Jorinda and Joringel
Jorinda and Joringel — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.
Page 1
Jorinda, a maiden with a heart full of dreams, and Joringel, a young man seeking adventure, lived in a world where the waking realm brushed against the land of slumber. Their lives were intertwined with the Whisperwind Railway, a network of tracks that carried thoughts and emotions between these worlds. But a shadow loomed: an ancient witch, Morwen, guarded the deepest part of the forest, turning dreamers into songbirds, stealing their voices and trapping them forever. Their love and courage would be tested as they ventured into the witch's domain, seeking to break the curse and restore harmony to the realms.
Page 2
"Are you certain about this, Joringel?" Jorinda asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "The stories they tell of Morwen..." Joringel squeezed her hand. "We have to try. My sister's dreams have been stolen, and I hear her song every morning among the caged birds. I will not let her fade away into a melody that only Morwen controls."
Page 3
Deep inside his coat pocket, Joringel pulled out a faded parchment. "My grandfather left me this," he explained, unrolling the brittle map. "He believed it holds the secrets to finding Morwen's cottage, and the cage, that binds those dreams." Jorinda leaned in, her brow furrowed. The map depicted a path winding through the forest, marked with strange symbols and forgotten landmarks. "But some of the markings are missing," she noted, pointing to a faded section. "It seems incomplete, and our compass will not work, the presence of magic has rendered it inert."
Page 4
Deeper into the forest, they stumbled upon a clearing. At its center stood a small, ornate golden cage, glinting in the dappled sunlight. "Look," Jorinda breathed, pointing. "It's a songbird, trapped within that cage, I can sense it's filled with someone's memories." A beautiful melody drifted from within, haunting and sorrowful. Joringel reached for the cage, but Jorinda stopped him. "Be careful," she warned. "Gold is Morwen's weakness...and her trap."
Page 5
A shimmering portal materialized before them, revealing a vision of Morwen's cottage. Within, they saw a grand mirror, its surface swirling with images of forgotten dreams. "The mirror..." Joringel whispered. "It reflects your deepest desires, and once ensnared, your soul cannot escape, but becomes her servant." A voice echoed from the portal. "Step through, brave travelers. See what you truly crave." Jorinda shuddered. "It's a trick! We must resist."
Page 6
Ignoring Jorinda's warning, Joringel stepped towards the shimmering mirror. As he neared the portal, the songbird in the golden cage began to sing with renewed intensity, its melody now laced with a desperate plea. A single tear rolled down Jorinda's cheek. "Joringel, don't! It's not worth it! Your sister would want you safe, not imprisoned by your desires," Jorinda cried out, voice filled with pain. But Joringel was transfixed, drawn towards the mirror's alluring promise.
Page 7
Joringel stepped through the shimmering portal, and as his eyes gazed upon his reflection in the mirror he felt the weight of his choices. He saw his sister trapped forever in the songbird's cage. Her sadness now consumed him. He saw himself an old man, forever trapped in Morwen's prison. Jorinda ran to the portal, her hand outstretched, desperate to pull him back.
Page 8
Morwen emerged from the shadows, her eyes glittering with malice. "You have come seeking dreams?" she hissed, her voice like the rustling of dead leaves. "Dreams have a price. A song for a song, a dream for a dream. But what will you offer?" Joringel struggled against the mirror's pull. He remembered his grandfather's words, 'The greatest magic is found in self-awareness, for as Socrates stated, 'Know thyself,' only then can you truly know the path of the righteous man.'
Page 9
Jorinda, without hesitation, stepped through the portal, grabbing Joringel's hand. "Take me instead!" she cried. Morwen cackled. "Such foolish love. Very well. A heart for a song!" But as Morwen reached for Jorinda, Joringel shoved his arm in front, placing the faded parchment map in Morwen's hand instead. A blinding light erupted, the cottage shook, and the mirror shattered. The forest, its darkness now dispelled, flooded with sunlight.
Page 10
The curse was broken. Morwen vanished, her power undone by an act of selfless love. The songbirds, released from their cages, flew away, carrying their dreams back to the waking world. Joringel's sister returned to him, no longer a melody, but a living soul. And so, as they walked hand-in-hand away from the forest, they knew that true dreams can never be stolen, for they live within the heart, the one place the darkest of shadows cannot touch.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
Questions and answers
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