Snow White and Rose Red by Patricia C. Wrede

Recognizing the bear, the girls came back and the bear revealed himself as a handsome prince, cursed to live as a bear until he killed the dwarf. The bear soon called out after them as their old friend. This time, after being rescued by the girls, a huge growling bear came barreling through the forest and killed the dwarf, frightening the girls. A third time came, where the dwarf was being carried off by an eagle. Once again, they found the dwarf being pulled into the river by a fish while he was caught in a fishing line, and so they freed him again. They cut him free by trimming his beard, to which the dwarf was ungrateful and rude. The two girls ventured into the woods again, to find a dwarf stuck to a tree. When spring finally came, the bear left, saying he had to protect his treasure from dwarfs. For the rest of winter, the bear slept by the fire and grew close to the girls. He spoke quickly to let the girls know that he was of no harm, and simply wanted to warm up by the fire at night. On a cold winter's night, there was a knocking at the door, and a great big bear came tumbling in.

The two girls were inseparable and were loved by all the animals in the forest. Their names were Snow White and Rose Red. Once upon a time, there was a widow with two children. Being one of the few fairy tales without oral tradition, this story is one of Grimm's more original works. Only one known version existed before this publication called 'The Ungrateful Dwarf' by Caroline Stahl in 1818. The story 'Snow White and Rose Red' (in German 'Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot') was written by the Brothers Grimm and released in 1826 before being added to their third edition of Children's and Household Tales published in 1837.

Snow White and Rose Red by Patricia C. Wrede