Story

Rapunzel

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The story

Introduction

Have you ever dreamt of hair so long, it could reach from a tall tower right down to the ground? Imagine a lonely girl, locked away, with only her beautiful, golden plaits for company. What adventures await her, high above the world? Join us, little listeners, as we tumble into the enchanting tale of Rapunzel, where magic, daring, and true friendship weave a wonderful story. Get ready for a fabulous journey!

The Magic Garden and a Curious Craving

Our story begins, not with Rapunzel herself, but with a loving couple who wished for a child more than anything in the whole wide world. They lived in a cosy little cottage, right next to a magnificent garden. But this wasn't just any garden! Oh no, it belonged to a very powerful, rather grumpy enchantress named Dame Gothel. No one dared step inside, for it was filled with the most extraordinary plants and flowers, glittering with magic. One day, the wife looked out of her window and saw something truly special growing there. It was a patch of delicious-looking rapunzel, a type of lettuce, so green and tempting! A curious craving started to grow inside her, stronger than any she’d ever known. She just had to have some of that rapunzel, or she felt she might simply waste away! Her kind husband, seeing her sadness, knew what he had to do.

Rapunzel in the Lofty Tower

The kind husband, determined to help his wife, bravely snuck into the witch's magical garden. He carefully plucked some of the delicious rapunzel. But just as he was about to leave, a terrifying voice boomed! "How dare you trespass in my garden and steal my precious rapunzel!" It was the wicked witch, Dame Gothel, with eyes like glowing embers and a frown that could curdle milk! The poor man trembled with fear. He explained about his wife's craving, hoping she would understand. Dame Gothel, however, was not known for her kindness. "Very well," she said, her voice like grinding stones. "You may take all the rapunzel you wish, but in return, you must give me the first child your wife brings into the world!" The husband was so frightened, and so desperate for his wife's health, that he agreed. Soon after, a beautiful baby girl was born, with hair like spun gold. Dame Gothel appeared as promised, taking the little bundle. She named the baby Rapunzel, after the very plant that had brought her into this strange new life. Rapunzel grew into a wonderfully bright and cheerful girl, with the most magnificent, long, golden hair you could ever imagine. It was like a shimmering waterfall, falling all the way to her knees. But Dame Gothel was a very possessive witch. When Rapunzel turned twelve, the witch decided it was time to hide her away from the world. She took Rapunzel to a tall, tall tower, deep in the enchanted forest. This wasn't just any tower! It had no door, no stairs, and only one tiny window right at the very top. Inside, it was cosy enough, with a comfy bed and a little table, but Rapunzel was all alone. Whenever Dame Gothel wanted to visit, she would stand at the foot of the tower and call out in her croaky voice: "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" And then, Rapunzel, with her strong, golden plaits, would unfasten her hair, loop it around a hook, and let it tumble all the way down, like a long, shining ladder. And up the witch would climb!

A Prince's Secret Climb

One bright, sunny morning, not long after Rapunzel had settled into her tall, lonely tower, a young prince was riding through the nearby forest. He was a kind prince, with a brave heart and a smile that sparkled like the dew on the grass. His horse, a beautiful, strong creature named Sterling, trotted gently along a winding path. The prince was enjoying the peaceful quiet, listening to the birds chirp their happy songs, when suddenly, he heard a sound. It was a voice, singing a melody so sweet and clear, it seemed to float on the air like a tiny feather. “Goodness me,” whispered the prince, pulling Sterling to a halt. “What a beautiful voice! Where could it be coming from?” He followed the sound, deeper and deeper into the ancient, leafy woods, until he came to a clearing. And there, standing tall against the bright blue sky, was a tower. It was unlike any tower he had ever seen before! It was round and narrow, made of smooth, grey stones, and it had no doors, no stairs, and no way to get inside. It looked very, very old, and a little bit mysterious. As the prince watched, hidden behind a big, mossy oak tree, he saw something even more peculiar. An old woman, with a long, pointy hat and a cloak as dark as a raven’s wing, walked right up to the bottom of the tower. She had a basket on her arm and a grumpy look on her face. Then, she did something quite extraordinary. She looked up at the very top window of the tower and called out in a loud, croaky voice: “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!” The prince gasped! And then, like a golden waterfall, Rapunzel’s incredibly long, shimmering plaits came tumbling down, all the way to the ground. The old woman, who was Dame Gothel, then grabbed hold of the thick, golden hair, and she began to climb! Up, up, up she went, like a spider on a silky thread, until she disappeared through the tiny window at the very top. The prince’s eyes were as wide as saucers. “Well, I never!” he murmured to Sterling. “What a most unusual way to visit someone!” He waited patiently, hiding behind the oak tree, until Dame Gothel eventually climbed back down the golden plaits, muttering to herself, and disappeared into the forest. Day after day, the prince returned to the clearing. He couldn’t stop thinking about the beautiful singing voice and the golden hair. He was so curious! He watched Dame Gothel come and go, always calling out that same strange phrase: “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!” He listened carefully, making sure to remember every single word. Finally, one afternoon, when he was absolutely certain Dame Gothel was far away collecting herbs or perhaps scolding a lost squirrel, the prince took a deep, brave breath. He walked right up to the bottom of the tall, silent tower. His heart was going thump-thump-thump like a tiny drum inside his chest, but he knew he had to try. He looked up at the little window, just as he had seen Dame Gothel do, and in a voice that was a little bit shaky, he called out: “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!” And to his absolute amazement and delight, down came the beautiful, golden plaits! They tumbled and shimmered, soft and strong, all the way to the ground. The prince carefully took hold of the thick hair. He had never climbed anything like it before! He pulled himself up, hand over hand, his strong muscles working hard, until he reached the window at the very top. He gently peeked inside. There sat Rapunzel, looking very surprised. She had never, ever seen anyone but Dame Gothel before! Her big, beautiful eyes, the colour of the summer sky, blinked in wonder. For a moment, she was a little bit frightened, because this wasn’t the croaky voice of Dame Gothel. This was a deep, kind voice. The prince saw her fear and spoke softly. “Please don’t be afraid, fair Rapunzel,” he said, his voice warm and gentle. “I heard your beautiful singing, and I was so curious to meet you. I truly mean you no harm.” Rapunzel looked at his friendly face, his sparkling eyes, and his gentle smile. Slowly, her fear began to melt away, like snow on a warm spring day. She had never heard such kind words before, and she had certainly never seen such a handsome face. “Hello,” she whispered, her voice still a little shy. The prince climbed all the way in and sat on the floor, making sure to give Rapunzel lots of space. He told her about the world outside the tower: about the green fields, the fluffy white sheep, the busy towns with people bustling about, and the vast, blue sea where ships sailed to faraway lands. Rapunzel listened with rapt attention, her eyes shining with curiosity. She told him about her days, about the little birds that sometimes perched on her windowsill, and how she spent her time weaving baskets and singing songs to herself. They talked for a long, long time, sharing stories and laughter. Rapunzel felt a warmth in her heart she had never known before. She wasn't lonely anymore. The prince, too, felt very happy. He promised to come back and visit her again very soon. And so, he carefully climbed back down the golden plaits, his heart feeling much lighter than when he had first arrived. From that day on, the prince would visit Rapunzel every single afternoon, waiting until Dame Gothel had left the tower. He would call out the secret words, climb up her beautiful, golden hair, and spend hours talking and laughing with the girl in the tower. They became the best of friends, sharing secrets and dreams, and Rapunzel’s life, once so lonely, was now filled with hope and happiness.

Lost in the Wild Wood

The prince and Rapunzel spent many joyful afternoons together. They would sit by the window, the sunlight streaming in, talking about everything and nothing. He told her about the world outside – the bustling towns, the colourful markets, the green meadows dotted with sheep, and the sparkling rivers that wound through the land like silver ribbons. Rapunzel listened intently, her eyes wide with curiosity, imagining all these wondrous sights she had never seen. Her heart, once so lonely, now beat with a new kind of happiness, a longing for freedom. She longed to run in those meadows, to feel the grass beneath her bare feet, and to see the world not just through a window, but with her own two eyes. One day, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, Rapunzel looked at the prince with a serious expression. "My dear prince," she began, "I love our visits more than anything, but I truly wish I could leave this tower. Dame Gothel carries me up, but I have no way to get down myself. And when you come, I am so happy, but she is so much heavier than you, she might accidentally break my golden plaits!" The prince smiled gently. "Don't worry, my sweet Rapunzel," he reassured her. "I have a plan! Each time I visit, I will bring a skein of strong silk. With your clever fingers, you can weave it into a ladder, rope by rope. When it's long enough, you can climb down, and we can leave this tower forever and journey to my kingdom!" Rapunzel clapped her hands, her eyes sparkling at the thought of finally being free. And so, the prince started bringing a skein of silk every time he came. Rapunzel, with nimble fingers and a heart full of hope, began to weave. She worked diligently, day after day, turning the fine threads into a long, sturdy ladder. Each knot tied was a step closer to her freedom. But Rapunzel, sweet and innocent, had never learned to keep secrets from Dame Gothel. She was so excited about the escape, so full of dreams for the future, that one afternoon, while Dame Gothel was asking her about her day, Rapunzel accidentally let a little secret slip. "Oh, Dame Gothel," she said, without thinking, "how much heavier you are to pull up than the young prince!" A sudden, terrible silence filled the tower room. Dame Gothel's eyes, usually so sharp, narrowed into slits. Her face, usually so stern, turned a fearsome shade of purple. "A prince?" she hissed, her voice like grinding stones. "What prince? You wicked, deceitful child! You have betrayed me! After all I have done for you, keeping you safe from the cruel world, you invite strangers to my tower? You shame me!" Rapunzel trembled, her heart pounding like a drum against her ribs. She tried to explain, to apologise, but Dame Gothel was beyond reason. "You will pay for this!" she shrieked. With a flash of her hand, she grabbed a pair of sharp, shiny scissors – scissors Rapunzel had never seen before. Snip! Snip! Snip! Rapunzel cried out in horror as her beautiful, golden plaits, the ones she had treasured and grown for so long, fell to the floor like golden serpents. They lay there, glistening, severed and lifeless. "There!" Dame Gothel declared, her voice harsh and cold. "Now your prince will have nothing to climb! And as for you, you will never see him again!" She snatched Rapunzel up, dragged her down the winding steps of the tower, and marched her far, far away, deep into a wild, thorny wood, where she left the poor girl all alone, with no hair, no home, and no hope. Later that day, just as the sun began to set, the prince arrived at the tower. "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" he called out, his voice full of joyful anticipation. But this time, it wasn't Rapunzel who looked down. Instead, the severed golden plaits, tied securely to the window hook, came tumbling down. The prince, unsuspecting, eagerly grabbed hold and began to climb, his heart light, thinking he was climbing to his love. Up he went, higher and higher, until he reached the window. But when he pulled himself inside, he didn't find his beloved Rapunzel. Instead, he was met by the terrifying glare of Dame Gothel. She stood there, a wicked smile on her face, holding the gleaming scissors. "Ah, you thought you would take my Rapunzel, did you?" Dame Gothel sneered, her voice dripping with malice. "Well, you will never see her again! She is gone, banished to a place where you will never find her!" The prince, shocked and heartbroken, reeled backwards. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His Rapunzel, gone? Banished? In his despair, he stumbled. The tower room seemed to spin. He lost his footing on the narrow window ledge and plummeted downwards, crashing through thorny bushes and sharp brambles below. The thorns ripped at his clothes and skin, and two of them, cruel and sharp, pierced his eyes. When he finally came to rest on the damp ground, he was blind. Oh, what a terrible fate! The poor prince, his heart shattered, his eyes sightless, could only cry out in anguish. He staggered to his feet, calling out for Rapunzel, his voice echoing through the darkening, wild wood. He wandered aimlessly, day after day, week after week, stumbling through the trees, living on berries and wild roots, forever searching for his lost love, his beloved Rapunzel.

Outro

And so, our tale of Rapunzel comes to a close. Thank you for joining us on this magical adventure, little listeners! We hope you enjoyed every twist and turn. What marvellous stories will you imagine next? Perhaps you'll create your very own enchanted kingdoms! Do let Sonacasts know if you have any feedback – we love hearing from you. Until next time, keep dreaming big and exploring the wonderful world of stories! Goodbye!