The Lost King

Naja was a Gypsy girl who lived in the forest with her tribe.  She dearly loved a young man named Silvester. He was from a nearby village, and he returned her passion.  Now the time came when Silvester was sent to join the monastery school in Strasboug.  At the hour of separation, he took her hand and said: “As a sign of faithfulness, take this ring.  May it bring us luck and return me to you soon.  See how the red ruby glows! Who would not give his life for it?”

When Naja’s mother saw the ring, she was petrified.  “Red like the embers in the hearth.  Red like blood.  Daughter, this will not lead to a happy end,” she wailed.

But Naja’s heart was filled with longing.  She could not take her eyes off the ring’s fire. She pulled it from her finger and held it against the light, whispering fearfully, “You are not leaving me?”

Just then a raven swooped down. It seized the ring from her hand and flew off, disappearing high above the rocks.  The ring was lost.  Naja did not know what to do.

When Silvester returned from Strasbourg, she did all she could to hide her hand from view.  But ultimately she had to confess what had happened.  The young man was furious. He stormed away, and the sound of the raven screaming after him was like mockery.

Naja begged, “Lover, stay here.  Even if the ring is lost, you still have me.”  But he did not hear her anymore. Suddenly he lost his balance on the rocks, fell into a ravine, and perished in the river below.  His own anger and failure to forgive had killed him.

For many months, Naja could be found at this spot, wringing her hands in despair.  She could never forget his scream. She had loved him for one long summer, but then the gushing waters took him away from her.  Soon thereafter, Naja’s body was found. In death, the lovers were reunited.