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The Gimm brothers original story of Lily and the Lion, or better known as "Beauty and the Beast"

Would you like me to bring a gift back for you?

Dear father, bring me a rose.

Pearls! Jewels!

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A merchant who was about to set off on his journey, asked his three daughters what gift he shall bring back for each of them. The eldest wished for pearls; the second wished for jewels; but Lily, the merchant’s youngest and prettiest daughter, wished for a rose. The rose was going to be no easy task for the merchant to get, for it was the middle of winter. He was going to try his hardest and with that, he kissed his three daughters and said his goodbye.

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A luck hit!

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It was time for the merchant to come home. He had bought the pearls and he had bought the jewels, but he had not yet found a rose. The merchant had been in every flower shop and when he asked for a rose they told him he was crazy and whether he thought roses grew in the snow. On his way home he was thinking of what to get for Lily because he didn't want to disappoint his favorite daughter. While on their way back, the merchant and his servant came across a castle, where there was a huge garden. Though something peculiar was up with this garden, for half looked to be in full bloom like in the summertime and the other half was dead and dreary like the winter. "A luck hit!" He called upon his servant to fetch him one of the finest roses in there and then they would be on their way.

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Can nothing save my life?

No!

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As soon as they started to leave a great lion appeared in front of them. 

“Who ever has stolen my roses shall be eaten up alive!” roared the lion. 

“I know not that the garden belong to you; can nothing save my life?” The merchant frightened. 

“No! Nothing unless you undertake to give me whatever meets you on your return home; if you agree to this, I will give you your life, and the rose too for your daughter,” 

“It may be my youngest daughter, who loves me most, and always runs to meet me when I go home.” 

“it may perhaps only be a cat or a dog,” The merchant’s servant tried to persuade him.  The merchant agreed with the deal, took the rose, and set off for home.

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You shouldn't go!

The word you have given must be kept.

When the merchant returned home, to his resentment, it was in fact, his youngest and dearest daughter that came running to meet him. She was glad of his return, and when she saw that he had the rose, she became even happier. He began to weep and told her all that happened, and told her she shouldn't go. She comforted him and told him, “dear father, the word you have given must be kept; I will go to the lion, and soothe him: perhaps he will let me come safe home again.” In the morning she got directions to the castle and with a brave heart set off.

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We got married!

The lion turned out to be a cursed prince. In the morning and during the day the prince and his court turned into lions, but when the evening came around they all took their natural form. When Lily arrived to the castle it was late in the evening, and was met by the prince with a courteous welcome. He was so courteous, that she agreed to marry him and the wedding was held, and they lived happily-ever-after for a long time. The prince though, always left in the morning and went off to a remote location unknown to Lily. 

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Time has passed and the prince went up to Lily, “tomorrow there will be a great feast in your father’s house, for your eldest sister is to be married; and if you wish to go and visit her my lions shall lead you there.” Lily was overjoyed at the thought of seeing her family again. She went with the prince’s lions and when she arrived, her family rejoiced. Lily told them how happy she was and what she has done the past few years. When the dinner ended Lily said goodbye to her family and headed back to the castle.  

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Lily’s second sister was to get married soon and when Lily was invited she didn't want to go alone. She had told the prince, “I will not go alone this time-you must go with me.” He refused because it was too dangerous for if the torch-light fell upon him the curse would strengthen. He would turn into a dove and have to roam the earth for 7 years. The prince had finally chosen that her would travel with her, and so they packed up their child and set off for the wedding.

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I will drop a white feather for you to follow me.

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Lily had chosen a large hall to keep the prince in, but no one noticed a little crack in the door. When the wedding train had passed by the hall a ray of light hit the prince and in an instant he disappeared. When lily came back to the hall she only found a white dove, and it said to her, “seven years i must roam this earth, but every now and then I will drop a white feather for you to follow.”

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I will give you a casket-open it when the hour of need comes.