Clara has an old book of stories, and sometimes, when there is not much time, she reads a shorter version. This is a gentle retelling of Jorinde and Joringel, a traditional fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm.
Jorinde and Joringel
Long ago, near a dark and silent forest, there stood an old castle where a powerful witch lived. No one who entered the forest felt at ease, for strange things were said to happen there.
One evening, a young couple, Jorinde and Joringel, wandered too close to the castle. As the sun began to set, the forest grew still, and a strange feeling came over them.
Suddenly, the witch appeared.
With a spell, she froze Joringel where he stood, unable to move or speak. Jorinde, who had been singing, was turned into a small bird and carried away to the castle.
When the spell faded, Joringel was alone. He searched for Jorinde but could not find her. Heartbroken, he left the forest, but he never forgot her.
After a long time, he had a dream. In it, he saw a beautiful red flower that had the power to break the witch’s spell. When he awoke, he went searching—and at last, he found the flower.
With it in his hand, he returned to the forest and the castle.
The witch tried to stop him, but the magic of the flower protected him. Inside the castle, he found many birds locked away. Using the flower, he broke the spell over each one until he found Jorinde.
She was restored to her true form.
Together, they left the forest behind, free at last, and returned to a life where no spell could reach them again.
And that was the story Clara read that afternoon.