00:00Once upon a time, in a kingdom of forests and silver lakes, there lived a young prince named Siegfried.
00:07He was loved by his people for his bravery and kindness.
00:11But in his heart stirred a longing for something more than duty, more than a crown.
00:18He longed for a love that was true.
00:21On the eve of his 21st birthday, the great hall of the castle shone with torches.
00:27Musicians played, courtiers laughed, and Siegfried's mother, the queen, raised her glass in honor of her son.
00:35My son, you are a man now. In seven days there will be a royal ball.
00:40Noble maidens will stand before you. From them, you must choose a bride.
00:45To choose a bride in a single night seemed cruel. Was marriage to be nothing more than a bargain of
00:51kingdoms?
01:05That night, with only his bow for company, Siegfried slipped into the forest.
01:12He wandered around, seeking air and silence.
01:16The moon was full, and it guided him to a place he had never seen before.
01:21A lake as still as a mirror, its surface shimmering like liquid silver.
01:27Upon the waters glided a flock of swans, their feathers gleaming.
01:34Siegfried lifted his bow to take aim, but as he watched, the swans drifted to the shore.
01:41And before his very eyes, they transformed into maidens.
01:45The foremost among them was the most radiant woman he had ever seen.
01:50Yet her beauty was touched with sorrow, as though she carried the weight of a thousand griefs.
01:55Who are you?
01:57I am Odette, Queen of the Swan Maidens.
02:01By day we are bound in feathers.
02:04Only by night may we walk as women.
02:07Baron Rothbart, a sorcerer of great power, holds us in thrall.
02:12Can anything be done about it?
02:15Only a vow of true, first love can break his curse.
02:20If I may return, I would like to know more about you.
02:22Come then, tomorrow night.
02:25Siegfried's heart stirred at her sorrow and beauty.
02:28As the moon set, she and her maidens returned to swan shapes and glided away.
02:35The next night, Siegfried returned.
02:40And again, Odette came, her face bright with quiet joy.
02:45Greetings. I am honored to be in your presence again.
02:50They walked together by the water, speaking of their lives, their dreams, their loneliness.
02:58Tell me more about your world.
03:01And you, my prince. Tell me your stories.
03:04I dream of a love that knows no bounds.
03:08A future where freedom reigns.
03:11Though love bloomed between them, Siegfried waited.
03:15For love must be more than longing.
03:18And Odette, though she longed for freedom, feared to hope too soon.
03:25If love is our hope, it must be spoken with certainty.
03:29Come once more. Then you shall know the truth of your heart.
03:40On the third night, Siegfried came.
03:48Odette was waiting. Odette's eyes shone with sorrow and longing.
03:55Odette, I have never loved another, and I shall never love another.
04:00I vow before heaven and earth, my heart is yours, now and forever.
04:05At the ball, though a hundred maidens stand before me, I shall choose you.
04:11Then perhaps freedom waits at dawn.
04:15But beware. Rothbart will try to deceive you.
04:18If you are tricked, all is lost.
04:23The swan maidens circled them, singing a lament like the wind.
04:28And Siegfried knew his fate was bound to hers.
04:36Seven nights from his birthday, the castle shone with splendor.
04:44Maidens in silks paraded.
04:46Yet Siegfried's gaze lingered on the doors, waiting for Odette.
04:55At the height of the ball, a trumpet announced new arrivals.
04:59It was Rothbart and his daughter Odile, though they came masked as nobles of high rank.
05:05Odile's face was a perfect mirror of Odette's.
05:09Believing his swan queen had come, Siegfried's heart leapt.
05:13Rothbart watched, a cruel smile on his lips.
05:29My beloved, before all, I choose you as my bride.
05:34In that instant, once rolled through the hall, Rothbart cast off his cloak, revealing his true form.
05:43Foolish prince, you have sworn yourself to Odile.
05:47By your vow, Odette is mine forever.
05:54At once, Siegfried knew the truth.
05:57He had been tricked.
05:59Odette, his Odette, was still captive under the curse.
06:04Siegfried! Siegfried! Come back!
06:10Siegfried fled into the night.
06:13He ran all the way to the lake, where Odette waited.
06:21You were deceived.
06:22By swearing to Odile, you have bound me to Rothbart forever.
06:28No, my vow was meant for you, and only you.
06:31Love cannot be stolen by a lie.
06:33If I must fight Rothbart himself to prove it, I will.
06:38As dawn's first light cut off the lake, the waters churned at dawn's end.
06:43Rothbart rose from the depths, his broke bill away like rings of light.
06:48Around him shadows twist, and the air filled with cries unseen.
06:52And the air filled with tears.
06:54Your mouth is broken.
06:57Odette belongs to me.
07:00Not while I live.
07:04In battle rage, Rothbart's magic hurl, storms and fire.
07:09But Siegfried's courage shone bright.
07:12Odette called upon the power of love, and even rolled in light around him.
07:17With a final strike, Siegfried shattered Rothbart's staff.
07:22The sorcerer screamed, consumed by his own dark power, and vanished forever.
07:28As dawn rose, the curse broke.
07:31Feathers dissolved.
07:33Maidens regained their human form.
07:37Odette, radiant, burned, interesting green.
07:41You have given me back, my love.
07:44No, it was our love that freed us both.
07:46When you go, you'll go, you'll go.
07:49You'll go, you'll go.
07:51You'll go, you'll eat.
07:51You'll eat.
07:52You'll eat.
07:52You'll taste good.
07:53You'll taste good.
07:54You'll taste good.
07:56You'll taste good.
07:56Yes, yes, yes, yes.
07:57The word of Rothbart's fall spread through the land.
07:59You'll love me.
08:01At Hassel, the bells rang as Siegfried and Odette were wed.
08:06My heart is yours forever.
08:08You'll love you.
08:09My heart is mine.
08:11My heart is my heart.
08:14My heart is yours.
08:14The queen, once stern, saw true love and hawk of dogs.
08:20As were the swam mates,
08:22They were free at last to return to their homes and families,
08:25Though many chose to settle near the lake that would have in both their prison and their refuge.
08:30Under the bright skies of the new dawn,
08:33Laughter and music echoed once more across its silken waters.
08:37And so, where once there had been sorrow and shadows, there was now love, freedom, and life.
08:46For true love, steadfast and unbroken, had triumphed, and they all lived happily ever after.
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