The Queen of the Croderes

Going from Cortina d'Ampezzo to Lake Misurina, through the pass of the Three Crosses, you have in front of you a chain of severe mountains, with their peaks covered with snow and ice, whose name is "Marmaròle". At the foot of the chain, between Auronzo and Misurina, there is the Argentiera, a mine once very rich and now impoverished. Miners told tales, that on the tops of the mountains there lived the Crodères, the sons of the rocks. They were equal to men, but feel no joy or sorrow: they were indifferent to everything because their heart was made of stone. Their were reigned by a woman, Tanna, always dressed in a dark suit and a blue tiara on her head, on a throne in a darkened room of an ice palace, between two engraved crates made of gold. They had seen her, because one day a year in the kingdom there is a "day of calm". A day when the mountains are as dead: leaves do not move, stones don't roll, the Crodères sleep and their shelters are open and the miners on the occasion steal their gold and silver.Even as a child Tanna had been crowned with the tiara, but the Crodères had repented because she had a human heart, and used to listen to the men, using her enormous power to help them. She forbade the stones to roll, the streams to flow impetuously, instead of steep trails she made to grow sweet pastures, and forbade the snow to fall in avalanches. The Crodères were annoyed because their kingdom was being invaded by men, but the result was that Tanna was farther and farther away from his serious and cold people. 

Seven years had passed when the Wind of Storms saw her and fell in love with her. He learned from Crodères of her history and thought that she could not continue to stay among men. Every day blew on the lawns, uprooting houses and trees, until he met her 
"Noble Queen, you are the lady of the mountains and I of the winds. Let's unite, and our power will be immense! Come to my kingdom of light, and the world will lie at your feet!"
Tanna not only refused, but asked him to not return too often because he spoiled the huts! The Wind could not really believe that she refused his offer, and returned two more times, but had to leave without wedding while the men, who understood what had happened, were at the windows to make fun of him. 
More years passed until the news came to Crodères that Tanna had offered her hand to the Prince of Aquileia, a man! This time they called for an assembly where Tanna they intimated her to change her conduct, but she refused the oath. So the oldest of Crodères was called to curse her. He too had a human heart, but overflowing with hatred. The people had no sympathy for him, but they called him in these cases, because we know that the curses are not effective unless they come from a heart that hates. The Elder came supported by two guides and listened to the charges, but when he put eyes on Tanna his gaze lost the bad expression. Everyone was waiting for him to gesture and curse her, without speaking any word as usual, but instead he spoke 

"Why are you reopening the wounds of my heart? Did I have to live so long to see once more the gaze of her, who had the face like the dawn, the hair like sunlight, the eyes like the endless sky?" 
From the tired look he seemed to be willing to tell a painful story of years away, but the Crodères were insisting on the curse for the Queen.
"To be the Queen of the Crodères... does that the matter now? She must lay the blue tiara and live with the men until her destiny is accomplished. Then she'll come back to the mountains, and will be the most worthy queen among the queens". That said, the old man leaned against one of the guides, and they knew that he was lifeless.Tanna had a baby, Salvanèl, and with him she waited for the return of the man she loved. She lived on the highest peaks in order to look at the sea, towards Aquileia, and with infinite patience and confidence awaited. Her child grew, and  asked of the world; she replied that when he returned, his father would tell him everything, but Salvanèl was tired of waiting and when he reached the adult age he left. He found his father, but he did not recognize him, so the boy offered his services to the enemy. One day there was a battle, and the boy was seriously wounded. Everyone knew that he had been the father who hit him and took pity on him. Marcòra, the daughter of the Duke, cared for him with love and when he was completely healed she asked his father the consent to marry him, but he was angry, and locked her in the tower. Salvanèl managed to free her and fled with her to the mountains inhabited by Tanna.

The mother every day felt more miserable and alone, but she did not want to think of the man who had give her so much sorrow, and now hoped only in the return of the child. One evening she thought she heard a distant -Mom! - And immediately looked down. It was really her son!

"Mom! Show me the way; there is' too much snow and I cannot find it! We are chased! Save us!"

Neither she knew the way, because it was too many years since she used it; she was no longer the Queen and the mountains didn't obey her any more. The night was coming, so she had a few hours to run to the Crodères and ask for help, hoping to bring down avalanches on the chasing pack. She prayed on her knees, but their hearts of stone left them numb. The sunrise arrived and the enemies reached the two fugitives: Salvanèl fought with all his strength, until he fell into a crevasse.Tanna and Marcòra went to live in a poor hut, hoping each day that the glacier brought back Salvanèl's body, but the glacier continued to grow because of the order not to bring down avalanches. The pastures were disappearing under the ice and the shepherds became convinced it was the fault of the two "Stries de la djassa" (Glacier witches), so they burned their hut. 

The women went to live in a cave, but the stalking continued, although without managing to drive them away. One day the shepherds found a body and screamed with amazement. Marcòra, hearing the screams, understood and ran: when she recognised Salvanèl's body her life had no more reason to be and died beside him. 

Tanna also approached, and everybody let her pass with deference, because they had in front of them no longer the miserable Strìas, but a Queen. Again she had on her head the greatest treasure and mystery of Marmaròle, the blue tiara. The older recognized her, calling her name in awe.
"Yes, I am Tanna, the Queen of the Crodères. Now I'm back and I wear again the blue crown, because the destiny was fulfilled. Run away, now, otherwise there's death for you. Tanna goes back to her people: the forces of the mountains are free again. The prohibitions that were used to protect you are revoked and under the avalanches I want to bury my love and my grief"

As she finished speaking, there was a thud from the highest peaks, and men and flocks fled fast. The glaciers were rent and avalanches began to fall, while the people of Crodères came to render homage to their regained Queen. 

The bodies of Marcòra and Salvanèl were placed in two gold crates and taken in solemn procession into the palace of Cordon de Fropa, the ice palace. 
Today Tanna is still with her people. Only for having followed one last time the impulse of her heart and having advised the shepherds of the danger that threatened them, every year still has a day of sorrow, the "day of calm". That day she cries her betrayed love and the lost happiness but, at the end of the day, she is back the superb Queen of the mountains, the absolute sovereign of her wild kingdom, beautiful, cold and majestic, insensitive to sorrow and love, like all Crodères.