The Twelve Brothers
Story by: Brothers Grimm
Source: Kinder- und Hausmärchen
Long ago, in a grand kingdom, a king and queen had twelve sons. The king, longing for a daughter, declared, “If our next child is a girl, the boys must die so she may inherit the kingdom alone.” The queen, horrified, wept bitterly. She loved her sons dearly and could not bear the thought of losing them.
One night, she warned her sons, “Flee, my children! Hide in the forest, for your lives are in danger.” The twelve brothers, hearts heavy, kissed their mother goodbye and vanished into the deep woods. There, they built a small cottage and lived together, vowing to protect one another.
Years passed, and the queen gave birth to a beautiful daughter. The girl grew up kind and gentle, with a golden star on her forehead. When she learned of her lost brothers, she begged her mother to tell her where they had gone. “Follow this path into the forest,” her mother whispered, “and you may find them.”
The princess journeyed through the wild woods, braving thorns and darkness, until she found the cottage. The brothers, at first wary, soon recognized her as their sister and welcomed her with tears and joy. They lived happily for a time, but the princess, wanting to surprise her brothers, picked twelve white lilies from the garden.
Suddenly, a great wind swept through the clearing, and the brothers were transformed into twelve ravens, their cries echoing in the sky. The princess fell to her knees and wept. A wise woman appeared and said, “You can save your brothers, but you must not speak or laugh for seven years. If you utter a single word, all will be lost.”
The princess vowed to remain silent. She wandered the world, enduring loneliness and hardship. One day, a young king found her in the forest, her beauty and silence enchanting him. He brought her to his castle and made her his queen, though she never spoke a word.
Years passed, and the queen bore the king three children. But the king’s mother, jealous and cruel, accused the silent queen of witchcraft and ordered her to be burned at the stake. As the flames rose, the seven years ended. With a rush of wings, twelve ravens swooped down, transforming back into her brothers. They rescued their sister, and the king, overjoyed, embraced his family.
The princess spoke at last, telling her story. The wicked mother-in-law was banished, and the family lived in peace and happiness, their courage and love celebrated throughout the land.
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