Lorelléi

     There was once a fair maiden named Lorelléi who lived in the town of Solon. She was extremely beautiful, that even poetry could not do her justice. She had eyes of green that matched the leaves of the Solon forest, where she loved to frolick about. Her long, black hair always smelled of pine and everywhere she went, she would spread joy.

     Lorelléi had simple pleasures and often she would descend into the heart of Solon forest and sing a song so melodic that even the wolves would stop howling to listen. She was loved by all the animals and it was said that even the trees grew from the sustenance her voice provided.

     Lorelléi's beauty and kind heart gave her many admirers but she did not care for them for she was in love with a man named Jorge. While Jorge was not gifted with an appealing exterior, his hard-working, kind hearted self was enough for Lorelléi. It was said that they loved each other so much that often they would gaze into each others eyes and it would be days before they realized that days had passed since they set eyes on each other.

     Lorelléi's beauty and kind heart did attract one man who felt he deserved her. To be sure, Roge was a handsome fellow and very wealthy but he had a heart of stone. It was said that if he had been stabbed in the heart with a knife, the knife would've shattered- such was his condition. He lusted for Lorelléi and truthfully he was better suited for her for his livelihood would make her life easier. Yet his heart of stone would make her miserable- the happiness she sought lay with Jorge.

     Roge approached Lorelléi thrice. The first time he brought her a rose of such whiteness that it may as well have been made of snow. He asked for her hand in marriage but she spurned his advances. He knew of her love for Jorge -the whole town did- but that did not sway him on his quest to have Lorelléi. He wanted her and so in his mind she belonged to him. Even though she had not accepted his proposal, he was far from ready to give up.

     The second time, he brought her a rose of such redness, that it may as well have been made of blood. Again she spurned his advances, scorning him. He was starting to get angry. He was better in every way than any man in town and yet she chose to waste her time with Jorge. Jorge was a simpleton and it made Roge angry that Lorelléi seemed to be lost to him, because a man of no status had beguiled her with some charm that was hidden to him.

     For the third and last time he approached her, determined to make her his. He found her singing in the heart of Solon forest, as a nearby tree seemed to sway to her voice. "Lorelléi, I have sought you out twice before and each time you have turned me down. You are mine and you will always be mine. Forget Jorge and come with me. I am worthy of you."

     "You are not a good man. Your heart is of stone. Please leave me alone. I love Jorge as he loves me. It is his heart that has won me over and he is in every way a better man than you'll ever be," responded Loréllei with contempt oozing in her voice.

     In a sudden fit of anger, Roge picked up a nearby rock and smashed it into her head, killing her instantly. He threw a rose of such blackness, that it may as well have been made out of death and darkness, on her and said "so be it,". He walked out of the forest, never looking back- unrepentant of what he had just done.

     Within hours, the townspeople noticed Lorelléi was missing but after weeks of searching they knew one thing: Lorelléi was gone forever. The forest that once was home to many animals and that lived off Lorelléi's lilting lullabies, slowly wasted away. The trees began to die and animals began to disappear- it was a sorrowful time. Hunters found that prey was not as bountiful as before and soon had to seek other means to provide for their families.

     One evening a hunter went into Solon forest, hoping for game. He went deep into the forest before he heard a rustling sound and soon a young doe bounded forward. He chased the doe with his bow but he could not quite catch it. The doe was a welcome sight in this forest and as the sun slowly set, the hunter gave up chase and headed back towards town. He vowed to himself that he would kill this doe someday.

     Word soon spread about the beautiful doe that could run and leap like no other could. Hunters from all over flocked towards Solon forest attempting to kill the doe but to no avail. The doe was simply too quick and smart; she could not be caught.

     As the doe was seen more often, the forest slowly revived back to a pleasant place and once more it was filled with greenery and the sounds of animals trekking through it. Yet strange stories started to float around Solon about the doe. It was said that when the sun set in the sky, anyone who dared walk through Solon forest was set upon by a woman with a gash in her head. A man who swore he had encountered this woman said that the doe transformed into Lorelléi when darkness washed over the forest and that she would kill any man who entered her forest after dark. Moments after he uttered his words about Lorelléi, he passed away, her latest victim.

     The rumours swirled about in whispers as more and more men disappeared after dark in Solon forest. Their bodies were never recovered. The whispers eventually reached Jorge, who had been in a deep depression ever since Lorelléi disappeared. One night he entered Solon forest, seeking to be reunited with Lorelléi. Yet in the darkness, Lorelléi could not tell that Jorge was Jorge, she only saw that he was a man and killed him. It was afterwards that she realized what she had done and let loose a cry of such grief, that no one who heard it could've kept in their tears- such was the sadness.

     Over the next few weeks, hunters who went into Solon forest reported seeing the doe and a stag which had never been there before. The doe appeared to be chasing the stag but the stag would always stay ahead of her as she stayed ahead of the hunters. The doe would let loose a cry that sounded like an echo for forgiveness but the stag would not respond.

     Roge was curious about the stag and doe. He knew their pelts would catch a fair price at the market and that if he were to bring them down, the praise he would receive would know no ends. He armed himself with a sturdy, wooden bow and arrows tipped with silver before entering the forest in daylight in search of the elusive stag and doe.

     Roge never returned from his quest but his bow was found on the outskirts of the forest and near it his footprints as if he had left the forest and made it out before darkness fell. After this the stag and doe were never seen again. Many were curious as to where they had gone but were relieved that it was safe to travel after the sun set now. It was twenty years later when another hunter found the body of Roge in the heart of Solon forest. The body was fresh as if he had just been killed. An arrow tipped with silver stuck out of his chest. Around him there were hoof marks- that of stag and that of a doe.