Tullor Ballor, Pt 4.
Dies Bona, Lads and Lassies, Lords and Ladies! Well, the time has come! The final instalment of my three-or-six-week-project, Tullor Ballor, in which the tale is brought to an end. First of all, thanks to all of you who gave me feedback, those of you who imparted in in person, or those blessed few who took the time to leave me a comment. Thanks, also, to anyone who took the time to actually read it. I know that it's an earful, for sure, but I'm glad that you took the time to give it a one-over. If I get enough feedback on this post, and on the poem in general, we'll see if I may even pursue more stories in the form of verse. As I continue studying different styles, as I hope to do, at some point, it will be fun to share my experimentation with you. Well, enough words for now.
You can expect another post at week's end with some photos and whatever else turns up. Until then, enjoy,
Tullor Ballor, Pt 4.
The War
Of Aminos\Of Tyros\Of the Princess\Of Teriel
Upon a steed of charcoal gray,
Beside the Golden Maid,
I ride, this wand’rer to the day,
Across the shining glades.
Three days have come, before my feet.
And still, we have pressed on!
And ever the bright hills grow more sweet,
As we charge to the dawn!
But then, I look, as we mount a crest,
Peer down across the steeps.
I feel a pain shoot through my chest,
A tremble, head to feet.
For there before us, cross our path,
A hundred fires burn.
And in the wake of some great wrath,
Hundreds of graves o’erturned.
And there in the distant light I spot,
A great force has gathered round,
A single figure, bravely fought,
Upon his red-stained mound.
“I know the way that warrior fights,”
I cried, and my heart ached.
“Tis Tyros, ‘Venger of the Night!
“Champ’yon of the Crystal Lakes!”
“I knew not he survived the war!
“How came he from Fengeth?
“Where once he and I as brothers were,
“Thought separate by death!”
“Go to him, he can’t fight alone,
“His brother, still he needs,”
Spoke the Lady Gold in calming tone,
As I leaped down from my steed.
“No sword have I, and neither skills,
“No Elven gifts, or Dwarvish Might!
“Yet so I must do what I will!
“And aid him with his fight!”
“My bless’d,” said she, “here is a tool!”
And behold, she held a sword!
Twas shining as a great-wrought jewel,
Such cannot be told with words!
“Tis called Aruiel Ieon,
“The Hammer-Forge of Peace.
“Twas made a dozen ages gone,
“Now woken from its sleep!”
I took the sword, and held it high,
And cried out to the wind.
“I, Aminos, though I shall die,
“Shall taste Summer again!”
Now into the battle, strong I rush’d,
And great my blade-strokes fell.
Across the field, there swelled a hush,
As heard my battle-yell.
Upon the hill, the warriors paused,
And there they met their fate.
For waiting there, with tooth and claws,
Tyros gave up his wait!
Overhead the blackbirds stormed,
Dark ‘round the cape and cloud.
With claws and beak and gaudy scorn,
They formed a fur’ious shroud!
The men who served the Winter King,
Were blind and filled with fear,
For my sword, like a great bell would ring,
Clear within every ear.
With apathy, become now hate,
I struck into the fray.
With every blow I cursed my fate,
Though I survived the day!
The army scattered all around,
They fled hither and there,
And with bodies littering the ground,
We gasped for lungs of air.
Then came we to the stone-bound tomb,
And with the shining blade,
I sliced through stone like fresh-yarn loom,
And freed the long-lost maid!
The Queen
Of Aminos\Of Tyros\Of the Princess
She stood there, like the Summer queen,
Though with hair of chestnut brown.
She looked with pale, and lovely sheen,
And wore a silver crown.
And fell we warriors to our knees,
Tears filling up our eyes.
As before us stood the only thing,
I feared I’d never find.
We wept our tears, and loud rejoiced,
And I could not dare to speak.
Till I heard her re’surring voice,
And found myself grow weak.
“My warrior, valiant, thou wearest chains.
“Pray tell me, what are these?”
“These are my old despairs and pains,”
I pled, “permit me to be free?”
She spoke a word, and with a touch,
My chains melted away.
I looked, and felt myself fill up,
Words I knew not how to say.
She turned, now, to the warrior beast,
Much from the battle torn.
And touched his head, and wished him peace,
I saw his eyes grow warm.
She turned now, her eyes to the dawn,
And with broken voice she cried,
“Oh, this war between Olden and Fawn!
“Why must one of them die?”
“My sisters, in the wood, awake!
“Fear no more Winter’s hold!
“For feel the ground beneath you shake!
“The Winter has grown old!”
The Fate
Of Aminos\Of Tyros\Of the Princess\Of Teriel
But this, I fear, was not the last,
We’d see of the Wint’ry One.
For there, upon the frosty grass,
Forth rides up through the dawn.
Around him are his armies, great,
Each one a thousand men.
And here I see a score-and-eight,
Legions he brings with him!
And who, I see, is at their head!
It is none other than the King!
Scepter in hand, in robes of red,
He waits on snowy steed.
Is this the final hammer-fall?
Is this how it shall end?
For if so, I will give up my all,
What can happen to me, then?
They drew to a halt upon the rise,
And the line prepared there bows.
As Tyros roared, I turned my eyes,
Away from their thick rows.
I look, to see my Lady, stand,
Where when I left she stood.
Upon the hill, with horn in hand,
Eyes shining, bright as the wood!
I took my strength from this one sight,
And felt no trace of fear.
My body swelled to see the light,
I’d lost for such long years.
“You fools,” cried out the Winter-Man,
“You dare to challenge me?
“I’ve conquered this entire land,
“And yet you bow no knee?
“Tis all I ask, this simple price,
“To admit I am your Lord!
“I ask from you no other vice,
“No breath nor waste of words!
“For you have both escaped me long,
“Warriors, and I applaud thee!
“I have a place for you among,
“These ranks, lined up beside me!”
“Sooner I’d fall on my blade,”
I cry back in my wrath,
“Sooner I’d watch my memory fade,
“Sooner face death and laugh!”
“Sooner from me my teeth you’ll feel,”
Said Tyros, with equal flame.
“I’ll die my death before I kneel,
“So all shall know our name!”
The King, his face turned ashen gray,
As he faced our young-found Queen.
“Has the lass not her own words to say?
“Or is her tongue un-free?”
She stood strong, and she quavered not,
And this, I think, made him afraid.
For standing in his arrow shot,
Trembled not, the Spring-time maid!
“My father, though you claim to be,
“I love you not, nor ever will.
“You are nothing but dirt to me,
“I care not I must be killed.
“If this is the way the world shall be,
“I pray it leaves me far behind.
“So slay me, if slain thy wish me,
“For a fairer world, I then, would find.”
The King he raised and dropped his mace,
And a thousand arrows sailed.
The shadows fell over her face,
As I watched the color pale.
No hesitation nor delay,
When I threw her to the ground.
And over her form spread I lay,
As the arrows hammered down.
I am a ghost. I felt no pain.
As I felt them humming here and there.
I sensed no strike of bladed rain,
For a moment ‘twas as all was fair.
I barely sensed the stinging shafts,
As dozens pierced my flesh.
But as the barbed heads cut my back,
It was as though the air was fresh.
Beneath me I heard the princess scream,
Not in pain but in great fear.
She knew what would become of me,
And for me spilled sweet tears.
Another barrage fell on the hill,
And still I felt it not.
Perhaps the power of my will,
Resolved, against it fought.
But that is when I heard her cry.
Armed with her hunting horn,
She held it up against the sky,
Face grim and eyes forlorn.
She held the mouthpiece to her lips,
And let out a single blast.
Beneath me I felt the skin taut rip.
Splint’ring like sea-ship’s mast.
The ice and frost, suddenly gone!
The earth it swallowed whole,
The king and soldiers, every one,
Their bodies, arms and souls.
The princess’ tears they stained my face,
As I rose, but to my knees.
“Has winter really been erased?
“Where now, the ice and breeze?”
She said, “do you not feel the cold?”
Said I, “what cold is there?
“When all the hills are green and gold,
“And all is bright and fair!”
I knelt, leaning upon my hilt,
Looking out at the slopes.
“Finally, now that winter is killed,
“I can see, the bright’ning hope.”
The forests all around me rose,
High soaring to the sky.
The flowers in their destined rows,
The tears filling my eyes.
“My summer, how long I have waited!
“To see thy lovely face again!
“How long I’ve lived through winter, hated,
“Fearing it would never end.”
I look further, and there I see,
Comes forth a beauteous maid!
She walks with the grace of a tree,
Across the silv’ry glade.
“My Queen!” I cry, “Oh, summer gone,
“Pray tell me, can it be?
“Oh how I’ve loved and missed you long,
“I pray that it ‘tis thee!”
“My Lord Aminos, tis not,
“It is I, your Teriel!
“The Lass in Gold, for whom you sought,
“My warrior, is all well?”
I narrowed my blinking eyes, and still,
Only my Queen, I see!
Descending, from the gentle hills,
Her hand reached out to me.
I felt a smile cross my face,
As tears fell down my cheeks.
“So long I’ve waited you, your grace,
“To hear, once more, you speak.”
“Aminos! Aminos, dear,
“Have you forgotten me?”
“No,” I sighed, “please do not fear.
“Just lay me by the trees.”
I could feel them now, the shafts,
Their numbers ten-and-a-score.
All sticking deep into my back,
Some three inches, or more.
And yet, as I look deep in her eyes,
I feel no pain at all.
The green and gold within them cries,
For me to simply fall.
“Oh, daisies!” I touch the gentle leaves,
“Oh grass, oh rose, oh stream!
“Oh all the tall and glistening trees,
“Oh how the daylight gleams!”
The Spring Song
The princess rose up to her feet,
She looked over the land.
She looked to the far dawn and reached,
Out upwards with her hands.
And so began our Queen to sing,
With a pure and clear exhale.
A song with which the whole world rings,
Though my face groweth e’er pale.
“My lord, my love, do you dare to die?”
Teriel came to her knees.
“Will you not watch the new summer rise?
“Aminos, hear my pleas!”
“My Teriel,” I said, e’er soft,
“Perhaps this is the sweeter end.
“To lie where I would wander, oft,
“By she I should’st defend.”
She kissed my sullen cheek, and wept,
“My warrior, must you leave?”
But no answer could escape my depths,
Still struggling to breathe.
Tyros, my brother, came he by,
And lay his head near mine.
And there we sat, ready to die,
Arrows pierced through our hides.
But I looked up, and my heart found life,
As I gazed off to the growing woods.
The darkened world, now shining bright,
To feel my warmed and spilling blood.
“Oh, let it be said,” I cried aloft,
“How God has blessed my final days.
“For now to see the spring come, soft,
“I’ll offer my last praise.
“These days, a ghost, on this good earth,
“Through all the seasons, toil.
“No joy so sweet as this rebirth,
“To smell the Spring-fresh soil.
“For though no heart, inside my chest,
“I’ve fallen, yet, in love.
“And though no wings, I’ll do my best,
“To take flight like a dove.
“Where are the Ravens? Are they, now, white?
“Here at my final hour?
“Do they prepare a place of light,
“A final resting bower?
“So take me now, bear me away.
“I’ve lived my life-long course.
“I’ve lived to see night turn to day,
“The light beat darkness’ force.
“Oh, love, around me grow the trees!
“Upon my head the lily crown!
“How sweet that I shall die by thee,
“Lay me within the ground!”
“Let me rise up to my feet!
“Let me feel the ground once more!
“Oh God, lift me, for I am weak.
“And end the wretched war.”
“And now, before my life is gone,
“My Spring-Sweet Teriel;
“Tell the tale of the Olden and Fawn;
“Tell it, for all is well!”
“So let me take my final breath,
“And say my last words few:
“Though life shall always end in death,
“The Spring brings life anew!”
The Wolves still mourn, the ground still sighs,
Around the grave of Aminos.
Could so many tears fill so many eyes?
To mourn one who was called a ghost?
So let me final words prepare,
And let these words be ever true!
The Summer shall shine brighter, there,
Than the winter we bore through!
The End
There was a time when the earth was bright,
When all was well and new;
When sun gave way to starry night,
All a-shining diamond dew.
The great forest o’er all others spread,
Tall, beautiful and strong.
With all their fair and leafy heads,
All voices joined in song.
In those days the forests spoke their words,
Through bodies, sweet and fair,
Their singing soft to all who heard,
With gold wov’n in their hair.
With faces pure as snowy white,
And dressed in rich, bright gowns,
The creatures, with their eyes alight,
Adorned with leafy crowns,
Would dance, would play, and write their songs,
All cross the night and day,
And sleep at dawn, down all along
The sweet coast of the bay.
The sky, with all its radiant blue,
Shone down on trees, all great and green,
And the creatures which beneath it grew,
With all their little hopes and dreams.
There was, amidst the trees, high-spread,
A palace, formed of boughs,
In which a Queen, with auburn-head,
Was blessed to wear the crown.
An age of peace, beneath her hand,
Blessed for her beauty and youth!
Prosperity spread across our land,
An age of light and truth.
There are sometimes dreams I dream,
When I find I toss and turn,
Memory of an age before my queen,
Before the forest was reborn.
Our age of peace, again begun.
As daughters of the Nymphentide,
Play with the Earthen-Forge’s Sons,
A fairer sight ne’er seen my eyes.
So let me die, as they have died,
Beneath the roof of boughs and stars.
And let me see with my own eyes,
The world healed of its wicked scars.
To see the spring, far brighter shine,
Then I ever thought it would,
I’ll keep my head high in the sky,
And my feet lost in the wood!
The End
