Marya Morevna

Prince Ivan Tsarevich had three sisters, whom he loved dearly. After their parents (the Tsar and Tsaritsa) died, Ivan vowed to see his sisters well married. One day a mighty knight in the guise of a bright falcon flew into their palace and transformed into a handsome man. He asked Ivan for the hand of the eldest sister, Maria-Tsarevna. Ivan consented, and the falcon-knight whisked her away to his far-off kingdom. Soon after, a powerful eagle came courting the second sister, then a swan for the third – and Ivan's sisters were married to these mysterious enchanted princes.

After a year living alone, Ivan decided to travel and visit his dear sisters. He rode across a wide field and saw an army's wreckage strewn about – crushed tents, broken spears, fallen horses. And amid the carnage stood a single warrior-maiden. This was Marya Morevna, the warrior princess of the far kingdom. She had singlehandedly defeated a hostile force. Ivan was in awe of her strength and beauty. Marya Morevna invited him to her camp, and they soon fell in love and were married.

One day Marya Morevna told Ivan she must go off to war. She left him in charge of the household, giving one warning: "There is one cellar under the palace – do not open it, husband." Ivan tried to obey, but after a few days curiosity gnawed at him. At last he opened the forbidden cellar. There, chained to the wall, was a fearsome, gaunt old man – Koschei the Deathless. Koschei begged Ivan for water, pleading that he was dying of thirst. Ivan felt pity and brought him a bucket of water. Koschei gulped it down – and a bit of life returned to his eyes. After a third bucket of water, Koschei broke all his chains – revived to full strength! "Thank you, Prince," hissed Koschei. "Now you shall never see Marya Morevna again – as little as you can see your own ears!" With a wicked cackle, Koschei flew out in a whirlwind.

When Marya Morevna returned, she was gone in a flash – the evil Koschei swooped down, captured her, and carried her off to his castle. Ivan was horrified at what he had unwittingly done. He vowed to rescue Marya or die trying.

Ivan chased after Koschei at once. On the road he met his oldest sister's husband, the Falcon-prince, who gave Ivan a magic silver vial containing the Water of Life. Ivan traveled to Koschei's gloomy castle and found Marya Morevna held prisoner. They fled on Ivan's horse, but Koschei overtook them, grabbed Marya, and sliced Ivan into pieces.

But Ivan still carried the Falcon's vial of the Water of Life. By miracle it had not broken. The magic liquid seeped onto Ivan's cut pieces – and his body knit back together! Ivan was made whole, as if he had never been harmed.

✦Baba Yaga's strange hut stood on chicken legs, turning and twisting in the forest clearing.✦

A second time Koschei caught Ivan and chopped him into bits. As Koschei dragged Marya home, the Swan-prince happened to fly over the battlefield. Seeing Ivan's plight, the swan landed and sprinkled the Water of Life from Ivan's own vial onto each piece, reuniting them. The Swan-prince urged him: "You must find a better horse, brother, or Koschei will always outrun you."

Ivan sought out Baba Yaga in her forest hut, knowing the old witch kept the finest horses. Because Ivan was polite and humble, Baba Yaga agreed to aid him. She let Ivan care for her mares for three days – and when he passed her test, she gifted him a magnificent stallion born of a magic mare.

Riding Baba Yaga's swift horse, Ivan reached Koschei's castle a third time. This time, before fleeing, he also seized Koschei's magic sword that hung on the wall. Koschei gave chase on his horse, howling with rage. But Ivan's new steed outran him. As Koschei gained, Ivan turned and struck with the enchanted sword. The blade hit true – for the first time, Koschei was cut. With a final blow, Ivan cut Koschei to pieces and doused them with the Water of Life – in reverse. Because Koschei's soul was not intact (he had hidden it elsewhere), the water's power backfired: instead of healing, it caused the pieces to shrivel into sludge. Thus perished Koschei forever.

Ivan Tsarevich and Marya Morevna returned home free. Ivan's magical in-laws – the Falcon, Eagle, and Swan – congratulated him on vanquishing Koschei. And so Ivan regained his brave warrior wife. Together they ruled her kingdom side by side, living long and happily, never again troubled by Koschei or any other evil.