The Silver Crown

And end thus came of Inve's life
and hidden since, his witch and wife
within the woods that claim her name
and now her dreadful, wicked fame:
Queen Tantalla now rules alone 5
with silver crown and wooden throne.
For Tantalla, the fairest dread
had sought to rescue prince from dead.
She bore his body to her lair
and with dark magic did prepare 10
a ceremonial, final rite
when bright was glade under star light.

A Day of Blood
For long, in stillness lay the west,
calm was the air and still their zest.
Long they forgot the war of Kings,
which shamed them so, that none dared sing.

They held thought on their shamed defeat. 5
They brooded o'er the reckless feats
that led them on to fruitless war,
their name to ruin, fame to scar.
They since despised the foe uncouth
that, condescending, watched the south. 10

The story goes, in haste they flew.
A sudden urge within them grew
to conquest and for glory's sake;
to win the day, the prize to take.
With Tantalla, they swiftly made 5
their way through many nooks and shade
and under boughs and over tree
they sped like wild birds, swift and free.
Their larking made her break to song
and Tantalla raised up a throng 10
of dancing trees and bowing leaves.
The notes she sings with magics weave
to life the ancient grey lit trees
that rush in chorus, twos and threes

A visitor called the other night
I think his name was, “Death”;

there was a hideousness about his eyes,
an icy chill inside his breath.

He spoke to me of a journey
if I’d promise to commit;

where the irritating sounds of life
would fade, and stay unlit.

Then another visitor came along
and I believe her name was, “Life”,

just because of the way she looked at, “Death”…
and made him put away his knife.

While offering some coffee
I showed each to a chair,

The forests round the mountain side
are shades where many creatures hide
and slink through lowly growing leaves
as though the forest sighs and heaves
with life and sentience of its own.            5
The newly planted wood had grown
into a haven queer of sort
where natures creatures held their court.
The fluttering birds in chorus sang,
and rattling branches, squirrels rang            10
and ravens raised their calling din
as Inve, hunting, trod within

The legends told by kings in court
are of the greatly varied sort.
Long tales of unrequitted love,
or stories from the world above.
Of wizards wise and witches vain        5
and cursed lords with iron reign.
Most of these tales do have some truth
from most fantastic to uncouth
yet of the legends ever told
one still remains that grows not old.        10

There once had lived a dreadful queen
whose beauty never shall be seen
if all the west were e'er unmade

In Moriver's enduring spring
there rose to new life, many things
that in the erst, in slumber deep
had lain, entombed in Hilfe's keep.
Through many years of terror bleak            5
that sullied plain to mountain peak
the mighty Queen of all the world
her graces from the west withheld
until the raging tempers stilled
and noble blood no more was spilled.            10

The Dame of gardens, trees and flow'rs
filled the new world with her power

'Twas long ago, when Hamclad's hold
was newly wrought upon the fold
beneath the northern mountains high,
where icy summits scraped the sky.
Deep down within the dolven halls        5
of Aladice's gloomful walls;
there in a subterranean vale
do we begin this wondrous tale.

The world was young, the world was scarred
by ruthless war, it's beauty marred.        10
The battered lands lay wide and vast
and on the west, a shade was cast.
The heedless hatred of the lords

VII
Beyond the circle of the sky
above the crown of mountain high,
beyond the myriad, sailing lights
in Felabrine's celestial height,
a distant arc, there glowing faint            5
binds Moriver in its restraint.
It's name is sung in many songs
and hymns are raised that it may long
endure the blight upon its side
where dark, consumming creatures hide        10
on Moriver's bejewelled rim.
There in the east, there, fell and grim
where evil first took root upon,

In distant parts, in days of old,
when trees were tall, and mountains cold,
when young was fire in the sky
above the northern mountains high,
beneath the cruel, eating ice        5
was delved a home for Aladice.
The ubeline, the mighty race
descendent from their fallen grace
crept into Avra's northern parts
by tricks of slight and uncouth arts.        10
And there, defeating mighty lords
in armour clad, with cruel swords,
there dug the deepest, vastest hold