Once Upon a Time…
In a distant kingdom, a humble couple lived in a small cottage near the enchanted garden of a wicked sorceress named Mother Gothel. The couple longed for a child for many years, and one day, their wish came true—the wife became pregnant.
However, as the pregnancy progressed, the woman developed an intense craving for rapunzel, a leafy green herb that grew only in Mother Gothel’s walled garden. Her longing was so strong that she became weak and ill. Seeing his wife suffer, the husband, desperate to save her, climbed over the garden wall one night and stole some rapunzel leaves.
The Terrible Bargain
The wife ate the rapunzel and felt much better, but the craving returned stronger. Her husband sneaked into the garden again but was caught by Mother Gothel.
“How dare you steal from my garden?” she thundered.
Trembling, the man begged for mercy and explained his wife’s condition. Gothel, her sharp eyes gleaming, made a cruel deal.
“You may take as much as you like… but in return, you must give me the child when it is born!”
Heartbroken but afraid, the man had no choice but to agree.
Rapunzel’s Tower
When the baby girl was born, Gothel took her away and named her Rapunzel, after the plant that had sealed her fate. She grew into the most beautiful child, with hair as golden as the sun.
Fearing she would be taken away, Gothel locked Rapunzel in a tall tower deep in the forest. The tower had no doors and no stairs, only a single small window at the top.
Gothel visited her by calling:
“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!”
Rapunzel would drop her long, golden braid out of the window, and Gothel would climb up.
Rapunzel’s Lonely Life
Years passed, and Rapunzel grew into a beautiful young woman. She spent her days singing, painting, and dreaming of the outside world, though she had never seen it. She had no visitors except for Gothel and the birds that perched on her windowsill.
Though Gothel treated her with strictness, Rapunzel remained kind and gentle. She often sang in her sweet, melodious voice, which echoed through the forest.
The Prince’s Discovery
One day, a prince from a nearby kingdom rode through the forest and heard Rapunzel singing. Her voice was so enchanting that he stopped to listen. Hidden among the trees, he saw Mother Gothel approach the tower and call:
“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!”
A golden braid cascaded down, and the prince watched as Gothel climbed up.
When Gothel left, the prince decided to try. Mimicking Gothel’s words, he called:
“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!”
Curious, Rapunzel lowered her braid. To her surprise, a handsome young man climbed into her tower. At first, she was frightened, but the prince spoke gently and told her how he had been enchanted by her voice. They began talking, and over time, they fell deeply in love.
The prince promised to help Rapunzel escape.
“I will bring silk each time I visit, and you can weave a ladder to climb down,” he said.
Rapunzel eagerly agreed, and the prince visited her every evening when Gothel was away.
Gothel’s Cruel Punishment
One day, Rapunzel absentmindedly asked Gothel, “Why is it that you are so much heavier than the prince when you climb my hair?”
Gothel’s eyes widened with fury.
“You deceitful child! You have betrayed me!” she shrieked.
In her rage, she cut off Rapunzel’s golden hair and banished her to a desert far away, leaving her to fend for herself.
That night, when the prince arrived, Gothel threw down Rapunzel’s cut braid. As he climbed up, he found himself face-to-face with the furious sorceress instead of his beloved Rapunzel.
“You will never see Rapunzel again!” Gothel hissed.
She pushed him out of the window. The prince fell into a bed of thorny bushes, which scratched his eyes, blinding him forever.
The Prince’s Journey
Heartbroken and blind, the prince wandered through the land, surviving on wild berries and water from streams. He searched for Rapunzel, calling her name, but he found no trace of her.
For years, he lived in despair, believing he had lost her forever.
The Miracle Reunion
Meanwhile, Rapunzel, alone in the desert, had given birth to twins—a boy and a girl. She raised them with love, but she never stopped longing for her prince.
One day, as the prince stumbled through the desert, he heard a familiar, beautiful voice singing. Following the sound, he recognized Rapunzel standing in the distance.
“Rapunzel!” he cried, stumbling toward her.
Overcome with joy, Rapunzel ran to him and wept. As her tears touched his scarred eyes, a miracle happened—his sight was restored!
Happily Ever After
Reunited at last, the prince took Rapunzel and their children to his kingdom. They were welcomed with great joy, and soon, they were married in a grand celebration.
Rapunzel, who had once been a lonely girl in a tower, became a beloved queen, living happily with her prince and children.
As for Gothel, she was never seen again. Some say she disappeared into the forest, while others believe she was cursed by her own magic.
And so, Rapunzel and her prince lived happily ever after.
The End