At the base of the vast mountain
Torrents stream down and water pools
Then, folding like a fountain,
Between stepping stones, shaped like honeycombs
The crashing to foam fuels
Across the rocks alike a dancer
A woman leaps to the far shore
Long hair curls around her
With colors bright by moonlit light
Her dress such beauty bore
Watching from the forestline
Slim silver round his chest
His sword’s been chipped with time
The man not yet defeated
On his shield a blazing crest
The land echoed his call
Though his voice was soft and high
“Take care you do not fall!
When this Evil I defeat
Someone should see it die!”
Stood safely on the riverbed
The woman smiled and laughed
“O knight, how you forget
I’ll break this curse, I’ll get there first
I’ll see your hope won’t last”
Then the lake was silent still
She spoke, “I’m of the Court”
The water black and chill
“A simple catch, this Beast’s no match!
I require no support”
The knight said, at the shore
“I was making no offer to thee!”
Then from the ground he tore
A flower yellow bright
And he held it up to see
“Look! The color of my crest!
Of Olyver, father, King
Alas, he wears it best
But when I win and I come home
The golden bells shall ring!”
“You will find a golden grave,
Should you carry on this path!”
Was the one response she gave
Asking a command, the woman raised her hand
And the water rippled back
“Look now, my knight, see this is how
It’s foolish to even try”
Then turned with graceful bow
She left him there, and let him glare
But the sun did catch her eye
A moss-grown tower lookout
At the heart of the woods stood
Whispering oaths devout
Toying with a yellow sash
The knight glanced over the wood
The night was silent dark
And his vizor gleaming light
From afar he saw her spark
Leaned out over the edge
Saw her dress in starlit night
Up she looked and then she saw
Then waved at him with cheer
Briefly her stride did halt in awe
The holy light did shine so bright
For but a second she felt fear
The thoughts were quick suppressed
With conviction she resumed
To the tower and her quest
For the Court, and their support,
This Demon must be doomed
The knight from high above
With feigned belief did call
“You made it here! All despite of
The jungle that’s this wood
Come, come beyond the wall!”
Golden-gloved he went below
And gold vows did he obey
When for the hills he made to go
Magic was no certain end
Nothing would stop his way
The wheat parted before her
She knew the knight was on her trail
Walking the fields of Order
After that the hills, and the Evil kills
All of life, but she’d prevail
Then these hills she did ascend
And magic flickered at her side
The Cursed blight she would contend
Power she had, and courage to add
For freedom she would fight
Through the field he found his way
And the sun would form his guide
For when the Beast its crimes would pay
At his chosen sacred sword
Then freedom he’d provide
And so he rushed the rise
In the name of his King father
Whatever outcome would arise
With sword and shield in hand
He’d face it with courage proper
Face to face with Demon she stood
And with effort raised her head
She had just done all she could
Both wounded by magic, she started to panic
That the Court would find her dead
Then from above he leaped
And with gleaming light he struck
The Beast then howled and wept
The knight so went on, with sunlit weapon drawn
But one mean hit did end his luck
Now so sure of his demise
The knight so feared his vow
He raised his crest up to the skies
And by some blessed miracle
Sword and sorcery dealt a final blow
Golden-gloved he sheathed his sword
And together they returned
Both had kept their vow and word
With aid from one another, for each respect and honor
Of King & Court was earned