Rapunzel

Chapter 1: The Witch’s Garden.

In a small village surrounded by a forest, there lived a couple who had long wished for a child. Though they were poor, they were kind and happy, except for their unfulfilled desire for a baby. One day, the wife, who was pregnant, looked out the window of their home and saw a magnificent garden next door. The garden was filled with flowers, herbs, and plants so lush they seemed like they belonged in a dream. However, the garden belonged to a witch feared throughout the region.
At the center of the garden, there was a bed of rampion (a type of plant with green, tender leaves), and the woman felt an uncontrollable craving to eat them. This desire grew stronger with each passing day until she began wasting away from hunger, as nothing else could satisfy her. Alarmed for his wife’s health, the husband asked:
— What can I do to help you?
She replied:
— If I cannot eat some of those rampions, I will surely die.
Loving his wife dearly and fearing for her life, the husband decided he would do whatever was necessary to obtain the rampions, even if it meant facing the witch. In the dead of night, |he climbed over the garden wall| and plucked a handful of the plants.
When the wife ate the rampions, she felt better immediately, but the craving did not go away. The next day, she insisted she needed more. Reluctantly, the man returned to the garden that night. However, as he descended with the rampions in hand, he was confronted by the witch, who appeared like a shadow in the darkness.
— How dare you steal from my garden? — she shouted, her eyes blazing with fury. — You will pay for this!
|The man, trembling with fear|, begged for forgiveness. He explained the reason for his theft and pleaded with the witch to spare his life. After listening, the witch’s expression softened, but a dangerous glint still sparkled in her eyes.
— Very well, — she said. — You may take as many rampions as you like, but on one condition: when the baby is born, it will be mine.
Desperate and too afraid to refuse, the man agreed. |Thus, when the baby was born|, the witch appeared, named her Rapunzel, and took her away.

Chapter 2: The Lonely Tower.

Rapunzel grew up under the witch’s care and became a young woman of incomparable beauty. |Her hair was golden as the sun|, shiny and long, cascading down to the ground. When Rapunzel turned 12, the witch, fearing someone might take her away, |locked her in a huge tower| deep in the forest.
The tower was tall and imposing, with no doors or stairs, only a small window at the top. The only way to enter was through Rapunzel, who would let down her long golden hair so the witch could climb up.
The witch visited her daily, bringing food and water. Whenever she wanted to ascend, she stood at the base of the tower and called:
— Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!
Rapunzel |spent her days singing happily| with a sweet, melodic voice so enchanting that even the birds of the forest paused to listen. Although she was isolated from the world, Rapunzel knew no other life and accepted her fate.
One day, she asked the witch:
— Mother Gothel, why can’t I leave this tower?
The witch replied harshly:
— The world outside is full of danger. Here, you are safe.
Rapunzel accepted this explanation, but she couldn’t help dreaming about what might exist beyond the trees and skies she saw from her window.

Chapter 3: The Prince and Forbidden Love.

One day, a |prince was riding through the forest| when he heard a voice so sweet it seemed magical. He stopped his horse and followed the sound until he found the tower. Hidden among the trees, he watched as the witch approached and called out:
— Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!
Curious, he observed as Rapunzel lowered her long golden hair and the witch climbed up. After the witch left, the prince decided to try. Approaching the tower, he called:
— Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!
Thinking it was the witch, Rapunzel let down her hair. When the prince climbed up and appeared |at the window, she was frightened|.
— Who are you? How did you get here? — she asked, retreating.
The prince, captivated by her beauty, replied gently:
— Do not fear. I heard your voice and was drawn to it. I did not mean to frighten you, but I had to meet you.
Rapunzel, who had never seen another human besides the witch, was curious. Gradually, she began to talk with him. The prince visited her every night, always climbing up her hair, and the two fell in love.
They planned to escape. The prince would bring pieces of silk during each visit, and Rapunzel would weave them into a ladder.
One morning, unaware of the danger, Rapunzel said to the witch:
— Mother Gothel, why is it easier for the prince to climb than it is for you?
The witch was furious upon discovering the betrayal. In her rage, she cut off Rapunzel’s |long hair and took her to a distant desert|, leaving her alone.
That same night, the witch fastened the cut-off hair to the top of the tower. When the prince arrived and called out, she let the hair down. As he climbed up, he was met by the witch instead of Rapunzel.
— You will never see Rapunzel again! — she |screamed, pushing him out the window|.
The prince fell.

Chapter 4: The Desert and the Reunion.

Devastated by the loss of Rapunzel, the prince wandered through the forest, surviving on roots and berries. |For many years, he roamed aimlessly| until one day he arrived at the desert where Rapunzel lived.
Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice singing a sweet melody. |His heart leaped with joy|, for he knew it was Rapunzel. He called out to her, and recognizing him, she ran to his side.
The prince brought Rapunzel back to his kingdom, |where they were joyfully received|.
Far from the witch’s reach, they lived happily ever after, proving that true love can overcome any adversity.