fair tresses fingered by moonbeams' light
wanders forlorn, yet proud, in the vast of night
mists arising o'er a fortress torn
banished for years from the place she was born

wisdom and anger, pride and regret, 
longing for that which was taken still yet
cloaked in the mail that protects her fair skin
a lonely road stretches, where she must begin

fear of the strangeness, yet knowing she must
retake her past, restore what is just
silvered scabbard gleaming with a white fire
mounting the Dragon she fulfills her desire

wings outstretched, a beast of silver and blue
green flames like emeralds exalted in hue
feasting on reflections of greed and oppression
lights up the night with fear and depression

******************

Royal blue imperial, 
a crown of golden hue,
stainless heart of silvered steel
is wrought in chain of truth.

Vast the wingspan of the kingly
dragon bearing ancient tomes,
lights his doom, his course to follow
for justice wills; his spirit roams.

And so the maiden claims his strength,
his magick and deep loyalty:
He carries her atop his back
across the angry sea.

Eruptions of emblazoned hell
smite the evening sky;
trails of blood-red vapours,
undead so soon to die.

The moon enwrapt in bloody gauze
gives light for nightmares accent:
Jareia, the daughter of the King
prepares for her descent.

The fetid mist, the rolling sea,
death lays within this vault.
She lights the night, upholds Revenge,
The sword of Truth aloft.

***************

The dragon slew the fog and mist
and razor sharp his mail and fire
Advanced towards volcanic hell
Succumbed to mage's magick, ire.

And yet the sword, Revenge its name
It's arc shone brightly, held aloft
Froze in time Jareia's descent
Her beauty sharp, with eyes of frost.

Time stood still, the cavern's bellows
Hissed no more, the air grew quiet
The redness of the air instead 
reflected in the wizard's eyes.

"So you would come and kingdom seek?",
he sneered and pointed at the girl,
His staff of elder, carved and polished
With blood from fallen Elven swords.

"I am Jareia, come to claim
my heritage, my brothers' swords
To underestimate my ruth
Is more than you may dare afford!"

And for a moment, a cooling draft
Enflowed, enrobed, surrounded them
The enchanted  eye of the moon,
the Lady, made his vision dim.

Swifter than the Pegasus, the
sword glowed hotly, defiant, bright,
he faltered for a single moment
his soul streamed out in bitter light.

Crumpling to the ground the wizard's
dark soul took flight, green mists surround
Time awoke, the dragon sputtered
Descended slowly to the ground.

Jareia stood upon the sands
and at her feet the voices rose
Her victory, arrival here
death's whispers had foretold.


**************

Her staff of rowan, emerald crowned
So like the verdant dragon breath
Was planted deeply in the sand
Where victory gave hope to death

The dragon lay upon the beach
She drew Revenge and touched his head
"I knight you in this moment now,"
In name of brethren Elven dead."

Hushed voices rose beneath her feet
The sky grew dim, dark clouds arose
And yet the fragrance of the wind 
Her senses sharp, did not oppose.

The cavern beckoned, light appeared
The dragon raised his sharp cold eyes
Lumbered off into the shadows
An orange sun began to rise.

Jareia sought her staff and sword
And with him walked inside to find
A ring of silver, golden cord
The mage in dust had left behind

She walked about the den and knew
Her journey only just begun
Conviction of the danger grew
Revenge,her counsel, made a plan.

Bright the light that sliced the darkness
Runes in blight adorned the walls
She read the words her brothers left,
"And she shall rise, defeat them all!"

And while she mused upon the words
Her hearing quick, heard distant shouts
The tides arose and spilled about her
Jareia puzzled, "which way out?"


**************

And as the tide came rushing in
Jareia held the cord and ring
Amidst the shouts of creatures' din
The golden cord began to sing

The writhing, wriggling gave disgust
She hurled it to the ground and saw
A golden ladder wrought with snakes
A glowing light above her called

The dragon turned as if to go
"Protection I bestow on you,"
He promised to return and serve
When night appeared and day withdrew.

A single irridescent scale
He placed upon her palm and said
"Reflect the light, illuminate,
Draw forth the light from souls thought dead"

He kissed the maiden's hand and turned,
He dove beneath the waves, was gone
She with distaste then touched the cord
Escape to plan then her concern

The ring tucked safely at her breast,
She climbed the ladder, looked upon
Two-legged beasts with ruby eyes
So like the livid flaming dawn

"Find the intruder, tear his limbs"
The shouts of anger, loud and crude
The vision of the infrared
Then spied her in the cavern's roof

She spied a passage dimly lit
And hurriedly she made her way
She touched the wall and shrank from it
The smell of death was strong that day

She did not know, could not discern
The source from which her thoughts then flowed
The ring impressed, her skin was burned
The silver circlet beat and glowed

**********

The tunnel walls were tangled, damp
A pulsing heartbeat drummed within
She leaned upon her staff and sighed
The air was growing very thin

She looked upon the dragon's scale
Shadows parted, a face appeared
She exclaimed with joy and wonder
To see her father's image there

"The road is long, are you prepared,
To bind with magick... hatred? pain?"
Jareia gazed into his eyes,
"The Elven Lords again shall reign!"

His eyes reflected bitter thoughts,
The suffering of his heart intense
"Find the Fortress of the Shadows,
Walk through the forest dark and dense."

"And will you always come to me,"
She asked him as he faded, then
The clouds upon the mirrored scale
Descended on it once again.

The ring burnt hotly on her breast
She flung it off, with tears and pain
Struck the pulsing wall before her
Blood spurted,foul, from deep within.

The walls were living awful things
And from them came the smell of Death
She drew upon her fortitude
No longer dared she draw a breath.

Wildly, madly, espied the ring
And tied it to the golden cord
Until she knew it's power, this
To lose it she would not afford.

Jareia ran along the tunnel
She stumbled, dropped the ring and cord
She drew a ragged breath in wonder,
A door appeared, with golden knob

She grasped the golden ornament
And screamed with pain, a holy light
Burnt her hand, resolved to bear it
Stepped through and into misty night.

The Forest of the Shadows rose,
Above her tall, forbidding, proud
The door then vanished, ring and cord
Lay quiet on the cold, hard ground.

She lay a circlet nine feet wide
Of irridescent rocks and jewels
Within protection there said prayers
And gathered all the magick tools

Wind rustled softly, ruffled hair
The ancient trees in silence watched
She lay upon the ground and slept
The night on silent feet approached.

As darkness fell upon the girl
The dragon then his promise met
He sat beside the circle there
His thoughts were sad, his eyes were wet.

And for an hour he watched her sleep,
And vainly watched for stars to rise
The emerald smoke so softly rose
Unbidden as the dragon sighed.

****************

Some moments passed, the jeweled night
Rose softly in the sky and lit
A silvered path where shadows walked
And furry beasts of memory stalked

Jareia wakened to the sound
Of breathing soft that echoed round
She knelt before her loyal friend,
Heard quiet voices in the glen

The forest shuddered, clouds arose
The wind moaned loudly, no repose
She thrust her staff into the night,
Sparks of silver, distilled in light

Haunting voices, her brothers' pain
Came to her heart, a dread cold rain
She walked along the moondamp trail
Listened intent, a mournful tale

The dragon knew the forest well
Upon the girl a magick fell
She walked as in a trance, the light
The voices called her in the night

"Beware, my princess," he did say,
"Those voices are from yesterday."
The dragon saw the grasping limbs,
And burnt them crisp, though light was dim.

She would not stop, he dreaded day
As time moved on, did not delay
He would protect her, til demise
To dread the dawn, he yet denied.

Restless, driven by the murmur,
Mad and haunted, cold-hot furor,
And then she stopped, and blinking, stood
Perplexed, as dawn rose, broke the mood.

And as her mind became more clear
Wood-smoke rose as she drew nearer
Lay a clearing in the forest
Her spirit sought a place of rest

The dragon stumbled, sunbeams smote
Scales with ashen scars his coat
"Forgive me, I must go or die,"
Wept as she turned to him and smiled.

"Your task is done well, your sleep earned,"
She watched as his skin crackled, burned.
"A cave awaits you, yon gray hills,"
From her soft voice devotion spilled.

The music of the Elven glen
Soothed like the warmth of loving friends
The spell was gone, her mind was clear
Her heart was light and free of fear.

Jareia watched the dragon fly
And emerald tears fall as he cried
She shook her head, and then she knew
That she was fighting for him too.

She walked up to the cabin, drew
Her sword Revenge, prepare to slew
The door ajar, a singing hearth
A wizened woman filling jars

The door moved slowly, opened wide
She stepped with quickness, moved inside
"Welcome child, I have been waiting,"
"Come inside, 'will soon be raining."

She was enchanted, drawn within,
She had no fear but answered whim
And knelt before the ancient crone
Yet knew somehow they weren't alone.

The old witch peered into her eyes
And saw the pure intent, the wise
Woman knew her journey, rose
And wisdom parted, wits were trothed.

"I have a gift, a story too,"
She said, "I've waited long for you."
She rubbed her hands together, smoke
Appeared and then she once more spoke.

"But I am tired, as must you be,"
"You cannot trust the spells of trees,"
"Lie here on this bed of feathers,"
Shut the house against the weather.

And in the weather, foul and damp,
Shadows danced and billowed, scamped,
And with the spirits she concurred
Jareia slept, unspoken words.

Not! the end

Sherry Gilles @2000

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