In a kingdom east of the great forests of France, where the rivers shimmered like silver ribbons and the air smelled of wild roses, there lived a king who had everything, wealth, honor, and power, except a queen to share his throne. One day, a traveler told him of a princess so beautiful that her hair gleamed like threads of pure gold under the sun. She was called La Belle aux Cheveux d’Or, The Beauty with the Golden Hair. Her kindness matched her beauty, and her wisdom was praised in every court across the land. The king, though growing old, resolved to win her heart.
He called for his most trusted servant, a brave young man named Avenant, whose name meant “handsome” and whose soul was as noble as his face. “Avenant,” said the king, “you must go to the court of this princess and ask for her hand on my behalf. Take with you the finest jewels, silks, and treasures. Spare nothing, for I must wed La Belle aux Cheveux d’Or.”
Avenant bowed deeply. Though his heart felt uneasy, he had heard the princess refused every suitor—he would not fail his king. Before leaving, he walked by the royal gardens and leaned over a fountain, thinking of the task ahead. Just then, a gilded cage fell into the water. A little dove fluttered helplessly, unable to escape. Without hesitation, Avenant reached in and freed it. The bird cooed softly and said, “Kind Avenant, I will remember your goodness. One day, I shall repay it.”
He thought little of it and began his journey, riding through forests and valleys until he reached the palace of the princess. Her castle sparkled like crystal beneath the morning sun, and her gardens glowed with the fragrance of roses and violets. When Avenant entered the great hall, he bowed low and presented his master’s gifts. But when La Belle aux Cheveux d’Or appeared, her beauty shone so bright that even the jewels seemed dull beside her.
“Rise,” said the princess with a voice soft as spring rain. “You are brave to come so far, but I cannot marry your king. He is kind, I am told, but I have sworn to wed only a man who is without deceit.”
Avenant pleaded gently. “My lady, my master’s heart is true, and he would treasure you more than gold or crown.”
The princess sighed. “Your words are fair, young man, but I do not love through words. If your king truly desires me, let him send me a lock of my own golden hair, which I lost one day in the wind. Without it, I shall never know peace.”
It was a strange task, for the hair was lost long ago in the forest, carried away by the breeze. Yet Avenant bowed and vowed to find it. He searched the woods tirelessly, until his feet bled and his strength waned. As he sat beneath a tree, the little dove he had rescued flew down, carrying something that sparkled like sunlight. “Here is the hair you seek,” she said. “You saved me, and now I repay my debt.”
Avenant thanked her and returned joyfully to the castle. When he presented the golden hair, the princess was astonished. “Indeed, your king must value me greatly,” she said. “But I cannot yet leave my realm. Tell him to bring me a vial of the Water of Beauty that never fades.”
This second task was even harder. The enchanted water was said to lie in a garden guarded by fierce beasts. Avenant set out once again. When he arrived, two stone lions blocked the gate, roaring with fury. Remembering the dove’s kindness, he spoke gently, “Good guardians, I seek only what my master needs.” To his surprise, the lions lowered their heads and allowed him to pass.
Inside, he found a marble fountain bubbling with crystal water. As he filled his vial, he heard a rustling behind him, a golden fish trapped in the reeds. He freed it, and it whispered, “Avenant, you have a kind heart. Someday I will repay you.”
When he returned with the Water of Beauty, the princess smiled. “Your master is most fortunate in his servant. Yet, I cannot go with him unless he brings me the Talking Bird that knows all the secrets of the world.”
This final quest led Avenant over mountains and across the sea. The bird lived in a golden cage atop a high crystal tower, surrounded by deadly enchantments. No man had ever returned alive. Avenant climbed the tower, but as he reached for the cage, the door closed, trapping him. “So ends my loyalty,” he sighed. But the golden fish he had once saved leapt from the nearby stream and shattered the enchantment with a single strike of its tail. “Take the bird,” it said, “and be free.”
When Avenant brought the Talking Bird to La Belle aux Cheveux d’Or, it sang, “Fair princess, this man is more worthy of your hand than the king he serves.” The princess blushed, for in her heart she had already admired Avenant’s courage and goodness.
When they returned to the king, the bird spoke again: “O King, Avenant has done all that was asked with purity and love, but his heart belongs not to you.” The king, struck by jealousy, cast Avenant into prison. Yet, one day, the princess came and freed him, for she could no longer hide her love. The old king, moved by her truth, gave them his blessing.
So Avenant married La Belle aux Cheveux d’Or, and together they ruled with wisdom and kindness. The golden-haired princess never forgot the dove, the fish, or the talking bird, who had all come to her aid because Avenant’s heart had been pure.
Moral Lesson
Goodness and humility shine brighter than gold or crowns. True beauty is not in appearances but in a heart that acts with kindness, loyalty, and compassion.
Knowledge Check
- Who was Avenant, and what was his mission?
Avenant was the loyal servant of a king, sent to win the hand of Princess La Belle aux Cheveux d’Or on his master’s behalf. - Why did the princess refuse the king’s proposal at first?
She only wished to marry a man without deceit and set difficult tasks to test his worthiness. - What creatures helped Avenant on his quests?
A dove, a golden fish, and the Talking Bird aided him because of his kindness. - What were the three tasks the princess required?
Finding her lost golden hair, bringing the Water of Beauty, and capturing the Talking Bird. - What lesson does the story teach about virtue?
Kindness and honesty bring rewards beyond power or riches. - Where does this story originate?
It is a French folktale written by Marie-Catherine d’Aulnoy in Les Contes des Fées (1697).
Source: Adapted from Les Contes des Fées by Marie-Catherine d’Aulnoy (1697), public-domain edition at Project Gutenberg.
Cultural Origin: France (French literary fairy tale tradition).
