Thai Children's Favorite Stories by Marian D. Toth

Author:Marian D. Toth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

Princess Golden Flower trembled as she looked upon the strange, silent crew and smelled the unmistakable odor of vultures. She did not know that every crew member was a vulture in disguise, waiting to destroy her upon a signal from the Vulture King.

When the disguised Vulture King called the crew members into the captain’s quarters, Golden Flower seized the opportunity to say a prayer to the Mother Goddess of the Sea. “Please, Mother Goddess, hear my plea. Send someone to rescue me.” The princess quickly took a golden flower from her lips and hid it in a silver locket. Then she tied the silver locket to a coconut shell and cast it into the ocean while saying, “May one who is noble chance to see, and have the courage to rescue me.” Then Golden Flower heard a splashing sound against the side of the ship. It was the Sea Goddess saying, “Princess Golden Flower, look into the sky. Vultures swarm and vultures fly. Your prince, their king, leads the way. Hide yourself from light of day.”

The princess dashed into the hold of the ship and swiftly crawled under a barrel. She huddled there without making a single noise while the vultures swarmed over the decks looking for her. But they could not find her.

Later Princess Golden Flower came out from under the barrel. The seas were calm beneath a clear blue sky. In the distance she saw a graceful white ship. It seemed to be following a frothy white wave that pointed toward her vessel. The princess shouted out happily and hundreds of little golden flowers tumbled into the waves. They floated all around the ship, making a bright ring of gold.

On the approaching ship stood King Pichai, the noble ruler of a mighty kingdom. He held Princess Golden Flower’s silver locket in his hand and noticed the flower in the locket matched the flowers in the sea.

“Hurry men, hurry!” he called to his crew. “The princess is in danger.”

As he spoke, the sky darkened with the returning cloud of vultures. Luckily, King Pichai was an excellent sailor, and in a few moments he was able to bring his ship close to Golden Flower’s ship. He reached the princess’s side just as the Vulture King landed on the deck, transformed into a handsome prince holding a sword. At that very instant the noble Pichai plunged his own sword into the Vulture King’s heart, killing him instantly.

King Pichai and Princess Golden Flower fell in love at first sight. The Mother Goddess of the Sea returned them safely to King Sanuraj’s kingdom where they were happily married.

That year, at the Loy Krathong festival, King Pichai and his bride made a boat from banana leaves. They loaded it with coins, incense, a lighted candle and flowers from Princess Golden Flower’s lovely lips. The little boat carried all their worries out to sea.

It is said King Pichai and his beautiful princess lived long and happy lives in a palace scented with the delicate fragrance of golden flowers.

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