A Legend about Love

A spring is hidden in the Iron Mountain but the people of Arzen cannot get to it and they are suffering from thirst. Caravans bring water to the palace of princess Mekhmene Banu. Shirin, the princess's sister, falls ill and no-one can help her. The Mysterious Unknown promises that he will cure Shirin if the princess forsakes her beauty and has a palace built for her. Mekhmene Banu agrees without hesitation. Her face grows old that very minute and Shirin recovers. The artist Ferkhad is part of the work team building the palace. Both sisters fall in love with him but Ferkhad has eyes only for the beautiful Shirin. The princess is jealous but promises Ferkhad that he can have Shirin if he brings Arzen water from the Iron Mountain. Ferkhad agrees even though he knows that this task will take years and he will not see his Shirin for a long time. Ten years pass and Shirin is permitted to bring Ferkhad back. Both know, however, that they cannot be happy if the people continue to suffer from thirst so Ferkhad continues his search. Finally, water starts gushing out of the Iron Mountain. Ferkhad returns to the city and Mekhmene Banu is still hoping that she will win his love since Shirin has aged during his absence. On the advice of the Unknown, she washes her face in the water from the mountain and she grows beautiful once more, but Ferkhad does not succumb to her charms. He still loves his faithful Shirin.