To my loving Mother,

who helps me through difficult times

Written by Kasia B.

Translated from Polish by Conrad B.

Original title: "Zaczarowany flet"

Photos and graphic parts: storyjumper.com

17/2015/2016

Preview audio:

storyj.mp/ae89btgri733

It happened one night in June. The Pole Star has just fallen, but no one has seen it because all were asleep except for one gi-

rl named Anna who went to pray on her favorite clearing. When she saw that som-

ething flew in her direction, she bounced just in time. It was Pole Star − she recog-

nized it. She was afraid that the world will end, but nothing like that happened. Whi-

te light shone and the Star began declini-

ng and changing shape. Girl noticed that it is a flute, extremely beautiful, silver like a star and delicate like fluff. She decided to take it home.

When she returned home, she put it in the cupboard and fell asleep. The next day, as soon as she woke up, she grabbed the flute and began playing beautiful me-

lodies. After a while she wanted to put the flute away, but she could not stop pla-

ying. Slowly she missed her breath. She felt like it is her end until all of a sudden − darkness. The girl slowly sank to the floor. When Anna's mother came it was too late, her only child died.

Mom decided to arrange a beautiful fu-

neral for her. She dressed her in a lumino-

us white gown and put a wreath of daisies on her beautiful blond hair.

Eliza, the mother of the deceased, placed

her daughter's body into the boat, sang

a beautiful but sad song and let go of the boat downstream.

Little Elf Elsa has seen the whole occurr-

ence. She decided to do something about it. She sprinkled the girl with magic pow-

der and soul separated from the body. But the flute was left in the boat, and An-

na? She soared to the sky, to her father.

On the same day a young woman was

picking flowers near the stream. She spo-

tted the boat with the body of Anna and the flute. She wanted to stop the boat, but she failed. The flute flew to Amanda, because that was her name, and she ju-

mped up. She took it gently and began playing the only tune she knew, very sad and beautiful. When she finished she brought the flute to her small hut, put it in the jewelry box of her great-grandmo-

ther, which she received when she was eight years old. Amanda was an orphan, her mother died in childbirth and she did not know her father. But she had someo-

ne special − David.

Unfortunately the evil sorcerer Lord Da-

rk fell in love with Amanda.

Amanda would take out David's photo every evening. And what about the flute? She would also take it out every day. The

more she played on it, the more she und-

erstood animals.

When Amanda turned 20, she decided to marry David. She put on her wedding gown and pinned flowers to her gorgeo-

us brown hair. The wedding was to take place in the forest. When she walked, out of happiness her eyes were filled with te-

ars like the sea bottom. When she reach-

ed and took her beloved hands, Lord Da-

rk came on a big crow. He grabbed Aman-

da by her waist and flew away. David wat-

ched as his obstinate enemy flew away with his fiancee.

The young man decided to embark on the world. He remembered his promise that if anything happens, he will store Amanda's flute. He grabbed the flute and went. He walked many days and nights playing the same tune as Amanda. Sudde-

nly he heard a cry for help. When he arri-

ved, he saw a roe-deer slammed in the trap, nobody else. The roe said:

− Finally, help me traveler.

David opened the trap, with fear. Roe took out foot neatly, took a stick in the mouth and said:

− Take the stick and when you'll need help, break it into two parts. When the pieces will no longer be there, I will not

come on your call.

David finally arrived in the Lord Dark's castle. He stood at the gate and yelled:

− Give back my beloved, you rascal!

Lord Dark looked out from the tower and yelled back:

− I will give her back to you, if you give her something that reminds her of your first meeting!

David moved to the edge of the road,

where he first met her. He knelt down and wept, then he remembered the stick. He broke off a small piece and threw it behi-

nd, yelling:

− Roe, roe help me!

Then the roe came of the forest lane.

− What do you want? – she asked.

− I want something that commemorated our meeting with Amanda − he said.

Then a small wooden swallow came, who

sang the same tune as during their first meeting. David moved forward to the Lord Dark's castle. He turned on the wooden swallow and it sang Amanda's tune. The Lord Dark could not stand it.

− Fight, if you're a man − he said and threw him a sword.

− David, he will kill you − screamed Am-

anda who appeared to be even more bea-

utiful than before.

David refused the Lord Dark, saying, that his flute will do just fine. Lord Dark laughed saying that it will be an easy win.

The duel for the lovely Amanda has be-

gun. The first move belonged to David. He began to play their tune and then animals from all over the world came. But that did not help. Lord Dark threw all animals back on David, in one motion.

− Now it's my turn! − shouted Lord Dark

and with one blast knocked him off his feet.

Bruised David already wanted to give up, but he remembered about the rema-

ining piece of the stick. He threw it back and yelled:

− Roe, roe, I'm calling you! So come, pre-

tty please!

The sky lit up and when the light subsi-

ded, the roe appeared.

− What do you want? − the roe asked.

− Kill Lord Dark. While saying that he po-

inted at the enemy.

− Well, but know that it's your last wish.