Short Stories-Lingorm

The Melody of You and Me

Lingling was known not only for her brilliance but for her calm, steadfast nature. She carried herself with quiet grace, always offering her wisdom to those around her. Orm, her beloved, was an artist of remarkable talent—her music could stir the emotions of even the hardest of hearts. Together, they were a picture of love that transcended mere affection; theirs was a partnership of souls, bound by an unspoken understanding.

Their love was pure, and their future seemed bright. They had planned a life filled with joy, laughter, and the shared beauty of their talents. But fate had other plans.

One golden afternoon, as the couple strolled hand in hand through a sun-dappled meadow, Orm, running ahead in a moment of playful freedom, failed to see the snake coiled among the wildflowers. Before Lingling could shout a warning, the snake struck, sinking its fangs into Orm’s ankle.

Orm collapsed into Lingling’s arms. Panic and fear seized Lingling as she called desperately for help, but it was too late. The venom was swift. Orm’s breath grew shallow, her eyes fluttering closed as her life slipped away in Lingling’s embrace. Lingling held her, her tears falling silently, unable to process the sudden, devastating loss.

Days turned into weeks, but Lingling could not move on. She refused to accept a world without Orm in it. Her grief consumed her, but deep down, there was something stronger than her sorrow—a determination to bring Orm back, no matter the cost.

Lingling decided to do the impossible: to enter the Underworld and retrieve her love from the clutches of death itself. She had heard stories of those who dared challenge the gods for the sake of love, and she believed that her love for Orm was strong enough to do the same. With her heart full of resolve, she made her way to the edge of the mortal world, where the gate to the Underworld stood hidden from ordinary eyes.

As she approached the dark and foreboding entrance, Lingling felt the weight of her journey, but she pressed on. Inside, the air was cold, and the shadows seemed alive, whispering reminders of those who had been lost to death’s embrace. Yet Lingling remained unshaken. Her love for Orm was her only guide.

After what felt like days wandering in the darkness, Lingling finally reached the palace of Hades and Persephone, rulers of the Underworld. She stood before them, unbowed, and pleaded for Orm’s return. She spoke of the depth of her love, of the life they had yet to live, and of her willingness to do anything to see Orm again.

Moved by Lingling’s heartfelt words and the power of her devotion, Persephone whispered to Hades, and they agreed to grant her request. Orm would be allowed to return to the world of the living, but there was a condition: as they made the journey back to the surface, Lingling must lead Orm without looking back. Only when they both stood fully in the light of the living world could Lingling turn and see her love again. If she failed, Orm would be lost to the Underworld forever.

Lingling, knowing she had no choice, agreed.

With Orm’s presence just behind her, Lingling began the long climb back toward the land of the living. The path was winding and steep, the darkness around them oppressive and thick, but Lingling’s heart was filled with hope. Orm’s footsteps were soft but steady behind her, and Lingling focused on the rhythm of their steps.

As they walked, however, doubt began to creep into Lingling’s mind. What if this was all a cruel trick? What if Orm wasn’t really behind her? What if the gods had deceived her, and she was walking this path alone?

The silence between them weighed heavily on Lingling. She desperately wanted to turn, just for a moment, to confirm that Orm was there. But she resisted. She reminded herself of the gods’ warning. She clung to her hope, pushing away the doubt.

They neared the surface, and the faint light of the mortal world began to glimmer in the distance. Lingling could feel the warmth of the sun creeping toward them, just a few more steps and they would be free.

But doubt gnawed at her. What if Orm had been taken back by the shadows, and she didn’t even know it? What if she had already lost her?

Unable to bear it any longer, just a few feet from the surface, Lingling turned.

For a brief, heartbreaking moment, she saw Orm, beautiful and alive, just as she remembered. Their eyes met, and Orm smiled sadly. But in that instant, before Lingling could reach out, Orm’s form began to fade, her body dissolving into the mist of the Underworld.

“No!” Lingling cried, reaching out as if she could somehow pull Orm back from the brink. But it was too late. The shadows closed around Orm, and she disappeared back into the darkness forever.

Lingling collapsed on the threshold of the living world, her heart shattered by her own weakness. She had been so close, so close to saving the woman she loved. But in that moment of doubt, she had lost her—this time, forever.

From that day on, Lingling carried her grief silently. Though she returned to the world of the living, her heart remained in the Underworld with Orm. She lived on, but a part of her was forever lost to the shadows, where her love for Orm would remain, untouched by time but unreachable, a reminder of the power—and the price—of love.

---

A/n: inspired by orpheus and eurydice's story and how tragic it was...

How my heart aches for this, so why not share it with you guys xD