Rapunzel
Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a husband and wife who longed for a child. Their small cottage stood at the edge of a vast, dark forest, and behind their home was a beautiful garden filled with the most enchanting flowers and herbs. This garden, however, belonged to a powerful and feared sorceress, who was known for her magic and her temper. No one dared to enter her garden, for they knew the consequences would be dire.
One day, the wife stood by the window and gazed into the sorceress’s garden. She noticed a patch of Rapunzel, a leafy green herb with delicate white flowers. It looked so fresh and inviting that she felt an overwhelming craving for it. Day after day, she watched the Rapunzel grow, and her desire for it became so strong that she fell ill. Her husband, worried for her health, asked what was wrong. She confessed her longing for the Rapunzel, saying she would surely die if she could not have some.
The husband, desperate to save his wife, decided to sneak into the sorceress’s garden that very night. Under the cover of darkness, he climbed the high stone wall, plucked a handful of Rapunzel, and hurried home. His wife was overjoyed and made a delicious salad from the herb. The next day, however, her craving returned even stronger. Once again, the husband ventured into the garden, but this time, as he was gathering the Rapunzel, he heard a cold, sharp voice.
“How dare you steal from my garden!” the sorceress hissed, appearing suddenly before him. The husband trembled with fear and begged for mercy, explaining that his wife would die without the Rapunzel. The sorceress, though stern, agreed to let him take as much as he needed—but on one condition: when his wife gave birth, they must give her the child. The husband, terrified and with no other choice, agreed.
Months later, the wife gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. True to his word, the husband handed the child over to the sorceress, who named her Rapunzel. The sorceress took the baby to a secluded tower deep in the forest, where she raised her in isolation. The tower had no doors or stairs, only a single window at the very top. As Rapunzel grew, she became known for her extraordinary beauty, but most of all, for her long, golden hair, which shimmered like sunlight.
When Rapunzel turned twelve, the sorceress decided it was time to lock her away for good. She led the girl to the tower and showed her how to use her hair as a ladder. The sorceress would stand at the base of the tower and call, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!” Rapunzel would then unwind her braids, toss her long hair out the window, and the sorceress would climb up to visit her.
Years passed, and Rapunzel lived alone in the tower, singing to pass the time. Her voice was so beautiful that it echoed through the forest, captivating all who heard it. One day, a young prince was riding through the woods when he heard her song. Enchanted, he followed the sound until he found the tower. He watched in amazement as the sorceress called out, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!” and climbed up the golden tresses.
The prince waited until the sorceress left, then approached the tower and called out the same words. Rapunzel, thinking it was the sorceress, let down her hair. When the prince climbed into the tower, Rapunzel was startled to see a stranger. But the prince spoke kindly to her, and soon they became friends. He visited her often, and over time, they fell in love. Rapunzel confided in him about her lonely life, and the prince promised to rescue her.
One day, Rapunzel made a mistake. She accidentally mentioned the prince’s visits to the sorceress, saying, “Why is it that you are so much heavier than the prince? He climbs up my hair in an instant!” The sorceress was furious. She cut off Rapunzel’s long hair and banished her to a desolate land, where she was forced to live in hardship. Then, the sorceress waited for the prince to return.
That evening, the prince called out, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!” The sorceress let down the severed braid, and when the prince reached the top, he found not Rapunzel, but the angry sorceress. She told him he would never see Rapunzel again. In his despair, the prince leaped from the tower, landing in a thorny bush below. The thorns scratched his eyes, blinding him.
For years, the prince wandered the land, blind and heartbroken, searching for Rapunzel. Meanwhile, Rapunzel gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, in the wilderness where the sorceress had abandoned her. She survived by foraging and using her wits, always singing to comfort her children.
One day, as Rapunzel sang, the wandering prince heard her voice. He followed the sound and found her at last. Overjoyed, Rapunzel embraced him, and her tears of happiness fell onto his eyes, miraculously restoring his sight. The prince led Rapunzel and their children back to his kingdom, where they were welcomed with great celebration. They lived happily ever after, and the sorceress was never seen again.
