Alindra And The Soldier

A long time ago there lived a fair maiden called Alindra. She had many suitors, but spurned them all, for she did not love them.

One day, Alindra was sitting by her window in her father’s castle, singing and dreaming, when her lovely voice caught the attention of a young soldier. Entranced by her song, the soldier drew near to Alindra’s window. As their eyes met, he fell in love with her, and she with him.

When Alindra told her father about the man she had chosen, he was furious, for Alindra was high-born, but her love nothing more than a common soldier. To keep them apart, he had Alindra imprisoned in the highest tower of his castle and sent her soldier to the wars.

Alas, not a month had passed before news of the soldier’s death reached Alindra. Alone in her tower, Alindra wept for her love and beseeched the gods to deliver her from this cruel world. So ernest was her plea that the gods themselves were moved. They gathered Alindra in their arms and lifted her high into the heavens, where she became a star. The gods also raised up the soul of Alindra’s soldier and there he dwells, across the horizon from her. The band of stars between them is a river of Alindra’s tears, cried for her lost love.

It is said that when Alindra has cried enough, she will be able to cross the river to be reunited with her soldier…

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~ by Vesper Starr on August 29, 2010.