Ivan Tsarevitch had three sisters, the first was Princess Marya, the second was Princess Olga, and the third was Princess Anna. After the death of their parents, the sisters married three wizards. Princess Marya married the Falcon and he took her away into his own realm. Princess Olga married the Eagle and he took her and carried her off to his own kingdom. Princess Anna married the Raven, and he bore her away into his own realm. Prince Ivan was now alone. He had to live without his sisters. After a year, he set off in search of his sisters. During his search, he met Marya Morevna, the beautiful warrior princess, and married her. After a few days, she went for a war. Before leaving, she warned Ivan not to open the door of the dungeon in the castle they lived in. But Ivan wanted to know what was there in the dungeon. So, as soon as she left, he opened the door.
The Death of Koschei the Deathless
Inside the dungeon, Ivan found Koschei, chained and gaunt. Koschei asked for some water and Ivan gave him. Koschei drank twelve buckets of water and his magical powers returned. He broke the chains and disappeared. Soon, Ivan got to know that Koschei had taken Marya Morevna away with him. Ivan chased him. Ivan took over Koschei. He told Ivan to let him go, but Ivan didn’t give in. Koschei killed him, put his remains into a barrel and threw it into the sea. Ivan was revived by his sisters’ husbands, powerful wizards, who could transform into birds of prey. The wizards told Ivan that Koschei had a magic horse and Ivan should go to Baba Yaga to get one too. Without it, he won’t be able to defeat Koschei. Ivan passed all Baba Yaga’s tests and got the horse. A fierce battle took place and Koschei was defeated. Ivan burnt his body. Marya Morevna returned to Ivan, and they celebrated Ivan’s victory with his sisters and their husbands.
