Mother Holle: Beyond the Well

In a queendom far away lived a boy with rich dark skin and a crown of black curls. After his parents had died, he was left all on his own. The townspeople eyed his torn clothes suspiciously, whenever he begged them for apprenticeships to pay for his food or offered to help with their chores in exchange for some shelter. They would never give him such.
One day, when the sun was burning, he found himself at a rushing river. He was exhausted, dazed from the heat. As he tried to take a sip of water to cool his body and mind, he fell in.
About the same time, in a kingdom on the other side of the world, a golden-haired boy sat at a well. He had been tasked to spin until his fingers bled. But with the winter wind casting snow all around him, his hands froze before them, his spindle fell into the water. He knew he could not return home without it. Instead, he dove into the darkness.
Both boys, having never seen another, awoke in a beautiful meadow. The sun wasn’t burning anymore, but warming their skin softly. The snow had melted, giving way to flowers in full bloom, and the old clothes that should have been soaked were dry. They looked around in wonder. “Where are we?” One asked the other, but neither knew the answer.
They decided to walk around, hoping to find some sign of their location. It wasn’t long until they spotted an oven that was full of bread. “Oh, take me out, take me out, or I shall burn; I am baked enough already!” The boy with the dark hair turned his back. But the other tugged at his sleeve, “Let’s help the poor bread.”
“Why should I? No one offered me the same kindness.” And as the golden boy took out the loaves, the other just stood there and watched.
A little later they stumbled upon an apple tree, “Oh, shake me, shake me, we apples are all of us ripe!” The one boy asked, “Would you have offered me your apples when I was starving?”
He was about to walk further when the golden boy stepped up and shook the tree. He stacked the apples into neat piles and when he was finished, he held one out to the stranger. As the young man bit into the fruit, he swore it was the most delicious thing he had ever eaten.
The two of them continued their journey. At last, they arrived at a little house with an old woman peeking out. She introduced herself as Mother Holle and as she was brittle, she offered them a deal, “Come live with me, help me with my chores, shake my bed every day to let the snow fall unto the frozen earth, and if you do it well, I will offer you a good life.”
The boys, who had both faced hardships, agreed. At first, it was only the blonde who cleaned the house, who cooked and shook the bed. But every night he sat with the dark-haired boy and talked to him. They shared their meals and as they grew closer the second boy began helping more and more.
When it was time to return home, Mother Holle had one last surprise for them, “As you both served me faithfully, I will reward you with a special shower.” As the pair stepped through the door, holding each other’s hand tightly, they were covered in gold.
They both awoke in their beds. With their newfound riches, they should not have a worry in the world. But even the gold could not cure their hearts yearning for each other. Thus, they gathered their belongings and traveled around the earth until they met in the middle. Together they opened an orphanage, called it ‘Holle’s home for lost souls’, and took in all the children who felt like they had no place in the world.