Write a short story (100 words) to describe what happens in the story. Here are some words you can use. Show your story to the teacher.
| the Goldenhorn | a glacier valley | rocky mountains | fairies |
| medicinal herbs | two lovers | two hunters | mountain flowers |
You can begin with the sentence: Once upon a time there lived …
The legend of Goldenhorn is one of the best known Slovenian tales or fables. His kingdom is the heights of Slovenia’s highest mountain, Triglav. The Goldenhorn guards the Alps’ treasures.
Read the text.
The Goldenhorn
A long, long time ago a Lake valley, a glacier valley, and a rocky mountain Komna used to be a mountain paradise. There lived White women, gentle and goodhearted beings. White women helped to the poor, especially women in childbirth. A child who came into the world in their presence was then all his life under their protection. They taught shepherds to recognize medicinal herbs and their power.
In Soška Valley White women took care of the white goats. These goats were led by Goldenhorn, a wonderful big white he-goat with golden horns. White women made the Goldenhorn invulnerable. If a shooter wounded him, from his blood grew magic herb, called the Triglav rose. If Goldenhorn ate only one leaf of this herb, he was immediately better, even if the hunter shot him in his heart. His gold horns were the key to the great treasure in the mountain. The treasure was guarded by the hundred-headed dragon.
On the road to the mountains, there used to be an inn. The daughter of the innkeeper had many suitors, but she loved only one man, the hunter from Trenta, son of the blind widow. This young man was the best hunter in the whole neighbourhood. He was very brave. People said that he was under protection of White women. He knew all the ways in the mountains, and he had no fear of rocky cliffs.