Today's tale is quite a long one so without any further ado we'll get started...
The Fountain of Fair Fortune is located on top of a hill, in the middle of an enchanted garden. It is protected by strong magic. Every year, on the longest day, between the hours of sunrise and sunset, an unfortunate person was given a chance to bathe in the Fountain. As a result, legend said that they would receive a fair fortune forever more.
On the appointed day, hundreds of people, male and female, rich and poor, young and old, would gather from all over the kingdom to reach the garden walls before dawn. Three witches, named Asha, Altheda and Amata, each came to the garden with the same hope: that they would be chosen. Asha was sick with a malady no Healer could cure. Altheda had been robbed by an evil sorcerer. Amata had been deserted by a man whom she loved dearly. Pitying each other, they agreed that they would try to reach the fountain together if one of them got chosen to enter the garden.
At first light, a crack in the wall appeared and creepers from the garden reached through and wrapped themselves around Asha, the first witch. She grabbed Altheda, who then took hold of Amata. But Amata got tangled in the armour of a knight, and as the vines pulled Asha in, all three witches along with the knight got pulled through the wall and into the garden.
On the appointed day, hundreds of people, male and female, rich and poor, young and old, would gather from all over the kingdom to reach the garden walls before dawn. Three witches, named Asha, Altheda and Amata, each came to the garden with the same hope: that they would be chosen. Asha was sick with a malady no Healer could cure. Altheda had been robbed by an evil sorcerer. Amata had been deserted by a man whom she loved dearly. Pitying each other, they agreed that they would try to reach the fountain together if one of them got chosen to enter the garden.
At first light, a crack in the wall appeared and creepers from the garden reached through and wrapped themselves around Asha, the first witch. She grabbed Altheda, who then took hold of Amata. But Amata got tangled in the armour of a knight, and as the vines pulled Asha in, all three witches along with the knight got pulled through the wall and into the garden.
Asha and Altheda were angry because Amata had accidentally brought the knight, who was known as Sir Luckless, along with them. Knowing that the ladies were witches and that he had no skill in dueling, jousting or magic, he offered to leave them and go back outside the garden. Hearing this, Amata also became angry. She encouraged the knight to stay asking him to draw his sword and help them to reach the Fountain.
And thus the witches and the forlorn knight began their journey to reach the Fountain. Many rare herbs, fruits and flowers grew in the garden but they didn't meet any obstacles during their venture.
That is, until they reached the foot of the hill where the Fountain stood. There was a big, white, monstrous but blind worm. At their approach the worm said the following words:
And thus the witches and the forlorn knight began their journey to reach the Fountain. Many rare herbs, fruits and flowers grew in the garden but they didn't meet any obstacles during their venture.
That is, until they reached the foot of the hill where the Fountain stood. There was a big, white, monstrous but blind worm. At their approach the worm said the following words:
"Pay me the proof of your pain"
Sir Luckless tried to stab the worm, but his sword snapped. Altheda threw some rocks at it while Amata and Asha casted every spell that might move the worm out of their way, but none of their attempts seemed to be working. Frustated, Asha began to cry and suddenly the worm placed its face upon hers and drank Asha's tears. After this he allowed the four of them to pass; they had met his challenge.
They continued to walk, believing that they would reach the Fountain before noon. Halfway up the steep slope, they found words cut into the ground that said:
They continued to walk, believing that they would reach the Fountain before noon. Halfway up the steep slope, they found words cut into the ground that said:
"Pay me the fruit of your labours"
They ignored the message and began to climb up the hill. However, even after several hours of walking, they advanced no further. They started to give up but Altheda encouraged her friends wiping her sweat from her brow. As it fell onto the earth, the inscription blocking their way vanished, accepting the sweat as payment.
They hurried toward the summit as fast as they could, the sun was rapidly sinking towards the horizon. Finally, they faced one last obstacle. There was a stream flowing around the hilltop which prevented them from reaching the Fountain. In the depth of the river, there was a stone bearing the words:
They hurried toward the summit as fast as they could, the sun was rapidly sinking towards the horizon. Finally, they faced one last obstacle. There was a stream flowing around the hilltop which prevented them from reaching the Fountain. In the depth of the river, there was a stone bearing the words:
"Pay me the treasure of your past"
The party were beginning to get used to these cryptic challenges now but it was Amata who was the first to understand the message. She paced her want to her head and removed all of the memories she had with her lover before dropping them into the water. The stream swept them away and stepping stones appeared.
They had reached the Fountain. But before they could make the decision as to who would bathe in the Fountain, Asha collapsed from exhaustion and it was clear that she was near death. The other three tried to carry her to the fountain, but Asha asked them to not touch her. Altheda quickly began collecting magical herbs around her and mixed them to make a healing potion for Asha, who was cured from her malady after she drank it.
After she recovered, Asha suggested that Altheda bathe in the Fountain. But Altheda was still busy collecting the herbs, knowing they would help her earn some gold. She refused this offer, instead suggesting that it was Amata who deserved to bathe in the Fountain, but she also refused to do so. The stream had swept away her regret for her lover so she no longer needed the Fountain to heal her broken heart.
And so she offered Sir Luckless to take a bath in it. The knight, amazed at his luck, bathed in the Fountain and afterwards he flung himself in his rusted armour at the feet of Amata and he begged her for her hand and her heart. Amata realized that she had found a man worthy of her and quickly accepted. The four of them set off down the hill together happily, with none of them knowing that the Fountain's water carried no magic at all.
They had reached the Fountain. But before they could make the decision as to who would bathe in the Fountain, Asha collapsed from exhaustion and it was clear that she was near death. The other three tried to carry her to the fountain, but Asha asked them to not touch her. Altheda quickly began collecting magical herbs around her and mixed them to make a healing potion for Asha, who was cured from her malady after she drank it.
After she recovered, Asha suggested that Altheda bathe in the Fountain. But Altheda was still busy collecting the herbs, knowing they would help her earn some gold. She refused this offer, instead suggesting that it was Amata who deserved to bathe in the Fountain, but she also refused to do so. The stream had swept away her regret for her lover so she no longer needed the Fountain to heal her broken heart.
And so she offered Sir Luckless to take a bath in it. The knight, amazed at his luck, bathed in the Fountain and afterwards he flung himself in his rusted armour at the feet of Amata and he begged her for her hand and her heart. Amata realized that she had found a man worthy of her and quickly accepted. The four of them set off down the hill together happily, with none of them knowing that the Fountain's water carried no magic at all.
Notes from Professor Dumbledore
The Fountain of Fair Fortune is considered to be a favourite among Beedle's stories. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry once made this story as the subject for their Christmas pantomime, which was part of their festive celebrations. Even though this story has been popular for years, it also has haters. Some parents (most of whom are pure-blood and want to keep the purity of their blood status) have demanded this story to be removed from the Hogwarts library because in their opinion this story is promoting the marriage between wizarding people and Muggles (as can be seen by Amata and Sir Luckless' love for each other). This opinion was been refuted by Prof. Dumbledore who mentioned in his notes that every pure-blood wizard is related to a Muggle in some way, no matter how distantly the connection. The lesson that can be drawn from this story is that even though something might not seem to be special or important, just by believing or thinking it is special, it becomes special.
Some further observations
I'm sure you noticed that along the way the party had several tasks to overcome. Each of them had a simple solution but they required some sort of sacrifice before they could be overcome. These experiences along the way no doubt changed the three witches and made them appreciate each other much more. Even though it was Asha who had originally been selected to go in search of the fountain, she surely wouldn't have made it if she had been alone. The decision to attempt the task together was a smart one and ultimately led to their success.
Sources
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling (ISBN 978-0-7475-9987-6)