Abstract

The king is wicked and self consumed. As a young boy his pride caused him to be given a curse, to never have a son. After the death of his parents he is given the kingdom upon his marriage. Over the years he has several wives who bear him none but daughters. As his anger grows his wives die in child birth until he has 12 daughters, no sons and no more wives.

The princesses are sent away at birth to be cared for by a nursemaid. At first they are well provided for but over the years they are given less and less to live on, eventually being exiled to a home in the woods. The girls are raised simply, learning through experiences in the woods and the little their nursemaid knows. They are all kind and close but uneducated in the ways of being royal.

The nurse has a son from her marriage, born before the girls where entrusted to her care. He grows up knowing the girls and feeling very protective of them.  At the age of 18 he is sent off to fight in the kings army and doesn't return for years.

After his youngest is 12 the king realizes his country is on the brink of failure. He decides to bring his daughters back to secure alliances with neighboring countries and the high class of his own country.  He finds the girls are not what he expected and lays strict rules and schedules.

As the girls come under more and more stress they begin running away to the woods near the castle, every morning leaving their torn and dirty clothes and shoes.  The king finally offers a reward to whomever can figure out where his daughters go and stop them.

A soldier, the nursemaids son, comes after many have tried to track the girls.  When he finds out what happened to the princesses he tracks them and figures out why they are running away.  He, with the help of the girls, trick the king into giving up his kingdom, he marries the oldest sister, and they have a son who ends the curse.