Story: The Wishing Ring

 

(A ring: Web source)

Story. “Where did my son go? Why isn’t he back yet?” said the King of Snakes.

The ring thought, “Your son? You know where your son went. Why do you keep asking? He always likes to run out to the human world because he doesn’t like being holed up in here like me.”

The King had all his servants search for his son in his favorite places, but his son could not be found. Several days passed until he heard that his son was back with a stranger.

The King said to a servant, “Tell my son and the stranger to appear before me.” The servant told the son the King’s message, but the son couldn’t come.

The son said, “I cannot do that unless I am freed from this stranger’s debt of gratitude.”

After hearing this, the King walked to his son and embraced him. The King asked the stranger what he could do to repay him for saving his son’s life.

“The ring on your hand, and the famous pot and spoon which you keep,” replied the stranger.

The ring repeated those words in his mind, “The ring on your right hand, and the famous pot and spoon which you keep.” Then, he realized that it was him! He was surprised, but he couldn’t protest because he was just an inanimate object who couldn’t communicate with others. He tried to think positively. He thought in his mind, “I guess I will finally get out of this hole and experience new things. But what if I get mistreated? No, I’m sure that he’ll be nice. But what if I get pawned?”

When the King heard the stranger’s reply, he contemplated whether to give him the items or kill him. However, he was reminded of the stranger’s heroic act. The King invited the stranger to a few days of hospitality and gave him the items.

When the stranger left with the ring, the ring closed its eyes shut until he felt he was in the human world. When he opened his eyes, he saw a cat and dog run up to the stranger calling him “the merchant’s son” and “master.”

The Master greeted them. They asked him to try wishing something. The Master wished to the ring, “I want a big mansion and a beautiful woman.”

When the ring heard his cue, he conjured a beautiful mansion and a golden-haired princess. He praised, “My creations are always great.”

In the possession of his new master, the ring was very happy to visit forests and be his new master’s aide. On his Master's hand, he had a great view of everything. He went on hunting trips and markets. He saw different kinds of trees, animals, and goods. His trips with his new master were better than what he experienced in his old Master’s home.

One day, the golden-haired princess, now his Master’s wife, said, “Dear, you always go hunting and shooting. Let me hold your ring for you in case you lose it.”

Trusting his wife, the Master gave her his ring. His wife put him on the table near their bed. The ring, again, couldn’t protest, but he complained about not being able to see the rare animal the Master said he would kill. The next day, his Master left early to go hunting. Then, several hours later, the ring saw his Master’s wife leave and return to get him. He wondered what he would be doing that day. It turns out that his Master’s wife was deceived by an ogress who wanted to steal him. The ogress stole him from the master's wife, transformed into a bee, and carried him off.

“Wait! Wait! Where are you taking me?! Madam! Help! Help!” said the ring. The ring saw groups of animals, lots of tress, and a big pond. The ogress took an unfamiliar path.

The ring tried to move around without success. The ogress took him to a man dressed in silk and gold threads. The ogress said, “Here, my prince. Wish upon this ring, and you will get what you want.”

The ring protested, “What?! How dare you just order me around? I will not permit to this. Return me to my owner now.”

“I hope to see my golden-haired maiden whose hair was enclosed in a reed that flowed to me,” wished the prince.

Nothing happened. The prince repeated his wish, but nothing happened again. The ogress and prince wondered what went wrong. The ogress asked the prince to look at the ring.

Snatch! A cat snatched the ring when the prince almost put it in her hands. It was the Master’s cat! The ring was overjoyed, and thanked the cat.

The cat brought the ring back home with the dog. While on the way back, the cat and dog wondered why the ring wouldn’t work on the prince.

The ring thought, “I am not sure either. I can think of two reasons. Either I am beginning to be able to control my powers, or I can only be used by my rightful master.”

Having been with only two masters, the ring did not know of his own capabilities. The master returned, his wife told him everything, and the ring was able to travel around with his master again. Occasionally, the ring thought about his abduction, remembering the amazing view. However, he did not want to part from his master again.

Author's Note. This story is based on The Charmed Ring, a story from the Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs. I decided it create the story from the ring's perspective, but it was somewhat difficult to do because I wanted to maintain the story from The Charmed Ring. Most of it was similar to original, but in the end, the other prince's wish came true. Also, there were more details between the cat and dog when they were on their way back from getting the ring.

Bibliography. The Charmed Ring from Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs; link to reading online.