Not so very long ago, in a cozy little cottage nestled beside a whispering wood, lived a brother and his little sister. Their days weren't always sunny, because their stepmother was often quite cross and made things a bit gloomy.

One bright morning, the brother said to his sister, "This is no fun at all! Let's go on an adventure in the big woods."
His sister, who loved adventures, replied, "Oh, yes! Let's!"
So, hand in hand, they tiptoed out of the cottage and into the forest.

They walked and walked, and the brother grew very thirsty. Soon, they came to a sparkling spring. "Oh, Sister!" he cried, "I'm so thirsty, I must drink!"
But as he bent down, his sister heard the spring whisper, "Whoever drinks from me will turn into a tiger! Roar!"
"No, Brother, no!" she shouted. "Don't drink, or you'll become a fierce tiger and might pounce on me!"
So, the brother, though very thirsty, sighed and said, "Alright, Sister. I won't drink."

They walked a little further, and the sun beat down. The brother was even thirstier now. They found another spring, bubbling invitingly. "Sister, I really MUST drink this time!" he exclaimed.
But again, as he leaned towards the water, his sister heard this spring murmur, "Whoever drinks from me will turn into a wolf! Awooo!"
"Stop, Brother, stop!" she pleaded. "If you drink, you'll become a hungry wolf and might gobble me up!"
The brother groaned, his throat very dry. "Oh, okay, Sister. But I am so, so thirsty."

They continued their journey, and soon they reached a third spring. It gurgled so sweetly, and the brother felt he couldn't go another step without water. "Sister," he panted, "I don't care what happens, I have to drink from this one!"
Before his sister could hear what this spring was saying, the brother had already cupped his hands and taken a big gulp.
The spring had whispered, "Whoever drinks from me will turn into a little deer! Prance, prance!"
And poof! Just like that, the brother wasn't a boy anymore. He was a little deer, with soft brown fur, gentle eyes, and tiny antlers just starting to sprout.

His sister began to cry. "Oh, dear Brother! What have you done?"
The little deer looked at her with sad eyes and nuzzled her hand.
"Well," said the sister, wiping her tears, "I'll never leave you, dear little deer." She took off her golden garter and tied it gently around the deer's neck. Then, she wove some soft rushes into a lead, and they went deeper into the woods.

After a long time, they found a little empty cottage. "This will be our new home!" said Sister. She gathered soft moss and leaves to make a bed for her deer-brother and for herself. Every day, she would go out to find berries and nuts for them to eat. The little deer played nearby, always staying close to his sister.

One day, the King of that land was out hunting with his men. They heard the sounds of the hunt – horns blowing and dogs barking. The little deer perked up his ears. "Oh, Sister, I must go and see!" he seemed to say with his eyes.
"No, no," said Sister, "they might catch you!"
But the little deer was too excited. He bounded out of the cottage and into the forest. The King saw the beautiful little deer with the golden garter and thought, "I must have that deer!"
He and his hunters chased it, but the deer was quick and led them right back to the little cottage. When the deer darted inside, the King followed and saw the lovely sister.

The King was very kind. He asked her, "Pretty maiden, why are you living all alone in this wood?"
She told him her story, and how her brother had become a deer. The King's heart was touched. He thought she was the kindest and most beautiful girl he had ever met.
"Will you come to my castle and be my Queen?" he asked.
Sister smiled. "Yes," she said, "but only if my dear deer-brother can come too and live with us."
"Of course," said the King. "He shall want for nothing."

So, Sister went to the castle and became the Queen. The little deer had a wonderful time, prancing in the royal gardens and eating the finest grass. Everyone loved the gentle Queen and her sweet deer.

But the wicked stepmother heard about their good fortune. Oh, she was not happy! She was a secret, sneaky witch, and she had a daughter of her own who was not very nice and had only one eye. The stepmother thought, "My daughter should be Queen!"

So, one day, when the Queen had just had a little baby prince, the wicked stepmother and her one-eyed daughter snuck into the castle. They tricked the Queen, and by dark magic, they made her very weak and hid her away. Then, the stepmother put her own ugly daughter into the Queen's bed and told everyone she was the Queen, just feeling a bit unwell.

But every night, when the castle was dark and quiet, the real Queen, now like a gentle spirit, would float into the nursery. She would nurse her baby and then go to the stable to stroke her dear deer-brother's head. The little deer would look at her sadly.
The baby's nurse saw this happen night after night. She told the King, "Your Majesty, something magical is happening. Every midnight, a spirit that looks just like the Queen comes to care for the baby and the little deer."

The King decided to see for himself. The next night, he hid in the nursery. When the spirit of the Queen appeared and bent over the cradle, he stepped out and cried, "Are you truly my wife?"
"Yes," she whispered, "I am."
And at his loving words, she suddenly became real and solid again, rosy-cheeked and smiling!

The King was overjoyed. He quickly learned about the stepmother's wicked trick. He had the evil stepmother and her one-eyed daughter sent far, far away, to a place where they could never cause trouble again.
And the very moment they were gone, poof! The little deer shimmered and changed. He wasn't a deer anymore! He was the Queen's brother, a happy young man once more.

And so, the King, the Queen, her brother, and the little baby prince lived together in the grand castle, full of joy and laughter, for many, many happy years.

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