Once Upon a Time — The Adventures of Alaa and Ghada

Once upon a time there was a king. And this king had two children named Alaa and Ghada — two intelligent, beautiful children: Ghada fair-haired, with blue eyes, a small nose, and curly, flowing hair... and Alaa dark, with jet-black hair and black eyes!

As for the king, the father of Alaa and Ghada, he was unjust and cruel toward his people. So one day his people rose against him and attacked the royal palace, meaning to slay the king and his family in revenge for his tyranny.

It happened that Alaa and Ghada were in the palace garden, playing, unaware of what was going on around them. Suddenly they sensed danger... The voices from behind the garden wall were clamoring and swelling, and the shouting and threats rose higher... Ghada drew close to her brother, trembling with fear, and called to him in a low voice: 'Alaa, my brother! Come with me... Don't you hear those voices drawing near the garden wall? They are the rebels! Come with me, let us warn the guards!'

Alaa did as she asked without uttering a word, for he too was frightened at the cause of this uproar outside the wall; so he took Ghada's hand and they made for the palace... They walked with legs that could scarcely carry them for dread and fear! And as they were climbing the palace stairs they heard a soft voice reassuring them, addressing them in an encouraging tone:

'Take courage, my children... Climb up... come near, do not be afraid!'

It was as if that gentle voice breathed a strange courage into Alaa and Ghada, and they climbed the stairs... and kept climbing, the voice soothing their fright, until they reached the top of the palace, and there they stopped to rest — and behold, before them stood a beautiful fairy, wearing long blue garments, and on her head a crown adorned with precious stones! In a single instant the fairy carried them to a chariot drawn by two many-colored peacocks, flew with it through the wide sky, and set it down at an elegant palace hung from the heavens by shining silver ropes! In this palace she left them in the care of children of their own age... and the fairy gave her orders to these children to serve the prince and princess, Alaa and Ghada, and obey them in all they wished. Then the blue fairy vanished between earth and sky!

Alaa and Ghada lived happily with the fairy and among the children, whose companionship was strong and true... They stayed among them twenty years, and when Alaa had become a young man strong of arm, full of health and manliness, and Ghada had become a young woman in the fullness of womanhood, the fairy came a second time, greeted the two noble royal children, and said to them: 'Now you must return to your father's kingdom, for the king has died and there is no heir to his broad throne. And I have charged an army of your friends the jinn, who have served you and kept you company these twenty years, to go with you, to fight the enemy and win back the lost kingdom!'

Alaa rejoiced at this news, for he was brave and did not fear war, and he had been longing to return to his beautiful country... And so he took the field with an army of valiant jinn, and they all set out on their way. And they crossed long, long distances before they reached their kingdom...

At the borders of their kingdom they launched fierce raids upon the enemy, and after some days this little army succeeded in seizing the usurped throne, and Alaa ascended, by merit and by right, the throne of his father the late king... and his people cheered him: 'Long live the king!'

As for Ghada, a prince saw her and was captivated by her charm and beauty, and asked for her hand; and not many months had passed after her marriage when his father died and he was proclaimed king! And thus the two wandering royal children, Alaa and Ghada, became a king and a queen, beloved among their two peoples!