The Epic Is Done...

[Tami]

...for now.

Four years in the writing, and re-writing, and re-writing...well, I'm sure you get the picture. Be warned before you start, this is a very long piece. I'm going to let it "rest" awhile before I attempt any further edits, but comments would be most welcome.

Medieval

From out of the mists
On a foggy moor
Distant echoes of hoofbeats
Nearer they pound
Preceding their source

A darkened shape forms
Cloak fluttering madly
Ghostly fingers unseen
Hold it aloft

A tall figure on horse
Clad fully in black
A dark contrast to
The silver Moon's light

The grinding of cogs
The clanking of chain
A gate swings open
Portcullis raised

Sudden activity
Spawned from alarm
Hurried ranks fall in
Under torches blazing
Their silence bespeaks
Unheard questions

"Bar the gates,
Ready your arms"
Calls the figure on horse
As he slides to a halt

A stable boy appears
To take the steaming mount
Firmly in hand
The steed stamps his hooves
Nostrils flaring wide

Strong hands on the reins
The stable boy waits
He murmurs quiet words
As he strokes
The steaming neck

From under the cloak
Unseen until now
The rider reveals
The form of a child

With outstretched arms
A chamberlain approaches
As gently the dark rider
Lowers down the child

Frightened by strangers
Shivering from cold
He looks about him
Yet utters no sound

With questioning eyes
The chamberlain wonders
"Not now" says his lord
As he waves him away

The rider dismounts
And calls on his Captain
The man steps up
Ever at the ready

Leaning in close
He tries to hear
Amidst the din
Of weapons and men

Portcullis lowered
Its cogs locked tight
Heavy doors slam shut
Solid timbers their brace

Fires banked low
Heavy kettles are hung
A soup of death boils
Deep in their wombs

Quivers of arrows
Hauled up on rope
Wary eyes watch
From ramparts above

Silent bailey walls
Hide panic within
Women with children
Gathered so near

Low unto high
No rank matters here
Sobs are concealed
Duty to uphold

New arrows fletched
Wares of death
Linen bandages rolled
Herbs and potions
Wares of healing

Fearful young eyes
Locked on a door
Tiny hands grasp
At billowing skirts
Silent prayers sent
For a safe night's passage

The door swings open
A child cries out
Loving arms reach over
To hold her close

The chamberlain stands
Uncertain in the arch
The attention of all
On the burden he carries

He steps forth
From the threshold
The child in his arms
Looks about him in awe

A maid comes forward
And gently takes the child
Hair matted down
Crusty and red
Remains of his tunic
Hang by tattered threads

Slowly tears fill up
His young sullen eyes
"Momma gone"
The only words
He finally releases

The maid holds him close
Her arms gently soothe him
She looks up in question
At the chamberlain's eyes

He silently shrugs
And quietly says
"The Master brought him in,
I know not from where."

He casts a look around
At all who are there
His eyes fall to rest
On bundles in cradles

Above them on tables
Full quivers of arrows
He draws in his breath
As his blood runs cold

If only to know
Is their fate foretold
And what of their future
This dark mournful night

These children before him
For them he feared most
How hopeless he felt
Against this enemy unseen

His sworn oath called out
With each of their hearts
Abruptly he turned
And stepped to the hall
Silently closing the door
Before his doubts
Were exposed

High atop the battlement
The lord surveys all
His eyes taking in
The troubling sights below him

Ordered confusion and yet
His men were at the ready
For what was to come
This they knew not

He prayed to his god
In hope they wouldn't too
Soon be the silent ghosts
Of an unknown tomorrow

He turns to look out
For a sign in the darkness
As his mind unbidden
Plays over the day
Although it rushes by quickly
It seems a life time ago

His eyes see reflections
Grow big in the fog
Flashing fresh in his mind
Reliving the horror
Of Two days ago now...

...From atop the tor
Down he gazed in silence
As across the plain
A path of smoke floated

Strewn about the field
Like cast-off toys
Soldiers and mounts,
Lords and serfs alike

No life had been spared
On the trampled ground
More red than green,
Destruction was vast

Cottages burned
Castle razed
The village gone,
No foe to be seen

Silence around him
The only sound to be heard
Was the remnant of death
Lifted on the wind

What force could move
With such seeming speed
No trace, no corpse
No foreign banner

Down the slope
He spurred his steed on
Skirting the carnage
To move past the ghosts

He felt them everywhere,
Encircled about him;
Their breath on his skin
In silence they plead

He listened to echoes
While watching for life,
Yet any vestige of hope
Died in the fading light

Feeling exposed
He pulled his cloak closer
Confusion battled logic
Move on, he must do

An alarm to raise
But which way to ride;
Whatever came through
Left him no clue

Slowly turning his horse
He watched the horizon
Nothing east, nothing south,
Nor west did he see

But there in the north
In the sun's final light
A trick of the eye,
Or a fire's dull glow?

Onward he rode,
Indecision his guide;
Gallop on blindly
In hopes he could help
Or ride on with caution
And survive to warn others?

His warrior's heart
Cried out in rebellion,
Refusing to listen
A battle raged within.
But patience won out,
Astute in its valour.

He rode on through the dusk
The air's chill biting deeper;
His thick woolen cloak
Made him no warmer.

Redder the glow
On the nearing horizon;
Indecision run rampant
Time running low.

A shift in the saddle,
He feels no easier.
Death hangs near,
A dark cloud about him.

He enters the wood,
Made bright by the fire.
Guiding his horse,
Surrounded by shadow.

Listening hard,
Not hearing a sound,
No animals about,
Not a bird took flight.

Flames took shape
In the eerie twilight,
Their dance of destruction
Almost hypnotic.

Muffled behind the
Fire's deep roar
Were the screams of men
Leaving this Earth.

The rider sat quietly,
His mount exhausted
Resisting even harder
The instincts of a fighter.

The village ablaze,
Chaos roamed free
Black smoky tendrils
Danced through the air.

The rider sat upright
For again he sees
A one sided fight~
There's no enemy here.

Surveying the fields
He prepared to step forth
As he gathered the reins
His mount bolted away

Almost unseated,
He regained control
Then looked about him,
Seeking the cause.

Instinct led his hand
To the hilt of his sword,
The firm grasp of his gauntlet
Hiding his fear.

The thickening smoke
Burned in his eyes;
Through the blur of tears
A huddled shape appears.

There in the bramble
With soot smudged face
A child looks out,
Fear holding him still.


The dark rider
Releases his sword
And slowly dismounts
Reins in his hand.

He approaches the child,
Speaking quietly,
"Don't worry,
You're safe with me."

His voice assuring himself
As much as the child,
He slowly leans down.
The child whimpers,
Trying to back away.

There behind him,
Stopping his movement
Lies twisted and torn
The body of a woman.

The child touches her
And suddenly remembering,
He tearfully cries
"Momma wake up."

The rider moved aside
The bare thorny branches,
Picking up the small boy
He murmurs quietly to him.

His eyes take in
The child's silent mother;
The pain of her death
Etched on her face.

The little boy shivers,
Bringing the rider back,
His mind darkly wandering
Some unknown abyss.

Wrapping his cloak
About the cold little boy
Slowly he turns,
Facing the darkness before him.

Night had overtaken
The last of the day,
The fire had dulled,
Reflecting a deep red glow.

"Find somewhere safe,
Protect this young victim"
The warrior's mind
Tried desperately to focus.

He lifted the child
And set him ahorse;
Mounting up quietly,
The warrior settled behind him
A solid calming force.

Gently he urged
His mount to a walk,
Wondering where to turn next,
He decided on home.

They journeyed through the dark
Huddled against the cold,
Their only light
Cast down by the Moon.

The dark rider's horse
Stepped carefully along
His head drooping down,
Exhaustion a close companion.....

....Slowly the lord's thoughts
Moved on through that night
And over the next day,
All of it still
An unbelievable blur.

He never once questioned
The young charge he had found,
Instead waiting with patience
For what time would reveal.

They stopped only once,
For a meal and some rest,
More for his mount
Than the warrior's mind.

Constantly he watched
For signs around him,
Yet all he could sense
Was an uneasy clime.

He awoke with a start,
To an unworldly scream
As the scared little boy
Released his fear....

....Even now, looking out
Into the stillness before him,
He found hard to understand
What roamed out there hunting.

Lost again in the tale
This young boy had told,
The dark clad lord
Wandered atop the stone wall.

Mentally he ran through
What they had close at hand,
Knowing it mayn't be enough
What else could he do.

Suddenly below him,
Something ado at the gate;
Looking down in the dark
His eyes fought to see.

A solitary figure
Led a small group.
Turning on his heel,
He climbed down the ladder.

There at the postern,
His guardsman argued
"Wait on the lord,
I can't just let you in."

Muffled voices replied
"You need us to help,
Your arrows will not stop
The demonry at work tonight."

The guardsman argued back,
"But how can we know,
What promise can you give
Should you come in,
This evil isn't you?"

Again a reply
“You’re using up time
We need to be ready;
If we were here to cause harm,
You’d know it ere now.”

The lord stepped forward,
Placing a hand on the guard.
“Open the door,
We have nothing to lose.”

A grimace on his face,
He swung open the postern.
Stepping aside,
He let them all enter.

Thirteen dark figures
Filed in through the gate;
Covered in cloaks,
Hoods hid every face.

They waited in silence
While the guard barred the door
As one they all turned,
And stood facing the lord.

An uneasy silence passed,
Until one finally spoke.
“We know what walks
The moors this night,
He'll be here upon us
Long before light.”

The lord long ago
Had measured their chances;
He had asked for help,
And it seemed to be here.

He looked to the one
Who had previously spoken;
“Where do we start,
Will we even survive?”

She stepped away from the others,
Looking about her;
“The first thing to be done,
Is iron that door.”

The guard asked sharply,
“Iron the door?”
What could this woman
Possibly think?

“Silence!”
The lord warned
“You will do as bidden,
We don’t have time to question.”

“But m’lord,” He began
Once again to speak,
“With iron on the gate,
There will be no escape.”

Once more the woman
Quietly spoke,
“If you don’t keep him out,
You will have no need
For any escape.”

The chill in her words
Set the guard to thought,
Bruskly he turned,
“Off to the smithy,”
He ordered a boy.
“We’ll do as is asked.”

Calm once again,
The woman spoke,
“You know what to do,
Now set to your tasks.”

The men looked on
As the others divided;
In groups of three they went
Only their leader remained.

He looked upon her,
A question on his lips;
But there in the torchlight
He felt a wisdom and strength
Far beyond fathom.

“Whatever we have,
Whatever you need
You’ve only to say.
It is yours, without delay.”

The lord turned,
Realizing then
All his men’s eyes
Were full upon them.

“We have a new ally,
You will treat them as such.”
He singled out a man,
And beckoned him forth.

“I am placing you
At m’lady’s service.
Any request she may have,
Any task she hands you,
See it is done just as she bids.”

The young man
Bowed his head in courtesy.
The woman allowed
A brief smile in return,
As quickly it was gone,
To the young man she spoke.

“Take me to your stores
We must hurry now,
They’ll appear anon.
This manse as yet
Is far from prepared.”

Watching the pair
Head off to the cellar,
The lord looked all ‘round
Surveying his lot.

“Who are these women,”
His mind paused to wonder.
“What do they know, and
Why come here?”

The guard at his side
Shook him from thought;
“M’lord, up there,
What are they doing?”

He looked up to see
Where the guard was pointing;
There on the battlements,
Three on each side,
The twelve women were standing.

Their cloaks thrown back,
Ignoring the cold
The women looked out,
Sentries on duty.

His men saw them too,
He also saw fear;
All motion had ceased
A still in the air.

“Get back to your work,
We’ve a battle to fight;
Pay heed to your duty
Let them do what they might.”

“M’lord, what plan do we have
Who is coming to fight?”
O’er and o’er again
Louder, the questions.

“A fight for our lives
Is what we will face;
Now back to your tasks
Make sure we’re prepared.”

In the back of his mind
He kept all the horror
What he alone had seen,
And the child had survived.

Try though he might
He could not see
The army out roaming
Nor when they’d appear.

“There but not really,
Feel without touch”
The child had told him.
What had the boy meant?

“He feeds on your fear.
Show him none.”
He’d been so lost in thought
He didn’t hear the woman approach.

He met her eyes,
A green nearing black
Reflecting the fires
Of torches behind him.

“Who did this-if you know
Won’t you tell me please.
The child’s story doesn’t
Make sense, I can’t understand
What he was trying to tell me.”

“I can’t tell you exactly
What to expect,
To me he is one,
To you another.”
She answered him quietly.

“How can an army appear
One way to me,
And another to you?
An army is an army, tangibly there.”

She looked up at the warrior,
Her eyes piercing his,
Giving thought to her answer,
Gathering her words.

“Before I give you answer
Please tell me first,
What you have seen,
What you have heard,
For this was no army.”

"No army?
How could this be?
No man alone
Could cause this carnage
I have seen!"

"Please," she said quietly,
"Tell me what you know,
It will help you
More than it will me."

Drawing a deep breath,
The lord related to her
Where he had been
And all that had passed.

He realized as he spoke
How burdened he felt,
After carrying this with him
And keeping it silent.

The woman listened,
Never interrupting
Never a question.
She let him talk until
His story was done.

She looked at him silently
And started to speak,
She halted as a man appeared,
A cask in his arms.

“The salt m’lady,
As you requested.”
She pointed to the ramparts
On the northern wall.

“Please take it to them,
It is they who need it.”
She turned back to the lord,
Considering his story.

“You say there was no trace,
No hint of what was there.
If you look again,
You will see what you need.”

The lord looked at her
His temper flaring
The stress of the day
Taking its toll.

“I have viewed it
Hundreds of times
It doesn’t change.
The carnage is there,
It is undeniable.”

He went on,
His voice increasing
To almost a yell
His fear and pain
Echoes on walls.

“Death everywhere,
Whole villages gone!
Now tell me please,
What do you know!”

Suddenly he noticed the silence
And what he had done.
He had surrendered control
And now his men knew.

A chill grew in the air
Without a breath of wind.
All movement had ceased
New fears took over.

The woman never flinched
Instead she turned
Facing the north,
She signaled the three
“It is time to begin.”

Upon her signal
The women turned outward,
Joining their hands
Their arms raised upward.

The women to the north
Began a low chant
“Ancient one of the Earth
We implore thee to come
From your tower in the North
Bless us with the power of three
To watch as we may
And protect these lands.”

The one with the cask
Began to move east
Along the top of the wall,
Ignoring the soldiers
She walked on past.

The salt poured free
To the outside of the wall,
Falling unseen
To the ground below.

She paused for a moment
With the next group of three
Then started again
As a new chant began

“Ancient one of the Air
We implore thee to come
From your tower in the East
Bless us with the power of wind
To watch as we may
And protect these lands”

On the southern wall now
Those three joined in;
To an eerie harmony,
They added their voice

“Ancient one of the Fire
We implore thee to come
From your tower in the South
Bless us with the power of Flame
To watch as we may
And protect these lands.”

The last of the three
Added their call;
The salt flowed from the cask,
Cascading down into the darkness.

“Ancient one of the Water
We implore thee to come
From your tower in the West
Bless us with the power of the Tides
To watch as we may
And protect these lands.”

Her circuit complete,
The woman set down the cask,
Joining once again
The women to the north.

A crescendo arose,
The four parts were blending
A final call put forth
Before silence again fell.

From the door of the bastion
The chamberlain stepped forth
In awe he had watched
The scene unfold

Trying to find reason
For the display before him,
He approached the lord
To implore him with questions.

“He is near.”
The woman spoke first.
"Please, call your men
Down from the wall."

The lord answered her order
With harsh disbelief
“Call them down?
They are our warning.”

The woman seemed to grow
Before both of these men;
Her voice became stronger
No longer so soft.

“When we arrived here,
You told your men
Do as they ask,
Without hesitation.”

“As it was then,
So is it now.
We do not have the time
For you to argue.”

“What fool’s plan is this,”
the chamberlain’s mind raced
“Who was this woman
To demand such as this.”

"Devilry is at work m'lord,
Can you not see?"
The chamberlain argued on,
"I pray God will help us now."

"Our Gods are the same,
Although you believe it not."
Her eyes ablaze,
She faced the warrior.

He looked to his men
Each one of them watching
A curt nod barely there
He would comply.

The chamberlain stared,
Disbelief in his eyes.
Not once had he seen
His master ever waver.

"They will kill us all;
M'Lord stop this fallacy.
We need to fight,
Let us be ready!"

“The might of your sword
Won’t see you victorious.
This is no army you face;
Please, now, call them down.”

The warrior turned;
He gave the order.
In silence one by one,
The men abandoned
Each of their posts.

The chamberlain cried,
"But what of those women?
Surely they will do no good."

The woman breathed deeply
Ere she calmly spoke.
"Those women will do more
Than any man with a sword
Would ever be able."

"Now please,"
She spoke more,
"Enter your bastion,
Be with your loved ones."

"M'lord,"
The chamberlain
Once again
Tried to plead.

The lord stood silently,
Defeat and defiance
Battling within him,
Neither willing to yield.

Finally he spoke,
Looking to the woman.
"We will do as you bid,
and meet our fate."

The chamberlain turned
Throwing his hands up
In hopelessness he cried,
"To this we are doomed."

He stormed off,
Entering the bastion
Trying to hide
The fear and the anger
Boiling inside.

Again in the kitchen
He looked all about
What change had come here
In the time since he’d left.

No crying, no fear
Only warmth from the hearth
The child content,
On the lap of a matron.

A young girl
Stood silently by,
Watching the boychild,
Her eyes reflecting
The warmth of the matron's.

The chamberlain stood
Silent before them,
The boy had been bathed
And given new clothes.

“What has happened,”
She quietly asked.
Her eyes not showing
The worry she carried.

“Nothing but sorcery,
I don’t understand.”
He said with regret.
“Some women arrived,
To what purpose, who knows.”

The matron’s response
He did not expect.
"Have faith,"
Was all she said.

To the surprise of them both
The child whispered,
“You need worry naught,
They will keep us safe.”

"How can you say this?
You do not know
What these women
Have done!"

"She is the light,"
The child replied.
"They protected me,
They will stop him."

The chamberlain
Needed to know more,
But before he could ask
He heard someone enter.

The child looked up,
A smile on his face.
The matron looked past,
A knowing look in her eyes.

Turning to see,
The chamberlain knew
The woman stood there;
With the softest of smiles
“Hello young one,”

She greeted him,
Her eyes including
The girl beside him
In a silent greeting.

The warrior stood silent,
A slight shake of his head
Made the chamberlain
Forego his protests.

The woman spoke
Directly to the matron,
"Hold strong your faith,
All will be well."

The matron replied
Understanding in her eyes.
"We will be strong,
Thank you for your blessing."

"I must go now,
He is here."
The woman turned,
Her cloak billowing behind her.

The warrior followed her,
Pleading to her;
"Tell me who is this man,
The one with the power
To lay our country in ruins."

"He is no man,"
The woman answered.
And she left him alone,
Standing in the bastion.

"Let me out,"
She ordered the guard.
Speachless,
He looked at her.

"I cannot do that, m'lady."
He moved to stand
In front of the postern,
Blocking her path.

"Danger awaits,
You are safer in here."
The guard refused
To stand aside.

"Please stand aside,
I must face him out there.
He will not harm me,
The manse will be protected."

"Let her go,"
The warrior could not believe
Those words were his;
Yet somehow he knew
She spoke the truth.

"Thank you, m'lord.
Seal this gate solid,
Do not open it again
Until tomorrow's sun
Shines on these walls."

The guard stood aside,
Dutifully opening the gate.
The woman smiled,
And stepped out.

The warrior froze,
Catching his breath;
There on the horizon
A black fog had formed,
Blacker than the night sky
Above them.

The woman turned back,
"Close the postern,
And stay off the ramparts.
Let the others do their work."

Still the lord stood there
Flanked by two guards,
Frozen like their leader,
Their mouths agape.

The woman yelled to them,
Breaking their gaze.
"Close that gate, now!"
"What is that?"
They asked in unison.

"He will be your doom,
Now get inside!"
The woman turned back,
Facing the approaching haze.

"Sir, we must close the gate!"
The guards pulled him in,
Slamming the postern
And dropping the iron bar.

The warrior ran,
Climbing a ladder
He watched in horror
From an archer's window.

The woman stood quietly;
Her hood was thrown back
Long dark hair flowed down,
Stirred by an unseen wind.

Before her,
The fog grew thicker
It appeared...
To take shape.

Even though he watched,
The warrior didn't believe
What his eyes were seeing.
Surely he was sleeping still,
And would awake soon.

The fog rolled closer;
"Halt, you shall go no further!"
The woman raised her arms
In powerful defiance.

The warrior,
The brave warrior,
Was shaking in fear.
Never would he believe
What he saw next.

A roar sounded
Across the wind;
He realized,
It came from the fog.

It grew thicker,
Seemed to move faster;
Heading directly to the woman.
She did not move.

The blackness hovered before her,
Then rolled inward, solidifying.
What was this?
Then the warrior remembered.

The child had told him,
Something there but not there.
Now he understood,
But he still did not know.

As he stared,
The blackness grew taller
Something seemed
To be inside it.

The woman spoke again;
"You will halt,
You will not pass.
You will leave these people be."

The shape in the fog
Seemed to speak,
Its voice a deep roar;
"Blood."

The warrior
Sat back from the window.
He had felt that thing
Look at him.

He felt it move;
How could he,
Without looking at it.
Nothing made sense.

He looked up at the women
They stood on the ramparts,
Seeming to take no notice
Of the abomination before them.

He heard the woman speak.
Slowly he leaned
Forward to the window,
Trying to hear
The words she said.

"You will stop. Now.
This is enough.
What you have done
Was not needed."

The black shape
Rumbled at the woman,
"No! You do not need to,"
He heard her reply.

What he heard next
Made his blood run cold;
He could not believe
What she appeared to do.

The woman stepped forward,
Holding her hand out
Reaching to the darkness.
"Come to me,"
Was all she said.

Again, it rumbled.
She answered,
Speaking a language
He did not understand.

Whatever she had said
Made the fog roll;
He felt a heaviness
In the air.

The fog thickened,
The shape became clearer.
In front of the woman
Stood...a man?

No, it could not be;
He was only a legend,
One told by the elders.
This could not be true.

Yet there it stood.
The warrior in him
Wanted to strike it,
Kill it.

He knew though,
That was not possible.
Others had tried,
All had perished.

Then how could this be?
The woman stood there,
Right before it,
Unharmed.

The blackness moved,
Touching her.
"You will not harm Innocents,
I will not permit it."

The fog rolled again,
Doubling its height.
Still the woman
Stood before it.

"These people
Have done nothing.
You hunted those you sought,
You dealt with them,
It is done."

The warrior felt..
...Confusion.
Was it his own,
Or did it come
From that thing?

His answer came
As the shape
Rumbled yet again.
The warrior watched.

"Yes, I know;
Others will come.
They will not be
From this place."

"You need to trust me,
You know I cannot lie to you."
The woman almost whispered,
"The little ones are here."

The little ones?
She had called the child that.
But she had said ones;
Who was the other?

The warrior turned,
Looking at the barred door.
He fought the urge,
He knew it wasn't safe.

How did the woman
Know to come here?
How had she known
The child was here?

"Have faith,"
He heard his mind say.
"Have faith,"
It repeated.

He looked through
The narrow slit,
Trying to understand,
Logic escaped him.

"You will feed,
My love, but not
On the Innocents.
You need only me."

"Yes, others will come;
We both know that,
A truth proven time over.
Until then,
You will feed only on me."

The warrior shook his head.
Surely he had heard wrong.
"My love?"
How could anyone name it such?

Feed?
Only on her?
Lack of sleep
Was making him
See things,
For this could not be.

The woman stepped closer,
It took her in its arms,
Embracing her.
The warrior wanted to scream,
Yet he was powerless, he knew.

"Take me,"
She whispered.
"Take me home.
It is time."

The warrior knew
What he saw
Was not possible,
It couldn't be.

The chamberlain was right,
Devilry was afoot,
The women had bewitched them,
He had to stop this.

As he went to move,
Leave the window,
He halted.
He rubbed his tired eyes.

He looked again.
The woman was glowing.
She was enveloped;
A soft whiteness flowed
Around her.

Then he screamed.
The black shape
Became solid,
For but a moment.

In that moment,
It wrapped itself
Around the woman,
Her glow shining through,
Untouched by the blackness.

Then,
They were gone.
Vanished.
Where?

The silence of disbelief
Clung to him.
He looked away
Then back again.

He didn't know
What he expected to see.
The woman?
She was gone,
The fog with her.

He looked up
At the women again.
They were moving,
Coming down from the rampart.

He clambered down,
Leaving the window.
He ran for the postern,
Wanting to search.

"No! Do not!"
He turned.
That was her voice,
Yet only the other women
Stood there before him.

One stepped forward,
Speaking gently.
"What is done is done.
It is the way it must be."

"She will be safe,
He will not harm her.
He loves her too much.
Please, do not go out.
Give them time."

"Time?
They are gone,
Surely you saw."
The warrior wondered,
Was he going mad?

"No, they are not gone.
They are around us,
As they always are.
They are here."

"Here?
I cannot see them,
Yet I am not blind.
Do you see them?"

"No, we cannot see them.
You are not blind,
Nor have you gone mad.
They are a balance,
One of equal power."

"If you cannot see them,
How do you know
They are here?
If they are here,
Why are we not dead?"

"She would not allow it.
The little one is here,
Your home is one
Of strong faith."

"Who is the child?
Why is he called
The little one?"
Confusion rocked the warrior.

"We do not know.
We only know that
When the time is right,
He will be called upon."

"Holdfast to your faith,
Your people are good.
We must remain within
Your walls this night."

"You are more than welcome,"
The warrior replied.
"You saved my people,
For that I will be
Ever grateful."

"No, we did nothing.
Our power came from this place.
Now, call your men in,
Let them join their loved ones."

"You will not need
To set a watch tonight.
Nothing more will happen,
You will all rest
Peacefully this night."

From the door of the bastion
Emerged the chamberlain;
Following closely
Was the matron.

Each of her hands
Held onto a child.
To her right stood the boy,
To her left a young girl.

The girl.
He'd forgotten about her.
An orphan, they thought.
She'd appeared in the fields,
Hungry and alone.

The matron had insisted
They take her in.
"She has no one, m'lord,
We cannot turn her away."

As he looked on,
Watching the children,
He heard her voice
"Have faith."
Then it was gone.

[radar]

Epic indeed.

To read an epic story
Requires much time
Which I have.
My attempt,

Pales in comparison
To your beautiful story,
A truly
Worthwhile read indeed.

Well done.

<img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... /whoah.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(wow)\' />

[Josh]

Read the first half and so far it's great... I'll read the second half later! <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' /> Very well done Tami... <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... ocking.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(ack)\' />

[Tami]

Thanks you two; there are some weak areas in that piece that I need to work on yet, but I'm sure it can sit for a few more days lol.