The Rose in the Ashes
There once lived a humble merchant in the village of Elbereth, whose name was Sullivan. Sullivan sold rare plants in a quaint, little shop. He had inherited this trade from his ancestors, where legends whispered it was not the plants they sold, but the symbol of the Universe's harmony. However, Sullivan gave little heed to such stories. He found thrill in nurturing those delicate life forms flourishing into robust plants with magnificent colors.
Sullivan had a daughter named Bethany. She was a beautiful young woman with fiery curls and eyes sparkling like starlight. Bethany had always been transfixed by one plant, a peculiar rose contrasting the rest of their lush, vibrant store. It bore a peculiar gray flower, its petals resembling ashes more than a living flower.
Despite being appalled by the rose's somber color, villagers were drawn to it due to the mystical tales surrounding it. Going by the myths, the ashes rose had the ethereal power to make the bearer's deepest desires real. However, a flower bloomed only once a hundred years.
One day, a majestic stranger, Arthur, visited the shop. He resembled a savage yet good-looking forest in his green cloak complemented by a crown of antlers. He promises them exceptional riches if they gave him the Ash Rose. Arthur told them a war was dawned in his kingdom, and he needed the flower to wish for peace in his lands. However, Sullivan turned down his generous offer, believing in the sanctity their ancestors endowed upon the plant.
Deeply disheartened, Arthur left the shop but was fixated on the flower since its power was his only salvation. So, under the night's concealing shroud, Arthur stole the Ash Rose. Bethany, who had seen Arthur's desperate plea, empathized with him and did not reveal his act.
The following morning, the villagers were flabbergasted. The Ash Rose was the linchpin of the village's pride. They were grief-stricken. Seeing her father's sorrow and his reputation at stake, Bethany confessed to letting Arthur steal the Ash Rose. The villagers were appalled at her action and accused her of treachery.
Bethany, laden with remorse, commenced a journey to retrieve the Ash rose. Days turned into months; planets and stars changed their alignments, but her determination didn't wane.
After an adventurous quest, she finally reached Arthur's kingdom, Centaurea, only to learn the hard truth. Their victorious soldiers greeted her arrival, celebrating the end of war and Arthur's triumph. She got to know that Arthur already used the ash rose to end the war in Centaurea. Bethany felt a cascading flow of failure and helplessness.
Returning home empty-handed, her despair thickened when she entered her village. Her father's reputation was tarnished; their once-thriving shop was now almost deserted. While admitting her defeat readily, she explained the Ash Rose's fate to Sullivan.
A year later, on Bethany's 21st birthday, her father gave her a small box. When she opened it, her eyes widened in surprise. It was the Ash Rose. From the very day the rose was stolen, an identical one had been growing in secret, nurtured by Sullivan’s love. The villagers lauded Sullivan's integrity, the shop thrived again, and Sullivan's name and honor were restored.
Bethany's journey taught her respect for tradition and the price of selfish decisions. The tale of the Ash Rose was no longer just a legend for her but became a testament of her evolution from a naïve girl to a mature and noble spirit.
The heart of Elbereth continues to beat with an eternal spark of the Universe's harmony, passed down from ancient wisdom, residing within an Ash Rose, the mystical symbol of sacrifice and serenity.