Once upon a time, in a land far away and long ago, there lived a kind-hearted king and a gentle queen. They had everything a kingdom could offer—golden halls, peaceful lands, and loyal people—yet their hearts carried a quiet sorrow. No matter how often they prayed or wished, they had no child of their own.
One evening, while the queen was bathing in a marble pool, something extraordinary happened. A small frog emerged from the clear water and spoke in a soft but certain voice:
“Do not lose hope. Before a year has passed, you will hold a daughter in your arms.”
And just as the frog foretold, the queen gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Her beauty shone so brightly that the king, overcome with joy, decided to celebrate with a grand feast unlike any other.
He invited friends, family, and the wise women of the kingdom—women known for their magic and blessings. There were thirteen wise women in the land, but sadly, the palace owned only twelve golden plates. Reluctantly, the king invited just twelve of them.
The celebration glittered with music and candlelight. One by one, the wise women stepped forward to bless the child. They gifted her grace, kindness, beauty, wisdom, and a life filled with joy and prosperity.
But just as the eleventh woman finished her blessing, the doors flew open.
The thirteenth wise woman stormed into the hall, her eyes burning with anger. She had come uninvited, hurt and furious.
Without greeting anyone, she cried out:
“When this child turns fifteen, she shall prick her finger on a spindle and fall down dead!”
A chill swept through the hall. Before anyone could speak, the woman vanished.
Silence followed—until the twelfth wise woman stepped forward. She could not undo the curse completely, but she softened it.
“The princess will not die,” she said gently. “Instead, she will fall into a deep sleep that will last one hundred years.”
Terrified of losing his daughter, the king ordered every spindle and needle in the kingdom destroyed. Years passed peacefully, and all the good wishes came true. The princess grew into a kind, cheerful, and breathtaking young girl, loved by all who knew her.
Then, on her fifteenth birthday, while the king and queen were away, the curious princess wandered through the palace. She climbed a narrow, twisting staircase to an old tower she had never seen before.
At the top, she found a tiny door. Inside sat an old woman, quietly spinning thread.
“What are you doing?” the princess asked kindly.
“I am spinning,” the woman replied.
Fascinated, the princess reached out to touch the spindle. In that very moment, the curse awakened. The spindle pricked her finger, and the princess collapsed onto a nearby bed, falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.
As she slept, the magic spread through the entire palace. The king and queen, upon returning, fell asleep. Servants froze mid-step, horses rested in their stalls, dogs curled up, birds stilled their wings, even the fire in the hearth fell silent.
Around the palace, a thick wall of thorns began to grow—higher and wider each year—until the castle vanished from sight.
Legends spread of a sleeping princess hidden behind thorns. Many princes tried to reach her, but the thorns trapped them, and none returned.
Until one day.
A young prince heard the tale from an old man and felt no fear—only hope. At that very moment, one hundred years had passed.
As the prince approached the thorny wall, it transformed into blooming flowers and gently parted. He walked safely inside.
The palace lay silent, frozen in time. At last, he reached the tower and found the sleeping princess. She was as beautiful as the day she fell asleep.
He bent down and kissed her softly.
The princess opened her eyes and smiled.
At once, the palace awakened. Life returned—horses neighed, birds sang, fires burned bright again, and the king and queen embraced their daughter with joy.
The prince and princess were married in a joyful celebration, and they lived together in peace and happiness for the rest of their days.
And so, with dreams restored and love fulfilled, the kingdom slept peacefully ever after.
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