The Pigeon and the Dove

Title: The Pigeon and the Dove

Sources: 
D'Aulnoy, Marie Catherine Baronne. The Fairy Tales of Madame D'Aulnoy. Miss Annie Macdonell and Miss Lee, translators. Clinton Peters, illustrator. London: Lawrence and Bullen, 1892.

Summary: In the Kingdom of Deserts there lived a king and a queen who loved each other so dearly that they were an example to ever husband and wife in the land. They had several children, but only one daughter survived -- Constancia. The king died in a hunting accident and so overcome with grief, the queen knew she would soon die too. She called a fairy to watch over her. The fairy agreed, but she knew Constancia's life would be hard. She was threatened with the love of a giant, and would be under threat until she was 16. The fairy chose people to lead the kingdom in their absence and she took the girl to Arcadia to live as a shepherdess. The princess was a great beauty, very talented at music because of the gifts her fairy gave her, and had an excellent wit. When the fairy had to return to the kingdom to settle some affairs, she knew Constancia would follow her instructions and stay hidden. But the girl had a sheep she loved very much named Ruson. Ruson the sheep was talented too, but he wanted to visit a ewe he had his eye on. Constancia let him go out, but he was attacked by a wolf. She chased after her beloved sheep and was seen by the giant. He captures her and puts her in a sack with Ruson, the wolf, a dog, a cat, a parrot, and a rooster. Off to battle another giant, this one grew annoyed with all of the noise the animals and princess made. He tied the sack to the top of the tree and planned on picking it back up later. 
The intelligent Constancia used her scissors to cut the bag open and let herself and all the animals out, except for the wolf because he had tried to eat her Ruson. Though she was lost, the animals helped her survive in the forest. When the next day broke, she found herself alone with Ruson near a river. She fell asleep, and when she woke up a handsome man, Constancio, was watching her nearby. He tried to help her by employing her as a shepherdess in his kingdom.
As she worked, Constancio fell in love with her, but she was not of high enough birth for him to marry. When he heard her sing, he was jealous and sent his friend to see if she loved someone else, but she did not. The queen suspects that the two are in love, but she wants Constancio to marry someone with more money. So she sends him to his brother's to meet the woman he is betrothed to. While he is gone, the queen tries to kill Constancia but her plans are thwarted so she sells her off as a slave. 
Cupid offers to help Constancio find his love, but he has to jump through a magical fire to prove his love is true. He was transformed into a pigeon, found Constancia in a tower at the giant's castle, and used a magical ring given to him by her fairy to turn her into a dove. Together they flew away and lived happily ever after. 

Cultural Origins: France, 1698.

Audience: This story would be appropriate for all audience with some changes. I have removed much of the detail from the summary, I believe that what I have there would be appropriate for all children. I would tell the story in the library. 

Adaptation Ideas: This story seems like it can be broken into two parts. I would choose to tell Constancia's escape from the giant or her meeting the prince and the trials afterwards. If I were telling the story to children I would probably use a deeper voice for the giant and do some stopping to illustrate his movement.