A king, passionate about hunting, loses his way in the forest and spends the night at a charcoal-burner's cottage. During the night, three old women, the Fates, bestow gifts upon the charcoal-burner's newborn son, including a promise that he will marry the king's daughter. The king, upon discovering this, orders the child to be drowned. However, the baby floats down the river and is rescued by a fisherman, who raises him as his own, naming him Plavachek. As Plavachek grows into a handsome young man, the king encounters him while seeking water. Recognizing him as the child he ordered to be killed, the king devises a plan to eliminate him by sending him with a letter instructing the queen to execute him. Plavachek, lost in the forest, meets an old woman who turns out to be his godmother. She switches the letter for one that commands a wedding between Plavachek and the princess. After the wedding, the king returns and, furious, learns that Plavachek is now his son-in-law. To rid himself of Plavachek, the king demands three golden hairs from Grandfather Knowitall as a dowry, believing it to be an impossible task. Plavachek sets off on his quest, encountering various people who request his help in return for their assistance in finding Grandfather Knowitall. He eventually reaches the palace of Grandfather Knowitall, who is revealed to be the Sun. His godmother helps him obtain the three golden hairs and provides answers to the questions he promised to ask. Plavachek learns how to restore a well of life, an apple tree of youth, and how to relieve a boatman of his endless duty. Plavachek successfully completes his tasks, earning riches and horses from the grateful kings. He returns to the king with the golden hairs, and the princess rejoices at his return. The king, obsessed with the idea of regaining his youth, sets off in search of the apple and the water of life, leaving Plavachek to fulfill his destiny as the king's son-in-law. The story concludes with the king still searching for the means to restore his youth, while Plavachek's fate aligns with the prophecy of the Fates.
By Parker Fillmore · First published 1947 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure