In a small Croatian valley nestled between green meadows and whispering pine forests, there lived two children known to all for their gentleness and beauty. They were called Little Brother Primrose and Sister Lavender, for their mother had once said that the boy’s eyes were as bright as spring primroses, and the girl’s hair as fragrant and soft as blooming lavender.
The two were orphans, living in a tiny cottage at the edge of the woods. Each morning, they tended to their garden, Primrose would fetch water from the brook while Lavender gathered herbs and flowers for healing balms. They lived in harmony with the forest, loved by the birds and watched over by the mountain winds.
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But peace seldom lasts long in old tales. One day, as they worked beside the stream, a dark cloud drifted across the sun, and a woman cloaked in shadow appeared. She was the Forest Witch, feared by all in nearby villages. Her eyes gleamed like wet stones, and her smile was thin as a knife.
“Pretty flowers,” she said softly, eyeing the children. “Would you like to see where the golden ones grow?”
Little Brother Primrose hesitated, but Sister Lavender, kind-hearted and trusting, nodded shyly. Before either could speak further, the witch struck the ground with her staff. A wind howled through the trees, and a flash of green fire surrounded them. When the storm passed, Sister Lavender had vanished, and in her place grew a tall lavender bush trembling with purple blossoms.
Primrose fell to his knees in grief. He wept until the petals shimmered with his tears. The witch laughed, her voice echoing like breaking twigs.
“Find her if you can, boy of the primroses,” she taunted, before vanishing into the mist.
For three days and nights, Little Brother Primrose wandered through the forest, refusing food or rest. On the morning of the fourth day, he came upon a silver stag drinking from a spring. The creature lifted its antlered head and spoke in a voice like running water.
“Why do you cry, child of the fields?”
Primrose told his tale. The stag nodded slowly.
“The witch dwells in the Hollow Hill, where roots grow like chains. Only with the dew of dawn gathered from seven primrose flowers can her spell be undone. But beware, the path is guarded by shadows.”
Without hesitation, Primrose set out. He searched far and wide, finding one primrose beneath a linden tree, another by a rock where the sun warmed the moss, and so on until he had seven flowers glistening with dew in his basket.
At sunset, he reached the Hollow Hill. The earth seemed alive with whispers, and from the darkness crept the witch’s servants, black foxes with eyes of fire. They circled him, snarling, but Primrose remembered the stag’s words. Kneeling, he sprinkled the dew across the ground. Instantly, a soft golden light bloomed from the drops, and the foxes fled with terrified cries.
He entered the hill and found the witch sitting before a cauldron of green smoke. Behind her, in a crystal cage, stood Sister Lavender, pale and still as carved ivory.
“Ah,” said the witch. “So the boy returns. What will you give to free her?”
“My life, if need be,” Primrose answered.
The witch sneered. “Then pour your dew upon the fire, and let us see if your love is strong enough.”
Primrose stepped forward and cast the dewdrops into the cauldron. There was a hiss and a burst of white flame. The witch screamed as the light consumed her shadowy form, and when the smoke cleared, she was gone, nothing left but the scent of burned herbs.
The crystal cage shattered, and Sister Lavender fell into her brother’s arms. As his tears touched her face, the spell broke completely, her color returned, and the fragrance of lavender filled the air.
Together they walked out of the Hollow Hill, the morning sun rising behind them. Wherever they stepped, primroses and lavender bloomed side by side, marking their path home.
In time, they rebuilt their little cottage, living once more among the meadows and birds. And each spring, the villagers said the hills glowed brighter where Primrose and Lavender’s love had once broken the darkness.
Moral of the Story
True love, whether between siblings, friends, or hearts bound by kindness, has the power to break even the strongest enchantment. Purity of heart and perseverance can overcome evil, no matter how deep the shadows.
Knowledge Check
1. Who are the main characters in “Little Brother Primrose and Sister Lavender”?
The main characters are two orphaned siblings, Little Brother Primrose and Sister Lavender, who symbolize innocence and purity.
2. What role does nature play in the story?
Nature reflects harmony and magic, it both shelters the children and provides the means (dew, flowers, and animals) to break the witch’s curse.
3. What is the Forest Witch’s purpose in the tale?
The witch represents dark, corrupting forces that threaten innocence and love, a common theme in Croatian folktales.
4. What magical object helps break the spell?
The dew gathered from seven primrose flowers carries the purity needed to dissolve the witch’s enchantment.
5. What lesson does this folktale teach?
The story teaches that loyalty, courage, and pure-hearted love are stronger than deceit and darkness.
6. Where does this story originate?
This folktale originates from Croatia, where rural storytelling often blends natural imagery and moral symbolism.
Cultural Origin: Croatian folktale, Croatia.
Source: Found in translations and folk-tale anthologies including Croatian material; collected in regional folklore studies and archives.
