Write a first person story with an obnoxious minstrel who brews a love potion.
"A wandering minstrel I am...something LA-de-DAH-dum." For some reason I can never quite remember the lyrics to that one, but the tune is always stuck in my head. I grinned and continued "la-de-dah-ing" as some peasants quickly rushed into their houses and slammed the door shut. My voice tends to lull people to sleep that way. A gift I've had all my life. Whenever I sing, people have to hold their heads so they don't fall gently to sleep, or else leave immediately to get to bed.
As I strolled on through the streets, my eyes caught sight of a young maiden who stood straight and had a fire in her eyes. My singing must have stirred her deeper passions. She kept her eyes on me, hands on her hips, and hair wafting gently in the breeze. I winked, and she sort of half winked back - both eyes closing half way, but staring intensely at me while I continued to sing. To think she couldn't take her eyes off of me even just to wink!
I tossed my hair and strummed a new chord. A string snapped in two as if sensing the heat between me and the girl. I new it was a risk, but I couldn't help myself. I started to sing the most passionate song I new. "Lady of Spain, I adore you!" My voice rang out loudly, and so full of emotion it cracked a bit. Just as I suspected might happen, my melodic passion was too strong for her. I sighed as she too was lulled to sleep, slamming the door behind her.
Still, this did not stop me. I continued to serenade my admirer's home while she dreamed of me and my voice. Then something happened that I never would have foreseen. My lady-love was lured back out to her balcony to listen to my voice alone. Of course! I had only embarrassed her with my direct attention on her. She crept close to the ledge of the balcony and..."WAAAIT NOO-!!"
Well that was uncalled for! My "no" was drowned - literally by a bucket of water. Just because I embarrassed her, that was no reason to react in that manner. Just because she's shy and lacks the confidence and manners that I was born with, doesn't mean she should behave that way.
"I know!" I thought. "I will help her gain confidence so she can express her love to me without my getting soaked." So I sought out the brewery where all the potions are made.
I entered the shop, winked at the brewer of potions, and asked in my lilting, sing-song voice, "I need a potion for my love to confess her feelings to me."
"I can give you an ale," the man said, looking at me as though surprised I would come into his humble abode.
"Will it give her the confidence to tell her she loves me?" I asked.
"It'll definitely lessen her inhibitions. And it might make someone tolerate you," he replied.
"Then I'll take the love potion!" I half sang, striking part of a chord (since I was missing a string).
"It's not-"
"I know it's not free, but I'll sing you a tale of a hero as payment." I took a deep breath to begin one of my most well-loved songs.
"No, no! It's on the house!"
I took the potion and held back tears as I said, "Sir, your belief in true love will be rewarded one day. ONE DAAAAAY!" My voice trailed off as I left the brewery, and I smiled as I saw everyone holding their heads, lulled by my gift of music.
I quickly came back to my love's home and sang a song of greeting to get her to open the door. She had that same firey look in her eyes, and a slight frown.
"Don't be embarrassed by love, my darling! Drink this and we can be together forever!"
With shaking hands she took the cup, and threw the potion back in my face!
To splash water on someone once is one thing, but to throw a glass of potion at them in the same day? There comes a time when enough is enough. And when people just refuse to be helped, there is only so much I can do.
"Look lady," I said as calmly as I could. "I just don't see things working out for us. But to spare you any further embarrassment or heartache at us not being together, I will travel to the next town, and you will never see me again."
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