The Forsaken Rose

                                   Prologue

            “There once was an old-time legend, that spoke of a Moonlight Goddess, and as she danced in the night in the meadow white roses sprouted at her feet. She danced till dawn when the warm sun first kissed her cheek, then she’d vanish, leaving only a white rose in her place.

            “Many people would search for the Moonlight Goddess, but out of greed and pleasure, and thus they never found her. For centuries generation after generation searched for this Goddess, but came back unsuccessful. Some started to believe that the Goddess was merely a myth, started by a young maiden dancing in the night. But every time they shirked on the banks of unbelief, a white rose would turn up on their window-sill, reminding them that yes, she’s still there.

            “Some people tell tales of seeing the Goddess, and each witness came up with their own description. Some say she had long blond hair, straight as can be, wearing a white dress that trailed down behind her, brushing against the white roses that followed her every footstep. Some say she had hair as red as wine, long and curly down to her back; with a white dress that graced her with a long train and elegant sleeves, rolling down her arms like water. And others argue that her hair was as black as night, and as wild as the forest itself, but once again, with a long white dress.

            “Each story found common ground though, every Goddess had a white dress and white roses that followed her wherever she went.

            “Each night, as the people in the neighboring village thought about the Moonlight Goddess and the patch of white roses that there would be in the morning, marking the place the Goddess had graced her presence with that night; each night, the people heard singing. A haunting trill that flowed gracefully through the air like the wind itself was weaving into the tune. Many fell in love with the voice, longing for it’s high melodious sound, but at the same time, so many found the song hard to listen to, for it’s tune was sad and lonely, asking for someone to bring joy into the singer’s life once more, for it seemed that though the song had sad keys, it also had wonderful, lively keys too, telling of a once happier time.