The Orphan Elenyte and Joniukas the Lamb

Once upon a time there lived Joniukas and his sister Elenyte. After the death of their parents, the children left their home and went to search for happiness. It was a hot summer day, the sun was shining. Joniukas felt thirsty, he wanted to drink but there was no water around. Then he saw the footprint of a horse left in the sand full of water and said to his sister:

"Elenyte, I'm so thirsty I will drink this water."

But the sister said: "Don't drink brother, if you do you will turn into a foal."

And they went further. Joniukas saw the footprint of a bull full of water and he wanted to drink from it, but Elenyte said:

"Don't drink this water, if you do you will turn into a bullock."

And they went further. Joniukas was so thirsty he couldn't walk. He saw the footprint of a sheep left in the sand full of water and this time he did not ask the sister's permission and drank from it. Elenyte looked around and saw a lamb instead of her brother. She put her arms around his neck and cried but nothing has changed, Joniukas was turned into a lamb. So, they went further. In the evening they came near the King's castle but they did not go inside the yard because there were angry dogs. Elenyte took the lamb and climbed on a haystack and fell asleep. In the morning the king asked his servants to go and see who is lying on the stack. The servants said that it is a little girl with a lamb. The king ordered to bring the girl to him. The servants brought her. The king learned that she is an orphan and decided to raise her. So, Elenyte remained in the castle. After some time the king decided to kill the lamb but the girl asked him not to do that and explained that the lamb is her brother. At first the king didn't want to believe her but later he left the lamb alone. Several years passed. Elenyte grew up. She was slim, beautiful and good girl. The king liked her very much so they got married. But there also lived a witch, which wanted the king to marry her at any cost. The witch was very jealous: she decided to do something bad to Elenyte. One day Elena went to take a bath. The witch pushed her into a pond, and went to the king dressed as her. Elena was turned into a golden shiner. The witch feigning illness went to the bed and said to the king: "This sheep bores me to death, please order to kill him!"

 The frightened king said: "Have you lost your mind? You always say that this lamb is your brother Joniukas... You always loved him so much!"

Then the witch answered to him: "I was stupid... I said this on purpose... Do you really think that this sheep could be my brother? I'm very sick and if I did not get its meat I will die."

The king felt sorry for the lamb and he did not dare to kill him. Actually, he was very suspicious why his wife who loved the lamb so much now wants to eat him. The lamb realized that the witch is going to kill him; he went on the edge of the pond where his sister now lived and started to sing: "Elena, sister, Elenyte, Elenyte! The mister is going to kill me. The servants are sharpening their knives, the girls are preparing the dishes, and the witch is craving for my meat."

Elenyte answered from the lake: "My brother, lamb, oh lamb! Please tell the king that the villagers must weave a silken net and catch a golden shiner."

The servants heard the lamb and his sister, so they went to tell everything to the king. The next day the king hid under the bushes. The lamb went on the edge of the pond and started to sing: "Elena, sister, Elenyte, Elenyte! The mister is going to kill me. The servants are sharpening their knives, the girls are preparing the dishes, and the witch is craving for my meat." And his sister replied. The king has overheard all that has been said: he went to the castle and ordered his people to weave a silken net and catch a golden shiner. After the golden shiner was pulled out of the water, she and the lamb became humans again. The king recognized his true wife and immediately understood that the witch wanted to take Elena's place. The king ordered to kill the witch, and Elenyte, her brother, and the king all lived together in his castle, happily ever after.