This part of the forestm however, was enchanted, and ruled over by the step-mother, who was, in reality, a witch.

The witch cast a spell over all the water in the forest, giving it the power to transform whoever drank of it into an animal.

The first spring they came to threatened to turn the thirsy brother into a lion, but the sister heard the water singing, and warned him away.

The second stream they came to threated to turn him into a wolf, but she warned him away again. They quarreled, because he was so thirsty, and he couldn't hear the water singing warnings like she could, but she eventually prevailed, and they moved on.

They came across a pond next, and brother ran towards it, greedily guzzling the water without thought. Fortunately, he only turned into a deer, so at least it was not something that would harm his sister.

Years later, a King is traveling through the woods on his way home, and sees the brother, now a fully grown stag. Thinking to fill his table that night, the King sets out after the brother.

The brother is very nimble, though, and escapes the hunting party with ease. All but the King himself, who follows him back to his sister's door. Seeing the deer knock on the door and be let in, the King immediately fals in love with the beautiful sister.

He goes to the door and introduces himself, asking her to marry him.

She agreed, and they were married. The brother had the run of the castle, with no fear from hunters, and the happily wedded sister, who was now a queen, soon had a child.

The happiness of her step-children made the witch very upset, and as soon as the king was called away on business elsewhere, she kidnapped the Queen.

Every night for three nights the queen's spirit returned to the castle to visit her child. On the fourth night, the King was there. She told him of her plight, and he immediately set out to rescue her.

He finds her in a cave on the witch's mountain, and tells her that he loves her, always and forever. His love breaks the witches power, and the Queen is freed from her prison, the brother changes back into a human.

And they lived happily ever after.