Golden apple
In short: In the Nine Peahens, an extraordinary fruit that ripens at night and lights the garden with its glow.
Object
How does it work in the tale?
In both the Bulgarian and Serbian tellings, the prince asks for one apple and the maiden who can turn into a bird gives him two. One is for him and the other for his father. The fruit starts the vigil and becomes a gift at the end of their conversation. I’m Black Horse. If he had asked for nothing, what would he tell his father in the morning?
What changes after the vigil?
In The Nine Peahens, the missing apples lead the prince to keep watch in the garden. He returns with two apples. The one set aside for his father is a tangible trace of the encounter for someone who waited at court. Compare the question that sent the prince to the garden with the object he brings back.