Imagine a forest so big and tangled, the sunlight had a hard time peeking through. A little servant girl was traveling through this very forest with the rich family she worked for. Suddenly, CRASH! BANG! Robbers jumped out from behind the trees! Everyone scattered, and the little girl, quick as a flash, climbed up a tall oak tree and hid among its leaves, trembling like a leaf herself.

After the robbers left, the forest was quiet and dark. The little girl was all alone. "Oh dear," she whispered, "what will I do?" Just then, she heard a gentle voice. "Little one, why are you so sad?"
She looked down and saw a very old woman leaning on a stick. "I'm lost," said the girl, "and I'm scared."
"Come with me," said the old woman. "I have a cozy little cottage. If you help me with my chores, you can stay."

The little girl was so relieved! She followed the old woman to a tiny, creaky cottage deep in the woods. Inside, it was a bit dusty, but there was a warm fire. The old woman had a pet bird in a cage, a little white dove, that cooed softly.
"Your jobs are simple," said the old woman. "Keep the house tidy, make my bed, and fetch water. But there is one thing you must NEVER do. Never, ever look behind the door of that little room at the end of the hall."
The girl promised she wouldn't.

Every day, the girl worked hard. She swept the floors, made the old woman's bed (which was surprisingly lumpy!), and fetched water from the well. And every day, the little white dove would say to her, "Be good, dear child. Be careful. Don't look behind that door."
But the girl was curious. What could be behind that door? A pile of sweets? A mountain of toys?

One day, when the old woman was out gathering herbs, the girl couldn't resist. Her heart went thump-thump-thump. She tiptoed to the forbidden door. She took a deep breath and pushed it open just a tiny crack.
Oh! It wasn't sweets or toys. Inside, she saw the old woman – but she didn't look like a kind old woman anymore! She had a pointy hat and was cackling with other strange, shadowy figures around a big, bubbling cauldron! The girl gasped. The old woman was a witch!

She slammed the door shut, her heart pounding. Just then, the witch came back. She knew, somehow, that the girl had looked. "Aha!" cackled the witch. "You peeked! Now you're in big trouble!" The witch grabbed the girl and was about to do something terrible.

Suddenly, the little white dove burst from its cage! It flew straight at the witch, pecking and flapping its wings. "Fly, little girl, fly!" chirped the dove. "Take the ring from the pile of ashes by the fireplace! It will protect you!"
The girl, startled but brave, scooped up a shiny gold ring from the ashes. As soon as she put it on her finger, she felt a strange tingle.

She ran out of the cottage as fast as her legs could carry her, with the witch screeching behind her. But the witch couldn't catch her. The girl ran and ran until the dark forest began to thin. Soon, she saw sunlight and, in the distance, a beautiful castle.
She walked towards the castle, and as she got closer, the ring on her finger glowed brighter and brighter. When she reached the castle gates, she wasn't a dusty servant girl anymore. The ring had transformed her into a beautiful princess!

The castle doors opened, and out came a handsome young prince. He looked at her with wide, kind eyes. And who do you think was perched on his shoulder? The little white dove!
But as the prince smiled at the princess, the dove shimmered and changed! It grew bigger and transformed into... the prince's twin brother! He had been under the witch's spell, turned into a dove. The princess, by her bravery and the magic of the ring, had broken the enchantment.

The prince (the first one) fell in love with the brave and kind princess instantly. They had a grand wedding, and the prince's brother was the happiest best man you ever did see. And they all lived, not just happily, but also very carefully, especially when walking near dark forests.

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