his dearest Cholpan. He stood there keeping her tight in his arms. All the guests started leaving offended by a peasant girl being chosen over their daughters. Temir khan was filled with rage:

"Oh, you say, you will love forever? So be it! Then turning to his guards continued: “Let them live happily ever after……… in zindan!”

The zindan was a very deep well, where no sunrays could enter. All corners of the stone zindan were covered with huge webs meticulously weaved by master-spiders, and snake heads could be seen from the cracks of the walls. But prisoners tried not to lose their hope. Nurdin would found encouragement looking at Cholpon, the girl would feel stronger for his love.  The young man gathered all the scattered wood from the ground and piled it together and made a bed for Cholpon, and laid on a cold ground nearby.

“Be not afraid, I will be here with you nothing and no one will harm you,”  he said. Both were so tired that they fell asleep almost immediately. But the evil fairy wasn’t asleep in her castle. When Temir khan locked them in zindan she was overjoyed: “Let the girl be a snake's food, and as for Nurdin……,” she smiled darkly.

By clapping her hands she called her loyal servant – gin. She untied her magic scarf with the help of which the gin was about to enchant Nurdin and take him out of the well. So off he went to fulfil his owner’s order. At that time Nurdin in his sleep felt as if he was surrounded by ghost like fairies in airy clothes, who were luring him out by calling his name and stretching their hands.

The stone walls started trembling and moved apart. Not aware of anything Nurdin followed airy fairies. Very soon all the fairies disappeared, and only enormous light scarf was floating in front of him. Every time when he thought he caught it, scarf would slip away. The harder it was to get the scarf, the more he wanted to catch it.

And scarf was not floating anymore it was flying. Nurdin was so absorbed chasing the scarf he didn’t even notice how he found himself in front of heavy gates which opened to let him in and shut at once as he entered.

He saw darkened castle and came in.

It was gloomy inside, even the lamps were giving diffused light as it was coming through the fog. Only the fountain was shimmering with different colors and its hot streams were loudly falling, scattering all over its spiky splashes.

Nurdin saw Aidai laying in a huge lounge, huge beast with sparkling eyes was nearby. On her shoulders she was wearing enormous light scarf the end of which was alluring him. That was all fairy’s magic tricks. When the fairy embraced Nurdin Cholpon woke up in the zindan. Before opening her eyes she tried to find Nurdin with her hands, but he was gone. Her heart fell. She looked around and at once saw a pathway in stone walls of zindan and Nurdin’s traces. She followed his traces and found herself in a deep wood. Through the trees she could only see thin morning sun rays. But the huge trees were tangling its branches and blocking her way. The animals were growling and biting her clothes, big black ravens were circling above her and hitting her with their wings.

Cholpon’s love was so strong that neither death nor any hardships could scare her, only if she could free Nurdin. And so it happened that all the obstacles were gone in the face or true love.

When Aidai exuberant of her win was placing young man’s hand to the altar so he could swear on his loyalty, Cholpon came. She was all tormented and wounded, trembling from tiredness, she said:

“I always knew you were the evil witch who placed my friends under a spell only because they all had loved. You envied all the loved ones because you couldn’t love yourself. I am stronger than you because I love."

Cholpon touched Nurdins heart and he awoke from magic.

At that very moment Aidai disappeared and all her servants and her castle with its strong walls and dull one-eyed beasts, fountains with hot streams and prickly sprays fell underground. All the big trees with hooked like branches blocking the entrance to the castle gave the way. And wide valley opened lightened with the sun. All the flowers lifted their hanging heads and bloomed, out come all Cholpon’s enchanted friends. Since then Cholpon’s love is growing and glowing. And there is a saying that she lives for people. Look at the sky and you will see clear cholpon – morning star, shining for all loved ones.