Butu and Ana

In a dim past, some six centuries ago, in Moldavia there was a ruler, a very worthy voivode in his deeds and gentle in tongue, who remained in the people’s minds as Alexandru cel Bune [the Good]. As these were troubled times, with wars and enemy overrunning, the bravest soldiers were highly praised both at the princely court and by those who would pas down the deeds from one generation to the other…

Butu turned out to be the most skilful of the Prince’s brave-hearted youth. It couldn’t have been different as he had been born and spend his childhood around the proud Mount Ceahlău, the guard and icon of all Moldavia! Butu was also dear to the Prince himself, so, when he learned about the love blooming between his daughter and his brave captain – Prince Alexandru soon gave them his blessing and celebrated their engagement with splendour. Even preparations for the wedding were already on the way! …

Unfortunately, tis’ not always as one plans!

Somehow, just at that time a new war broke between the Poles and the Teutonic Knights. Prince Alexandru, having pledged allegiance with the Poles’ King readily sent 400 horsemen, led by brave Butu, to shatter the Teutonic knights and to come back hastily to wed…

The brave horsemen returned in triumph from Marienburg stronghold on the Vistula, but some were missing – among them their glorious leader. Ana was struck as if by lightning at the horrific news and her miserable father was deeply saddened by his daughter’s sorrow and by the loss of his proud warrior!…

Hard weeks and months passed by, in tears and mourning as Ana could not forget the one she had vowed forever fidelity and love. The father – to end her misery – started to speak to her about other suitors, urging her to put an end to her mourning and start thinking about a new husband. One day, thinking that he could pull her away from the flood of tears, Alexandru the Good told her resolutely:

“Enough’s enough, my child, it’s time to rise and shine again, as wise people say: Let the dead bury their dead! Brave and worthy as Butu may have been, the new groom I’ve chosen for you is no less…” – and he uttered the name of another captain whom, to end her misery he wished for a son-in-law.

Poor Ana did not want to hear any of this and when she saw preparations for the wedding being already on the way she was overwhelmed with great disappointment: what was there to do, how could she get out of this? She learned of an old witch nearby the princely court. She secretly ran to her and told her about the burden in her heart, gave her two rings and begged her to help her hastily, even if it were to bring Butu out of his grave on the wedding night so that the new groom would be frightened!

The old hag agreed and as she promised to the young princess, the night when the new husband was to enter the chamber, Butu, her former groom-to-be made his entrance – pale but passionate in speech. Hugging her tight, he asked her to follow him to the window wherefrom they started flying toward Mount Ceahlău, in the moonless night, on the ghost of his white horse.

The rode a long journey from the Suceava stronghold to over Ceahlău, on heights Butu wanted to find shelter for his beloved. When he was scrutinising the long known hidden, from down in the valley the rooster’s crow was already heralding the new dawn. The spell undid at once, the horse’s flight and Butu’s power ceased, and the three of them falling from high in the skies with a deafening thunder, turned at once into rocks: Butu’s tower having Ana’s slender silhouette beside him.

Thus, clasped in each other’s arms with love, the two found their everlastingness on one of Cealhău’s peaks, some other mysterious stonework: Creasta Cocoșului [the Rooster’s Crest].