The King of a sunny land wasn't feeling sunny at all. In fact, he was very, very sick. His three sons stood by his bed, their faces long. Doctors had tried everything, but nothing worked.

One day, an old wise man visiting the kingdom heard about the King. He whispered to the sons, "There is something called the Water of Life. It can make the King well again! But it is very hard to find."

The eldest son, who thought he was the cleverest, puffed out his chest. "I'll go!" he declared. He rode off into the forest and soon met a little dwarf standing by the path. "Where are you rushing off to?" asked the dwarf.
"None of your business, little man!" snapped the eldest son rudely, and tried to ride past.
"Well then," huffed the dwarf, "may you find yourself in a tight spot!" And poof! The prince and his horse suddenly found themselves squeezed in a narrow, rocky valley, unable to move forward or backward.

When the eldest son didn't return, the second son, who thought he was the bravest, said, "I will go!" He too rode into the forest and met the same little dwarf. "Hey there, where are you off to in such a hurry?" chirped the dwarf.
"Out of my way, shorty!" the second son grumbled, even more rudely than his brother.
"Then you too shall get stuck!" said the dwarf. And zap! The second prince was also trapped in a deep, tight spot, just like his brother.

Finally, the youngest son, who was kind and gentle, asked his ailing father if he could try. The King sighed but agreed. The youngest son set off and, sure enough, met the little dwarf.
"Good day, sir!" said the youngest son politely. "I am looking for the Water of Life to help my sick father."
The dwarf smiled. "Because you are kind and polite, I will help you," he said. "The Water of Life is in an enchanted castle. Take this iron wand and these two small loaves of bread. Strike the iron gate of the castle three times with the wand, and it will open. Inside, two lions will roar, but if you throw them each a loaf of bread, they will be quiet. Then hurry and get the Water of Life from the well. You must do all this and be out before the clock strikes twelve, or you will be trapped in the castle forever!"

The prince thanked the dwarf and rode on. He found the castle, struck the gate three times with the wand, and it creaked open. The lions roared, but he threw them the bread, and they became as quiet as kittens. He found a beautiful hall where a lovely princess was fast asleep. He was so charmed by her beauty that he gently kissed her cheek. He saw a sword and a ring beside her, and he took them as keepsakes. Then he found the well, quickly filled his flask with the Water of Life, and rushed out just as the clock began to chime twelve.

On his way back, he met the dwarf again. The dwarf, pleased, also told him how to free his brothers. The youngest prince was happy to help them, even though they hadn't been very nice. But the dwarf warned him, "Beware of your brothers. They do not have good hearts."

The three brothers rode towards home together. But the two older brothers were jealous. While the youngest prince slept, they secretly poured out the Water of Life from his flask and filled it with bitter seawater.

When they reached the palace, the youngest son rushed to his father and gave him the water from his flask. The King took a sip and became even sicker than before! Then, the two older brothers stepped forward with smirks. "Father," they said, "our youngest brother tried to poison you! Here is the real Water of Life, which *we* found." They gave the King the true Water of Life (which they had stolen from their brother's supply that the dwarf had also given him as an extra), and as soon as he drank it, he felt strong and healthy again.

The King was overjoyed to be well but furious with his youngest son. He believed the lies of the older brothers and secretly ordered a huntsman to take the youngest prince into the forest and leave him there to be lost. But the huntsman felt sorry for the kind prince and let him go free, telling him to run far away.

Meanwhile, the princess in the enchanted castle woke up. She knew the prince who had kissed her and taken the water must be near. She wished for a road of gold to appear, leading from her castle straight to him. And magically, it did! She announced that whoever could ride straight along the golden road to her castle would be her husband.

The eldest son, hearing of this, thought, "This is my chance!" He got on his horse and tried to ride on the golden road. But his horse stumbled, and he fell off into the mud. Then the second son tried. He too tumbled off the golden road.

Then, the youngest prince, who had been wandering sadly, saw the golden road. He stepped onto it, and it felt firm and true beneath his feet. He walked all the way to the castle. The princess ran out to meet him, her eyes sparkling with joy. She recognized him at once, and he showed her the sword and the ring.

They had a grand wedding. The princess then went with her new husband to his father's kingdom. She told the old King the whole true story of how the youngest prince had bravely found the Water of Life and how his brothers had tricked him. The King was filled with sorrow for what he had done and begged his son for forgiveness.

And what about the two wicked brothers? They were so ashamed and afraid of being punished that they got on a ship and sailed far away, never to be seen again. The youngest prince and his princess lived happily in the sunny land, and the King, now healthy and wise, was very proud of his truly brave and kind son.

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