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Deep in the forest of Domrémy, where Joan tended her father's sheep, stood an ancient oak. It was said to be enchanted, its leaves whispering secrets of the future. Joan, a pious girl, would often sit beneath its shade, lost in prayer. One day, as the wind howled through the branches, a voice, clear as a bell, emerged from the rustling leaves.
"Maid of Orleans," the voice declared, "a dark shadow has fallen upon France. Only you can lift it. Lead the Dauphin to victory, and the light of freedom shall shine once more."
Terrified yet resolute, Joan heeded the oak's command. She sought an audience with the Dauphin, a young man burdened by doubt and despair. Initially dismissed as a foolish peasant girl, Joan's unwavering conviction and the uncanny accuracy of her prophecies slowly won him over.
With Joan at their side, the French army, once demoralized and defeated, found renewed vigor. They marched to Orléans, a city besieged by the English, and with Joan leading the charge, they broke the siege. The English, bewildered by the sudden resurgence of French spirit, were routed.
News of Joan's victories spread like wildfire. She became a symbol of hope for the beleaguered French, a living legend. But her triumph was short-lived. Captured by the Burgundians and betrayed by those she had helped, Joan faced a cruel fate.
Yet, even in death, the legend of Joan of Arc persisted. The whispering oak, forever silent after her passing, remained a sacred site, a reminder of the courage and sacrifice of the Maid of Orleans. And though the English were eventually driven from France, it is said that the spirit of Joan, born from the wind and whispered by the ancient oak, continues to watch over her beloved country.