Before him the huge horrible beast reared with open jaws! Unlike all the other brave warriors who had gone before him, the prince stoutly stood his ground; he took a step forward and struck first one heavy blow at the dragon's throat, then another, till at last the monster lay dead at his feet. When he returned to the palace carrying the dragon s head, the Ruby Prince was hailed as a hero. And so Fatima and the Ruby Prince were married and lived happily together. However, as time passed, Fatima became more and more curious about her husband's past. "I know nothing about you," she complained. "At least tell me who you really are and where you once lived!" But every time the Ruby Prince heard such remarks, he went white and said, "I can't tell you. You mustn't ask, or you'll run the risk of losing me for ever!" But Fatima was tormented by the desire to know. One day, as they sat by the river that flowed through the Shah's gardens, Fatima pleaded with him to reveal his secret. White-faced, the young man replied, "I can't!" But Fatima only pleaded more: "Oh, please! Please tell me!" "You know I can't . ." The Ruby Prince hesitated, gazing at his dearly loved wife and gently stroking her hair. Then he made his decision.
"I don't want to see you suffer like this. If you really must know, then I'll tell you that I'm . ." At the very second he was about to reveal his secret, a huge wave swept him into the river and dragged him under the water.
The horrified Princess rushed vainly along the bank, crying loudly for her husband. But he had vanished. Fatima called the guards and even the Shah himself ran up to comfort her. But the Princess became very depressed, for she knew that her foolish questioning had been the cause of the tragedy.
One day, her favourite handmaiden hurried up to her. "Your Highness!" she exclaimed. "I saw the most amazing thing last night. A host of tiny lights appeared on the river, then a thousand little genies draped the river bank with flowers. Such a handsome young man then began to dance in honour of an old man who seemed to be a king. And beside the king stood a young man with a ruby on his forehead. I thought he was . ." Fatima's heart leapt: could the young man with the ruby be her husband? That night, the Princess and her handmaiden went into the garden and hid behind a tree close to the water's edge. On the stroke of midnight, tiny lights began to twinkle on the river, then a stately old man with a white beard, dressed in a golden robe and holding a scepter, rose from the water.
In the young man beside the throne, Fatima recognized her husband. Covering her face with her veil, she left her hiding place and gracefully began to dance. Wild applause greeted her at the end. Then from the throne came a voice.
"For such a divine dance, ask us whatever you wish for and it will be granted!" Fatima tore the veil from her face and cried, "Give me back my husband!" The old king rose to his feet. "The King of the Waters of Persia gave his word. Take back your husband, the Ruby Prince. But do not forget how you lost him and be wiser in future!" Then the waters opened once more and closed over the King and his Court, leaving Fatima and the Ruby Prince on the bank, reunited and happy at last.
