My latest idea for a story centers around how magic items are created in a fantasy setting. The enchanter effectively tells the item what its purpose is. Those capable of the craft can hear an echo of that purpose when holding the item.
[Male character] is so good at his craft that the king only allows MC to enchant items. As the king’s power grows, so does his paranoia. Finally, he has MC killed, worried that one of his rivals will have MC enchant for them as well.
[Female character] is MC’s partner and lover. She is also an enchanter. She dreams often of their life together, until she realizes that the [item] (a harp?) she's holding has an echo of MC. She's not dreaming. He's speaking to her.
She works to become the new royal enchantress. When at last she's left alone with the king, she uses the item to kill him in a way that does not look like murder.