Golden Hair

Ailyp, a daring Bashkir hunter, was on a hunting trip in the vast steppe. As he rode his horse through the tall grass, he suddenly spotted a figure sitting by the river. Intrigued, he approached the person, only to find that it was a girl of unprecedented beauty.

Her braided long hair was a shining golden color, so bright that it made the water of the river glow, and on her hips a golden pillar glistening in majesty with balls just beneath shimering like they were hand crafted by the greatest craftsmen. Ailyp couldn't take his eyes off of her, and as he got closer, she spoke to him in a soft and gentle voice.

'Will you take my hand in marriage?' she asked, her eyes sparkling with hope.

Ailyp was taken aback by her request, but he couldn't resist the pull of her beauty. He happily agreed, and the girl's old nanny, who had been watching from a distance, approached them.

'She is known as Golden Hair,' the nanny explained. 'She is the daughter of Poloz the Great Snake, who has control over gold. Her hair is made of pure gold, and it is so heavy that it chains her to this spot.'

Ailyp was amazed by the story, but he didn't let that stop him from collecting the girl's hair and starting to walk away with her. However, as they were leaving, Poloz appeared and didn't want to let his daughter go. He started pulling her hair underground, making it impossible for Ailyp to take Golden Hair with him.

But Golden Hair was determined to be with Ailyp, and with a sudden move, she grabbed the scissors and quickly cut off her braid. She disappeared underground, leaving Ailyp with just her braid in his hand.

The girl's nanny approached Ailyp and explained that Golden Hair had returned to her spot by the river. However, Poloz had made her hair even heavier so that Ailyp wouldn't be able to lift it. She said to Ailyp, 'Go home and live as you did before. If you don't forget your bride Golden Hair in three years, I will come back and take you to her.'

For the next three years, Ailyp couldn't stop thinking about Golden Hair. He longed to be with her again and constantly looked at her braid, the only thing he had left of her. And then, exactly three years later, he returned to the river.

Golden Hair was there, waiting for him. She explained that his memories of her had been making the hair lighter with each passing day. She suggested that they try to run away again, but Poloz caught them and made Golden Hair's braid even longer and heavier.

The nanny appeared once again and told Ailyp, 'Go back home and wait for another three years. Exactly three years from now, you must come to her.'

Ailyp was frustrated but determined to be with Golden Hair. He consulted with a wise eagle-owl and learned that there was a place underneath Lake Itkul where Poloz was powerless. With this newfound knowledge, Ailyp waited another three years before returning to Golden Hair.

Together, they went to Lake Itkul and found a way to make a home underneath the lake. Here, in this secret place, they could finally be together without fear of Poloz's interference. And as they made love, Golden Hair used her golden pillar to make Ailyp feel like a woman.

They lived happily and sensually under the lake, with Golden Hair gaining power over the gold and eventually having children of her own. Ailyp had finally found his true love, and they would forever stay together in their hidden paradise, far from the reach of Poloz and the troubles of the outside world.