The Legend of the Silent Mountain
Long, long ago, nestled between a sprawling forest and an icy stream, lay a quaint little village named Ryedale. Ryedale was a humble community where everybody knew each other personally. Its defining characteristic was a colossal, mossy mountain that stood by its side like a gigantic, steadfast sentinel. It was appropriately named The Silent Mountain since it was usually engulfed in silence. Not a creature dared dwell on it, nor did the villagers dare to tread its soil. The utter silence was known to mirror its name and a mystery to all. However, what remained unknown was an ancient tale that marked its history.
The legend began with the arrival of a stranger in Ryedale. His attire and persona suggested he hailed from a place far away. There was a silence about him too, akin to the mountain's. He was Morwen, a man blessed with the gift of music. Coming from poverty-ridden life and family, the only valuable possession Morwen had was an old harp. A harp that had a magical charm with its melody carrying the power to comfort troubled minds. And so, the villagers, curious about the stranger's music, invited him to play at the central square.
The day arrived when the village square echoed with the soothing notes flowing from Morwen's harp. The soft whispers of breeze began to carry a melody that enveloped the village and its folk. Even the Silent Mountain seemed to listen, its silence breaking just for that moment. Ryedale found its solace, a bond developing between an outsider and a village, both seeking companionship and understanding.
As the sun started descending, Morwen's music grew more intense. Suddenly, the entire village found itself immersed in a rhythm that seemed to summon something, a melody that was creating an unseen force. The climax arrived with a deafening silence, and as Morwen strummed his final note, a flash of emerald-hued light erupted from the top of the Silent Mountain. Something had awoken.
Just as the scream echoed through the valley, a gigantic creature emerged from behind the mountain. It had emerald scales, wings as wide as the mountain itself and eyes that held a millennium's worth of wisdom. It was Eldra, the sleeping dragon of the Silent Mountain. She approached Morwen with elegance and bowed, acknowledging the melody that summoned her. The villagers were wide-eyed, their fear gradually replaced with awe.
The whole of Ryedale watched the dragon and Morwen with bated breath, fearing the unknown. But to their surprise, the dragon, Eldra, acted unlike the terror one expects from legendary beasts. Instead, she stayed as calm as the Silent Mountain and gazed at Morwen, finding the connection she yearned for since eons.
From that day, Morwen and Eldra became constituents of Ryedale's daily life. Eldra's wisdom and Morwen's melodies transformed the humble village into a place of harmony and prosperity. Every sun down saw Morwen playing enchanting melodies, and Eldra spreading her wings in a silent dance. Eldra, the protector of the village, and Morwen, their hero, together braved many adversities.
In Morwen's ultimate act of heroism, using Eldra’s help, he managed to bring water to the drought-stricken nearby villages, turning them green again. The story of this musical melody and friendships it fostered echoed through the valley, together making Ryedale known as the 'village of prosperity.'
As years passed, Morwen aged, his hands became frail, and the enchanting melodies grew softer till they were no more. On the day Morwen played his final note, Eldra let out a mournful roar, shaking the entire village. A sense of eternal loss sunk into their hearts. They lost their hero, and Eldra lost a dear friend.
Ryedale mourned, the silence returning to its milieu. Eldra took one last look at the village, flapped her ginormous wings, and disappeared back into the Silent Mountain. The mountain was silent once more, echoing the absence of the melody, the absence of a music-man, and the absence of a dragon.
Morwen’s legacy lived on, and the village continued to tread the path he showed them. The Silent Mountain stands firm, a testament to a time when a melody bridged the gap between two different worlds, fostering unity, friendship, and prosperity. The tale of Morwen and Eldra continues to echo through Ryedale, a story of compassion, friendship, and music.