The Night's Melody
In a far-off kingdom, nestled between the verdant escarpments and the azure seas, there was a tiny near-abandoned hamlet. This was a land where every dawn was kissed by soft golden hues, and twilight was a tango of mesmerising ambers and purples. Yet, despite its ethereal beauty, the town was known for one thing - the Night's Melody.
The story began a millennium ago, with King Earlyar, a compassionate ruler, and an aficionado of art who had a special corner in his heart for melodies. It was said, music danced in his veins instead of blood. His favourite pastime was to listen to captivating harmonies played on the lute by his in-house musician, Durien.
Durien, a lad of extraordinary talent, had the ability to weave magic with his strings. Each strum of his lute transcended the audience into realms unknown. However, Durien's unexpressed love for the king's daughter, Princess Rosalie, was the soothing toccata which had always remained untuned.
The bond between the king and the minstrel was strong, but evil seeped into the hamlet under the guise of Marquis D'sira, who, drenched in greed, couldn't bear to see Durien receiving all the love and attention.
D'sira, blinded by jealousy, bribed a witch. The witch cunningly cursed Durien, proclaiming, 'Every time you play, you shall serenade others, but won't hear a note yourself.' The plight of Durien's deafness spread across the kingdom swiftly, bringing grief upon its citizens.
King Earlyar, enraged by the incident, banished D'sira from the kingdom. However, for Durien, his world had fallen apart. But one night, as he sat alone under the starlit sky, the Night's Melody was born.
When he strummed his lute, he remembered the rhythms ingrained in his mind; he felt the vibrations and understood the notes. In silence, his musical symphony resonated through the peaceful night, weaved its way through the empty hamlet streets, and reached the princess's ears. Rosalie, moved by the transcendent harmony, recognised the symphony of her beloved.
She sought Durien and confessed her heartfelt love towards him. Given everything he endured, the confession felt like a sweet serenade in his unsounded world. The couple decided to share their feelings with the king right away.
An announcement was made, the entire kingdom gathered, and the night faced an unexpected turn. Rosalie revealed Durien's music, which had been deemed a curse, transformed into a blessing - the Night's Melody. A testament to his courage and her unwavering love.
King Earlyar, taken aback, embraced the couple while declaring, 'In darkness, love was our melody, our balm. We must not overlook this Night's Melody but celebrate it.' The kingdom, amidst applause and cheers, echoed with the Night's Melody, seeping into its history for centuries to come.
The whispers of this tale wafted on the coastal winds, coursing through the fishing nets, absorbed in the earthen walls of the hamlet houses. Today, this hamlet may be neglected, but its heartbeat continues every night – when darkness prevails, the silence gradually fills with enchanting strums, reverbing through the desolate streets, reminding the world of the Night's Melody, of Rosalie and Durien's immortal love.
Thus, the Night's Melody battles oblivion. It embarks on a journey every night, keeping a thousand-year-old lost love alive, a beacon of hope that in the concert of life, a curse can turn into a beautiful hymn, a melody capable of conquering silence.